The so-called «boat» awaited them on the edge of the pond. It was a dried-up leaf, curled perfectly into the shape of a small dinghy. Though uneven, it looked sturdy enough to float on water, and in the eyes of two adventurous young ants, it was magical.
The journey to the pond was, as the adults had predicted, dangerous. They avoided the fluttering shadow of a butterfly, narrowly dodged their neighbor – a grouchy grasshopper who nearly stepped on them – and took extra care when they passed the territory where the spider webs stretched like shimmering nets in the sunlight.
When they finally arrived, the pond stretched in front of them like an alien world. The sunlight reflected off its surface, and ripples danced hypnotically. But the most incredible part wasn’t the water – it was the sheer abundance of life. Dragonflies zipped by, their wings humming loudly. Water bugs skated effortlessly across the pond’s surface. And farther out, a sleek, glistening fish jumped, its silver body flashing briefly before vanishing into an ominous ripple.
«This is it!» Irra said, puffing out her tiny chest. «Time to sail the boat.»
«But… the pond is vast,» muttered Frra. His antennae twitched again, this time in unease. «What if something… eats us?»
Irra rolled her eyes. «That’s why we brought the pine needles. Look!» She jabbed her weapon into the ground. «We’re fearless! Anything tries to mess with us, we *sting* it!» She brandished the pine needle with such dramatic flair that Frra couldn’t help but grin.
Emboldened by his sister’s confidence, Frra picked up his own pine needle and together they pushed the dried leaf toward the water. With careful effort and teamwork, the two managed to climb aboard, balancing themselves as their ’boat’ bobbed on the surface. It wasn’t a perfect fit – Frra kept slipping to one side and Irra had to anchor him with her legs – but they were finally doing it.
«We’re sailing!» Irra cheered, holding her stick up high.
Frra hesitated, looking at the dark water beneath them before letting out a cautious cheer himself. «We’re sailing!»
For a glorious few moments, they glided peacefully along the
shimmering surface as the gentle current carried them. It was everything they had imagined and more – the exhilarating wind brushed against their exoskeletons, the water sparkled below, and the world seemed infinitely larger than it had before.
But their adventure wouldn’t stay peaceful for long.
A sudden shadow loomed overhead, and the humming sound of wings filled the air. A dragonfly – a massive, iridescent predator – circled closer, its goggled eyes locked onto the two ants. To the dragonfly, they were nothing more than a tasty snack.
Irra’s instincts kicked in immediately. «Frra! Stay low and hold on tight!» she barked, grabbing her pine needle like a spear.
The dragonfly swooped closer, its wings slicing through the air like blades. Irra stood her ground, brandishing her needle and jabbing at the air with a ferocity that would have made the bravest ant soldier proud. She hissed in defiance, making herself look as big as possible.
The dragonfly hesitated for a split second, just long enough for Frra to jab his own pine needle upward, grazing the insect’s delicate leg. The dragonfly buzzed angrily, but the tiny resistance seemed to surprise it. With a loud whir of its wings, it decided the meal wasn’t worth the trouble and flew away.
«We did it!» Frra gasped, clinging to the edge of the leaf. His whole body trembled with the thrill and sheer terror of what had just happened. «Irra, we actually did it!»
Irra, still gripping her makeshift weapon, gave him a shaky smile. «I told you we’re fearless.»
But their relief was short-lived. A ripple appeared in the water, growing in size and heading straight for them. Something was coming – a fish.
«Row! Row!» Irra yelled, tossing her stick into the water like an oar. Frra did the same, and together they paddled furiously toward the shore.
The ripple grew larger, the fish’s sleek body beginning to emerge from
beneath the surface. Its enormous mouth opened wide, ready to snap shut on the tiny, floating ants.
With one final burst of effort, Irra and Frra propelled their boat forward until it scraped against the muddy bank. They leapt to safety just as the fish lunged, its jaws closing around nothing but the dried leaf. The boat disappeared into its mouth with a splash.
Irra and Frra lay panting on the shore, barely believing their narrow escape.
– —
By the time they returned to the anthill, muddy, scratched, and utterly exhausted, the sun was beginning to dip below the horizon. Irra looked at her brother, their adventure still fresh in their minds.
«That,» said Frra, ’was the scariest and greatest thing we’ve ever done.»
Irra grinned, her antennae twitching with pride. «I guess the adults were right. The pond *is* dangerous. But… we’re Ant Warriors now. Nothing can stop us.»
And with that, they trudged back into the safety of their busy, bustling anthill, already dreaming of their next adventure.
The Endless Gray Ribbon
The soft dirt beneath Irra and Frra’s tiny, quick feet kicked up small puffs of dust as they scurried through the tall grass. The blades swayed gently in the afternoon breeze, towering above them like an emerald forest. Though the sun warmed their tiny bodies, excitement made their small hearts beat even faster than usual.
«Do you think the monsters are really as big as the moths say?» Irra asked, her antennae twitching nervously as she dodged around a fallen pine needle.
«Maybe,» Frra replied, his tone carrying an air of bravery. «But what if the moths are just telling stories to scare us? Maybe there’s no ribbon at all. Maybe the hill isn’t even that tall.»
Irra gave him a skeptical look. «Why would the moths lie? They’re always up high, so they can see things we can’t.»
«True,» Frra admitted. «But maybe they’re exaggerating – like the time Uncle Frrun said he fought off a whole line of soldier ants by himself.»
Irra giggled, recalling how their uncle loved to boast. But as the anthill disappeared further behind them, her excitement mingled with a tinge of unease. «We have to be careful,» she whispered, her voice suddenly softer. «If the monsters are real…»
«We’ll be fine,» Frra interrupted, puffing out his chest. «I’m fast, and you’re smart. Together, we can do anything.»
The two dashed through the dense undergrowth, weaving around ferns and mushrooms that towered like great domes. They passed clumps of moss that felt like the soft cushions of a throne and crossed a shallow trickle of water, using a bent leaf as a bridge. Finally, the world seemed to open up just a little – less trees, less grass. The ground began to feel harder under their feet, smoother in a strange way. The air smelled different too: a mix of something sharp and oily.
«We’re getting close!» Irra exclaimed, feeling her heartbeat quicken.
They