The moonlight slipped through the thick canopy, faint and uneven. The air hung cool against the exoskeleton. Mist drifted low, gathering between roots that coiled through the soil. Each breath carried the scent of sap and damp bark.
The clearing was quiet except for the faint rustle of wings brushing against the still air.
Nytheris stood still, wings folded tight against his back. His dark eyes rested on Ignatia, a faint smirk touching his lips. The scent of pollen lingered between them until his antennae twitched—movement among the butterflies caught his attention.
His gaze shifted, landing on Ari. The air around him tensed. For a moment, panic crossed his features before his composure returned.
He turned sharply, eyes narrowing on the stranger. The weight of his earlier composure toward his Monarch vanished.
"Who are you, ant?" His voice carried a colder edge, low and deliberate, each word measured against the damp air.
Nytheris stepped forward, the damp soil faintly crunching beneath his feet. The thorned whip at his side brushed against his thigh; he reached down, fingers resting briefly on the hilt before the chitin ring clicked loose.
Resin creaked softly as the weapon shifted in its sheath, ready if needed.
Ari's chest tightened. Wait… is he talking about me? His throat felt dry. He held still, uncertain, antennae angled slightly downward as silence filled the space between them.
Nytheris's wrist flexed, and the whip snapped through the air with a sharp crack. The thorns caught the moonlight, each barb giving off a faint, cold glow as the coils tightened and uncoiled against the ground.
The air around him stirred with the sudden motion, brushing against the edges of Ari's exoskeleton.
"Speak, ant." His voice came cold and controlled, the calm edge gone. "Insects of your kind have no right to stand before my Monarch or even gaze upon her. Explain yourself before I lose patience."
Ari sighed, a quiet breath slipping through the tense air. He took a small step back, his armored feet scraping against the dirt.
He suspects me. Better clear this up before it turns into something worse.
"I don't know what you think, and I don't even fully understand it myself." His tone stayed calm, his eyes steady despite the tension around him. "But by being here, I was able to save your Monarch."
His gaze moved toward Ignatia. Her crimson eyes caught the faint light through the forest, the faint shimmer on her exoskeleton marking where the moonlight touched.
Nytheris stepped closer, the ground crunching softly beneath his feet. The whip coiled in his hand, thorns glinting faintly as tension built in his wrist. His jaw tightened, antennae angled forward in sharp focus.
The crack split the air—clean, violent. Dirt scattered where the whip struck, gouging into the ground just in front of Ari's feet.
Ari didn't move. His exoskeleton caught the moonlight, unshaken, his antennae steady despite the blast of wind the strike left behind.
"My Monarch would never stoop so low as to seek help from your kind. How dare you accuse her of such disgrace."
Nytheris's tone hardened, each word deliberate. His antennae angled forward, the whip coiling tighter in his grasp.
"Your presence here is suspicious. Tell me—are you working with Magnus? Is this part of his plan?"
Ari blinked, confusion flickering across his face. "Magnus? Who's that supposed to be?"
"Don't pretend you don't know."
The whip lashed out again, tearing through the air with a sharp whistle before striking the ground near Ari's feet. Soil burst upward, scattering across his legs.
Seraphina's wings shifted slightly, her antennae lifted as she regarded Ari and Nytheris, the faint blue in her eyes steady under the dim light.
"Well now… how delightful." Her tone carried the ease of someone unbothered by tension. "Our little savior stands accused of espionage. How unexpected."
A quiet breath escaped her, the trace of laughter soft against the still air. Her focus turned toward Ignatia, head tilting just slightly, strands of orange hair brushing her cheek.
"Tell me, Ignatia. What do you make of this?"
Ignatia's crimson eyes remained steady, her expression unreadable. She didn't speak — she simply observed, her silence saying more than words could.
Seraphina's faint smile lingered, her expression calm but intent. Her antennae shifted slightly, sensing the subtle change in the air between them.
Nytheris's behavior is strange… irrational, even. The thought came without emotion, precise and contained. He never loses composure before my sister.
Her gaze moved to the whip at his side, the tension in his stance, the stiffness in his jaw. Every motion pointed to restraint held too tightly.
Something doesn't align. Her fingers brushed the edge of her exoskeleton. Perhaps he's guarding more than my sister's pride.
Ari's calm broke as his antennae lifted sharply. He drew his mandibles from their sheath, the polished edges catching the pale light. His stance lowered, weight balanced, guarded but steady.
"For the last time, I don't know who this Magnus is. I was sent to investigate a crater not far from here." His tone held no tremor, only the strain of patience running thin. "Then I heard a voice calling for help—to save someone. That voice led me here… to your Monarch."
Nytheris adjusted his grip on the whip, the barbs scraping faintly as they shifted. His stance tightened, wings half-spread, eyes fixed on Ari with cold focus.
"Well," his tone steady and sharp, "I suppose this is where you die."
Something's off about this butterfly. Ari steadied his breathing, eyes locked on Nytheris's stance.Why is he suddenly so provoked by me?
A bead of sweat rolled down his chin, catching the dim light before falling. His grip tightened around his mandibles as he braced himself, every muscle ready for movement.
Before they clashed, a voice carried through the forest, cutting through the still air.
"Enough."
The tension broke as Ignatia stepped forward, the faint glow from her piercing crimson eyes steady and commanding.
"I order you, as your Monarch, to stand down. This ant speaks the truth." Her posture held firm, though her gaze shifted aside for a moment. A trace of color rose to her cheeks before she steadied herself. "He saved my life. So be at ease."
"So it's true then, Your Majesty."
Nytheris loosened his grip, the whip coiling back into place with a faint rasp as he sheathed it. His wings lowered, and he bent one knee, head slightly inclined in respect.
"Forgive my rashness. I've lost many guardians today. That is why my temper sits so close to the edge."
"I understand, Nytheris. But the next time you act, you'll confirm it with me first."
Ignatia crossed her arms, the smooth surface of her exoskeleton catching the dim light.
"I apologize for stepping out of line. I'll be more careful." His voice held restraint, though his eyes flicked toward Ari with faint irritation that didn't fade.
"Well, I guess that settles it."
Ari exhaled slowly and slid his mandibles back into their sheath, the faint click echoing in the clearing.
The air stilled, though the trace of distrust lingered in their faces.
"Now that that's out of the way, we should begin considering our next course of action."
Seraphina's gaze moved between them, her expression calm but deliberate.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed toward them, drawing closer through the dense clearing.
Nytheris tensed immediately, wings flicking as he unsheathed his whip in one swift motion. His eyes darted around sharply, antennae twitching with unease.
"Did you hear that?" His tone was low but sharp. "That movement… don't tell me this was your doing—an ambush you planned all along?"
Ari drew his mandibles, the blades sliding free with a faint metallic ring. His stance widened, steady and unflinching, eyes narrowing at Nytheris.
"Yeah, that's right. I lured the Moths here just so I could die beside you. Brilliant deduction." His voice carried a dry edge, his expression unreadable beneath the dim light filtering through the canopy.
Seraphina's lips curved, a soft chuckle slipping through as her antennae twitched in amusement. "You know, I'm starting to like you. You'd make a fine servant."
Ari's composure faltered for a brief moment as the memory of her tending to his wounds—her tongue brushing against his skin—flashed through his mind. Heat crept up his neck, but he forced his gaze to meet hers, steady and restrained. "Not happening."
The two other Butterflies lowered their wounded comrade carefully to the ground, wings folding tight against their backs as they drew their barbed whips.
"Don't tell me… it's another ambush from those tyrants." One of them tensed, his tone uneasy, eyes scanning the trees.
"Stay sharp," the other murmured, antennae twitching as faint light caught his weapon. "And watch for their illusion dust."
Seraphina lifted her whip, its barbs catching the dim light as her antennae drew back slightly. A cold glint surfaced in her blue eyes, calm yet fierce.
Ignatia stepped forward, her wings unfurling with a smooth, deliberate motion. The air stirred around her as she lifted off the ground, rising above the group.
Her red eyes swept over the trees, scanning the shifting shadows below while her hand stayed firm on her weapon, ready to strike.
In the clearing, a squad of military ants emerged, their movements steady but burdened by exhaustion. Some bore shallow scratches along their exoskeletons, others with minor. Their steps landed in firm rhythm against the soil, and the dull gleam of their chitin caught the moonlight as they came into view.
As soon as they caught sight of the Butterflies and the barbed whips in their hands, the soldier ants reacted at once, mandibles drawn and held at the ready.
The air grew sharp with tension, antennae twitching in unison as they formed a defensive line.
At the center of their formation stood their leader—still, composed, his weapon yet to be drawn. His eyes lifted toward the sky, tracking the faint shimmer of indigo wings above. Ignatia hovered there, poised and watchful under the pale light.
Sweat rolled down Ari's chin as the moonlight fell across the group, revealing a face he knew well. His grip loosened, tension fading from his stance. The mandibles lowered inch by inch before he finally spoke, voice low and uncertain.
"Lieutenant… Brooks."
Brooks's eyes widened briefly, then his composure returned. His voice carried quiet amusement, smooth and unhurried.
"Lance Corporal Ari. Of all the places to cross paths, I didn't expect it to be here, surrounded by sharp tempers and restless wings."
He folded his arms loosely, gaze steady but unreadable. "Life does enjoy its little surprises, doesn't it? Now then… what sort of mess have you wandered into this time?"
Ari sheathed his weapon and stepped forward, his movements slow and deliberate.
Brooks's calm tone carried through the clearing. "Now, tell me—why are you out here with Butterflies? Last I heard, you were assigned to Beatrice's squad in the southern craters."
"Well… that's a long story." Ari scratched at his cheek, his eyes shifting aside before settling back on Brooks. "But these Butterflies aren't the enemy, so…"
Silence followed, the air between them heavy with unspoken questions.
"I'll put my trust in that. I don't want any unnecessary bloodshed." Brooks's tone was even, though his eyes lingered on the Butterflies a moment longer before he turned to his squad. "At ease, everyone. Stand down."
The soldier ants relaxed their stance, shoulders easing as the faint tension drained from the clearing.
One by one, the metallic clicks of weapons being sheathed echoed through the quiet.
Ari, do you know these ants?
Ignatia descended, wings folding as her feet touched the ground. The whip hung from her hand, the tension in her wrist easing as she fixed her gaze on Ari.
The barbs of her whip caught the moonlight, their edges gleaming with a cold sheen. She coiled it carefully, wrist turning in measured rhythm.
Each segment shifted with a faint click as the thorns settled into place. Her grip stayed steady, avoiding the barbed edges.
At her side, the sheath waited—dark wood and resin bound together, fitted with a chitin ring.
She guided the handle in, smooth and precise. When it reached the base, the ring tightened with a quiet click.
"Yes, this is Lieutenant Brooks. He's from my colony." Ari's tone eased as he glanced toward the older ant. His shoulders lowered, tension fading from his stance.
"I see." Her hand rose, fingers steady, the motion firm but composed. The butterflies behind her followed the gesture at once, lowering their whips in unison.
The faint sound of metal links settling filled the quiet clearing.
"In all my years, I never thought I'd stand before two Monarchs at once. It almost feels like an honor." Brooks's tone carried a calm warmth, touched with humor.
His shoulders relaxed, the faint lines at the corners of his eyes deepening as he smiled. "Though, I'll admit, it's the kind of honor that makes an old soldier nervous."
"You've lived long enough to see many things," Seraphina's tone was composed, her gaze steady on him. "Tell me then—have you ever met one of our kind before?" A faint trace of curiosity softened her usual sharp expression.
"I have," Brooks replied, his tone calm and reflective. "It was some years ago. She was a young Monarch then—graceful, full of spirit. I've forgotten her name, but I still remember her eyes. Emerald, bright enough to catch even a soldier's attention."
His gaze drifted upward for a brief moment, the faintest hint of nostalgia crossing his face before he looked back at Seraphina.
Both Seraphina and Ignatia exchanged a brief look, surprise flickering across their faces.
Could he mean… Luminara? The thought passed between them in silence, unspoken yet clear.
"We should begin our search for Magnus's hideout at first light. The forest isn't safe to wander at night when they have the advantage." His wings shifted slightly, catching a faint shimmer from the moon. "For now, we'll need to find a place to rest. And I have somewhere in mind."
Ari stepped forward, his tone calm but steady. "If you start flying around looking for a place to rest, you'll draw attention. The Moths could be waiting for that. Another ambush isn't something you can risk tonight, not with your current numbers."
His eyes swept across the dark tree line. "It's safer to stay low and move on foot."
Seraphina's tone held a measured calm, but her gaze remained sharp as she turned toward him. "So where do you suggest we go?"
"This route leads to our colony. It's not far from here, and it's much safer that way." Ari's voice was low but grounded, carrying easily through the night air.
Nytheris's wings flared slightly, a faint rustle breaking the silence. His antennae angled back, irritation running through the small shifts of his jaw. The coils of his barbed whip brushed against his thigh as his hand rested near the handle.
"An ant colony… You expect us to rest underground?" His voice carried a steady edge. "My Monarch will not stoop so low as to sleep beneath the earth. I already know the perfect area. We don't need your guidance any further."
The whip's handle shifted faintly under his palm, the barbs clicking once against the sheath before going still.
Ignatia exhaled, her eyes moving from Ari to Nytheris. The calm in her tone carried weight that silenced the air around them.
"He's right. Flying through this area now would be reckless." Her gaze met Nytheris's, steady and unyielding. "We've already lost enough tonight. Resting near the ant colony is the safest move for now."
Nytheris's jaw tightened, his hand clenching at his side, but he didn't argue.
Ignatia's gaze lingered on him for a moment before shifting back to Ari. "Lead the way."
Ari turned to Brooks, waiting for an answer. The older ant stood quiet for a moment, antennae twitching slightly as his gaze drifted over the group.
A soft breath left him before he finally spoke.
"No objections here. In fact, that's quite the noble offer, Ari…" His tone was calm but carried a veteran's weight beneath the ease. "Just remember — you'll be carrying the full weight of that choice."
"I know." Ari's voice was steady, his expression unreadable.
The Butterflies and the Monarchs, along with Ari and Lieutenant Brooks, started their journey toward the colony. The forest air was still, carrying only the sound of their footsteps.
Two Butterflies carried their wounded comrade between them. As they moved, the injured one turned his head toward Nytheris, his eyes burning with restrained fury.