The sun rose over the colony, its light spilling into the upper tunnels and filtering down through stone shafts into the chambers below.
Ants moved quickly through the passages, their footsteps a steady rustle on the packed earth.
The air carried a low hum of voices and the scrape of resin containers being prepared, each sound laced with anticipation.
Today marked a historic moment for both Helena's and Celeste's colonies—a joint effort that would not only secure their fragile alliance but decide their survival through the approaching winter.
After days of tireless work constructing wheeled containers for transporting food, Queen Helena and Queen Celeste gathered in the council chamber to finalize preparations.
The faint clatter of tools still echoed from deeper tunnels, a reminder of the effort that had brought them here.
Their decision to divide the collected food equally was more than a matter of logistics.
For Helena, it was a statement of unity and hope.
For Celeste, it was a practical necessity, one that tested whether the treaty between them could truly deliver prosperity to both colonies.
Seated at opposite ends of the long resin table in the grand hall, the queens faced one another.
The chamber was hushed, broken only by the faint scrape of armor and the shifting of feet against the polished floor.
Behind Queen Helena, General Ivan stood with his hands clasped neatly behind his back, his face unreadable.
Across the table, Commander Valeria stood at Queen Celeste's side, flanked by Lieutenant Brooks and Tavian.
Brooks kept his posture steady, his calm presence a quiet anchor amid the tension.
Tavian leaned forward slightly, antennae tilted toward the queens as he followed every word with sharp focus.
Elder ants and senior officers lined the walls, their silence heavy with expectation.
"We must decide who will oversee this critical operation," Queen Helena declared, her voice warm and steady.
She leaned slightly forward, antennae tilting toward the council, wings fluttering lightly as if emphasizing her concern for the ants soon to be deployed.
It is imperative that we send our most capable leaders—we cannot risk anyone being left unprotected.
Queen Celeste inclined her head, her posture precise and composed.
Her antennae remained angled forward, scanning the chamber with calm authority.
The faint gleam along her exoskeleton caught the bioluminescent fungi as she shifted.
"This mission marks our first major collaboration since the treaty," her tone was measured and commanding.
"Both colonies must be confident that our leaders will execute their duties with precision."
After a brief pause, Helena leaned forward slightly, her wings fluttering with a gentle rhythm.
"Commander Ruth from my colony will lead on my behalf. Though our military is still rebuilding, I trust her judgment and calm under pressure. She will guide our troops with care and skill."
Celeste remained perfectly still, her posture straight and precise.
Her eyes swept over her officers before settling on one familiar figure.
"Lieutenant Brooks will represent us. His experience in coordinating large-scale operations is unmatched. I expect efficiency, discipline, and success under his command."
A faint gleam ran along her exoskeleton as she shifted, emphasizing her composed, authoritative presence.
Commander Ruth and Lieutenant Brooks exchanged nods, their mutual respect evident.
Ruth's posture was rigid, lips pressed into a firm line, her expression unreadable.
"I will ensure the mission proceeds as planned," she said evenly, each word measured and devoid of emotion.
Brooks rested his weight evenly, eyes sweeping the room with a quiet patience.
Lips curved in a faint, almost imperceptible smile.
"Then we move forward, step by step. No sudden surprises, no wasted effort. We've done worse and come through—this will be no different."
In that moment, it became clear: this was more than a resource-gathering mission.
This was a test of trust, unity, and resilience between two former enemies.
The next topic was the division of forces. Helena's expression softened as she considered the numbers, wings shifting slightly in the quiet hall.
Her colony could provide only fifty-five soldiers, still recovering from past losses, and she felt the weight of responsibility for each one.
Celeste's colony, stronger and better resourced, contributed one hundred ten soldiers.
She remained composed, posture straight and precise, eyes scanning the formation, exoskeleton catching the light as she calculated every detail.
Among the chosen soldiers were Ari, Rory, Isla, and Corporal Beatrice—ants who had trained tirelessly and were now stepping onto the battlefield for the first time.
Commander Valeria, the strongest soldier in Celeste's army, was tasked with guarding their colony.
Her presence was crucial—a deterrent against any who might see the expedition as an opportunity to strike.
Corporal Lily, equally committed to the colony's defense, volunteered to remain behind as well.
To support the transportation of food, 825 worker ants had been assembled.
They would be the lifeblood of the mission, guiding the wheeled containers and securing every gathered supply.
The day had come.
The expedition was about to begin.
As the morning progressed, Ari stood among the forming ranks, his thoughts heavy with the weight of the moment.
This was no longer training. It was a real mission, one where a single mistake could cost lives. Death itself does not trouble me. What presses harder is the question that refuses to leave my mind—could I protect the others?
Beside him, Isla fidgeted, her antennae trembling with unease.
Her lips parted in a shaky whisper.
"I'm really nervous about this. It's our first actual mission as soldiers."
Rory stayed calm, his posture straight, movements deliberate.
He set a steady hand on her shoulder.
"Take a deep breath, Isla. You'll be fine. Just stick with us."
Beatrice folded her arms, her gaze sharp and unwavering, the set of her jaw leaving no room for doubt.
"He's right. This isn't training anymore. This is the real thing. Stay sharp. Fear won't save you out there. Courage will."
Isla swallowed hard, throat tight, but gave a small nod.
"Okay… I'll do my best."
Ari, lost in his spiraling thoughts, was suddenly pulled back by a familiar voice.
"Ari!"
Turning, he spotted Princess Tanya weaving through the crowd toward him, her regal aura undeniable despite the humble setting.
She smiled warmly and gestured for him to come closer.
When he approached, she beamed, her wings giving a gentle flutter.
Translucent and veined like fine glass, they caught the light in shifting hues of amber and gold.
"You're a full-fledged soldier now. I'm so proud of you."
Ari felt an unfamiliar warmth bloom in his chest at her words.
I have come so far from the moment I first awoke in this world, reborn as an ant. Her recognition, simple as it is, means everything.
"Thank you." His voice came quiet but sincere.
Tanya hesitated, then extended her hand, revealing a small, shimmering gem.
"Here. Take this."
Ari accepted it, inspecting the delicate, glistening stone.
"What is it?"
"I found it when I was a child, digging through the tunnels," she explained, lips curving with a touch of nostalgia.
"It's rare. I always thought it was lucky."
Ari looked at her, puzzled.
"But why give it to me? It's precious."
Her smile softened, her wings folding neatly against her back.
"Because you matter to this colony. And because I want you to come back safe. Think of it as a lucky charm."
Ari stared at the gem for a heartbeat longer before tucking it carefully away.
"I'll be fine. Thank you, Princess."
"Take care… and please come back alive."
She gave him one last smile before slipping back into the crowd.
Rory's antennae flicked in quiet amusement.
"I didn't know you and the princess were that close, Ari."
Ari glanced at him, lips quirking faintly.
"You think so?"
Ari lingered for a moment, his fingers brushing over the smooth edge of the gem hidden in his pouch.
The warmth of Tanya's words still clings to me, steadying my racing thoughts.
Around him, soldiers shifted into formation, armor catching the sunlight as orders rippled down the lines.
In the distance, worker ants maneuvered the wheeled containers into place, the steady grind of wood and stone carrying across the field.
He exhaled, ready to sink back in line.
That was when a pair of arms wrapped suddenly around his shoulders from behind, pulling him out of his thoughts.
"Guess who?" a teasing voice whispered into his ear.
"Evelyn?"
The arms released him, and he turned to see Evelyn grinning, her bright eyes sparkling with excitement.
"You're coming on the winter expedition too?" Ari tilted his head, still a little surprised.
"Of course!" Evelyn's antennae swayed with energy, her smile unshakable.
"The berries aren't going to pick themselves. And besides…" her tone softened, "you've been working so hard. I want to do my part in this expedition too—so you'll know helping me out wasn't in vain."
Ari blinked, her words pressing down heavier than he expected.
So much has changed. Evelyn, once an outsider—once a prisoner—now stands here as one of us.
"You've grown taller since I last saw you," she teased, holding her hand flat in the air to measure the difference.
Ari smirked.
"I could say the same about you."
She laughed, the sound light in the heavy morning air.
"I feel safer knowing you'll be out there with us. So…" her antennae dipped slightly toward him, "can I depend on you to protect me, soldier?"
"I'll do everything I can to keep us safe," Ari answered, the promise in his voice firmer than he expected.
The chatter died down as Commander Ruth and Lieutenant Brooks stepped onto a raised platform, drawing every gaze.
Ruth's posture was rigid, lips pressed into a straight line, eyes scanning the ranks with unwavering focus.
"Today we embark on a mission that will test our unity, our resolve, and our strength."
Her tone was sharp, controlled, each word deliberate.
"We are no longer separate colonies—we are allies. This mission is not just about gathering food. It is about proving that our alliance is real."
Brooks shifted slightly, exoskeleton catching the morning light, his antennae moving lazily as he surveyed the crowd.
A faint, reassuring curve touched his lips.
"Our primary objective is the safe and efficient collection of food supplies. We will move in formation. No worker ant will be left unprotected."
His voice was calm, carrying the quiet authority of experience.
"We march not as strangers, but as one force. Remember that your actions represent not just yourselves, but your queens and your entire colonies."
A cheer rippled through the soldiers and workers, the air vibrating with determination and pride.
The worker ants murmured among themselves, some eyes wide with fear, others bright with determination.
For many, this was their first time leaving the safety of the tunnels.
They weren't soldiers; their hands were meant for carrying, not cutting.
Yet the soldiers' presence gave them courage, a living wall of steel and mandibles.
He glanced at the lines of soldiers around him, every one of them armed with natural blades of chitin.
His own mandibles are not his own—he still carries Valeria's father's legacy, borrowed strength.
Am I truly a soldier, or just an impostor clinging to someone else's power?
The thought gnawed at him, sharper than any enemy's attack.
Don't think, react.
Ari's eyes scanned the soldiers and workers around him, the hum of preparation filling the open space.
His pulse thumped in time with the clatter of armor and the steady scrape of wheeled containers.
A flicker of tension ran through him, and suddenly, the words of those who had guided him earlier came rushing back.
Before departure, Valeria had stopped him, tone clipped but firm.
"You've trained hard, Ari. Remember—don't think, react. On the battlefield, hesitation kills."
Lily had smirked, tossing her antennae back with teasing ease.
"And don't get yourself squashed before you've lived a little. Someone has to put you in your place for beating Beatrice, and that someone's me."
Valeria's gaze had hardened, her voice sharp with authority.
"I expect good news from you when you return. Do not disappoint me."
Ari had bowed his head slightly.
"I'll come back. Count on it."
The memory settled over him like a shield, steadying the nerves gnawing at his mind.
Whatever doubts I carry, I can't afford to falter now.
He clenched his fists, feeling his pulse quicken.
This is it—my first real mission as a soldier. My first step onto a larger battlefield.
And he was ready.