Morning came swiftly, casting golden rays through the cracks in the colony's upper tunnels. The worker ants scurried about, collecting resources from the surrounding land and deepening the existing tunnels, their legs moving in a seamless rhythm of tireless labor. Beneath them, the prisoner ants—thin, ragged, and covered in dust—hauled rare minerals from the mines, carving through the hard-packed soil to open new paths. Overseeing their work were the warden ants, their sharp eyes and stronger builds ensuring no escape attempts or signs of rebellion emerged from their ranks.
Seth, Commander and Chief Warden of the colony, sat alone in his chamber, surrounded by silence save for the occasional drip of condensation from the ceiling. He exhaled slowly, resting his head against the carved clay wall. His mind, as always, wandered.
Since Ari appeared… we've faced more conflict than I ever imagined. Yet somehow, against all odds, he keeps aiding us. Reports say he's reckless—impulsive even—but no one can deny the results. Still… we've suffered.
He closed his eyes briefly, recalling the war a decade ago against the grasshoppers. Back then, I was just a lieutenant. We were strong… confident. But that battle changed everything. We lost more than ants—we lost hope. The grasshoppers crushed us and claimed our colony as their own, under the guise of trade. Food in exchange for peace, they said.
He fiddled his fingers at the memory.
Our military was gutted. I was promoted to Commander by Queen Celeste, not because I was strong, but because I was one of the few survivors. But I was weak. The trauma of war had broken something in me. Within two months, I stepped down from military service. I couldn't bear it.
He chuckled bitterly to himself.
They still call me Commander out of pity. To make me feel less like a coward. And after Vladimir betrayed us and vanished, we lost our only true commander. The colony is a shell of its former strength. But…
He paused, staring at the faint light seeping through the entrance.
"…something tells me growth is possible," he whispered aloud, his voice barely above a breath.
Elsewhere, Lily walked quietly through the colony, carrying a strip of food balanced on a piece of bark. Her steps slowed as she neared the recovery chamber. Her antennae twitched nervously.
How do I even talk to him? she wondered, thinking back to their argument just days ago. I'm not usually like this. Maybe I should just pretend nothing happened. Yeah… I'll just do it.
She took a deep breath and stepped inside.
"Good morning, Ari," she said softly, her voice trying to sound casual. "I hope you're hungry. I brought you something to—"
Her words stopped short. The room was empty. Her eyes widened as she scanned every corner, then dropped the bark. Panic surged through her veins.
"He's gone…?"
Without hesitation, she spun around and sprinted through the tunnels, heading straight for the meeting hall where Queen Celeste, the elders, and Commander Anastasia were already deep in conversation about their next move—negotiating for Tanya's release from the grasshoppers' custody.
Outside the chamber, Beatrice stood with her arms crossed, eyes narrowing as she noticed the sound of rapid footsteps.
"Lily? What's wrong?" Beatrice asked.
"It's Ari," Lily gasped. "He's gone."
Beatrice's eyes widened. "He managed to leave? In that condition?"
"I checked everywhere. He's not in the colony anymore."
Beatrice turned toward the chamber. "Then we have to tell Anastasia. Now."
Minutes later, both stood before the commander, who listened quietly as Lily explained everything.
"I already knew Ari would go after the princess," Anastasia said after a pause. Her voice was calm, but there was a heavy note of concern behind it. "It was only a matter of time."
"But in his condition, he wouldn't even make it past the first checkpoint," Beatrice said. "Even if he were fully recovered, it'd be suicide."
Anastasia nodded slowly. "I'm sure he knows that. But Ari is… well, Ari. He's stubborn and reckless, but he has a fire in him. He'd charge into death itself for something he believes in."
Beatrice's expression darkened. "If he marches on Hopper's fortress, he could die. And worse, it could shatter the deal we made with the grasshoppers. They'll retaliate, and the colony—"
"I know," Anastasia interrupted gently. "I know what's at stake. That's why I don't think he's going to Hopper. Not yet. He knows he's too weak. He'll train first, heal, and bide his time."
Lily swallowed hard. "So what do we do?"
Anastasia's gaze drifted to the wall as if seeing something far beyond it. "We help him."
"What?" Beatrice blinked.
"I've given it thought. Our chances of winning are near zero. But I'm tired. Tired of handing over food we worked ourselves to the bone to gather. Tired of living in fear. Tired of watching our people suffer."
Anastasia looked at them with fierce determination.
"I don't have the Queen's approval. This mission might fail. But I'm asking you both: will you help me destroy the grasshoppers once and for all?"
The silence that followed was heavy. Isla and Beatrice exchanged glances, their faces unreadable.
"I'm not forcing anyone," Anastasia continued. "Take time. Think it over. And don't speak of this to anyone. I'll look into possible allies in the meantime."
As the discussion ended, Isla found herself sitting alone at the edge of the training field, staring ahead.
Across from her, Rory struggled under the weight of a heavy rock strapped to his back. He staggered, his legs shaking, breath shallow.
"Tired already?" Brooks barked. "Is that all the resolve you've got?"
"No… I'm not done yet!" Rory growled, teeth clenched as he tightened his stance. "I won't give up. I will get stronger!"
Brooks grunted approvingly. "That's what I like to see."
Isla watched silently, her chest tight.
Rory is pushing himself so hard. He's afraid too—I know he is. But he's moving forward anyway. Me? I froze when the grasshoppers appeared. I couldn't even breathe. But Ari… he stood his ground. Even knowing he couldn't win, he attacked them. Not because he thought he'd succeed—but because someone had to try.
She looked at her trembling hands.
He's probably already out there, planning a rescue. Rory's preparing himself too so that he'll be able to help Ari. And me… I can't just sit here and be afraid. I have to help. I have to fight.
With a deep breath, she stood.
"I'll get stronger," she whispered to herself. "I won't let them fight alone."