A loud banging noise was made disturbing Ari's sleep. Ahhh! My ears, what the hell was that said Ari as he held his antennas. All of the prisoners where released from their prisons and lead into a large areas in the colony in which a proud ant stood above the mass. Rise and shine everyone, I'm sure that many of you know who I am already but for the new prisoners I'll introduce myself.
My name is Seth, commander of the army that serves queen Celeste, you should all refer to me as sir and obey my every order, there will be severe punishments for those who don't understood? Said Seth. Yes sir said all the ants imprisoned. Good , now let me explain how this works , you work an eight hour shift and you'll be paid for it with your one and only meal for the day, if you fail to comply with this for even by a second you not be given any food until the following day said Seth.
Eight hours, that's just cruel and if you don't do your eight hours you don't get to eat that's messed up Ari said to himself. Now that everyone are up to date on what exactly is to be done get moving, those tunnels are not going to dig themselves and the debris won't clear themselves.
One by one the prisoners took up pickaxes in order to start digging the tunnels, the area was heavily guarded by warden ants as to prevent any escape plans or to punish those who slack off. As Ari reached the front of the line he picked up the pickaxe and examined it. This was crafted with sticks and stone conjoined using some form of gooey material to ensure efficiency, who would have thought that ants would be this intelligent in another world Ari said to himself as he made his way to the mines.
After reaching the mines he started digging alongside the other prisoners then suddenly an ant stopped digging due to being fatigued from the previous day. Get back to work!! Shouted a Warden ant. Please , just give me sometime to rest Sir, I haven't recovered from yesterday said the ant as he struggled to stay conscious. Get back to work!! Shouted the Warden ant as he started slapping the prisoner with a thorny vine and he squealed in pain.
If I'm not careful, I might end up like that unfortunate ant over there, that looks really painful Ari said to himself as he continued digging the tunnel. This barrel is full, help me move it to the outside said an ant. Both Ari and the ant pushed the heavy barrel. If I were a human doing all this i would die in half an hour, however since I am an ant I can work for long periods of time without getting tired.
To remove the debris from digging the tunnels they would place them in cylindrical structures to roll outside the colony. The thing is it's really heavy for only two ant to carry and to make it even worst the exit is inclined making it more difficult. They only allow two ants to carry all this weight to prevent escape plans said Ari.
As Ari made his way back to the colony he noticed and old , fragile ant pass out and falls to the ground due to fatigue. Get back to work you old fool said a warden. The old ant tried standing up but immediately fell down due to being overly fatigued. You can't say that I didn't warn you said the Warden as he started beating the old ant with the thorny vines.
Grandpa, no stop hitting him, please have mercy said a young female ant as she rushed infront of her grand father to protect him. he's old and unable to resume working today , so please spare him just this once I beg of you said the female ant.
Move out of my way or do you want to get whipped as well? Asked the Warden. No, I won't move, I can't just stand still and watch you hurt him, he's the only family I have left said the Female ant with tears in her eyes. It's your funeral, don't blame me for what happens next said the Warden as he swung the thorny vines at her however Ari caught it with his bare hands.
What , how dare you try to stop me said the Warden. Listen, the old ant is worn out so even if you beat him he won't magically get more energy to continue, you'd only kill him said Ari. Hears what I'll take on his work today so that he can rest up and be more productive tomorrow so just leave him alone for this once.
The Warden then sighed and agreed with Ari's logical argument. Bring him with you, he's going to spend the rest of the day in his cell said the Warden. Grandpa can you stand? Asked the female ant. It's alright just lean on my shoulder, I'll take you to your cell. Thank you so much for helping me and my grandpa said the female ant as she left.
What's wrong with me? I thought that I really despised ants, so why did I help them just now? Shouldn't it bring joy to me to see them in pain ? Ari asked himself. In this world and ours I view ants from two different perspectives, I didn't know that they had feelings like this almost makes me feel guilty for what I've done to them.
After ten hours had passed a tired Ari was finished with all the work he had for himself and the old ant. He went to the Warden that watched over him and the Warden took him to the storage and gave him three pieces of meat for protein, water and a berry. Ari then sat down and began eating, then suddenly an ant tapped on his shoulder.
Um, who are you? Asked Ari. I'm the ant that you helped out earlier, thank you for helping my grandpa out , I really appreciate it, her take this she said as she handed him a piece of meat. I don't need that, if anything you should give it to your grandfather since he didn't get anything to eat for the day. Here take this as well and give it to him said Ari as he handed the ant some water and a piece of meat.
Thank you, you're very kind. So do you have a name? Asked Ari . Yes, my name is Evelyn and you? You can just call me Ari. Ari? That's a very strange name said Evelyn. So Evelyn, how did your grandfather and you end up in a situation like this? If you don't mind sharing of course said Ari.
Well we didn't commit any crimes or theft against this colony that's for sure. Both me and Grandpa came from a flourishing colony , we had a lot of food supply and a well built infrastructure, life was peaceful until he came about a grasshopper named Jumper, he came to our colony demanding half of our food supply for the winter. My father and his soldiers refused and tried to resist Jumper ultimately resulting in their deaths and the destruction of our colony.
Me and my grandpa barely escaped with our lives and we started wandering around just to find food to survive however, one day when we were traveling ants from this colony captured us and brought us to the colony to do their bidding said Evelyn. So far the only living thing I've seen in this world is ants , I didn't imagine that grasshoppers existed said Ari to himself. You and your grandpa had been through a lot.
Go ahead and give him the food, he must be really starving at this moment said Ari. Yes you're right, I'll be sure to tell him about this, thank you again said Evelyn as she ran off.