The journey back to the colony was long and quiet. The ants, both military and worker, pushed through their exhaustion, carrying supplies and tending to the wounded. Every step was a battle against their aching limbs, and though the stench of victory clung to them, the weight of the battle pressed even heavier on their minds. They had won, but it had come at a cost.
The trek dragged on, the sun dipping lower as the sky burned gold and then softened into hues of amber and violet. Each footfall stirred the dust along the dirt path, the towering grass swaying gently around them like solemn sentinels bearing witness to their return.
When they reached the checkpoint—a neutral ground between the two colonies—the remaining strength seemed to seep from their legs. They had made it. Members of both colonies hurried forward to assist, their expressions a mix of relief and subdued grief. Worker ants rushed to transport the injured home, their faces tight with worry. Others carried the fallen, their bodies draped respectfully, as if still guarding them in death.
Commander Ruth stepped forward, meeting with the representatives of Queen Helena's colony. Her usual severity softened, though the flicker of exhaustion remained in her eyes. She then turned to Brooks and the others, dipping her head slightly—a rare gesture of respect.
"Thank you for your cooperation," she said sincerely. "This collaboration was a success. Both I and Queen Helena look forward to strengthening the bond between our colonies." She glanced toward the carts piled high with precious food. "Thanks to our joint efforts, we gathered enough resources to sustain both our colonies through the coming hardships."
Brooks nodded, his voice steady despite his weariness. "We feel the same way. It was an honor to fight alongside your soldiers."
Ruth's antennae twitched. Her gaze shifted to Ari, who had remained unusually silent since the battle, lost in a quiet storm of thoughts.
"Ari," she called.
He jolted slightly, snapping out of his trance. "Yes, Commander?"
She studied him for a long moment, then offered a rare, approving smile. "I foresee that you will become a force to be reckoned with. Stay true to yourself and to this colony."
Ari hesitated, the weight of her words settling on him. "I will."
"Good." Ruth turned to the group. "Let's move out!"
With that, Queen Helena's forces departed, retreating toward their home. Ruth led her exhausted soldiers in the opposite direction, guiding them back to familiar territory.
When they finally crossed the boundary of their colony, a collective exhale rippled through the ranks—relief, fatigue, the faintest trace of triumph.
Rory collapsed onto a makeshift bed of twigs and leaves, his entire body groaning. "That expedition was a damn roller coaster… Thank God we're finally home."
Isla stretched her battered limbs, groaning as her joints cracked. "You can say that again. I feel like I've been squeezed dry."
She flopped down next to him, brushing stray dirt from her armor. A thought crossed her mind, and she glanced over at him with a spark of curiosity. "Hey, do you think we'll rank up to Corporal after this mission?"
Rory snorted. "Doubt it. Those flies were weak. They weren't much of a threat."
Isla raised a brow. "Real funny, Rory. Pretty sure I saw you struggling just as much as the rest of us."
"At least I killed a handful," Rory shot back, smirking. "How many did you take down?"
"Well… you stole my kill," Isla huffed, crossing her arms. "I was attacking that fly first."
"A kill's a kill."
Their banter faded into the hum of the returning colony as Ari quietly lay on his own bed, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. Their voices felt distant. His thoughts circled relentlessly, always pulling him back to Evelyn. That kiss—unexpected, confusing—clung to him like a second skin.
Why did it leave him so flustered? She was an ant. That should have been the end of it.
But she didn't feel like an ant.
She looked human. She moved like a human. She spoke like one. The warmth of her hand, the softness of her lips… the memory played over and over until his chest tightened painfully.
Was it really that simple?
He sighed, dragging his hand over his face, as if trying to wipe the questions from his mind. He didn't have the energy to think about this now. And yet, even exhaustion couldn't smother the lingering flutter in his chest.
In the colony's grand meeting chamber, Queen Celeste sat upon her elevated throne, her dark eyes sharp and attentive. The elder ants gathered in a semicircle, their low murmurs filling the air as they awaited the official report. Anastasia stood near the queen, her arms crossed, a picture of composure, but her intense gaze betrayed her curiosity.
When Beatrice and Brooks entered, the room fell silent.
"Corporal Beatrice, Lieutenant Brooks, welcome back," Anastasia greeted, her voice formal but edged with anticipation.
Queen Celeste's gaze settled on them like a weight. "I trust the expedition was successful, but I have not yet had the chance to read your reports. Please, enlighten us."
Beatrice stepped forward, her voice steady despite the fatigue lining her face. "Four days ago, we enacted our treaty with Queen Helena's colony. Both our military and worker forces collaborated to gather the necessary resources for our survival."
She paused, her hands briefly tightening into fists at her sides. "At first, everything progressed smoothly. We navigated through dangerous territories, avoided known threats. Our workers toiled tirelessly, and the military provided round-the-clock protection. But just as we prepared to return home, we were ambushed."
The room tensed, a ripple of unease passing through the elders.
"By whom?" Queen Celeste's voice dipped low.
"Fruit flies," Beatrice said, her jaw tight. "Led by a fly named Zippy."
Several elders scoffed, exchanging dismissive glances.
"Fruit flies? Those pests are nothing."
Beatrice's eyes hardened. "Individually, yes. But they came in overwhelming numbers. Starving. Desperate. They demanded our food. When we refused, they attacked."
Silence gripped the chamber.
Anastasia's gaze sharpened. "Continue."
"The battle was chaotic. Protecting the workers was our top priority. We formed a defensive perimeter, but the flies' speed and unpredictability overwhelmed us. Some broke through, forcing brutal close-quarters combat."
Beatrice hesitated, her eyes flicking to Anastasia. "That's when Ari stood out."
The chamber stilled.
"While many of us struggled, Ari… it was like he transformed. He wasn't just fighting—he was hunting. Every movement was calculated, every strike precise. He moved through the battlefield as if he could see their attacks before they happened."
Anastasia's eyes narrowed. "How many did he kill?"
"Alone? At least three dozen. Possibly more. Commander Ruth and Lieutenant Brooks fought alongside him. Together, they eliminated over a hundred and twenty flies without sustaining a single injury."
Murmurs swept through the room, disbelief and awe colliding.
"That's… highly irregular," one elder muttered.
Beatrice lowered her voice, the weight of what she'd witnessed still clinging to her. "His speed… it wasn't normal. He reacted faster than anyone I've seen. It was as if time itself moved differently for him."
Anastasia exhaled slowly, processing the report. "Casualties?"
"Both colonies combined suffered twenty-five injured military ants and seventy-five injured workers. We lost twelve soldiers and five workers."
Queen Celeste closed her eyes, a shadow passing over her expression. "Their sacrifices will not be forgotten. We will honor them."
She opened her eyes again, her tone steady. "Your efforts will not go unnoticed. Thank you."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Brooks said, bowing.
Anastasia gestured for Beatrice to step aside. Once they were out of earshot, her voice dropped to a near whisper.
"You were right," Beatrice admitted, her face taut with concern. "I didn't believe you before, but now I do. Ari is dangerous."
"More powerful than before?"
"Far more."
Anastasia's expression darkened, a flicker of something unreadable in her gaze. "We might need him. Something is coming. And I just hope, for his sake and ours, that we can control him… before it's too late."