The three ant workers, under Gerhan's precise control, ventured out once more. Their tiny forms scurried across the towering grass blades that formed a labyrinth around them, each step carrying the weight of the colony's fragile survival. Back in the burrow, the young white-colored worker, still too conspicuous to leave, remained behind. Gerhan had instructed it to start carving out basic tunnels, creating a foundation for the colony's future.
Through the vision of his workers, Gerhan felt a strange exhilaration. The speed and agility of the ants contrasted sharply with the sluggishness of his queen body. It reminded him of days when his human self had been able to run freely.
"It feels weird to be this fast again," Gerhan mused, silently marveling at the efficiency of the tiny limbs.
After a few minutes of weaving through the dense green grass, the workers reached the clearing where the wolf carcass still lay. The armored brown bear was there as well, basking in the sunlight, its shimmering earthen armor reflecting faint rays. It exuded an aura of dominance, yet it seemed entirely uninterested in its surroundings, content to nap by the remains of its meal.
Gerhan observed carefully through the ants' eyes. The workers approached the carcass with cautious precision. One of them found an exposed patch of flesh and bit off a manageable chunk. Soon, the others followed, each carrying a piece of the bounty.
"This is perfect," Gerhan thought, his mandibles twitching with excitement. "A treasure trove of food, and the bear doesn't even care. I could stockpile enough to last for days."
The workers began their return journey, each clutching a chunk of meat in their mandibles. Gerhan's mind brimmed with plans for the colony's growth.
Then, calamity struck.
A shadow passed overhead, swift and silent. Before Gerhan could react, a blur of feathers descended from the sky. A bird, sharp-eyed and lightning-quick, landed with a sudden thud.
In one swift motion, it snatched up one of the ants along with its meat chunk. Gerhan's control snapped as the worker was devoured whole. The bird flapped its wings, rising into the sky again, circling above like a predator scanning for its next meal.
"No!" Gerhan's thoughts reeled in panic. Through the remaining ants' vision, he saw the bird's piercing gaze locking onto them. His heart—or whatever equivalent ants had—raced with fear.
The remaining workers dropped their chunks of meat and froze, blending into the grass. The bird circled for another moment, its sharp beak glinting in the sunlight, before finally losing interest and flying away, its prize already consumed.
Gerhan exhaled deeply, his mandibles trembling. "Stupid bird," he muttered bitterly. The ease and confidence he'd felt earlier vanished, replaced by a sharp reminder of how vulnerable he was in this vast, untamed world.
After ensuring the bird was gone, Gerhan commanded the workers to retreat. They took a longer, more concealed path back to the burrow, avoiding open spaces as much as possible.
"It's enough for today," Gerhan thought grimly. "I can't afford to lose another one."
When the remaining workers finally slipped through the carefully camouflaged entrance, Gerhan felt a pang of relief. The loss stung, but the experience was a lesson: this forest was a place of opportunity, but also of constant danger. If the colony was to survive and grow, he would need to tread carefully.
For now, the priority was clear—protect the workers, strengthen the burrow, and ensure that every venture was worth the risk.
As he was thinking the covered entrance fell into view.
Home.