Chereads / The Habitat / Chapter 38 - New Guardians of the Marshes

Chapter 38 - New Guardians of the Marshes

The strength of the stapus were reassuring, from termites, ants, and the butterflies. Their presence in building the home significantly contributes to finishing it in a moment, just a week after Emily held the ant queen's power.

The rooms were finished first and were decorated by Kent, Belle, and Emily. Wooden beds were laid along with a single chair and table. Soft cushions made from Belle's threads spit comfort in silk. The hallway at the center separates the boys from the girls. The kitchen design was from the class cook's preference. On this massive center island, they can prepare a considerable amount of food for the whole section.

The hall was massive, a combination of gold-plated walls and wooden planks. Designs were carved with them to promote beauty even without the presence of other exquisite materials in their past world. Chairs were also made since they usually held a meeting for future plans.

At the same time, a watermill was made to irrigate the water connecting from the river, so they wouldn't have to go to the river just to fetch some water. It was made possible by Alex's power to manipulate the earth. This was also useful in preparing dishes and cleaning the house, especially the garden, which was taken care of by one of their classmates, Lynne.

Kent walked outside, where she saw everyone getting busy on the jobs they were assigned to. They proposed that they have to settle on a job every week and switch after that. In this way, all of them could learn about specific tasks that some have mastered. From chores to training, they were all prepared to do them.

It's been a week since the destruction of the hive. The students all fought hard for their freedom. The butterfly queen went back to her domain, where Kent promised her to give her the assistance she needed in bringing abundance to that place.

The class had a meeting on how things would turn out for the creatures under Emily and Christian. There are still a number of them. The marsh is abundant. However, they still don't have to rely that much on resources without the proper use of agriculture, such as farming and fishing.

"Should we just let them return to their original land? The land where the past queens ruled?" Destiny said.

"Doesn't that mean we still haven't learned from the lesson of the past queen bee?" Darline argued.

Everyone stopped talking and somewhat agreed with Darline.

"Yes, Darline's right. We promised the butterfly queen the abundance like our territory to be also given to their lands. The sin of the past queen bee shouldn't be repeated." Kent explained.

"We shouldn't just leave them to roam around the marshland without something in mind. We took the powers of the queens; the responsibility should be ours to take. Nevertheless, they're the ones who came to this land first, not us. Who are we to treat them something as nothing?" Maeje argued.

"But, how are we going to feed these mouths?" Destiny asked.

Kent was speechless. She doesn't know what to do. Indeed, the marsh is abundant, but these gigantic creatures don't just eat a tiny amount of food. They have to have a proper way to acquire such resources in the future. Even though the marsh can still provide them at this time, they weren't sure about how these creatures multiply, and there might be a shortage in the future.

"Then we should extend our garden area and add a fish pond to raise and farm some fish too." Lynne proposed.

"That's right!" agreed, Lyka.

"I will reroute the water from the river like what we did for the watermill and make some pond," Alex said, making use of his power.

"Thank you, Alex." Kent thanked.

"Kent, wait!" Christian shouted.

"Yes, Christian?" heeded Kent.

"The termites… They said that they could be of use by scouting the marshes for sudden intruders. They said they can serve as the security." Christian said, listening to the termites' proposal.

Kent was awestruck, "They can understand us?"

Christian nodded, "I just knew too. But it isn't a bad condition, in exchange for the food, they can serve as our scouts or soldiers.

"The ants agreed too. They said they can also become what Christian said." Emily interrupted. The class gazed at both of them.

"Well, that's really great. This will improve our security in the marsh. But we don't just give them that. Some of them can be hunters and will hunt for food for us. Can we all agree to this?" Kent asked.

Everyone said yes. The ants and the termites happily listened to them, cheer.

"Kent, I think I have an idea." Ivan walked towards Kent.

"Yes, what is it?" Kent replied.

"Maybe we can ride them and hunt, guard, and secure the place together?" Ivan proposed.

Kent couldn't even continue her thoughts since everyone seemed hype about the idea.

"Way to go, bro!" shouted Jimmy and Matt, who was just as hyped as the others.

"That is actually an excellent idea, Kent," Alex said. "You should probably consider it. This will not just improve the connection between us and these creatures, but also increase their probability to survive whenever an emergency comes." Alex explained.

Kent looked at the others who were listening attentively. Kent smiled, "Let's do this!"

Everyone shouted! Their screams were deafening as they cheered on a new mount to roam places they hadn't been before.

"I can finally ride one!!!!!!!!" shouted almost all of them.

Without properly ending the meeting, everyone just fleeted towards the creatures and chose which creature to take. Some immediately took the ant, the red, and some took the black ones. Some chose the termites as a mount, too.

"Hey! I was here first!" Shouted Destiny, who just touched a black ant with her hand, showing Cherry that she touched it first. Therefore, she was the one who would have this wonderful creature she could ride on.

"Are you a kid? I laid my eyes on this one first. Even before Ivan proposed the idea!" Cherry argued.

Kent moved her brows upward. She can't believe she would witness such childish behavior from her seemingly "Overly serious" friends from the past world. Well, she was like that too. Kent looked at the ant. She was sad about it. The ant seemed confused as to how to react. The ant must have considered itself a Casanova for looking at the two ladies fighting for him.

However, Kent just smiled and called Emily to intercept the chaotic scenery in front of her. Emily called another ant from a distance and gave it to Chery. Cherry seemed very happy about it that she just forgot how the battle between her and Destiny started.

Everyone seemed to be riding on their chosen partners as they all put a smile on their faces and commanded the creatures to walk, which they also did. They laughed as they raced one another, just galloping around the marshland with ease.

"Woah! Stop!" Ivan shouted, and the black and immediately stopped.

"What happened?" Emily asked.

"It's tough to mount it. If it runs, you can fall. The ant's skin was gleaming. It's hard to hold into it." Ivan shared the experience he had just had.

Everyone seemed to agree.

"Does that mean we can't ride it?" Jessie asked.

The joyous episode earlier faded into despair as hopes were taken from them.

"Dude, we just have to make a saddle," Neil said.

"Wait, that was very dumb of me," Ivan said awkwardly.

Then again, a beacon of light once again shone on the class as hopes immediately came back after ten seconds.

Belle immediately volunteered to make some. Maeje said that the wood can be carved to be of use and the plants that were hard enough to become material for the saddle. They all gladly acquired some and gathered in a circle where they followed Neil on how to make one.

It was afternoon when they finished it all. Belle's strings were instrumental, as well as the plants and wood recommended by Maeje. They happily put their handmade saddles on the creatures' backs and easily rode with it. The creatures did not mind it at all.

"You're right! This makes riding very easy!" Ivan shouted. Finishing the putting-the-saddle-on-the-back race in an instant. He really was very hyped for it. Although he was the only one who thought of it as a contest.

"Where to, Kent? I might do some overtime now in finding nor guarding the marshes tonight!" Matt joked. Also hyped while riding a giant red ant.

The class all rode the creatures they had chosen, both termites and the ants. Jessie and Lyka volunteered to go inside first so they could prepare the food for them. In contrast, the others roam around, riding the creatures with pure happiness.

Kent looked at her classmates with a smile painted on her face, knowing how wonderful it was to live in such a place with a glorious landscape and beauty.

Suddenly, vines slithered towards Kent, and she immediately knew who might that be.

Kent smiled while the vines continued to materialize, "We're waiting for you."

A beautiful guardian with a flower on its head appeared before her, "Greetings to the ones who won the war." Rabi said.

"Come inside. We have something to talk to." Asked Kent. Rabi followed her without hesitation.