I climbed up the tall tower. I reached the top of the tower and started The Hunt. The Hunt is a daily occurrence when a member of The Kingdom who is part of the Guild climbs a tower, where we scavenge for food. We also sometimes find food at ground level, which is always a treat. I found a sweet fruit, but up here on the towers everything is quite large compared to us.
I grabbed whatever I could from the slick, hairy peach, and treaded down the tower where I came from. We are all supplied with Vestiges. Vestiges are like little stones members of the Guild keeps with them at all times, and we can drop Vestiges onto a path to follow. We are trained from birth to spot these, and can follow them to food. I drop the Vestiges as I walk.
I reach the bottom and start heading to The Kingdom. The Kingdom is where we all live - Members of the Guild, Sparks, the Heir, Cradles, Shovels, Gatekeepers, Vises, the Scout (my primary boss), Vessels, the Scepter (my supreme boss), everyone - so we can keep coordinated and take care of the Scepter. The Scepter is the highest ranking member of the Kingdom when going off of hiera-
Thump.... thump... thump.... THUMP... THUMP.... THUMP!
I ran. I didn't think, I couldn't finish explaining to you what the Scepter is, not now. That thumping, that sound.... that's the Tall Ones. They come and kill us. The Tall Ones have no mercy, no remorse, no regret. They massacre us without a second thought and dismiss the losses and deaths like we're just a speck of dust to them. I scurry to the Kingdom. It's underground, and Shovels work hard to ensure we have everything we need.
THUMP..... THUMP..... THUMP.... thump..... thump.... thump.... thump.
Phew. I've had closer encounters, sure, but you can never be too sure when you're around the Tall Ones. Now, back to what I was saying. ...What I was saying.... what was I saying? Oh, yeah! The Scepter. I stride towards the Core (the Scepter's quarters) with the food. The Gatekeepers see the food and ask for my status.
"I am a Guild member, Gatekeeper. Number 903, a simple Vessel. I bring food for the Scepter." I say curtly. You have to maintain professionalism around these folks, they're the higher-ups, and I'm just a measly Vessel. How I'd love to be the Scout one day...
"Very well, #903. Proceed. You will be held accountable for any misfortune caused to the Scepter during your presence." He moves to the side. I believe he is #4483. 4456-4506 are the Gatekeepers. The Guild has 2-1204, with the vessels being 153-1203. The Scepter is 1, but nobody refers to her as Number 1 like we do to most other Kingdom members.
"Hm? Who is it?" The Scepter calls out from her billowing nest of regal nursing silk. I kneel and say in my best 'I know what I'm doing' voice; "Miss Scepter, Your Highness, I bring food from one of the Eastern Towers." I offer the food to her. She takes it and eats it on the spot - this is normal for the Scepter, she doesn't often wait. She waves her hand with mild dismissiveness, excusing me. I stand and exit.
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The next morning, I wake in my chambers. I'm in the higher levels, since I'm a lower valued ant and don't need to be down in the lower, safer areas. The Stand-Arounds are in the highest layers, since they're just fodder. I didn't sleep well, which is odd for me. I head out of my chambers and start looking around for any vestiges to follow. Then, I see why I woke up...
Thump.... thump.... THUMP... THUMP... THUMP... THUMP.....
There's a pause of silence. I freeze... they're so close to the Kingdom.
STOMP! STOMP! STOMP!
The ceiling of the Kingdom (which is also the other side of the ground in the Big Place) rains down in bits and pieces. The whole entrance will be in shambles soon. The whole Kingdom is awake now, and the Stand-Arounds and looking around, half-confused at the sounds and half-annoyed at being woken.
I run down the path, hollering "The Tall Ones are attacking! Stand-Arou- er, Citizens! They're at the Fifth Entrance! I'll go get the Primary Scout!" They immediately scramble to get through the Fifth Entrance. I alert the Primary Scout - the first-born scout, #2 - of the danger, and he starts shooting commands at ants without hesitation.
"Sparks! Join the Citizens, you couldn't fight for all the fruit in the world, might as well be fodder too. Vises! Thin-skin formation, Fifth Entrance. Guild, Shovels, Vises, and Gatekeepers will fight! Cradles, carry Stock to the Core's sub-levels along with the Heirs, ensure their safety! Gatekeeper Number 4502, before you fight, you must escort the Scepter to the Sub-Levels!" He shouts over the commotion of the Sparks' scurrying, anxious steps.
We all know what to do. Guild members, Shovels, Vises, and Gatekeepers all slip past the Tall Ones and use a geometric formation that gives us a decent advantage. We then attack, using Myra's Kiss (a venom we are supplied with for emergencies) to stab the Tall Ones' ankles.
"Ooooowwwwww!!!!!!! Mommy!!! The ants bit me!" The Tall One cries out, clutching its foot. It sweeps us off harshly with a hand, causing many of us to die.
Cradles who had secured all of the Stock already and weren't needed for guarding them come to aid the ants that are still alive. I feel my limp body be lifted by Number 6035 and hauled into the Kingdom. I force my weak head to lift as I glance back at the Fifth Entrance. There is no more thumping, no more crumbling, no more Tall Ones. We did it. We saved the Kingdom. And paid with many lives. I feel #6035 set me down, and my vision fades to black.
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When I open my eyes, I'm weak, but much better than when I passed out. #6035 is already working on other patients, so I head to the lower levels to check on the remaining important members. I hate to think about it, but with all of those members dropping to the ground, the thought won't leave me alone.
The Scepter is going to die soon. She's getting older, and it won't take a Tall One to have her belong to the Yard. The Yard is where the dead members go. God, if she dies... The Heirs are old enough, that's for sure. But a different Scepter? What if the structure changes? What if... What if I become a Stand-Around? That's the worst job, they sit around 24/7 and then sacrifice themselves in an emergency. They were born to be fodder.
I enter the lower levels. I haven't reached the Core yet, but I pass many other low-level rooms. They're filled with Cradles caring for Stock and nearly-fallen ants. I pass the Yard, too... it's so... it's so full. I reach the Core.
"Number 903. You are not needed in the Core." A Gatekeeper with a fresh scar on his leg says firmly. "What? Why? I want to ensure the Scepter's safety!" I say, forgetting my professionalism. "You are not needed. The Heirs are busy." My breath catches in my throat. The Heirs?? The Heirs are never busy! Unless... Unless....
I nod, turn around, and slowly walk back to my chambers. The Scepter... The Heirs... The Kingdom... What now? I don't think I can...
I don't think I can continue. The rest will be my own story, and I will find my own way through it. If the structure changes, The Guild will happily overthrow the Heirs. If it stays the same... I might... I might just be okay sometime.
Goodbye, Tall Ones.
"People speak sometimes about the 'bestial' cruelty of man, but that is terribly unjust and offensive to beasts, no animal could ever be so cruel as a man, so artfully, so artistically cruel." — Fyodor Dostoevsky