A Soldier

Hopper's Narrative
That had to be the hardest thing I had ever done. Since our nymph-hood, we have always worked together and yet here we were. It was going to be like this in the long run. One of was going to wind up alone, regardless. Molt could hope all he wanted, but by how everything was going, I was glad it ended the way it did. If I learned anything on this gone to hell trip, it was that I amended those mistakes I made. Right when I got it all back, it was going to be gone again, in a blink of an eye.

As there was no time left, there was no way of stopping the fact that an impending doom was tracking down this colony. There was a lot to do and so little time to do it.

Right when Flik and I had entered that Council Chamber, I was met with the Princess as well as the Queen. That elder, Cornelius stood at the podium beside Dr. Flora, who I also owed my thanks to. The Princess was young, so very young yet she was trying so hard to be queen in her mother's place. I, in a way, understood what that stress was like. I allowed Flik before me as we heard the walls grumble angrily from the hill's mouth being filled in. Again. The dry air already felt tight and as much as my damned instinct couldn't handle it, I cut straight to the point. Nonetheless, when I saw the tired Queen holding a tiny pupa in her arms, I had to try not to be any more threatening than I already was. Gladly, a nurse took the young one just as I entered. I had to get straight to the point.

"Your Highness," I began, not caring that my might may have been too shocking to the rest. "… this colony is in grave danger, as of this moment. They're coming. I can tell. I've seen a terrible sign across the river. The reason why we found the bird there, hurt and alone."

The Queen leaned forward, concerned that I was still somewhat out of breath and my wings kept twitching. It wasn't just the claustrophobia bothering me, but it was obvious to all of them that we had to act now. "What was it did you find, Captain?" she asked, in a surprisingly determined voice, likened to mine.

"A dead hummingbird, with a wound the size of my head… that I recognize from a previous attack that was similar. They are controlling the banks on the other side of the river, but they're trying to trick us into thinking that they're not there. But they are. I am certain of it."

"On this account," the Queen spoke up before Atta could. "… the same truth was spoken by my daughter, and I assume the both of you have seen the same horrible thing across the river. My absence may have come at such a terrible time, Captain. I trust you and speak on behalf of my council, or what is left of it…." the old Queen slowly stood up.

She came right up to me and some part of me just let her do so, even though many seldom would do such a thing. "We owe you our lives." she thanked me, which had caused me to blink at her with some sort of surprise. "Say what needs to be done, Hopper and I will make sure we all will follow through."

I just stood there for a moment, realizing that it all came down to one thing. That, perhaps, I was a real soldier as Emerald thought. I protected this colony, I helped heal my brother's pain even though it was I who caused it in the first place. This was something no grasshopper would ever do. I had to stop with the stupid mentality that I didn't deserve any of this … praise. I shook all that off and decided to get right to it. It was now or never.

"You need to get off this Island. I mean, all of you. By dawn." I stated.

"Get off the island?" Atta spoke up, dreading at this point. "You do know how dangerous that is…? To go out at night, crossing the river…"

"But you don't cross over the river, rather… you need to cross beneath it. The hornets will not know. And they will not see you. I speak of the aquifers. There's a way. Find it."

Flik's eyes lit up when the Queen suddenly looked and pointed to him.

"Flik. Gather as many diggers you can." she ordered, with determination leaking into her wrinkled features. "We are leaving tonight. Make sure they are ready."

"Yes, your Majesty!" Flik jumped and he was out of the tunnel in a mere blink of an eye.

"And I am certain that I have to leave, to guard the Island." I began, forcefully. "I'm the only one who can be out there. Do not let Molt leave."

"Hopper, are you so sure?"

"I am. As sure as I'll ever be…" I stood back, feeling a surge of rage getting ready to flow right through me. "Keep Molt and Summer with you, at all costs."

Atta looked ready to run to me, knowing everything that I told her earlier. Her tears were very clear as she seemed to want to stop me. Before I could turn, her voice stopped me.

"Thank you… for everything, Hopper. Even for believing in me… even when I drove you nuts." Atta tearfully chuckled slightly.

On the contrary, I should have been thanking her, them for believing in me. I realized that I was softening and so I just smirked a bit.

"That's what a soldier does."

In an hour's time, the entire hill was bustling. In no time, as soon as the order was carried out, Flik ran directly to where he stashed his collected thorns and single made bow. He, in fact, knew and felt that this could be the last night against these hornets. So many things were going through his mind. As I tore out and took flight, Flik did what he could to prepare these new weapons. No matter, there was no time to lose. As soon as I took to the air, under the moon, no doubt, and already I felt danger breathe against my wings. I couldn't allow myself to look back at the tree. At least not yet, until I was at that same spot where we found the birds. Flying by night was usually a stupid thing to do because there were more lovely predators slinking about, such as mice and frogs, who would enjoy a nice beetle or locust, for that matter. Other than the fact that I couldn't see, I was able to listen very sharply to the sound of sickly sharp wings that were just as sharp as my hatred for them. That was my drive now. It was now or never.

I was on a scent and I knew I was getting nearer to the heart of the problem. No less, I could not appear on their turf alone. This was what I concluded. Hornet wings get easily trapped in webs and water and their instinct was so out of whack that they would start chasing anything they saw or have been told was a threat. They attacked on order and I knew that they were keeping an eye on me for the most part. Not so much the ants…. They thought I messed with them but they truthfully messed with me. I promised that the Island was mine and so would Blade… So, in a way to protect that Island, I performed Deja Vu. In a quick movement as soon as I heard those wings, I made a jump and my foot grazed against something cold and slick. I recovered my flight and gripped the side of a dead blade. To my horror, there was an onslaught of hornet soldiers all waiting in the blades in the dark. I could see the glints of their eyes as they slid out of their hiding places.

A deep terror wanted to paralyze me, but I fought strong and hard even when I heard them speak.

"It's him! The marked one!"

"Shut up!" barked another.

I drew in a deep breath. "That's a good nickname for an old friend, don't you think?" I shot at them, angrily.

"You dare come during the dead of night…"

"Sure… since you all feasted on some Hummer this evening. At the bank." I reminded them. "I take that you enjoyed it. All comfy and digested before another raid, I'm betting."

"You really think you can handle all of us, grasshopper. By noon, that colony will be ours."

"Don't be rude, Kicker…" came one voice that I loathed the most. It made me hop down from the blade. "The sun is gone, there's no way he is that stupid to attack an unaware enemy."

The terrible red and gold glinted in the moonlight and I was able to recognize this particular one, with those sharp sun gold eyes. I dreaded this since he was so close to the Island and I hoped they were digging through fast. There was a fight to be had at dawn… That was always their tactic.

"You know this is my territory." I stated, bluntly, roughly pointing at my breast plate. "You're pulling off that grand old scheme like you did at the berry bush."

Blade chuckled, hardly, his wings buzzing slightly. "Now you're seeing the big picture, Hopper. Now, now don't take it too personally this time. You were simply at the wrong place at the wrong time. We're just in this for the sake of our own society. Surely, you understand."

"Oh, I understand…" I came up to him and I was standing over him. "… but all I want to know your logic when you attack during reproductive times or when your targets are unaware. You do understand that hummingbirds need to pollinate and the ants who need to keep the grass healthy and growing by harvesting their seeds. What do you serve in your society besides infesting?"

Blade narrowed his eyes into sharp slits before he smiled. "What do you serve?" he hissed, trying to crush my confidence. Oh, go and try, mi amigo. "You have no society."

"That's where you're wrong." I smirked before giving the leading hornet a good crack between the eyes with a claw.

Blade gave a growl and shot his stinger straight up, almost pinning my abdomen just before I leaped. One good thing about sneaking around at night was watching these guys hit grass blades and dirt, missing me left and right. Although, I couldn't see either, but I groped and shoved my way through. My claw got caught on some neglected web and I took it with me.

"FIND HIM! GET ME HIS SCAR!" Blade bellowed.

Not in a million years was he going to get my scar. It was my trophy if things went my way. I had the web and I flung it as I shot out from the grass. With it, I managed to strike the wing of one of them. It almost yanked me back down, but I dragged a hornet with me. As hard as my wings could press, I zoomed ahead where there were no weeds but only the stars above me.