Lilamoth

As R2G2s evolve into Lilamoths, they disperse their vast flocks and become more solitary. While still often found in groups, these groups are far smaller. Nobody knows exactly why they do this, as they often coexist with and even join groups of R2G2s for brief periods of time, particularly near the beginning of spring and autumn. Some say they do this to act as elders, safeguarding the young R2G2s and teaching them how to find the best flowers during these sensitive times of the year.

Physically, Lilamoth takes the elements of beauty that the R2G2 had to a new level. Their elegance, colours, and the grace in flight all reach new heights, and that’s no small feat. Their bodies take on a shape reminiscent of a dress, their eyes a captivating turquoise, and their wings now feature an eye-like spot shimmering in the light in a way that most gemstones can’t even match. Its most spectacular feature has to be the firefly-like bulbs atop its head, which glow in various shades of pink, purple and blue, though the pinks and purples are the most common. It’s no wonder that Dante Dominic wrote a whole poem, many verses long, about Lilamoth and its forms.

Lilamoths possess another ability, being able to create silk. The silk threads are highly prized and can be collected without harming the animal, but gathering enough to produce a piece of clothing takes time. Lilamoths use this silk to protect their nests, so harvesting it requires skill, subtlety and restraint, in order to avoid destroying the nest.

Just as Lilamoth, the animal is still a pollinator. One might think that this seeming focus on form over function might leave the animal defenceless, and it does indeed lose its venomous sting. However, it can now glow so brightly as to be painful to behold, blinding those who would harm it while making a graceful getaway.