'Don't worry, Atta! I 'm sure he will come round soon!' I still felt troubled by it. 'Bet he's having lots of dreams about you!'

'Ivy!' she laughed

'Sorry! Couldn't resist that one!' My wing had only suffered very slight damage and I would be able to fly again in just a couple of days but Flik was still unconscious and I was incredibly worried about him. 'Hey, Atta!' said Ivy, changing the subject, 'Do you remember in the first grade when Martha tried to punch you and she ended up hurting herself instead!' she asked laughing.

'Yes, I remember!' remembering Martha crashing into a stalk and then crying because she had a 'booboo'!

'Hey! Atta! Atta! Princess!' I turned to see Petal running towards me. She stopped in front of me puffing out her chest feeling important. 'I came to tell you from Dr Flora that she reckons Flik's waking up!' I gasped with relief and delight. Then turned to the both of them.

'I'm going to go and see him!' I told them.

'Eww, going to see to see Flik, are you!' said Petal, grinning

'What's that's supposed to mean?' I asked

'Nothing,' she answered, giggling. I turned and ran towards the anthill. In the background I could hear Petal and Ivy giggling. I scurried down the tunnel and to the infirmary.

'Dr Flora! Dr Flora!' I shouted. She came into view.

'That was quick!' she commented.

'Is he awake yet?' I asked timidly,

'Yes, I'll go and tell him you want to see him.' She went past the curtain of leaves, 'Flik, you have a visitor.'

'I do?' came Flik's voice which sounded almost normal. Dr Flora turned and beckoned me in. I felt rather timid as I entered. Dr Flora went outside. For a few moments me and Flik just stared at each other. He looked quite surprised to see me.

'Um, how are you feeling?' I asked.

'Um, well, not too bad,' he answered but I could tell he wasn't being entirely truthful. He was obviously in quite a lot of pain. I sat down beside him. He gave a small nervous smile. I smiled back. Then he noticed my wing. 'What happened to your wing? How did it happen?'

'It'll be fine. It will be as good as new in a couple of days.' I answered hastily 'Only a very slight injury.' I didn't want him to know that it had happened when he had pushed me out of the way of the bird. But by the look on his face I could tell that he had already worked it out.

'I'm . . . I'm sorry.'

'Don't be silly, it wasn't your fault! If you hadn't pushed me out the way, I would have been . . .' I gazed at him. 'Well, I wouldn't be here to tell you anything, you were really brave doing what you did for me.' He looked slightly embarrassed. 'I read you all wrong,' I continued, 'When you first brought the warriors here I thought they were a bunch of clowns.'

'You did?' he asked, then laughed a little.

'Don't tell 'em I said that. Boy, that's all I need. Another royal blunder like that!'

'Princess, you're doing a great job,' He did! Wowh! Did he really! I mean I knew I wasn't really believed in by anyone . . .

'Thanks, you're sweet. You're wrong but sweet. I know what everyone really thinks . . .'

'I don't follow you,' he answered.

'Everyone,' I replied sadly 'the whole colony. No one really believes I can do this job. It's like they're all watching me,' I explained 'just. . . just,' I couldn't think of a way to describe the critical watchfulness of the entire colony of myself.

'Waiting for you to screw up.' Answered Flik in a daze of sadness. I could tell that he had had experience of a similar thing and I felt a pang of guilt.

'Flik, I owe you an apology,' I began.

'For what?' he asked.

'Well, I haven't been particularly nice to you,' I admitted, 'and, I'm sorry. If there's anyway I can make it up to you just say and I'll do my very best to do what you need . . .'

'Don't worry about that, you didn't mean to be. You have enough to worry about. It must be really stressful for you being Princess and all.'

'Yeah, kinda is,' I gave a deep almost happy sigh. I leaned towards him . . .

'Your highness!' I quickly drew back. It was Dr Flora. 'You are needed in Tunnel 5; there's been some sort of land slide!' I sighed heavily,

'Sorry, Flik, I've gotta go,' He nodded. I got up and noticed that Dr Flora looked slightly awkward. How much had she seen? Did she know what I had been about to do? 'I'll be back as soon as I can, Flik,' I told him before leaving and heading for Tunnel 5 with Dr Flora behind me.

Not far from the entrance of Tunnel 5 was a group of workers.

'What happened here?' I asked the east tunnels manager.

'I'm not entirely sure, Princess. I think it was something to do with a new tunnel being dug too close to two other tunnels causing the two tunnels and the unfinished tunnel to collapse. I think some workers have been buried under the earth.' I nodded then said,

'Well, they to be dug out and fast. Um . . . are some workers on the job or . . . uh are they just around, not really knowing what to do? Do we need to get any males into help?'

The whole thing was so nerve wracking.

'There are some workers ready on command to dig and Cotton came to help, but he's the only male here,' I nodded and went further down the tunnel.

'Hey Atta!' It was Ivy. I turned towards her. Her expression changed. 'Atta your face is all flushed! Did you get rejected?'

'WHAT?' I asked in amazement. She grinned.

'Just wondering!' she added. I cleared my throat,

'Alright girls,' I began,

'Hey!' said Cotton indignantly,

'Plus Cotton,' I added, 'get ready to dig. But . . . um . . . remember to be careful and quick.' Ivy gave me the thumbs up. 'Okay, start digging.' To my astonishment every single ant obeyed. Very soon one of the workers called over to me to say they had found someone. I ran over. 'Cotton?' I asked, confused, 'I swear you were . . .' He laughed.

'Na, I'm not Cotton! I'm Carlos!' he laughed again, 'I'm Cotton's clone! We look exactly the same except that I'm ever so slightly shorter!' Ivy had ran over,

'Hey! Carlos! Come over here and help me dig!' she said. He smiled and followed her.

'Hey, Princess! I've found someone!' shouted a worker not far away. I hurried over.

'Oh, no!' moaned the ant. Then another voice,

'Well it's about time too! Did you expect me to be able to adapt and breathe in dirt like a worm!' yelled an extremely agitated voice. It was Martha. She spotted me, 'Hey, Princess! What d'ya call this!'

'Hey! Shut up Martha!' shouted Ivy at the top of her voice. I sighed heavily and left Martha to her own devices. As I left she muttered something about 'useless'. I went over to Ivy and Carlos who were digging.

'How are you two getting on?' I asked trying to sound positive.

'Fine,' murmured Carlos through a mouthful of dirt. Ivy turned to me,

'Don't pay any attention to what Martha says. I swear she only exists to be unpleasant,' said Ivy, 'Oh, and moan! Can't forget that one very easily can we!' she added laughing. I smiled.

'Say, Carlos,' I asked, 'why were you down here in the first place?' He turned,

'Funny you should mention that, I had been sent down here because Thorny reckoned that the new tunnel would collapse if much more digging was done! He was obviously right!' he answered cheerfully. I smiled vaguely.

A moment later, 3 more ants were found,

'Alright, girls?' I asked. They coughed and spluttered.

'Yes, you highness.' Answered one of them, slightly croakily.

'Hey Atta! I think we've found someone!' shouted Ivy. It ended up being four ants who had apparently fallen on top of each other during the landslide out of panicking. They were relieved to be out of there and the one who had been on the bottom had to be taken to the infirmary.

'How many ants were down there?' I asked the east tunnels manager.

'There were half a score down there,' she answered 'so we need to find one more,'

'Did you include Carlos and yourself?' I asked.

'No, I didn't, that means we've found everyone.' She turned to the workers, 'Workers, stop digging!' Everybody stopped. 'Now, we need to repair this chamber, first . . .'

'Your highness, the Queen wants to see you,' said Dr Flora 'I think she wants to know how you handled the collapse.'

'Right,' I replied. I left the tunnel and headed for the Council Chamber where I guessed my Mother would be. I was correct. I entered. She smiled at me.

'So, how are you getting along with running things?' she asked me, 'I heard there was a landslide earlier.'

'Yes!' I told her, 'And everyone did what I said! It was amazing!' She laughed.

'And how's Flik?' I looked at her. Had Dr told her something?

'He's . . . he's fine. Feeling much better now' I answered hesitantly.

'Dr Flora said you were talking with him a lot earlier.' I nodded. 'Anything else you want to tell me?' My stomach clenched. She knew!

'No, nothing!' I replied quickly, almost in the way Petal had.

'I thought not.' She said. I could hear the sarcasm in her voice. I felt awkward.

'I . . . I' she laughed.

'It happens to every queen ant, dear, and even to some sterile workers . . .'

'What does?' I asked, confused. She laughed again.

'You'll see.'