The moonlight slipped through the thick canopy, faint and uneven. Mist drifted low, gathering between roots that coiled through the soil.
The clearing remained quiet except for the faint rustle of wings brushing through the still air.
Nytheris's hair fluttered gently. His dark eyes rested on Ignatia, a faint smile touching his lips.
Then his gaze shifted to Ari.
His eyes narrowed.
"Who are you, ant?"
Nytheris took a step forward, his hand dropped to the hilt at his side.
A sharp click broke the silence as the chitin ring came loose.
Ari raised an eyebrow.
Wait... is he talking about me?
Nytheris flicked his wrist.
Crack!
The whip snapped through the air.
Moonlight flashed across its thorns before it struck the ground.
The air stirred.
Silence settled between them.
"I won't ask again."
"Insects of your kind have no right to stand before my Monarch... or even look upon her."
Ari let out a slow breath and took a small step back.
What's with this butterfly? Might as well clear up the misunderstanding before this gets ugly.
"Listen..." Ari said, ruffling his hair.
"I don't even know how I ended up here. And whatever you think of me doesn't matter.."
Nytheris's jaw tightened.
"What did you say?"
"But because I was here... I managed to save Ignat..."
He caught himself.
"...I mean, the Monarch. That's all there is to it."
Nytheris closed the distance between them.
Crack!
The whip slammed into the ground just in front of Ari's feet.
Dirt burst into the air.
Ari didn't flinch.
He kept his eyes on Nytheris.
"My Monarch would never lower herself to seek help from your kind."
His voice turned colder.
"You dare claim she needed you? What an insult."
His eyelids lowered.
"Your presence here is suspicious. Tell me... are you working for Magnus? Is this his doing?"
Ari blinked.
"Magnus? Who's that supposed to be?"
"Don't play dumb."
The whip lashed out again.
A sharp sting brushed across Ari's face.
A thin line of blood slid down his cheek.
Ari clicked his tongue.
"Well now... this is an unexpected turn."
Seraphina rested a hand beneath her chin, a quiet chuckle escaping her lips.
"Our savior stands accused of espionage."
Her attention shifted to Ignatia, her head tilting slightly.
"Tell me, Ignatia. What do you make of this?"
Ignatia said nothing.
She simply folded her arms.
Seraphina looked back at Nytheris.
Nytheris's behavior is strange... irrational, even.
He never loses his composure in front of my sister.
Something's off. Perhaps he's protecting more than my sister's pride.
A small smile spread across her face.
What an interesting turn of events.
Ari drew his mandibles from their sheaths.
He lowered his stance.
"For the last time, I don't know who this Magnus is."
His grip tightened.
"I was sent on a mission by my queen to a crater not far from here. Then I heard someone calling for help."
"That voice led me here... to your Monarch."
Nytheris slowly spread his wings.
"Well..."
His eyes gleamed.
"This is where you die."
Aerial attacks... a whip with a longer reach...
I don't stand a chance if this turns into a straight fight.
A bead of sweat rolled down Ari's chin.
His grip tightened around his mandibles as he steadied his breathing.
"Enough."
Ignatia stepped forward.
"Monarch Ignatia..."
Nytheris's mouth parted slightly.
"I order you, as your Monarch, to stand down."
Her gaze drifted toward Ari.
"Lance Corporal Ari spoke the truth."
A faint red rose to her cheeks.
She scratched her chin with a finger before continuing.
"He saved my life."
She let the words settle.
"So you can rest easy."
"So... it was true after all, Your Majesty."
Nytheris loosened his grip.
The whip recoiled into place with a faint rasp before he secured it at his side.
His wings folded behind him as he lowered himself onto one knee.
"Please forgive my rashness. My temper was completely out of character... and inexcusable."
His fingers curled into a fist.
"We've suffered so many losses."
His voice grew quieter.
"That's why..."
"I understand how you feel, Nytheris."
Ignatia's voice remained calm.
"But next time... don't make assumptions."
"I apologize for stepping out of line."
Nytheris lowered his head.
"I'll be more careful."
Well... I guess that settles it.
Ari let out a slow breath and slid his mandibles back into their sheaths.
"Now that your little skirmish is over..."
Seraphina's lips curved into a faint smile.
"...perhaps we should start discussing what comes next."
Her eyes met Ignatia's.
"For someone known as the War Monarch... tonight has been full of unexpected losses."
A brief silence followed.
"So choose your next move carefully."
Ignatia's crimson eyes locked onto Seraphina.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed through the forest, drawing closer with each passing moment.
Nytheris stiffened.
In one swift motion, he unsheathed his whip.
His eyes swept across the trees.
"Did you hear that? Those footsteps... don't tell me this was your doing."
His gaze locked onto Ari.
"Was this your ambush all along?"
Ari drew his mandibles.
His eyes narrowed at Nytheris.
"Yeah, that's right," he said flatly.
"I lured the moths here just so I could die beside you."
Seraphina's lips curled into a faint smile.
A quiet chuckle escaped her.
"You know... I'm starting to like you."
Her smile widened just a little.
"You'd make a fine servant."
Ari's face flushed.
The memory of Seraphina tending to his wounds flashed through his mind.
Her tongue brushing against his exoskeleton.
He stiffened.
"Not happening."
The other two butterflies carefully lowered their wounded comrade to the ground before drawing their barbed whips.
"Don't tell me..." one of them said.
"It's another ambush by those moths."
"Stay sharp," the other said.
"And watch for their illusion dust."
The air shifted around Ignatia.
She slowly lifted off the ground, rising above the group.
In the clearing, a squad of military ants emerged from the trees.
Some bore shallow scratches across their exoskeletons, while others carried only minor wounds.
The moment they spotted the butterflies and the barbed whips in their hands, the soldier ants reacted.
Mandibles slid from their sheaths and rose into guarded stances.
At the center of their formation stood their leader, his own weapon still sheathed.
His eyes lifted toward the sky, following the faint shimmer of indigo wings overhead.
Ari's grip loosened.
The tension left his shoulders.
"Lieutenant... Brooks."
Brooks's eyes shifted toward him.
"Lance Corporal Ari."
The corners of his mouth lifted.
"Of all the places to run into you... I never imagined it'd be here, surrounded by aerial soldiers."
He folded his arms loosely.
"Life has a funny way of surprising you, doesn't it?"
"So... what kind of trouble have you wandered into this time?"
Ari slid his mandibles back into their sheaths and stepped forward.
"Well..."
He rubbed the back of his head.
"It's a long story."
His expression turned serious.
"But these butterflies aren't the enemy."
Brooks studied him for a moment.
Then he nodded once.
"I'll trust your judgment."
He raised a hand.
"I don't want any unnecessary bloodshed."
The soldier ants lowered their weapons, though their eyes remained on the butterflies.
Ignatia descended from the air.
Her wings folded behind her as her feet touched the ground.
"Ari, do you know these ants?"
"Yes."
"This is Lieutenant Brooks. He's from my colony."
"I see."
Brooks stepped forward.
"In all my years... I never thought I'd stand before two Monarchs at the same time."
A faint smile creased the corners of his eyes.
"It's an honor."
"Though I'll admit... it's also the kind of honor that makes an old soldier nervous."
"Is that so?" Seraphina asked, a faint smile touching her lips.
"Then tell me..."
She tilted her head.
"Have you ever met one of our kind before?"
"I have," Brooks said.
"It was years ago."
"She was a young Monarch back then. Graceful... full of spirit."
"I've forgotten her name, but I still remember her big green eyes."
Seraphina and Ignatia exchanged a brief glance.
Could he mean... Luminara?
"We should begin our search for Magnus's cave at first light," Nytheris said.
"The forest isn't safe to search at night. The moths have the advantage in the darkness."
"For now, we need to find somewhere to rest and I already have a place in mind."
Ari stepped forward.
"If you start flying around looking for a place to stay, you'll only draw attention."
"The moths could be waiting for that."
"Another ambush is the last thing you can afford tonight... especially with your numbers."
"So... it's safer to stay low and travel on foot."
"So where do you suggest we go?" Seraphina asked.
"This path leads to our colony."
Ari pointed down the forest trail.
"It's not far from here."
He lowered his hand.
"You'll be much safer there."
Nytheris clicked his tongue.
"An ant colony? You expect my Monarch to spend the night beneath the earth?"
He folded his arms.
"I already know the perfect place. We won't be needing your help any further."
Ignatia let out a quiet breath.
Her gaze shifted from Ari to Nytheris.
"He's right."
Her voice remained steady.
"Flying through this area now would be reckless."
"We've already lost enough tonight."
A brief silence followed.
"Staying near the ant colony is the safest option for now."
Nytheris's jaw tightened.
After a moment, he looked away.
"...Lead the way."
Ari turned toward Brooks.
"I don't have a problem."
Brooks smiled faintly.
"In fact, it's a generous offer, Ari."
His expression grew more serious.
"But you'll be the one carrying the burden of that decision."
"I know."
Ari's voice fell to a quiet murmur.
Without another word, the butterflies, Ari, Lieutenant Brooks, and his squad set off toward the colony.
The forest had gone still.
Only the steady rhythm of footsteps echoed beneath the trees.
Two butterflies supported their wounded comrade between them.
As they walked, the injured butterfly turned his head toward Nytheris.
His jaw slowly tightened.