The Ant. A short story.

Anton Ant.

It was a warm Sunday morning. Anton Ant was getting ready to go to work. Getting ready to collect food for his family.

"Have a good day at work, Sweety!" Said Antoinette, his wife.

"Have a good day at work, daddy!" Said his two kids.

"Thank you! I'll make sure to work extra hard today," said Anton as he was walking out the door.

Before he could leave, his kids quickly grabbed and hugged him goodbye. Anton hugged them back. Antoinette kissed her husband goodbye and squeezed him tight as their kids went to play.

"Be careful at work, okay? We have kids to take care of. As a team," said Antoinette.

"I'm always careful. The giants never see me," reassured Anton.

"Well, best you keep it that way. I love you."

"I love you too."

With that, Anton went to work. Anton's job was to look for food and alert the colony of what he found. Spring had just started, so everything and everyone would be coming out of hibernation. This was the most dangerous time of year, so all lookouts would have to be most careful.

Anton was quite good at his job. He rarely got caught and if he did, he was good at getting away. However, because of this, he started getting cocky which started clouding his judgment. He still somehow managed to get away, that was until...

"Phew. That was a close call. I can't believe that bee tried to get me!?" Said Anton as he stopped to catch his breath.

Unfortunately, he had not taken notice of his surroundings. He failed to notice the giant who spotted him.

As he looked up, he was crushed...

~{Time skip}~[a day later]~

*knock knock knock*

*door opens*

"Y- Yes? Can I help you?" Said, Antoinette.

"Miss... Antoinette... I'm captain Natalie of your husband's district..."

"...no..."

"I-... I'm sorry for your loss. We found your husbands remains on the side of a wall... I'm sorry."

"NO!..." Antoinette let out a painful cry as she dropped to her knees.

The captain hugged Antoinette tightly as she wailed. After a couple of minutes, she calmed down.

"W- Would you like to c- come in for some tea... or coffee?"

"Thank you, Miss, but I have to get back to work."

"Okay. I understand... have a good day."

"You as well. It gets easier to accept. In the meantime just try to stay strong in front of your kids."

"M- mhm.." Antoinette closed the door as she said goodbye. She looked around at the empty house and broke down again.

"Y- You Anthole! You said you'd be careful!" Antoinette yelled as she sobbed, holding her knees up to her face.

~{Later}~

"Alright, calm down now!"

"Uncle Benant! Uncle Benant! Can you make dinner tonight?"

"Sure, but let's first get inside and figure out why your mother didn't get you from school..."

Benant then unlocked the door and tried to walk in, but to his surprise, the door didn't budge. He wiggle the door a little harder again before it finally moved.