The sun rose over the colony, its light pouring into the upper tunnels and filtering through narrow shafts of stone into the chambers below.
Workers moved quickly through the passageways, their footsteps brushing against the packed earth. The air carried the low hum of conversation, the scrape of resin containers across the floor, and the dull creak of reinforced wheels being checked one last time.
Ari remained near the side of the chamber, watching quietly.
The grand hall had fallen into near silence by the time the queens took their seats across from one another at the long resin table. The polished surface reflected the faint glow of the fungi embedded along the walls.
Behind Queen Helena, General Ivan stood with his hands clasped behind his back. His expression remained unreadable, though his eyes stayed fixed on the discussion. Across from him, Captain Valeria stood at Queen Celeste's side with Lieutenant Brooks and Tavian nearby.
Brooks kept a straight posture, his shoulders squared and still. Tavian leaned back on the dirt packed wall.
The elder ants filled the remaining seats around the table. Some sat with folded hands. Others murmured quietly among themselves before falling silent again as the meeting began.
"We must decide who will oversee this expedition. This task is too important for us to approach carelessly. It's imperative that our most capable leaders handle the soldiers, transport routes and protecting the workers."
Helena's eyes shifted briefly toward Queen Celeste before returning to the others.
"I can't afford to lose anyone."
Queen Celeste inclined her head, her posture composed.
"This mission will be the first major collective effort between our colonies since the treaty. As such both sides must be confident that their leaders can carry out their duties."
After a brief pause, Queen Helena raised a hand and gestured toward Nyra.
"Captain Nyra will lead on my behalf,"
Helena said.
"Our military strength has severely diminished, but I trust her judgment and her ability to remain calm under pressure."
Queen Celeste straightened in her seat.
"Very well. Lieutenant Brooks will also lead this expedition on behalf of my colony."
Captain Nyra and Lieutenant Brooks exchanged a brief nod. Nyra lowered her head slightly toward Queen Helena, her expression unchanged.
"I will ensure the mission proceeds as planned,"
She said. Only her lips moved. Her face remained still, and her voice stayed flat.
Brooks let out a small laugh.
"Guess I'll be lending a hand with this one just when I thought I'd be given a break,"
He said. His eyes shifted toward Ari for a moment. But he closed his eye.
Who am I to complain when the kid already handled most of the hard work...
"There we have it. Lieutenant Brooks and Captain Nyra will lead the expedition,"
Celeste looked toward Brooks.
"Lieutenant, will your squad be in attendance?"
Brooks gave a small smile.
"That's not a bad proposition. My soldiers are the only ones I trust watching my back."
His expression softened slightly before he let out a quiet breath.
"However... I think it's time I clear the way for the new generation."
In the end, a total of one thousand ants were deployed, eight hundred and twenty five workers and one hundred and seventy five soldiers. Most of the force came from Queen Celeste's colony.
Nearly seventy percent,
Ari thought.
The sun continued to rise above the colony, its light spreading across the uneven terrain outside the tunnels. Moisture clung to the ground, and the cool morning air brushed against Ari's face.
Soldiers moved through the gathering formation while workers checked the reinforced wheels one last time. Orders traveled back and forth through the crowd.
"Keep the transport lines tight."
"Move those containers forward."
"Workers to the center ranks."
Ari stood quietly among the forming ranks, his fingers tightening briefly at his sides as he watched ants move past him in every direction. He drew in a slow breath as he stared beyond the outskirts into the forest.
Here goes nothing.
Beside him, Isla fidgeted, rubbing her trembling hands together. Her shoulders stayed tense, and her antennae twitched uneasily. Ari glanced at her.
"It's our first real mission as soldiers,"
Isla said quietly. She let out a small breath and lowered her gaze for a second.
"I... I can't help being nervous."
Lancelot reached over and tapped her lightly on the shoulder.
"You don't have to worry about every single thing, you know,"
Isla gave him a look, her shoulders tightening slightly.
"Easy for you to say,"
She muttered.
Beatrice nodded, her expression sharpening.
"Isla."
Isla froze, her antennae shooting up as she straightened.
"Y… yes, Corporal."
"He's right,"
Beatrice said.
"This isn't training anymore, so focus."
Isla swallowed hard. She lowered her eyes for a moment before giving a small nod.
"Okay… I'll try my best."
Honestly Ari found himself smiling, though the expression quickly faltered.
That's right... Valeria will be staying behind to protect the colony.
He turned towards the entrance. The workers moved in and out of the tunnel.
Am I ready for this?
Ari let out a slow breath and tightened his fingers at his side.
Calm down. We're only collecting food. Nothing bad is going to happen.
"Ari!"
A familiar voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
Emilia moved through the crowd toward him, slipping between workers and soldiers with quick hurried steps. She rose onto her toes, trying to see over the soldiers gathered ahead.
"Wait... it's the princess,"
One of the soldiers said as he quickly stepped aside.
A warm smile spread across Emilia's face as she lifted a hand, signaling for Ari to come closer.
It's the princess...
Ari slowly walked toward her, avoiding her gaze.
"H-Hi, Emilia…"
He said.
"Did you need something?"
"Yeah,"
She said simply.
"I wanted to congratulate you on becoming a soldier."
A faint breeze drifted over the terrain, stirring her hair around her shoulders. Ari felt his chest tighten slightly at her words. The feeling caught him off guard.
"Thank you,"
He said quietly.
Emilia hesitated for a moment before holding out her hand. Resting in her palm was a small shimmering gem.
"Here,"
She said.
"Take this."
Ari froze for a moment, inspecting the delicate, glistening stone.
"What is it?"
"I found it when I was little,"
Emilia said.
"I was digging through one of the tunnels and came across it. It's very rare. I always thought it brought me luck."
Ari looked at her, confused.
"But why give it to me?"
He asked.
"Isn't it important to you?"
Her smile softened. She folded her wings neatly behind her back before answering.
"Because you are apart of this colony,"
She said.
"Don't do anything reckless out there."
She placed it into his hand before pulling hers back.
"Think of it as a keepsake until you return."
Ari stared at the stone for another moment before carefully tucking it away.
"I'll be fine,"
He said quietly.
"Thank you, Princess."
Emilia's expression relaxed slightly.
"Take care,"
She said.
"And make sure you come back in one piece."
She gave him a faint smile before disappearing from sight. He let out a slow breath.
I can't help it... no matter how hard I try, all I see is Keiko in her.
After a brief pause, he returned to the line. Lancelot tapped Ari on the shoulder.
"Ari, I didn't know you and the princess were that close."
Ari glanced at him.
"You think so?"
Lancelot gave a small nod.
"She came all the way through the crowd just to speak with you."
"I've encountered her plenty of times and she never even acknowledged me when I tried to bow to her,"
Isla said from nearby. Ari looked between them awkwardly.
"You're both overthinking it."
Lancelot adjusted the strap made of vines resting against his shoulder.
"You remember when you were recovering from your wound?"
He asked.
"She stayed by your side for days until you finally woke up."
Ari's expression tightened slightly. Before he could answer, a pair of arms suddenly wrapped around his shoulders from behind.
"Guess who?"
A teasing voice whispered near his ear. Ari glanced back slightly through the gaps in her fingers.
"Evelyn?"
The arms slipped away, and he turned to see Evelyn grinning at him.
"Ding, ding... you got it right on the first try."
"You're coming on the winter expedition too?"
He asked, tilting his head surprised.
"Of course!"
Evelyn said quickly.
"The berries aren't going to pick themselves, and the mealy bugs aren't going to dig themselves out either."
Ari covered his mouth, his face turning pale as his stomach twisted.
"Don't remind me..."
Her smile eased slightly.
"And besides… you've been working so hard lately. I want to help too."
She fidgeted her fingers together her voice trembled as she shook slightly.
"I want you to know helping me wasn't a waste."
"Evelyn..."
That's right... isn't this her first time leaving the outskirts of the colony in years? She was imprisoned for so long...
Is she scared of going out there?
A memory surfaced in Ari's mind from weeks earlier.
My grandpa and I came from a flourishing colony. Our food storage was full, and our infrastructure was strong. Life was peaceful... until he came. A grasshopper named Hopper.
He came to our colony demanding half of our winter supply. My father and the soldiers tried to resist him, but they were all killed.
Our colony was destroyed. My grandpa and I barely escaped with our lives.
Her eyes suddenly widened.
"Wait...you've gotten a whole lot taller since I last saw you."
She stepped closer and lifted her hand over his head, measuring the difference with a narrowed stare. Causing him to step back slightly.
"I could say the same about you."
Evelyn laughed quietly before looking at him again.
"You know…"
She said, her voice lowering slightly,
"I feel safer knowing you'll be out there with us."
Her eyes stayed on him for a second longer.
"So… can I count on you to protect me, oh great, soldier?"
Ari gave a small nod.
"I'll do everything I can to keep the workers safe."
The chatter throughout the chamber slowly died down as Nyra and Lieutenant Brooks stepped onto the raised platform at the front gathered ants. Heads turned almost immediately.
Brooks looked over the gathered workers and soldiers, his posture relaxed despite the scar running along the right side of his face making his appearance stern. He folded his arms, a small smile resting on his face.
"Well now, all the new privates look nervous. Even your soldiers seem affected."
He turned toward Nyra.
Nyra stood beside him in silence, her expression unreadable. One of her antennae twitched faintly, but she said nothing.
I see... then I guess I'll have to raise their spirits myself.
He stepped forward.
"Our objective is simple,"
He said.
"Collect the supplies. Return safely and quickly."
The gathered soldiers remained silent.
"We move in formation. You'll be assigned into squads of twenty five led by corporals of my choosing. Our priority is protecting the workers. If anything happens out there, I expect every one of you to defend them."
A cheer broke out among the workers and soldiers, the sound echoing through the outskirts.
Tch... as if I'd ever follow your orders,
One of the soldiers thought.
Nyra's eyes moved across the crowd. For the briefest moment, her brows tightened almost imperceptibly before her expression became unreadable once again.
Far within the forest, the sound of buzzing echoed through the trees while shifting shadows moved across the ground.