Lancelot and Ari circled each other in the center of the training ground.
Lancelot breathed heavily, sweat running down the side of his face as the early morning light stretched long shadows across the dirt.
He tightened his grip on his mandibles.
Then he rushed at Ari.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Each swing cut through the air. Ari slipped past the first slash, ducked beneath the second, then stepped back just before the third swept across his chest.
The wind from the blades brushed against Ari as they passed.
Isla watched from the side, squeezing her eyes shut whenever one of the slashes came too close.
She opened them again just in time to see Lancelot turn and charge.
Ari's eyes narrowed.
Is it just me, or has he gotten faster?
Lancelot swung again.
Ari leaned back, letting the mandible pass inches from his face.
Lancelot stepped forward and swung again.
Ari twisted out of the way, but the edge of the mandible caught a few strands of his hair.
Ari's heart pounded.
That was close.
Lancelot suddenly feinted left.
Ari reacted, shifting to the right.
Lancelot immediately changed the direction of his attack, bringing the mandible down in a hard vertical slash.
Ari's eyes widened slightly.
Ari drew his mandibles and snapped them upward.
Clang!
The two weapons collided, the impact ringing across the training ground.
"No way!" Isla shouted. "Ari actually drew his mandibles!"
"Nice one, Lance!"
Lancelot smirked as he pushed harder against Ari's mandibles.
Ari gritted his teeth. His arms shook under the pressure.
I knew he was strong, but... I can barely hold him back.
"So you finally decided to take me seriously," Lancelot said.
"I don't really have a choice." Ari strained against him. "You've gotten better since the last time we sparred. Looks like Lieutenant Brooks taught you a thing or two."
Ari quickly stepped back several times, putting some distance between them. He raised his mandibles and settled into a fighting stance.
"Got it. I won't hold back anymore, so brace yourself."
"I wouldn't want it any other way," Lancelot said.
Ari lunged forward, dirt scattering beneath his feet as he swung.
Lancelot raised his mandibles.
Their blades collided with a sharp metallic crack.
Ari twisted his wrists and struck again.
Lancelot caught the attack, knocking Ari's mandible aside before swinging toward his shoulder.
Ari stepped back and raised his blade just in time.
The impact jolted his arm.
He pushed Lancelot's weapon away and came in from the opposite side.
Lancelot blocked.
Ari followed with another slash, then another, forcing Lancelot to keep his guard up.
Lancelot parried the first and caught the second against his other mandible.
"I got you now!"
He brought his mandible down in a powerful slash.
Ari slipped out of the attack.
Lancelot blinked.
"Huh?"
His antennae flicked wildly as his head snapped from side to side.
"Where did he go?"
A faint chill brushed the back of his neck.
Lancelot's eyes widened.
He turned sharply.
Ari stood behind him, his mandibles poised just above the exoskeleton at the back of his neck.
Lancelot sheathed his mandibles and clicked his tongue.
"Looks like I lost."
Ari sheathed his own mandibles and let out a breath.
"That was fun. I thought I was going to be a goner a few times." He smiled. "You've really gotten stronger."
"Yeah..." Lancelot looked at Ari. "I don't plan on staying in your shadow forever."
Ari's eyes caught sight of someone approaching.
Corporal Beatrice was walking toward them. Behind her, Corporal Lily followed at a lighter, quicker stride.
Ari glanced between them.
"What do they want?" he asked.
"Not bad at all, you two." Beatrice crossed her arms. "We've been watching your training. It's uncommon for Privates and Lance Corporals to put this much effort into honing their skills."
"But not you two." Lily stepped closer to Ari, the light tap of her feet against the packed dirt quick and lively. She slipped her arm through his and leaned in, her shoulder brushing against his.
"Captain was right about the three of you. Especially you, Ari."
Her voice dropped as she rose onto her toes. Her warm breath brushed against his ear.
"I didn't get the chance to congratulate you on winning the war against the moths."
Ari swallowed.
His cheeks flushed.
"H-Hey! What are you doing?" he asked, his antennae twitching erratically.
Her chest was pressed against his arm.
It's... so soft.
A shiver ran down his spine.
No. Stay calm. She's just an ant. Just an ant...
Lancelot looked down at Lily.
What is this pipsqueak trying to do?
A faint flush crept across his face.
A faint chuckle slipped from Lily. She leaned back slightly, one hand resting on her hip.
"Relax, Ari. I'm just giving you your reward."
Isla beamed and stepped forward.
"Really? Captain Valeria actually said that about us?" Her eyes lit up. "I'm glad! We always train to get stronger. We don't just stop."
"As if," Lancelot scoffed. "All you do is sit back and watch Ari and me spar."
Isla puffed out her cheeks.
"That wasn't sparring. All you did was get your butt handed to you by Ari."
"That's not what happened." Lancelot ruffled his hair. "You wouldn't have done any better, coward."
"Coward? You're the one who always gets flustered and falls over when Ari gets serious!"
"Says the one who can't even watch without covering her eyes!"
The rapid sound of footsteps and frantic shouting suddenly cut through their squabble.
"What now?" Isla asked, her gaze snapping toward the approaching ants.
"The grasshoppers! The grasshoppers are coming!"
A soldier came running toward them, shouting at the top of his voice.
A wave of screams erupted across the training ground.
"Run!"
"Get inside the colony!"
Workers dropped their tools and scattered in every direction. Some stumbled over their own feet, while others shoved past each other in a desperate attempt to reach safety.
The ground shook beneath the pounding of their feet.
Beatrice's expression hardened.
"No. They're here already?"
Her fingers trembled at her sides.
"They weren't supposed to arrive for another three days."
No way..." Lily's antennae twitched, and her expression stiffened.
Beatrice turned toward her. Lily?
"Gre... Gretel. She's here. I can feel it."
Lily's face paled.
"But why now? What's changed?"
"Grasshoppers..."
Ari's mouth opened slightly.
The word brought back memories in the quarries.
He sat beside Evelyn as she spoke.
"My grandpa and I came from a flourishing colony. We had plenty of food and well-built infrastructure. Life was peaceful... until a grasshopper named Zyroth came."
Evelyn lowered her gaze.
"He came to our colony and demanded half of our food supply for the winter. My father and his soldiers refused. They tried to resist him, but..."
Her fingers tightened around the fabric of her clothing.
"They were all killed. Our colony was destroyed."
Ari remained silent.
"My grandpa and I barely escaped with our lives. We wandered from place to place, just trying to survive. Then, one day, ants from this colony captured us and forced us into labor."
Ari's fist clenched.
Could it be...?
His heart thudded against his chest.
Could that be the same grasshopper Evelyn was talking about?
"Focus, Ari!" Beatrice's shout cut through his thoughts.
Ari blinked and looked toward her.
"There's no time to explain what's happening," Beatrice said. "We have to act now."
She turned toward Lily.
"Lily, gather all recruits and every soldier below the rank of Corporal. Get them back to the colony. Now."
Lily's eyes widened. She turned her head.
"Huh?"
She took a step back and nearly lost her balance.
"R-Right!"
She caught herself, then straightened.
"On it!"
Lily turned and ran.
Beatrice faced the others.
"Ari, Isla, Lancelot. Go to the working zones. Get every worker to stop what they're doing and return to the colony immediately. We can't leave anyone out there. Move!"
"Right!" Lancelot said, taking off.
Ari hesitated for a moment.
Whatever happens, I have to protect everyone.
He reached for Isla's hand.
"Come on, Isla! We need to hurry!"
"W-Wait, Ari! Slow down!"
Ari pulled her along as he ran.
Isla scrambled after him, struggling to keep up.
"Your legs are too long! Slow down!"
Across the colony, panic spread through the working zones.
Soldiers hurried between the workers, waving their arms and shouting directions.
"Everyone, back to the colony!"
"Drop your tools and move!"
"Keep moving! Don't stop!"
Workers abandoned their tasks and ran toward the tunnels. Some looked over their shoulders at the distant horizon, while others stumbled as the ground began to vibrate beneath their feet.
"What's happening?" a worker cried. "Why now?"
"We don't have time to explain!" Ari shouted. "Just move!"
He grabbed a worker by the shoulder and guided him toward the nearest tunnel.
"Get inside! Hurry!"
Isla stood nearby, waving both arms as she tried to direct the workers.
"E-Everyone, back inside! Please, hurry!"
A deep rumble rolled beneath the ground.
Isla's antennae shook.
"D-Don't wait! Keep moving!"
Dust rose from the packed dirt as hundreds of ants rushed into the inner colony. The tunnels filled with hurried footsteps, frightened voices, and the scraping of tools against the ground.
Ari glanced back toward the horizon.
The vibrations were getting stronger.
Meanwhile, Beatrice sprinted toward the central chambers.
What are we going to do, Captain Valeria...?
She shook her head.
No. I can't worry about that right now.
She quickened her pace.
I have to warn Captain Valeria, Lieutenant Brooks, Captain Draven, and Queen Celeste. The harvest is ready, and we're prepared, but they need to know immediately.
The distant rumbling followed her through the colony.