Once Hattie calmed down, she slowed to a walk and realized all the running had made her very hungry. “If I go back home to get something to eat,” Hattie thought, “Mother will make me stay and my adventure will be over.” She continued down the game trail, sure she’d find something to eat farther along.

Soon, she spotted a large bush and went closer to get a better look. Many tiny bright orange berries weighed down the plant. “Look how the plant droops under the weight of the berries,” Hattie observed, “These tiny berries must be very juicy. I should try some.” She reached for the berries then stopped herself, recalling her mother’s warning. “What rubbish!” she decreed, grabbing a handful of the shiny orange fruit, “She just doesn’t want me to have any fun!”

Hattie was about to toss the berries into her mouth when a tickling sensation started in the palm of her hand that held the fruit. It quickly spread all the way up her forearm. Puzzled, she looked down and saw many bugs making their way from her arm to her shoulder. They had shiny, orange shells and glassy, black eyes that made Hattie feel very unsettled.

Hattie screamed and swatted at the bugs, but there were so many and the remaining insects crawled from her shoulder to her neck. She ran away from the bush in a panic while frantically swiping at the bugs with both hands. The final bug had almost crawled into her ear when she flicked it away, now far from the bush but still on the game trail. Hattie let out a shaky breath, relieved to be free of the disturbing bugs.