The moon hung high, casting a cold silver glow over the makeshift camp as Seth's unit scrambled to set up shelter. The returning soldiers moved like shadows, their steps heavy, their bodies battered, their minds likely still trapped in the memory of battle. Dirt clung to their bruised exoskeleton, dried blood stained their mandibles, and yet, somehow—they stood. Alive.
Seth's heart thudded in his chest as he watched them. He could scarcely believe it. They had returned. From Hopper's fortress. From the jaws of death. From the impossible.
"Set up the perimeter over there as well," Seth ordered, his voice firm as he gestured toward a small clearing to his right. "Make sure the injured are stabilized first."
"Understood, Lieutenant."
His legs moved before his thoughts caught up, carrying him briskly across the camp until he was standing before the approaching group. Words tangled in his throat—did he greet them? Did he question them about what had driven them to attempt such a reckless mission?
In the end, his relief outweighed everything else. "You all made it back alive… and with the princess, no less." A small, genuine smile pulled at his tired lips as his eyes softened at the sight of Princess Tanya, safe and breathing. "I'm glad."
"It was the toughest battle we've ever faced," Anastasia replied, her voice low but steady, the weight of the ordeal still clinging to her. "But… somehow, we pulled through."
Seth's gaze drifted to the unfamiliar faces trailing behind them. "I see you've brought others with you."
"These ants were prisoners," Anastasia explained. "Hopper and the grasshoppers had enslaved them for years. They've suffered a lot, but we couldn't leave them behind. We've decided to help them."
A voice rumbled from the back. "Who is this ant? Is he from your colony?" General Ivan asked, shifting the unconscious Leon's weight across his shoulders. Leon's limp body sagged against him, his breathing ragged but stable.
"That's Chief Warden Seth," Beatrice replied, stepping forward. "He oversees the prison back in our colony."
"I see," Ivan muttered, adjusting Leon's weight with a grunt. "So, what's a prison warden doing all the way out here? Foraging for food?"
"We'll get to that soon," Seth said, waving him off gently. "You can share the full details about what happened at Hopper's fortress once we get back to the colony. For now, let's tend to everyone's wounds."
"Well, that works for me," Lily chimed in, her antennae twitching in mock irritation. "I can barely feel my arms. And carrying this ant around didn't make it any easier—he passed out at least twice!" She flicked Ari's face with her fingers, her touch light but playfully annoying.
"Ouch, that hurts," Ari grumbled, leaning away from her hand.
"Serves you right," Lily teased, grinning.
A soft breath escaped Princess Tanya as she watched them. Her lips parted slightly, but no words came. Something faint and uncomfortable bloomed in her chest—an odd, restless sting as she watched Lily so easily invade Ari's space, so naturally connected to him. It was strange. Irritating, even.
Why does it bother me so much? she wondered, hastily brushing invisible dust from her wings. It's not like I—
Her thoughts crumbled beneath her own denial, and she quickly turned away, pretending not to care as the warmth crept uninvited to her cheeks.
The group made their way to the temporary camp that Seth had prepared. Bioluminescent fungi illuminated the area in a cool, steady glow, providing enough light for the workers to tend to the injured without the need for fire, which none of them knew how to make. Brooks walked behind the group, carefully carrying Rory's unconscious body across his shoulders.
He gently set Rory down near a patch of moss and quietly instructed one of the workers, "Take care of him. He's been through a lot."
"Right away, Lieutenant."
The worker hurried off as Brooks gave a small nod, his gaze lingering on Rory's unconscious body—a painful reminder of his own son, Toran. The weight in his chest pressed a little harder, but he turned away, forcing his focus back to the task at hand. There was still work to be done. Brooks moved to help establish the perimeter and keep watch, his sharp eyes scanning the shadows, never fully at ease.
"Ah, this feels so good," Lily groaned as she stretched out her battered body, now wrapped in rough strips of leaves. "I haven't slept properly in days."
"Yeah, me too. My body still aches all over, but I can't complain. If it wasn't for Ari, things would have turned out much worse," Beatrice said, her voice soft with gratitude.
"You're right. He really was cool when he swooped in and saved our lives… then fought and defeated General Sly." Lily's face flushed lightly as she smiled, a dreamy tone slipping into her voice. "My own hero."
Beatrice arched a brow, crossing her arms. "You're really into that ant, aren't you? All you do is talk about him now."
"Oh, don't be jealous, Beatrice. I still have plenty of love for you too." Lily winked teasingly.
"No thanks," Beatrice shot back, but a faint smile betrayed her amusement.
Isla sat quietly, clenching her fist in her lap. "I'm really glad we all made it out alive," she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible over the faint hum of the camp.
But the more she tried to find comfort in those words, the harder it became to push away the memories—the ones that still gripped her chest and made her stomach knot. She could still see it, clear as day.
Sly's wicked grin. The flash of his mandible as he drove it straight through Lily's side, her small frame collapsing like she'd been made of paper. Beatrice, already beaten and bloodied from her brutal fight with Gianna, had fallen to her knees moments before, unable to rise. They were both down. They were going to die.
There was no one left.
No one but her.
Her heart had been pounding so violently back then, her legs trembling beneath her, every instinct screaming at her to run. To flee. She had known—she knew—she stood no chance against Sly. She was weak, she was slow, and she was afraid. And yet… she had stepped forward anyway.
"I was so afraid…" she whispered, tightening her fist. "But somehow, I found the courage to fight. To stand between him and them. Even when I knew I couldn't win."
Her throat tightened, tears burning at the edges of her eyes. She didn't know if it had been bravery or desperation, but she had refused to let them be taken from her. Somehow, that refusal—that spark—had carried her through.
"I want to get stronger," she said, her voice firmer this time. "Strong enough to protect everyone the next time. I don't want to just stand in the way… I want to stand a chance."
The image of Lily's pained smile and Beatrice's exhausted, yet proud, eyes stayed with her as she looked up at the distant glow of the bioluminescent fungi scattered across the cavern ceiling like stars. A quiet determination settled in her chest.
In another part of the camp, illuminated by soft clusters of glowing fungi, Leon finally stirred, groaning as he blinked against the dim light. "Where am I? Did I die?" he muttered, his voice rough.
"Leon, you're finally awake," Amelia said, a small, relieved smile tugging at her lips.
"What happened? The war… is everyone alright?" He tried to sit up, but the sharp pain in his side forced him to lie back down.
"Rest easy. It's all over now. Hopper was defeated in battle."
"Oh, I see… they really pulled it off, huh?" Leon sighed, sinking into the soft moss beneath him.
"Yes, they did. They're a really strong group of military ants, that's for sure," Amelia said, her gaze lifting to the night sky where the moon still hung in silent vigil.
Rory's eyes fluttered open as he groaned from the bruises left by Baracko. His body felt like lead, but he forced himself to sit up. His gaze drifted and landed on Ari, who sat a few meters away under a patch of glowing fungi, Princess Tanya resting peacefully in his lap.
"Looks like you're finally awake," Ari called, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.
"How long… have I been out?" Rory asked, his throat dry.
"I don't know. Maybe seven hours or so."
"I see…"
"You can rest easy now. We won."
Rory hesitated, his thoughts twisting inside him like tangled vines. There was something he wanted to ask. How did you get so strong? How did you leave me behind? But the words caught in his throat, heavy and bitter.
What would I even say? If I ask… what answer am I hoping for?
"…Never mind. Forget it."
For some reason, Ari's gotten way stronger than he used to be. It makes me wonder if I'll ever catch up to him. Baracko said Hopper was defeated, but was it really Commander Anastasia? Or was it Ari?
His doubts gnawed at him quietly, but he said nothing more.
The ants who were once slaves to Hopper sat in quiet groups beneath the pale light, some softly weeping as the workers of Queen Celeste's army handed them food and water wrapped in broad leaves. Slowly, they began to regain their strength, some of them even falling asleep as they savored the rare chance to relax without fear, the flickering blue glow of fungi painting gentle patterns across their worn faces.
"Here you go, my princess," Gor said, carefully handing Regina a container carved from hardened plant stem, filled with cool, fresh water.
"Thank you, Gor." She drank deeply, savoring the crisp taste. "Isn't it great, Gor? After two whole years of suffering, we're finally free." Tears glistened in her eyes as she lowered the container.
"Yes. Queen Elira would be smiling right now," Gor said softly. "I'm glad they managed to get us out of there. Now, you'll be able to reconstruct the colony and forge a future for these lost souls."
Regina's tears fell as she looked around at the freed ants, some of whom had already begun to smile for the first time in years.
Anastasia sat alone on a jagged rock, her posture slouched as a cool breeze whispered past her antennae, brushing against the bandages wrapped tightly across her chest. The faint, pulsing glow of the nearby fungi painted her pale skin in hues of blue and violet, casting long, thin shadows that trembled with the soft night wind. The distant hum of the camp faded into the background, leaving her alone with the weight of her thoughts.
That fight against Hopper is still a blur.
The memory clawed at her, vivid in fragments.
I remember him slashing me across my chest with his mandibles—the sharp crack of his strike, the burning agony that tore through me as I collapsed to the dirt. I lost consciousness... and then... I heard a voice calling out to me. Ari.
Her brows knitted as her hand hovered over her wound, pressing gently against the dull ache beneath the bandages. The skin still throbbed with every breath.
When I gained consciousness, Hopper was already weakened to the point where he couldn't even defend himself. I didn't understand it at the time. I was blinded by my rage, my hunger to avenge my father. I charged in, consumed by revenge, and in that storm of emotion… I lost sight of the truth.
Ari was the one who inflicted those devastating wounds on Hopper. His strength is growing—no, it's more than that—it's evolving at a terrifying pace. Almost immeasurable. As a Lance Corporal, he defeated General Sly, who had been wreaking havoc before I was even born. He was the one who defeated Hopper, not me.
Should I question him? Should I ask how he's doing this? What strength he might be hiding?
The rough texture of the stone beneath her palm grounded her spiraling thoughts. No. Maybe… it's better if I leave it alone. For now. I'm just glad we all made it back alive.
She exhaled softly, the cold air biting at her throat as her shoulders slowly relaxed.
"Commander Anastasia," a voice called from below, snapping her from her thoughts.
She looked down to see Ruth standing at the base of the rock. Her armor was bruised and smeared with dirt, her breathing slightly ragged, though she tried to hide it.
"Oh, Commander Ruth," Anastasia greeted, her antennae flicking with surprise. "What is it?"
"With your wounds, I thought you'd be resting. They're serious after all," Ruth said, her tone edged with concern as she climbed closer, her boots crunching against the scattered gravel.
Anastasia shook her head, wincing faintly as the movement tugged at her injuries. "No, they're not as bad as they look," she replied, though the dull, constant throb in her ribs betrayed her. "What I'm more worried about is what might happen in the near future, now that Hopper's reign has ended."
Ruth paused, folding her arms as a cool breeze ruffled her hair. "You're right," she said, her voice low. "Although Hopper was cruel, he did fend off other insects from taking over the colonies in this region. His rule, as brutal as it was, kept certain threats at bay."
Anastasia's gaze drifted to the moon, its pale light casting long, trembling shadows across the camp. "There's a major shift in the balance now. With Hopper gone, there's nothing stopping those predators from coming. More danger is bound to come our way. When it does… we'll need to rely on the strength of your colony too, Ruth."
Ruth's antennae dipped in agreement, the faint glimmer of resolve in her tired eyes. "Yes. I agree. When that time comes, we'll stand together."
"I sure hope so," Anastasia said softly, her voice barely louder than a whisper.
The soft whisper of the wind moved around them, carrying the distant sounds of the recovering soldiers. The night was calm now, but it was only a fragile peace—a fleeting pause before the next storm.