Hopper's Narrative
Things were going to get violent. I kept repeating that thought in my head, not holding much expectation that I was going to live through it. There was just enough brush around to hide me. I could only be so thankful for my camouflage. Pinned against some firm stem, I slowly peered out at a delicately spun web attached to four blades of grass. It was at an angle that once released, it would make a good trap. Certainly, I couldn't outright steal this work of art. Watching it sway in the morning gusts, my broken heart began to form into that of passion. I was not going to lose my brother in all this, first of all. Slowly, I crawled along the limb looking out for the owner of this web.

No wonder this art piece was so large. Tucked in the small doorway of web was a smooth brown set of legs. From inside this little nook, I could hear him snore. To my horror, hidden beneath this stunning web, there were dry bundles hanging from below of beetles and moths. What really shot out to me was the few dead hornets. I froze, wanting so badly to go back. My instincts were on overdrive, stabbing and jabbing me to fly. I had to fight it… I knew I was dealing with someone who was as much as a killer as Blade. I had it in my mind to wake the recluse. I took a stem of the dead leaf above me and broke it off. It fell and landed onto the sticky web, making it bounce and flow from the weight. The recluse in the nook shook and grumbled. I saw him press himself out. He had eight long brown legs connected to this strong torso. His abdomen was small but served him well to fit anywhere possible. He had sharp dark gold eyes and he sneered when he saw it was only a leaf that fell on his trap.

"Damn, you woke me up for no reason!" he snarled before he spotted me on the weed limb far above him. I felt like I couldn't move actually.

"Sorry for the intrusion."

"I should say. More like, I'm sorry for realizing your mere existence. Too smart for my web, are you?"

"I'm not here to taunt you. I swear on my life." I spoke as calmly as I could, slowly backing away as he inched closer upwards.

I could see that he was winding some web from behind him as he smirked.

"Maybe we can come to terms."

"Screw terms. I'm hungry and your innards will hit the spot."

With that, he shot a line of thick web which caught me by the leg. "Guh! Geez! Please, listen to me for a second!" I reasoned before I realized that he was pulling me in. "Can't a dying locust have a last request!?"

"I'm hardly one for last requests." the recluse snickered.

"Fine! I can see that you keep yourself occupied. You've met a few hornets, I see."

The Recluse paused reeling me in and just rested his head against his leg, liking to see me struggle.

"This scar is proof that I can fight them. I've been at war with these guys for a while. But in order for me to get a handle on them, I need a lot of help. If you— if you let me go right now… I can bring you as many as you like. Enough to feed you for days. Weeks."

"You drive a hard bargain, grasshopper. Who are you?"

"Hopper. A Captain and a former Soldier."

"Is that so?" the Recluse thought deeply. "Former. Can't say that I'm that convinced."

"I know you've got a name here." I breathed with my leg still bound. "I know you need to eat, I just need a few more to help me get this to work. We need to rally to get rid of this hive. I've got a whole team. A termite, a fellow hummer whom I helped raise, a widow but now I need a snake and a large bird to make it happen."

"Crazy." he spoke, shocked. While in it, his grip on the line he had me with loosened. "You're seriously considering downing an entire hive with them."

My grip wasn't very sturdy on the limb, but I hung on tight. "I'm reaching that point…" I spoke, thinking of my brother and the ants who saved him. If they were still alive. "… and I am NOT—" I growled, in anguish. "—taking no for an answer." I stated right after I snapped the web free from my leg. "I will fight you if I have to."

I could only hope Flaps was luckier than me. Even he had it tough. While I was trying to make the pact work, I bet Flaps was having the time of his life. I've already snapped.

"You want to eat me? And let those ingrates infest this whole meadow? I know you can't stand them either, so I'm here to recruit you to help with this chance. I promise to make it worth your while."

"I don't take orders from the likes of prey, Hopper." the Recluse hissed, about ready to leap at me.

"Try it." I dared him, fed up at this point.

He was furious that I yanked free from his trap. "Taste it!" he roared, making a sharp leap at where I stood.

I honed my legs, preparing to bolt. The Recluse had this speed that could make that Widow jealous. I took a downward dive, feeling the air from another shot of web hit my hurt leg. As I did so, the leaves of the weed and the entire frame of the Recluse's fortress was hit with a strong gust that was so strong that lines began to tear from it. Before I could even fathom, the web was completely torn through, much to the Recluse's dismay and horror. Terror surged through me when I realized that no hummer was responsible for that, but a finch! One of the greatest and most dangerous bird anyone would live to see. Naturally, I gasped knowing I was a reasonable snack for her. A shot of bright orange flew right below me while I tried (fruitlessly) to fly faster than her. The sound of her wing beats were loud, strong and dangerous to get near to but it was her intention that really scared me. She was as big as a boulder, so much that felt incredibly small and helpless against her, with golden to bright orange feathers. She peered at me with a turn of her head and I was able to see my reflection in that deep eye. She wasn't coming after me… which healed my faith a little. I was flying right with her. I was speechless at this, nor did I understand. Birds of this size and might killed countless insects. I had a feeling Flaps succeeded….

Her wings spread wide with each flap as she gave a terrible roar while she looked underneath herself towards something caught on her thick leg. I tried to keep up with her when I saw who was stuck within his own line of web. The Recluse. Seeing this slapped a smile on my face and I gave a victorious laugh at the sight of him. Soon enough, I was flying beside Flaps who kept the back for a bit. He nodded at me.

"How did you—!?"

"Hornets destroyed her nest!" Flaps yelled back over the sound of our wings. "Seems everyone's sick of these guys!"

I furrowed, having my faith restored despite how really tired I was. "There are no second chances! I'm going right in to free the captives. She has to keep those soldiers busy while you take them to safety! I'm handling Blade and this spider's going to help me get to the Queen."

"Screw you!" the snagged Recluse snarled.

I turned my glare at him. One way or another, this was going to get finished today. I couldn't listen to what my instincts wanted to say, because I was naturally scared. If I wasn't scared than I wasn't truly alive. I needed a spider, regardless if a deal was struck or not.

Colony's POV
Blade threw a limb Flik to the ground directly before his profound Queen. For the first time, he was able to see the cause of his colony's sorrows which was this mammoth sized beast compared to the others he had the misfortune to meet. Being so pathetically small compared to her, Flik was frozen as she stepped towards him in a forceful manner. Flik was tempted to scurry back, only to lean back as she inched closer. He glowered at her, his heart full of courage. Glaring down at him with her cold dead eyes, she spoke, matter-of-factly.

"You created a tool that helped shoot down some of my soldiers. In all honesty, that quite impressed me. I never came to realize that an ant could be that intellectual in that field. Tell me, what is your name?"

Flik boldly stood up. Surprisingly, the Queen Hornet allowed it.

"I'm not gonna tell you my name."

"It's not as though you're going anywhere." she smirked. "You see, regardless of what you say, I want an inventor of my own who's capable of such damage."

"W-well, I-I-I'm not doing it. I-I-I'm not serving someone who wants us destroyed…"

"What about your grasshopper? Or your princess? I don't have much use for them, but you…"

Flik fell into a panic but truthfully, he was not willing to use his talents to help hurt other insects for this hive. Yet, that threat tore him through.

"Pl-please-please! Don't hurt them. Don't hurt them, please! If it means you'll spare them, I-I'll-I'll do whatever, okay? But please, leave them out of it…"

This Queen chuckled while shaking her head. "All it took was the good old fashioned threat. I am a little disappointed that I won't have grasshopper tonight."

Flik noticed that she glanced at Blade who stood behind him. Right there, he knew that she was outright lying. There had to be a way to find where they took Molt. His faith in Hopper was enough for him to show more spunk. He swallowed.

"If I do what you want, will you leave them alone?"

"Oh, you have my word, little ant." the Queen softly spoke.

"I know you're lying…" Flik bravely stated. "I-I'm not doing it. I'm not stupid."

"Then you die. Along with your ilk." she stated while turning around.

"You want to keep me but kill everyone else…. I'd rather die with them than help you."

When she glared at her captive, she nodded at Blade who instantly flew off into the narrow tunnel. Knowing this ant wouldn't try to flee, she towered over him with her wings fluttering with growing rage. "You do not have a choice. You will work, even if it means losing both legs. Your arms, you'll need and your eyes. But you don't need these," she threatened his antennae and both his feet with a sharp claw. "Or those. So unless you want your body intact, I suggest you reconsider. Or…"

As she was speaking, Blade and four hornets returned with a captive Molt and Princess Atta. Molt bolted to the corner of the chamber, with his front arms and wings strapped with web to keep him from flying, but he protected Atta by keeping her underneath him. Despite the protective locust's attempts, he was surrounded and held still. Pinned down, his eyes held a look of despair when the princess was torn away from him. He couldn't move, but he could only watch.

"… You can witness the same punishment on them?" the awful Queen smiled, with no remorse.

"FLIK!" Atta cried, merely gripped by her throat by Blade. "Don't do a thing she asks!"

Heartbroken, Molt shut his eyes, waiting for pain, one way or another. Flik thought for a moment, while staring at his friends. Despite these horrible choices, there was hope… Where was the proof that Hopper was dead? There wasn't any. Flik's eyes furrowed for a second as he looked at Molt who opened his eyes at him. Nodding to his friend, subtly, Flik took a breath. Atta was horrified.

"I'll do it. I'll… I'll do it." Flik spoke, with his voice still shaky. His hung his head with his antennae sagged.

That left the two flabbergasted. While Blade took Flik by the arm in order to drag him off, everyone within the chamber all hesitated. Even the Queen. They all felt that chill of fear and sudden knowledge that something was nearing. Something huge.

All within a moment, as silence flooded the chamber, something hit against the outer wall, with a violent strike. The ants recognized that it was a beak. Flik slipped out of a shocked Blade's grasp to run to his two friends before a shot of brilliant sunlight came through the busted wall, entering the once dark chamber. A rain of leafy particles and shards of wood landed on them, forcing them to all duck.

There were a few seconds that felt eternal to the captives when the whole foundation of the hive began to quake. There was a bird out there and it was digging its beak in various spots, enraging the soldier hornets. As chaos began to ensue, someone flew into the new opening. His shadow came over the frightened captives and someone stood over them, quickly cutting Molt's bonds with a thorn. Molt was overcome with shock to see that it was Hopper. Atta's eyes watered when she saw that he did come and Flik began to smile.

There was no time to waste though. Hopper focused on the coming attack of the Queen Hornet and her thugs.

"Take them. Fly as far as you can, Molt. NOW." was the gruff order that came from his raged brother's mouth.

Molt was not arguing. In hopeful tears, he took Flik and the Princess into his hold. Now free, he flew out of that shattered opening, as fast as his wings could take him.