In the colony's grand meeting chamber, Queen Celeste sat upon her elevated throne.
The semicircle of elder ants shifted where they sat, their quiet murmurs rising and falling through the chamber.
To the queen's right stood Lieutenant Tavian and Sergeant Cassian. Cassian kept his hands folded behind his back while Tavian leaned lightly against the earthen wall with his eyes closed.
To her left, Princess Emilia sat with her shoulders drawn in.
Her gaze wandered around the chamber before settling on the floor.
Lily and her squad stepped forward and bowed in unison.
Lancelot, Isla, and the three Lance Corporals followed her lead.
"Your report, Corporal Lily," Valeria said.
"I'm on it, Captain."
Lily lifted her head with a faint grin.
"Queen Celestia, our mission is complete."
She stepped forward.
"I was assigned as squad captain by Captain Valeria to investigate the northern craters."
She began pacing slowly, absentmindedly wiggling a finger in the air.
"Our main objective was to stop the earthworms and any other creepy crawlies trying to dig its way toward the colony."
She closed her eyes and rested her hands behind her head.
Valeria cleared her throat, covering her mouth with one hand.
Lily stopped and looked over.
Valeria's eyes narrowed.
"Ah... right. Sorry."
Lily quickly straightened.
"We found and eliminated a total of thirty-seven earthworms in the underground tunnels. Seventeen of the carcasses can be recovered safely. The rest are buried beneath unstable ground, and trying to retrieve them could cause sections of the tunnels to collapse, putting the workers at risk."
She let out a small breath and turned toward Isla with a playful smile.
"Everyone in my unit made it back without any injuries. We're just a tiny bit tired... right, Isla?"
"Huh..."
Isla squeaked.
"R-Right..."
She gave a hesitant nod.
"Your report has been received. You are dismissed," Valeria said.
Queen Celeste released a slow breath.
"So the source of the craters has been dealt with."
Her gaze settled on Tavian.
"You have all performed well. Lieutenant Tavian's recommendation should also strengthen our food reserves for the coming winter."
She turned her attention toward Tavian.
"You have carried out your duties well...and it seems Lieutenant Tavian's suggestions also helped increase our food supplies for the winter."
Tavian opened his eyes and nodded.
"Well, that's Tavian for you, Your Majesty. He's one of our wisest soldiers," Lily said.
A faint smile crossed Tavian's face.
Lily blinked.
"Oh! I almost forgot."
She turned back to Valeria.
"Where's my praise, Valeria? I followed your orders, didn't I?"
She leaned forward slightly.
Valeria let out a slow breath.
"That's Captain to you. And as I said, you're dismissed. Go get some rest."
"You're no fun."
Lily puffed out her cheeks.
She really is a handful.
Isla let out a quiet sigh.
Ahead of them, Lily strolled toward the entrance of the meeting chamber.
Lancelot's gaze followed her.
His fingers slowly curled into a fist.
Just before reaching the exit, Lily stopped.
Footsteps echoed behind her.
She glanced over her shoulder.
Beatrice and her squad walked past the boulder, their pace steady as they entered the chamber.
"Looks like I beat you to it, Beatrice."
Lily flashed a peace sign.
Beatrice continued forward without slowing, her eyes fixed ahead.
Lily's antennae drooped.
The smile slipped from her face as she watched Beatrice walk past.
She looks even grumpier than usual... I wonder what happened.
As Lancelot and Isla passed Beatrice's squad, their eyes swept over the group.
Wait... where's Ari...?
A grinding rumble echoed through the tunnel.
Lancelot's eyes widened.
He spun toward the entrance just as the servants planted both hands against the rough boulder and shoved.
"Wait...!"
The massive stone scraped across the floor with a deafening groan before slamming into place, sealing the chamber behind them.
Isla's antennae twitched as she stared at the now blocked exit.
Princess Emilia slouched in the stone chair beside the queen.
A slow yawn escaped her as she stretched, then she rubbed her eyes while her wings gave a faint flutter.
Queen Celeste turned her head slightly.
"Emilia, how have you found these summits so far?"
Emilia shot upright.
Her antennae stood straight as the chair shifted beneath her, nearly throwing her off balance.
She caught herself, one hand pressed against her chest as her breathing gradually settled.
"If I'm being honest... I'm tired."
Her shoulders relaxed a little.
"But hearing everyone talk..."
"About the world beyond the colony's tunnels..."
Her eyes drifted toward the boulder.
"They're talking about places I've never seen."
A quiet smile touched her lips.
"So when I think about it that way..."
Queen Celeste shifted slightly.
"I see. As the future queen of the colony, all of that will fall to you. Every report. Every record."
Emilia let out a soft breath.
Her shoulders lowered, and her head dipped.
"When you put it like that... that's a lot of work."
Beatrice bowed.
Quinn and the lance corporals lowered themselves a breath later.
At the back of the group, Nova dipped into her bow.
Her lips trembled.
So this group made it back too. I'm glad.
Emilia smiled.
Then she froze.
Her fingers tightened around the armrest.
Wait... didn't Ari go on the mission with them?
Her gaze swept across the group.
Where is he?
Her breath caught.
"Don't tell me..."
The whisper slipped from her lips.
Her eyes widened as both hands rose to cover her mouth.
Valeria stepped out from the corner of the chamber.
Her face was calm.
"Your report, Beatrice."
"Right..."
Beatrice said.
"Our mission was to explore a large crater with multiple tunnels discovered by a patrol team on the southern outskirts of the forest and exterminate the earthworms responsible for the disturbance."
Her eyes lifted for a brief moment.
Sergeant Cassian stood with his arms folded, looking down at her.
Brother...
Her fingers trembled for a moment before she forced them still.
She closed her eyes and drew in a slow breath.
Then she opened them.
"Everything proceeded as expected. We located the earthworms inside a cavern. They were all resting."
She paused.
Her gaze drifted back to Nova.
Nova quickly looked away, her body trembling slightly.
If the queen learns what I did... I'll never advance to a higher rank.
Nova's breathing grew shallow.
I brought this on myself.
Her fist clenched.
But that doesn't matter.
Ari's out there somewhere, injured and alone... probably in danger.
So whatever happens, I'll accept it.
He's the one who gave me a chance.
"We encountered a centipede in the tunnels. Specifically, one from the Lithobius forficatus species."
Beatrice turned toward Nova with a faint smile.
Nova's mouth parted.
A long breath escaped her lips.
Thank you... Corporal Beatrice.
Her shoulders eased.
"I see. So that's why the earthworms left their burrow?"
Elder Junon straightened slightly.
"That explains everything," another elder said.
"We initially believed the earthworms were moving closer to our colony in search of warmer underground conditions. But it seems they were actually fleeing because the centipede was hunting them for food."
Beatrice straightened.
"Once we confirmed that, we rallied and eliminated it before it could cause any further damage or collapse the tunnels. But..."
Her eyes shifted toward her squad.
A hint of tension settled across her shoulders.
"As you can see, we sustained a few minor injuries. We also eliminated nineteen earthworms. Only eight of the carcasses are suitable for retrieval."
She drew a quiet breath.
"We searched the entire crater and every connected tunnel for hidden passages. The area has been secured."
"Excellent work, Corporal Beatrice. You led your squad well and acted swiftly to eliminate a major threat," Queen Celeste said.
"Thank you, my queen."
Beatrice lowered into a bow while Quinn and the others stood at attention.
Valeria's chin remained level.
Her lips parted.
"And what of Ari?"
Emilia turned her gaze toward Beatrice and leaned forward slightly.
Beatrice hesitated.
Her eyes dropped to the floor.
"After we completed the mission... he suddenly broke away from our formation in the forest, and we... lost track of him."
Valeria closed her eyes.
She raised two fingers to her temple and drew a slow, controlled breath.
"Looks like that fool finally lost it... though I never expected this from him."
A few of the elders exchanged faint smirks.
One rested his interlocked fingers beneath his nose.
"I knew it was a foolish decision to allow that conniving ant into our colony."
Elder Junon's jaw tightened.
"Oh..."
Queen Celeste lowered her gaze to Elder Junon.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"On what basis do you make that claim, Elder Junon?"
"Think about it, Your Majesty. He wasn't born in our colony, and we know nothing of his origins."
He paused.
"What if he used this opportunity to return to his own colony and relay valuable military information?"
There's no way that's true...
Emilia's fingers tightened around the edge of her chair.
A low murmur spread through the elders as several leaned toward one another, quietly voicing their agreement.
Silence settled over the chamber.
Queen Celeste leaned forward ever so slightly.
"I disagree, Elder Junon."
Junon's teeth clenched.
"I wish to understand your reasoning, Your Majesty."
"I believed I had already made my position clear."
"Ari has proven his worth time and time again. Through his knowledge and experience, we have avoided conflict with other species. On the battlefield, his judgment has spared many lives."
A brief silence settled over the chamber.
"To accuse him of treachery is to question my judgment."
Her voice lowered.
"So tell me, Elder Junon..."
She held his gaze.
"Is that your intention?"
Junon hesitated.
His fist slowly tightened.
"Forgive my interruption, Your Majesty."
Tavian stepped forward from her side.
"I must agree with Elder Junon. We know nothing of this ant's origins, nor what intentions may have guided the proposal he made that day."
His eyes narrowed.
"It is true that he has saved us from many hardships in war and helped secure our food supplies for the winter. However..."
He paused.
"We cannot ignore that possibility... should he return alive."
Valeria clicked her tongue.
"I'm sure you know this, Lieutenant Tavian, but it isn't your place to involve yourself in the affairs of my soldiers or those of the queen and the elders."
"Your duty, as Captain of the Royal Guard, is to protect Her Majesty. Nothing more."
A brief silence hung between them.
"Do not overstep your authority again."
"My soldiers have delivered their reports. With your permission, Your Majesty, we'll take our leave."
Valeria lowered into a bow, one arm crossing her chest before she rose.
"Beatrice. You're with me."
Her eyes swept across the rest of the squad.
"The rest of you are dismissed."
She stepped forward without breaking stride.
Beatrice straightened.
Her hands tightened briefly at her sides before she fell in behind Valeria.
"U Um... yes, Captain."
Emilia's hand drifted to her chest.
Ari... why?
You promised me...
Valeria disappeared through the chamber entrance with Beatrice close behind.
Tavian's gaze followed them.
His eyes narrowed.