Colony's Pov
The days went on as though there were hardly attacks in the first place. Yet it left them worried that there was something else going on. The young Princess though had more pressure on her shoulders now that her mother was expecting her last pupa as the weeks wore on. The Captain of the Island was always hard at work yet he barely spoke to them day by day. This summer had to be the strangest one, by far, by starting to trust another species with their safety. Although many workers were still unsure about the grasshoppers, but one thing was for certain. No one complained out loud in front of him, or argued… as if they were living in fear. Hopper was strong and stony at first glance. Due to the brutality of his fighting, the ants knew that he deserved respect, as if he was an ever watching bird prone to snatching one of them tightly into his beak. That kind of fear was natural among all kinds, even though his protection was reason for something unknown to them. It was something the Princess was starting to notice during the grasshopper's stay here. It was sure that Molt knew a lot of things, yet even he was not keen to just opening up on his stony brother's behalf. She as well as everyone else in her colony were just beginning to know Hopper. So far, his deeds showed that he was trustworthy.

Yet Atta took notice on other things as well. Hopper hardly spoke unless it was a concern or a sighting. She was always too curious for her own good, but it worried her that he remained so shut off most of the time. Perhaps it was just how he was since he didn't like being bothered, so much as to be ordered to do something. During a safe time period, she would only go up to the mouth of the anthill which was right beside his personal burrow. It was known that he disliked being inside the tunnels as they were too narrow and tight. Even for Molt, but he was more social with the colony members than Hopper. On this day, however, she needed to speak with him about an important matter regarding defense. The water search did not seem to change much during these hard weeks, but worries and questions flooded the princess since her mother was on leave.

Molt, on the other hand, was adjusting to life here on this lonely island, as one of the far reaching foragers as it was his forte, next to helping the young. Hopper put his two cents in as his reference after certain experience with another species. Hopper never spoken of which though. But Dr. Flora wanted everyone to be careful if word ever got out to the Captain that Molt once mentioned hummingbirds. That was when the concern began to take over the learning Princess.

Hopper thought of her as hopeless, if she remembered correctly, as she stuttered and lost track of her thoughts when under pressure. Atta, for one, knew that she was hopeless to an extent. She truly didn't believe that she would be the right Queen for this colony. Now the colony looked up to her for the most crucial decisions. With the threat of the hornets still underway, along with the hope of finding water that would suffice for the time being, the last issue was food.

So one day, when work was being done and the Council (lacking Thorny) went out of their way to help her. The day was overbearing as usual and the few foragers they had left had to have drinking breaks. Demand for water was growing even fiercer now. Life was living separately. Other kins hardly did anything together, such as conversing or even spending any time together, unless one needed help from the other or danger was coming.

Hopper's Narrative
Of course, I was accustomed to being left alone. As much as I enjoyed it, I was certain this colony was prone to making rumors. Molt may have been the open one, but I certainly was not that type. Especially now when I was in the process of finding a way to get to this hive. Finding it, was more like it. If I was to ever find it, I had to travel again, leaving this Island as easy pickings. I was just in the middle of my rounds, scouting out and checking the perimeter when the princess seemed to fly my way. I spotted her intended direction and hid for a moment between two rocks. She landed not to far off, looking for me. Feeling mischief tug at me, I slowly scaled up the stone before clearing my throat. She spun around, just as jumpy as my brother.

"There you are…" she panted as her small wings fluttered. "Hopper."

I cocked a brow at her before casually hopping down. "Don't wear it out, princess. Fancy seeing you all the way out here." I mentioned, honestly impressed that she mustered up the courage to come find me.

"It is rare that I do come out here. I felt that we needed to seriously talk."

My might shook her a little but she didn't budge, much to my surprise. Slow and careful, I lowered down to her.

"And what, may I ask, shall we talk about?"

"Doctor Flora has been talking to your brother, closely. Molt has been bringing things up that I believe could concern more than just the hornets."

"Is that so…?" I slowly turned grave. "Has Molt been guilt tripped? If so, that's something I will not accept."

"No, no, it's nothing like that. He seems worried. Scared, like the rest of us."

"He is scared for good reason. If you came to me to get me to spill then now is not a good time. Of course, I'm not going to keep secrets. You go ahead and get him to tell the whole story." I challenged her as I stood again, rising up like my irritation was.

"Hopper… Molt had mentioned that you both once lived among hummingbirds."

I was about ready to leap off, but that final word made me freeze. Atta seemed to know exactly what she just said. I shut my eyes in pure dread as I began to feel that guilt rise up again. Gathering all the patience I had, I slowly turned to look at her from over my shoulder. My wings twitched.

"He may feel safe enough to talk about them, but I'm not."

"Hopper, why? They, I mean… they can help."

"No, they can't. Do you know why? Because there is nothing for them here. They can't live here, physically. They are no match against those hornets without nectar. If you thought this was a good thing to bring up, you've made a huge mistake."

My voice was starting deepen and so I had to stop right then and there. Flitter's body struck me hard within my mind's eye and I couldn't shake it. Right then I really regretted what I said.

"No offense, Princess, just…" I tried to make amends but the damage was already done. "This is a conversation for a later time."

"I understand…" she timidly nodded, regretting her decision. "I didn't mean to an-anger you, I… I was only concerned. I am trying to find ways of defense against them as we are getting closer to the aquifer. I thought that since we're starting to really trust you and the alliances you have could play a part."

"Good thinking on your part, I suppose." I replied.

To her she seemed to pick up on my apparent grief that was begging to come out, but I sucked it in quickly.

"Go back and look after your colony. That is your place. Stick to it." I suggested. "Go and find Flik. I am sure he has his own ideas. As for me, I will take Molt and we'll go see if there's any spoils left across the river." I sighed.

"Thank you, Captain! Thank you…. Again, please forgive me."

"There's nothing to forgive. Now where's Molt?"

"He's inside the hill, looking after the children."

"Of course he is."

When I got to the hill, landing onto the root bridge, Molt had already been told that I needed him. When he saw me waiting, he flew after me obediently. I purposely punched him on the shoulder.

"Ow!"

"You talk too much." I grumbled, sharply.

He looked terribly sheepish.

"B-but, Hopper, ya know I can't lie…"

"Exactly." I shot back before starting my wings. "Come on!"

Once I jumped, he soon followed uncomfortably. During these weeks, it had been a routine to check the land across the river. Since we were only the winged neighbors, it was up to us to do a round check around the banks for any left over grains. It was crucial to not fly too far because we never knew when or where those hornets would show up. Even with a blurry eye, I scanned over a few areas before checking this one blade. Molt did the same with another.

"Don't go flying off, like you did a million times before." I called out, kicking against the blade.

Lucky day! A piece fo grain fell to the dirt. Molt laughed.

"I-I won't, Hopper, I really don't plan to this time!" he replied before he paused.

A chill ran through my body and I paused too. What captured us was the all too familiar hum of a pair of wings. It was not the shrill sharp sound of a hornet but of something I really hoped to hear again.

"Did you just hear that…?" I asked Molt, quietly.

"Yes…" he whispered back.

There was the sound again, only this time it sounded panicked. With a jolt of sudden energy, purely run on instinct, I jumped to chase that sound. Molt was not immune either and followed suit. I would search the skies but those humming wings sounded like they were hitting against something. I pushed harder when it began to get louder and soon the sight of light grey caught my eye. In an almost single moment, my heart felt like it hit my throat and I landed hard on the dirt. I almost skid and Molt almost slid and hit me. He gave a horrified gasp. I was speechless….

Right there, before our eyes, was no other than a hummingbird. A fledgling to be exact. Trapped and alone.

They struggled but they were growing weak with each try while those wings were trapped and held in the sticky grip of an abandoned web. Just then we heard a tiny voice come from their throat.

"Mother~ moth—"

"Oh… oh, Hopper, we gotta help her!" Molt acted entirely on emotion, whereas I was logically planning a safe way. I gripped his claw.

"Don't move." I ordered.

Startling her would make things worse.

I kept my emotions shut down for this. Yes, we were going to help her. Also, it was going to take some brawn to free her. Her sobs were getting weaker as we stepped close. I was hit with memories, seeing just how beautiful she was becoming. So young yet she was beginning to get color over her new feathers. She had barely begun to live. I crawled low, avoiding the webs and carefully cut through some snagging the wing closest to us. Molt sucked in his tears and slowly came up to her. She shook, trying to stay awake.

"Molt." I lowly addressed. "Go find two thick sticks about our height and the greenest, firmest leaf you can find. I'm going to cut her loose."

"Okay, Hopper…. Please be okay, sweety…" the sensitive locust wept before he went to find the tools.

"m-mother… please don't hurt me!" that little voice cried when she finally saw me.

She jerked which got her wings even more stuck.

"Easy. Easy… Don't move." I told her, straight foward and quiet. "I'm here to get you out. I'm not here to hurt you. Just listen to me."

"…mother…" she cried, weakly. "Where is my mother?"

Those words tore right through me. It was as if we were back home.

"I … don't know where your mother is. But just stay with me, okay? You have to stay awake…" I told her as I took a sharp twig into my claw.

"Don't… eat m-me…" she trembled as I started to work on freeing her legs and wings.

It took a time to get each line cut off without getting myself stuck as well. I flew over to get her other wing and soon enough she slumped all the way down to the dirt.

"Hon? Stay with me." I spoke louder to keep her conscious. She was basically void of energy.

Her brown eyes were begging to close, much to my dismay. Molt soon returned with the tools I requested. The leaf was half green but it felt fine and strong enough to carry her back to the Island.

"Molt. Take some of the web and tie it to the stick. Make it firm on the leaf." I instructed.

Concentrated, he worked hard as I did the other. Once we were done, it was time to put the starving hummer onto our makeshift gurney.

"Hang in there, girl…" I whispered.

Molt was on the verge of tears.

"I never wanted to see anything like this again…" he lowly spoke.

"You need to suck it up." I told him, having the issue at hand as my first priority. "She needs nourishment or she'll die if we wait another second."

"Okay!"

Together, with her on the leaf and slightly still tangled in a few webs, we both lifted her. I nodded at my unstable brother before we carefully began to fly. We just went over to get grain. Never did we suspect to see another hummer in these parts, much less a fledgling.

I could not leave her. I simply couldn't….