Find Your Wings

We Fly with Pride

Colony's POV
Flik did his best to choose the strongest of ants among the colony, and he wouldn't have done it without the Princess, who wanted to keep her mother and newborn little sister safe. With dawn coming at such a short time, he was at the lead at guiding his group up and out, to the outside clearing. Having a firm trust in the Captain, they gathered among the grass and peppered about waiting for the hornet's opportune arrival at the sound of the alarm. As for the Captain's ideas, all was beginning to fall short, as to how much he had to fight in order to keep as many of them at bay as possible, but it did not seem to work as well as it was hoped. As the defense was set in courage and strength, the Queen, the Princess and all of the females and young were first to use the aquifer as an escape.

Lower and lower they climbed and many tunnels were shut off as others seemed to lead to different chambers, only to go around in circles and dead ends. The evacuation though seemed to have begun a little too late for comfort.

Molt and Summer's POV
He knew that it was Hopper's final and top priority order that he had to get Summer to safety as soon as possible. Taking one of the largest flowers they had with him, the grasshopper led the hummingbird at once when she was fed again, for the last time in this tight hill. This was when Molt's own perseverance would really show... Perhaps his inner assertiveness, likened to his brother's. The tiny bird, not used to the darkness of these caves, had to trust in his voice. She could not see well. With a thin strand of dead grass, he led her through a passage as Flora led him in turn.

"We need to keep going, sweetie. Trust me, you got this." he encouraged, sporting more of a deeper tone than usual.

"I-I'm coming, Molt... It's so strange in this place!" she chirped.

"Don't flap your wings yet, but just walk." he reminded her.

Her first instinct was always to fly, especially when frightened. Gladly, she partially taught herself to refrian as much as she can help it. The time came when they found the newly found entrance that led into a deep cave in deep under the tree. The tree's thick roots could be seen spouting and bridging through the roof of it from afar. The warning alarm was sound, which was so loud that it could be heard muffled this far down. About three feet.

"They're here..." Dr Flora's voice trembled.

What Molt saw before him was horrifying and the only way across or down was to fly. Would Summer have enough energy?

"O-Oh, this is bad, so very bad..." he responded.

Summer looked at her challenge and her brown eyes widened. "I-I think I can do it..." she softly spoke, though she sounded unsure.

"So can you, Molt." Dr Flora began to encourage her friend, who seemed frozen at first. "Guide her."

"Okay, okay. Guide her." he reminded himself. "W-we'll all go together, you got me?"

Summer nodded and he pointed to a specific piece of root that seemed just strong enough for her to perch on. "See that? You think you can make it?" he asked Summer.

She was able to see the place light up with those mushrooms. The same ones that lit up the tunnels. "I do... I think I can!"

"Flora, get on my back." he told the nurse ant, who had been by his side since his arrival.

She didn't budge.

"Molt. Dear... I need to stay for any injuries that can happen here. You two need to go." the nurse sadly replied. That horrified Molt. "Now."

"No. No, Flora, please! Please, come with us." he begged of her, his heart breaking.

This poor locust had gone through too much for one lifetime in her opinion and she wanted so much to go with him. He was her friend. She helped save him and he, right now, was trying to save her. It was a very painful decision. But she had to stay for the ones staying to fight.