Cinereal Blanche listened to the torrenting en against his bedroom window and gave a snort sending Morph fluttering from the deep dark recesses of his naval cavity.

‘Morph,’ he hissed, ‘we really must go out this evening’.

Morph ceased flitting around the chandelier and alighted onto Cinereal’s marble-like pale head and tapping busily with his tiny legs.

Since finding Morph, a blue Morpho butterfly, struggling, on the lip of the bathroom sink 10 years ago, they had become firm friends. Cinereal had nurse Morph back to health, employing a local wizard to give him the flame of the Phoenix, meaning he could be reborn time and again. Finally, Cinereal had thought his house mate morse code.

Pulling a silken snood over his lipless mouth, Cinereal gave Morph a muffled response, ‘We have to Morph it’s Halloween’.

Water could be deadly to his kind, so he understood Morphs concern. Rummaging in the cupboard his wisp thin fingers closed round the wooden handle of his largest umbrella. It had a span of six foot and was perfect for keeping his 12 foot frame dry. Throwing his black woollen overcoat across his boney frame, he held his left hand aloft for Morph, who gently settled in his index finger before tapping his annoyance.

Cinereal’s parents lived two streets away and the thought of his mothers jelly fish stew tugged Cinereal down the street making him oblivious to the danger ahead. Morph flapped and stomped his tiny insect feet as they drew closer to the huge puddle that had formed over a blocked drain. The puddle was wickedly spurting water onto the pavement each time a car swished by. Cinereal was thinking about peat bog pudding as an arc of murky water landed. His skin fizzed and smoked whilst he wheezed a high pitched ‘wheeeeee’ escaped Cinereal’s snood. The pain sent him stumbling against the nearest wall.

Morph flittered frantically around the metalwork of the umbrella panicked by his friends distress. Then he realised they were right outside the wizards house.

Without a thought for his delicate wings he bravely took off into the pouring rain, dodging the high velocity drops like a fighter jet on manoeuvres. He caught a warm draft and used it to guide himself into an air vent, plopping out in the wizards living room.

Morph settled on the edge of the wizards newspaper immediately gaining his attention.

‘Hey Morph, great to see you little fella’ how are you?’

Morph took off zipping across the room before throwing himself against the window, before his little body flopped onto the windowsill.

‘Morph!’, cried the wizard jumping from his seat, ‘be careful, you’re going to knock yourself out’. He quickly scooped Morph into his porgy hands to make sure he didn’t try to whomp himself into the window again.

Peering through the rain wicked pain he saw a crumpled figure leaning against his garden wall whilst surrounded by a plume of smoke.

‘Oh, Morph, you clever lad,’ said the wizard throwing the door open and rushing to Cinereal’s aid. Morph watches from the window as they made slow progress up the garden path.

Pushing Cinereal up the stairs the wizard, waved a hand over Morph, ‘I’ve got him from here, Morph. I’ve pooped a shield over you to protect you from the rain, now be a good fella and pop round to Mr and Mrs Blanche. Let them know Cinereal’s had an accident, but not to worry, he’s going to be OK’.

Five minutes the wizard had Cinereal tucked up in his guest bed and was busily chanting over his fizzing skin.

‘What a way to spend Halloween,’ hissed a voice from the door.

‘Mum!’ Hissed a brightened Cinereal

His mum flashed him her best lipless grin and nodded at the basket in her arms, ‘I couldn’t have you missing out on Halloween dinner now could I?’

Morph landed gently on his best friends shoulder and stroked a wing against his cheek.

‘Thank you Morph, happy Halloween.’ Said a woozy Cinereal as the wizard’s magic lulled him into a cosy slumber.