Opteran

A sedentary life among the birds and insects of their treetop dwellings is the most adventurous goal of many opterans’ lives . In shades of green and brown, these larval opterans (OP-ter-an) are happy to avoid conflict, camouflaging into the canopy from which they acquire sustenance. But, with a brilliant flash of colour, an adult opteran injects this placid scene with a vivacious zest for life. Frantic flaps of its broad, multicoloured wings usher this metamor- phosed form to and fro, a sparkling rainbow that nary takes a moment to rest.
Live Fast, Die Young Opterans can, in theory, live forever . So long as they are never stressed (and have no goals for reproduc- tion), a larval opteran doesn’t age and can enjoy an indefinite life of sedentary bliss. However, should the need arise, such as during times of environmen- tal catastrophe, war, or fits of passion, a larval opter- an enters a chrysalis in which it metamorphoses into its winged, adult form . Once it emerges, the clock begins ticking; it lives no more than 2 or 3 years in this form, just long enough to find a mate and pro- duce a new batch of larvae elsewhere in the world . Because of this, larval opterans are extremely conflict-averse. If a predator comes a-calling, a lar- val opteran prefers to deploy its sticky ‘string shot’ and retreat to the safety of its tree-home, rather than potentially become overstimulated . Converse- ly, adult, winged opterans often lose this sense of self-preservation, a behaviour change that the uneducated might describe as ‘disturbing’ .
Natural Performers Due to their brilliant colouration and short lives, opterans make some of the most renowned per- formers . Tales are told of the bard group Wings of a Butterfly’s first and final world tour. So in-demand were tickets to this once-in-their-lifetime show, that monarchs even traded small earldoms in order to purchase a show for their courts . Opterans that choose to venture into the wider world are often old, tired of the sedentary life, and ready for adventure . However, the destruction of an opteran’s home, the search for a loved one, or the desire to be the next Wings of a Butterfly could all be worthy motivators to risk undergo- ing the change .