The next thing I knew, I was lying in a different posture. My head hurt, my wings felt as if they've been pulled and besides all that, my leg stung. My vision was overall foggy for a moment, slowly coming to realize that I was underground. My least favorite place to be.

"You must be Blade's best friend." came that chuckling voice, which tempted me to groan.

I squinted at her, still suffering a headache. "… who the hell are you…?" I asked, bluntly.

"Spitz!" she answered, popping back into view.

She was smaller than the leafcutters and was covered in golden armor with a large nozzle between her brown eyes, with two stout antennaes sticking up and twisting, listening and smelling for any disturbances. In her stubby little claws, she had a small bead of water. I was lying on a piece of dead leaf that laid curled above me against the burrow's wall.

"Not again…" I muttered, more so to myself than her.

She placed that bead right by me and I was questioning where she got it.

"It's not acid." she laughed. "I got it from the aquifer… Sure beats going out with that snake. Thanks for waking it up, by the way."

"I did not know there was a snake nearby. I'm not exactly a local."

"I can see that… So, what's up with you?"

"Enough about me…. I can't stay here and chat."

Before I got up however, I drank that water… and it was so soothing down my throat that I had to take a moment to relish the feeling. "Guh…" I panted after swallowing it whole."The aquifer, you say…? You can reach one from here?"

"Well, yeah! It took a lot of aimless searching, but I found one. But the way I take is mine! I spent half my life working for it."

I studied her, concerned for the ants and I understood her dilemma, but time was wasting away.

"Does it go under the river?"

"Yeah…?"

That was it!

"Listen. There's a colony of ants that live on that island in the middle of it and those hornets that you helped me from, they're going to kill them. They need a way out. I also have a brother over there and a fledgling hummer. Your way might just be the thing we need."

"Ants!? I'm not giving up my well path for a bunch of ants…"

"Listen! I am not giving options here. I need to make sure they find a way out. You're the only one here who's given me the chance." I told her before I felt dizzy again.

I had to kneel down and I began to feel terrible, that I went this far and so far nothing has happened or have gotten better. Visions and memories passed by, almost losing Molt, losing Flitter, the sight of the chaos at the berry bush and so there came the grief that I still had. I began to hurt so much that it started to show through my eyes. I felt the tears well up and I had to look away from the termite for a moment. She knew something was going on, especially at the shaky, heavy breaths I was taking.

I got the strength to face her, feeling exhausted… "Please… I don't usually do this, but please… They need help. I need help. I need as much of it as I can get. I can't — I can't do this alone." I admitted, and wow, didn't it feel rotten to say. I've been fighting alone for so long… I couldn't do it anymore.

Spitz took a step back, looking conflicted but her eyes brightened with realization. "Whoa there, flyer…" she rose her little arms towards me when my legs felt wobbly. I had to lie down again. My head was pounding. I wasn't sure if I could fly again.

Spitz POV
This grasshopper really went through something, she thought after he laid down again, weak from the fight, both physically and emotionally, apparently. She saw those tears, carefully hidden in the corners of those brown eyes, one of which was heavily clouded that it was almost moon white. He had such a tough exterior, so it was a bit shocking. He was tall, strong and had grown so beautifully, with all that golden brown. It was clear that he had seen many seasons. Probably more than her. Though she would love to boast about herself and was proud enough to keep as much water to herself as she could, this neighbor was weak and stressed and her curiosity was at its peak.

It has been awhile since she had seen a grasshopper in her territory, surprisingly alive. She would like to keep this one, at least, far from the intrusive hornets for now. The snake made a meal of several. Spitz secretly made her way out up the shoot of her personally private entrance. Between the blades she could make out some carnage of a few hornets, but there was a conversation going on.
A nasty one.

"How is it that he keeps slipping away? We've lost ten more soldiers because of him."

"Her Highness wants that scar. He got away."

"We are taking that island at dawn. We are not changing plans!" the one known as Blade stepped up, slapping one other aside. "Just like with the hummers, we dive into the hill and we feast until there are none left. And take their Royals as our proof for her Highness."

"What about Hopper?"

"… if he wants the hive so badly, he can have it. If he survives." he smirked. "She will get his head, regardless."

Spitz's antennae perked up in alarm before diving back down into the burrow and shoved a stone into the entrance. Being quiet, she approached the sleeping scarred grasshopper…

"So your name's Hopper. How original. What did you even do to get them so mad at you? Golly gee gosh…" she muttered as she moved passed him and proceeded to shove another rock aside which revealed a tunnel."Pretty tough guy to take on Blade, I tell ya…"

"Shut up…" Hopper groaned, waking up.

She chuckled and scuddled right back to him. "I'll give ya and your ants a hand, okay? There's a whole river flowing through under the bed and there's a root that's hallow. I know because I made it. Your friends can travel through and come out here into my burrow."

He looked at her as if she had grown a second head before his eyes truly softened before trying to get up. He winced.

"I overheard that they're still planning to take that island…"

"I know. Blade and I have some history."

"A-a queen who wants you dead. Also, they plan on taking the royals, as proof or somethin'. They kept mumbling."

It looked as though something just stabbed right through him. "What!?"

"I overheard them saying so… You really think you can get rid of their Queen?"

"There are many ways, but I can't do it alone. I have a favor to ask of you…"

"Oh boy…"

He sighed, feeling another dizzy spell. "… please. I need someone to be there to help with their evacuation, while I might not come back. You need to be my voice and my eyes."

"That's a pretty tall order, Hopper."

"Once you tell them my name, they'll know who you work for."

"First you wake up my annoying neighbor, you pass out, I pull you in here out of the goodness of my little heart," she started to pace and ramble to herself. "… wait, this could be good for me… there are no snakes on the island. Birds? Maybe, one can never live without seeing a hungry bird, at least three times in their life."

She noticed his irritation as he rolled his eyes at her. "You know, time isn't really on our side right now. They will makes it up to you, I swear. I need you to go there, secretly and tell them that I sent you. Guide them through and do not let anyone go above ground until you are absolutely sure it's entirely safe. And make sure you find another grasshopper, named Molt. He's nursing a young hummingbird. Don't lose them."

"No kidding that you said you were an elected official, jeez. Try not to die, I guess. Can't believe I'm doing this…" she growled.

Glancing back, she saw him still looking at her, getting an inkling of sorrow coming from him. It was so sharp that it made her scratch her antennae. His expression was tired and full of pain but he nodded to her. She did a small bow back.

"Thanks…" he said before going to the entrance.

"Us termites aren't fans of hornets either, bub."

He smirked as he shoved the rock aside and began to climb out. While he did that she went side her not so secret tunnel and pulled its rock back into the place, shutting herself in.

Hopper's Narrative
As awkward as that felt, I couldn't feel anymore grateful for her. It was funny that one common enemy could really bring societies together. Shockingly enough, I was alive because of her… Perhaps she was the link I needed. I could only hope that she would do her part in this, as I had to come up with some kind of improvisation. My body was really starting to feel the pain and exhaustion from all the hurry, but my own head was still intact. If it weren't for her, I would have been food for Blade. As much as my pride tried to deny it, it was too weak. As I crawled out, my hurt leg prevented me from hopping down and slowly, I dropped.

Staying low, I had to listen for a moment for any voices. I couldn't smell them near me but I could hear their wings above, searching the air. Cracking my claw against an old piece of bark, I deeply began to meditate on the idea that I needed numbers. With the night not staying young, I had go fast, of course, my thoughts were cut short when I felt the earth rumble again. I shut my eyes and stayed perfectly still, getting an extraordinary idea. As much pain as I was in, I started to climb up the stalk of the weed. That snake searched along the ground level and I slipped away into the weed as quiet as I could be. Without a doubt, I felt a flood of fear while remembering just what that ant told me. The hive was closer than I truly believed. As my body screamed in pain, I had to force myself to fly. With my eyes focused ahead, my initiative was to keep going without delay.

Colony's POV
Meanwhile, as each tunnel was opened and workers continued to make a maze out of their beloved home, the only grasshopper left there was Molt and he was not going to just wait for the inevitable. He had faith that Hopper could come back but he also had faith in Summer, the little hummer that had seen deathly dangers too early for her age. Seeing her struggle to open her wings when she was told to refrain from doing so, frightened Molt yet he was thinking of something.

"No, no, no, you can't do that yet." he advised her, feeling somewhat confident.

Summer's eyes became all misty, since she missed her mother which was something Molt fully understood. She came to trust this sweet grasshopper so far even though it had been only hours into the night. "Please, don't cry, Summer… I promise that you'll see your first spring." he reassured.

"Mommy was going to teach me to fly… I miss her…"

Molt's heart began to break at her words, still feeling the lingering pain of losing his real mother, and then Flitter because of those hornets. Now his brother was most likely gone. Now this summer hatched hummingbird was suffering almost the same he and Hopper had. It was as if it was happening again, only backwards.

"Oh…" he almost sobbed, having to wipe a tear away in front of her. "I know ya do, sweety. It's not a bad thing even if you feel scared." he said while sitting beside her head. "If ya mom was here, she would want you to try. Which is kinda why I'm here. I'm not a bird, but I'm gonna make sure you learn how to fly and find your own food."

As he said that, he brought over another bead of dew that held some flower nectar inside, in order to try and preserve as much nectar as possible for her to live. Problem was, she needed to feed every ten to fifteen minutes. Summer touched her needle thin beak to the bead and sipped, not feeling that it was enough but she still felt awake, nonetheless. After she drank again, he sadly rested his head against the grieving fledgling's. Remembering how intimate the nurses used to be with the young, he felt that it was necessary. She was at the age where she was still dependent. He was the closest thing she had to a nurse or a mother from here on out.

"I-I don't want to be alone…" she softly cried.

"Ya won't be, okay?" he reassured. "You won't be."

When all this would be over, he had a mind to find Emerald's flock again somehow, for her. He knew they would take her in given the circumstances. Perhaps his hopes were too high again. In a way, he could raise her himself, if anything. Yet, was he strong enough for that? Already, since the rescue, he was beginning to love the nestling, not wanting her to suffer the same way he and Hopper did. He was scared that he cared about her though. He might lose her somehow, too soon. The matter of the bird was a contributing factor to the plan the Queen had issued. Dr. Flora came into the infirmary, finding Molt comforting the weak baby bird.

"Oh heavens…" she panted. "Molt! We have to get you two out first. We found the aquifer."

That instilled fear right into Molt's healing heart, fully coming to realize that time was at hand, just as he feared. As a promise they made to Hopper, he and the bird had to escape with the young and the Queen while Flik and his chosen took on the hornets as long as possible. The workers would remain inside the tunnel twisted hill to keep any who enter distracted away from the entry way to the aquifer. Above in the tree hole, seven sentries were sent out to signal their coming. Flik and his team of 60 secretly came out through the ground hidden behind one of the thorn bushes nearly behind the tree. Dawn was just barely peeking over the horizon… There was no turning back now.