Hoshor Plains Feral hearts

Trying to swat the locusts away was totally useless, as a dozen more always sprung up in the first one's place. Wildfire gave up, just letting them smack, whack and thwack right into her. All the while, she really tried to follow the conversation. She caught a few familiar words between the two of them and opened her mouth to say something—only for a small locust to shoot right in there, nearly choking her. The yearling retched, spitting out the bug, then quickly returned to the water to wash down the two or three spindly broken legs currently caught in her gullet.

After swallowing, Wildfire made an impromptu decision and waded further into the water, letting it come up to her shoulders. She sighed loudly in relief at the lack of small bodies impacting her own. She kicked out with her legs to turn around and face the bank, calling invitingly to the other two, "It's not nearly so bad in here." Famous last words, though; nearly the instant they left her mouth, a locust came to rest on the top of her head.