Hopper's Narrative
The next day, by the grace of their Queen, I was granted to stay on this island with a specific title to hold up. There was no force involved. There were no more arguments from the rest, who were more desperate than anything. The young Princess, as jittery as she seemed to be around me, had agreed to let this happen. She was insufferable, just like all the others I've met so far, but she had some good potential. Being the only one rescued, she was to be just as heavily guarded as her mother as the foragers had to come out to get food for the day. For only two hours, they were allowed to cover a certain area with a lot of cover for them to hide in. Being the reinforcement, I was first to emerge from the ground. My eyes began to hurt a little from the warming morning sun as I climbed out from a small opening I dug for myself. I noticed the sentries go and scale the tree to their posts as I got a good look around the messed up clearing. As soon as I was sure that it was entirely safe, I took wing and flew to perch on top of the bridging tree root. It was a depressing to see how wilted and dry the grass was. It made me wonder how this colony still stayed here for so long. For me, to be trapped by water wasn't my idea of fun. But I bet it was really beautiful here in the spring, as the hills went out so long and the sky was so wide and open. I missed that beauty and I'm sure they did too. With a dry throat and an empty stomach, I pressed on.

The tree looked just as depressing as the dry bed. There was a high pitched cry of a distant bird beyond what I could see, instilling the hope I had that it could be a hummer. That was impossible. As far as my mission was concerned, there was no sharp, shrill wings or the sight of gold and red, but I was not going to put my guard down. So far, it meant safety for the ants. I snapped my claw aloud and Flik with the rest of the chosen eight began to come out, not the hill this time, but from these small holes through the ground from the tunnels below. As an emergency escape, it was a much better alternative that just fleeing back to the hill, which remained closed off.

"Remember." I spoke plain and loud for them to hear. "Only find one grain, for each of you. Two hours."

"Yes, Captain!" called one as the rest nodded, knowingly before they went off to search.

When they were set off, I began listening. Once again, I had that foreboding headache of a feeling that they were around. Certainly, that was not happening on my watch. While keeping these ants under my watching, I had decided to fly a little higher back into the hollow. Basically, right when I got higher to my perch, I swore I saw a dash of red right across the river. Seeing that immediately put me on edge. Just as I thought. We were being spied on.

Don't you think on it, you little waste of life. I viciously thought when what I saw was correct.

Of course, when the sentry saw the same thing, he had a mind to blow the alarm. I stopped him with my foot set down.

"B-but… Hopper, they're going to—"

"No. They're not." I bluntly replied. I kept my good eye set dead on ahead until those colors vanished. Supposedly.

The ant fell quiet just as I did until it was gone.

"They're spying on us." I finally spoke up, about to leave the tree. "They know I'm here. They won't just attack randomly while I'm here. Don't sound until you see them flying over the river."

"Y-yes, Captain."

Flying back down, staying low just above the grass, I counted the foragers, making sure no one else had gone missing. Who knew just how long it was going to be like this, so we all had to work together, no matter how unwilling most were. With my order in place, I flew a ways further down, keeping my presence as unknown as possible. I had to make myself known and that I was not taking risks this time around. I made sure it was only us. This scout was crawling about trying to avoid me catching him along the rocky cliffs of the island after he had the audacity to touch it. My choice may have been a crazy one but I plainly cleared my throat to get his attention. The red and gold scout hovered from the ground, holding on no fear.

"So, you finally decide to come over to me?" this hornet spoke, tauntingly. "Is there a web waiting for me too?"

"No. Honestly, I just want to talk. Grasshopper to Hornet, if that's okay."

"There are better things to do than just talking, when a nuisance won't leave the very tree my Queen wants. Typical leaf suckers working together?"

"You can say that. Although, I do not take kindly to spying."

"I'm a scout, grasshopper. It's what I do. What are you then? Grasshoppers hold no titles, especially lone ones."

"Perhaps you don't really know the rules when it comes to territory, which can lie in other societies. Even birds." I said, strongly, slowly getting angry.

"I know them well."

"Then you must know that I claimed this tree. Since your little beach incident. And you dare to slink around here… Well, sir, I'm not taking that kindly." I gruffly stated as I stood taller.

My wings were ready to spread open. The scout hummed as if in thought as his own red wings fluttered sharply.

"This is the first time we've ever had a grasshopper rebel against a hive. I can guess that you've seen a lot for one so quick and brutal as we've seen. You claimed a scout with a web, feeding him to a black widow… also able to tear wings off. You're able to avoid our stings. I take it that you want a truce?"

"The only truce I want is for you and your sack of waste to go and find a new home somewhere else. This is my last warning to you."

"Those ants—"

"… are mine. And don't you try snatching again. I will find your hive and I have ways to get what I want. As proven before."

The scout hornet gravely hummed as he rested on a blade. "I was afraid of that. Is it worth it defending them? They are spineless, cowardly."

"They have potential."

"They are no better than dirt. They only serve as small snacks. You'd make a much better ally. Or meal for that matter."

"Flattering…."

"Very well then. You wish me to leave. This is your island, supposedly."

"Don't you forget it. And if I spot one of you here again, we will have a problem."

A peaceful talk like that was rare, but it was essential if that was how it was going to be. They already knew where I was and this tree was a target for who knew how long. I knew their game and they knew mine so more than likely this 'truce' were to last long enough and prevent another raid. I could only hope it would last so long so that we could prepare and be ready for anything. By the time I got back, the foragers were happy to find enough food for the whole day and got safely back inside with no trouble. The hornet had left probably telling my proposal to his Queen and she had a lot to think about. Another week went by too quickly and not once did I spot another scout near here.

One evening, after another day of digging for water and foraging in secrecy, the Queen held a meeting within the Council Chambers. It was something I wasn't invited to but the Queen always confided in me with her concerns anyway. I was usually out and about where I felt most at home. Molt was the same. Life here was a little boring but it was nothing that a little bit of flying couldn't fix. Above anything else, with Molt back with me, it was rather peaceful here. Yet, it gave me a lot of time to think. It was as if were back at the berry bush. Again, to me… that wasn't a good thing.

Unlike Molt, I had my mind on what had to be done rather stopping to let things sink in. I was starting to feel myself spiral downward. Back to that awful morning, things went so fast, I could hardly think. Yet, what terrified me was the others seeing this, even Molt who had his own emotions to deal with. I was finding that all this energy I was throwing against the hornets was from that morning. Was this really how I dealt with things? It certainly wasn't fine for my health, but it felt good to fly it off. So that was how I spent my free time. I missed Flitter. I really did…

As for the colony, they had no idea what was flooding my mind and I was not planning to tell them anything. I was just a Captain to keep those hornets off their Island. That was it. Molt though was as pushy as anything, as he always was. It was almost dusk and it was another day passing by as we were flying over and around the tree. I finally took a breather in the tree hole, with my mind lost and full. Molt happened by.

"Hiya," he panted with a smile.

I sat there, rather still, breaking a twig in my claws. I stared off at the darkening horizon as the sun was leaving behind the tree. He knew the look I had and timidly joined my side. I had a tendency to get numb and stay that way for many reasons.

"… you okay?"

"Of course, I'm not. I'm more pissed than ever." I growled, throwing the pieces of wood down.

"Y-y-you never talk much anymore. But ya've been lookin' awful."

"The scar? Isn't it?" I sharply glared at him, but he didn't shrink this time.

"N-no. No, it's not."

"I didn't tell anyone." I sighed. "But another hornet was on the island. Spying. I knew the ants would freak out, but I made it bluntly clear that if they came again, I had ways to hurt them back. They know everything, Molt. This isn't finished."

"… they… they seem scared, but… they trust you."

"Yeah. Now I'm figuring that it's a mistake. I'm a grasshopper. Or a Leaf Sucker, as they put it. They have a colony full of killers. They can swarm both of us and we'll be dead in less than a second. If Flitter could not last two minutes against one… than what chance do we have?"

I could see Molt was able to understand how severe this was and the kind of weight I was bearing over my wings.

"That's why I am dealing with them one at a time. But I don't know how long I can last…. I'm already tired."

To my one and only brother, the deep sorrow in my voice grew before I fell silent again. Molt gave a shuddering sigh.

"I really believe in you, Hop…. I… I-I've never seen you fail at anything before."

That was what I believed was wrong. I did fail. I failed the flock, I failed our own clan. Molt almost died on more than one occasion. I shook my head in disbelief.

"Sorry, genius. That's where you're wrong. I've failed, a lot, Molt. You, Flitter, Emerald… and mom."

Molt fell back into his insecurities again and backed away.

"Keep this between you and me." I spoke again. "… promise?"

"I promise, Hopper…"