‘That really works?’ I asked pointing at the patterned umbrella.

‘It seems to draw them out.’

‘Besides from look nice, what do butterflies do anyway?’

‘They pollinate, they control other insect numbers, they indicate a healthy environment.’

A Red Admiral with it’s black and orange wings fluttered around us. The old lady swooshed her net after it, but the butterfly dodged her attempts.

‘Not worth chasing after,’ she shrugged, ‘quite common, not worth much.’

The collapse and extinction of butterfly species had been one of the first indicators that we had failed, that our time on this planet was coming to an end. Now most of the humans had left, the butterfly numbers were recovering.

The old eyes glinted in excitement. ‘Look there,’ she pointed. ‘A Palos Verdes Blue. One of the rarest in the world. It could be worth millions.’ She moved off in pursuit.

I made a note of the rare name. A nice detail to end my piece for the Aeolis Mons Gazette when I got back to the home planet.

Written as part of Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. The challenge is to write a flash fiction story or poem in around 150 – 175 words, based on the weekly photo prompt. Thanks as always to the challenge host Priceless Joy. For more information visit HERE.

To read other stories based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.

N.B. Aeolis Mons (Mount Sharp) is a geographical place name on Mars.