The vibrations continued.
Slow.
Steady.
Deliberate.
Ethan stood perfectly still, every leg pressed against the cool stone floor.
Thump...
Thump...
Thump...
They were distant...
But unmistakable.
"...They're still moving."
"Correct."
"They have not changed direction."
"...Which means?"
"They are either marching toward something..."
A brief pause.
"...or away from it."
"..."
"...Somehow that doesn't make me feel better."
The worker ant watched Ethan closely.
She couldn't feel the vibrations like he could.
Not anymore.
Stone Sense had become his advantage.
She only knew one thing.
If Ethan was worried...
She should be too.
Several minutes passed.
Eventually...
The marching faded.
Stone Sense fell silent.
Ethan finally relaxed.
"...Looks like they're gone."
"For now."
"Iris."
"Yes?"
"You really know how to ruin a good mood."
"I strive for consistency."
The Glasswings slowly emerged from their hiding places.
One landed on Ethan's head without hesitation.
Another began inspecting the moss pile the worker ant had made.
A third somehow became tangled in a root.
"..."
"...Need a hand?"
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The tiny creature chirped pitifully.
Ethan carefully untangled it.
It buzzed happily around his head before darting back to the others.
The worker ant watched the exchange.
Then...
To Ethan's surprise...
She gently nudged one of the little creatures with her antenna.
The Glasswing froze.
Then happily rubbed its tiny head against hers.
"..."
Ethan smiled.
"Looks like you've got friends now."
His stomach growled.
Or at least...
Whatever the ant equivalent of a growl was.
"...Food."
"A biological necessity."
"Very helpful."
"I am aware."
The chamber itself didn't have much to eat.
A little moss.
A few seeds.
Not nearly enough.
"If we're going to stay here..."
He looked around thoughtfully.
"...then we need a reliable food source."
The worker ant tilted her head.
She didn't understand the words.
But when Ethan pointed toward the tunnel...
She immediately understood the idea.
Gathering.
She nodded enthusiastically.
The two ants set off together.
This time...
They weren't wandering aimlessly.
They were exploring around their new home.
There was a difference.
A small one.
But an important one.
The tunnels branched endlessly beneath the forest.
Some climbed upward.
Others descended into darkness.
Several had collapsed long ago.
One tunnel...
Smelled sweet.
"...Do you smell that?"
"I possess no olfactory senses."
"...Lucky."
The scent grew stronger.
Honey.
Or something very close to it.
The worker ant's antennae perked up excitedly.
Happiness.
Food.
She hurried ahead.
"Hey!"
"Slow down!"
Ethan chased after her.
The tunnel opened into a small cavern.
Golden liquid dripped lazily from the ceiling.
Each drop landed with a soft...
Plip.
Below...
Strange translucent insects the size of Ethan floated lazily through the air.
Their bodies resembled oversized droplets of amber.
Tiny wings buzzed so quickly they were almost invisible.
Wherever they landed...
They collected the golden liquid inside their swollen bodies.
Appraisal
Honeydew Sprite
Level: 2
Classification: Passive Pollinator
Diet: Sweet Sap
Threat Level: Very Low
"...Finally."
"Something that doesn't immediately try to murder me."
"They may still do so."
"..."
"...Can you let me enjoy one moment?"
The Honeydew Sprites drifted peacefully between the roots.
Completely ignoring Ethan.
One landed on his head.
Looked around.
Then flew away.
"...Rude."
The worker ant cautiously approached one of the golden droplets.
She touched it.
Then looked back at Ethan expectantly.
"...Should we?"
"You have previously demonstrated questionable judgment."
"...I'll take that as a maybe."
He dipped one mandible into the liquid.
Sweetness exploded across his senses.
"..."
"...Oh."
"...OH."
"It is edible."
"I KNOW!"
"This is incredible!"
He eagerly took another taste.
Warm energy spread through his body.
Not healing.
Just...
Refreshing.
The worker ant happily began drinking beside him.
For several peaceful minutes...
The two simply enjoyed the sweet sap.
"...You know."
Ethan leaned against a root.
"This almost feels normal."
"No monsters."
"No lightning."
"No giant predators."
"No near-death experiences."
"I calculate an increased probability of interruption."
"..."
"...Please stop predicting things."
Stone Sense activated.
Ethan immediately sat upright.
"...Already?"
The vibration...
Was tiny.
Hundreds of them.
Not marching.
Running.
Fast.
Toward the chamber.
"What now?"
Before Iris could answer...
The Honeydew Sprites all froze.
Every single one.
Then...
Without warning...
They fled.
The entire swarm vanished into cracks in the ceiling.
"..."
"...That's usually bad."
"An accurate assessment."
A faint clicking echoed through the tunnel ahead.
Not one.
Not two.
Dozens.
Growing louder.
The worker ant backed toward Ethan.
Fear.
Confusion.
Protect.
Ethan lowered himself into a defensive stance.
The clicking became louder.
Closer.
Closer.
Then...
The first creature rounded the corner.
It was an ant.
A carpenter ant.
Just like them.
Then another.
And another.
Within seconds...
More than twenty ants emerged from the darkness.
They weren't attacking.
They weren't gathering food.
They weren't even looking around.
They marched in perfect formation.
Eyes dull.
Movements stiff.
As though...
They weren't thinking for themselves.
Ethan's smile disappeared.
"..."
"...Something's wrong with them."
One of the marching ants slowly turned its head.
Its empty eyes locked onto Ethan.
Then...
It opened its mandibles.
A strange black mist escaped.
The entire marching column stopped simultaneously.
Every head turned toward Ethan.
At once.