The quiescence of simple rock on the road was disturb by a 4 minivan drive by in a row, the sound of engine cry out making sparrow flee from the nearby fence follow by the gust of wind that shake the leaves and swat morning dew away.
The minivan itself is a former military vehicle for paramedic now retrofit for school use, the outside may have been painted anew and seat replace with new leather but the van still give a feeling of an old car who live past its prime but still chuck along just to run on the road for one more day.
Inside minivan 8 seat Prof. Rio is at the wheel, Eirian next to him, Bill, Josh and Blake sit in middle, Blake insist he ride with our van to spent quality time with his brother which Eirian gladly accept despite Josh protest. and Amy sit in the back between Biscuit and Calamity.
“See nothing to worry. I can drive just fine.” Prof. Rio say as he press on the pedal to increase speed and tap his wing with the wheel.
Eirian and Bill seem to be panicking when Prof. Rio sit in the driver seat. Both of them are the only one who know anything about driving and immediately question Prof. Rio ability to steer the wheel with his wing.
“A car is indeed fast just as I heard” said Amy who never been on any type of motor vehicle before.
‘If an ant drive this maybe we would need at least two people since we can’t sit straight’
Amy shift her leg again since the seat size is to short for her to sit properly and she must place two of her leg on Biscuit keel while her other 4 leg press with Calamity side.
“Sorry about this”
“It’s fine.”
“The cookie is delicious Biscuit” Blake dive his head into a box in Josh wing.
“Stop eating so much I was going to keep it for the whole trip” said Josh before he too must quickly dive in since Blake is about to eat the whole thing.
“Look like Josh will be the first who eat all Biscuit’s cookie.” said Bill as he take a bite and hide his box from Blake so he has more to eat later.
“That very thoughtful of you Biscuit to bring a snack for your friend on this trip” Prof. Rio glance back at the empty box in Josh’s wings.
“Sorry I didn’t bring one for you professor” said Biscuit.
“You can have some of mine Professor” Eirian offer his own box.
“Oh I really shouldn’t” Rio hesitate but after Eirian insist he take a few bite of his own and compliment Biscuit baking skill.
‘Josh and Blake is so weird is this what brother look like?’ Amy thought back to her time in the colony and don’t recall much interaction with any of her brother. Everyone in colony is related after all but a male ante have a different role than female and there aren’t many of them around her beside high rank solider ant.
Although she doesn't feel like Blake can be trusted for some reason even after she prove to him by beat him in the race. He’s still Josh brother so she try to look past her distrust of him “You two seem really close is that how all brother are?”
“Don’t you have a brother of your own? Isn’t all ant just one big family?” Blake stop playing trick on his brother and turn to Amy.
“Well, young male ante have different duty and role than us female so we were raise separately. I don’t think I know the name of any male ante around my age at all.”
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“What about worker ant?”
“They don’t have name” said Josh “funny how you didn’t know that already.”
Blake smiles and pat Josh on the head “how cleaver of my brother. Well I can’t say all brother is like us, everyone have their circumstances but I too would like to know what ant brother relationship is like.”
“I doubt it would be different from what relationship you have with your sister Amy.” said Bill.
“Most of them can’t speak though” Eirian added.
“People don’t need to talk to have an understanding with each other right Calamity” Josh and everyone turn to look at our wolf in the back of the van.
Calamity look at everyone before roll his eyes back to the view outside window.
“You have an interesting friend” said Blake “he beat Ken in one on one fight, a tiger who according to him never lose to any wolf before coming to Alana. Now being beaten by Marco, me and Calamity he is quite humble now.”
“If you beat him he can’t be that strong” Josh scoff.
“With trick” Blake emphasize “I doubt he will fall for it again and in this city and all of Avion I doubt he will lose to anyone beside those two in close combat.”
“Huh so rare you would compliment anyone like this he must really impress you” said Josh.
“Saying in all of Avion don’t mean much though since everyone know all bird are bad at close combat” said Amy.
“True true” Blake admit “These wing won’t slap anyone to death soon but we can peck your eye off all the same.”
“If only I can peck a cookie off your mouth”
“If you want more you can have some of my cookie Josh” Biscuit start to open her bag.
“Oh that alright Biscuit I’m just jabbing with my brother.”
“Biscuit what did I said about you being too gullible” Amy touch Biscuit paw to stop her.
“Oh I...I”
“She just want to share a cookie” Calamity speak up for the first time on this ride.
“What? do you want more cookie as well?”
Calamity ear perk “No! just that you are overreact.”
“She need to start growing a skin.”
“But Amy you don’t have skin” Josh turn around to the back and everyone smile at his joke “But really though Biscuit I’m fine you already gave me a delicious cookies now enjoy your own share.”
“Ok...”
The van gone quiet afterward it’s a long ride after all only Blake seem to be only one who have so many question about us that he keep the van from dead silent. But even him can’t make Calamity say more than a few word.
These boring moment of calm is unusual for Amy who as an ant must always be on duty always have something to do even if it is to study, every action serve a purpose for the future of herself and the colony. It’s a feeling she felt once before while on a boat to Alana, to sit still as the world passes by, she felt a little guilt like she waste time that she could be doing something but she doesn’t hate this feeling.
‘Remind me of a few time when I climb to the top of Nikki it’s so beautiful up there too bad I won’t be able to take Biscuit up with me since it’s too high for other races to climb.’
So There they sit in the car together as the farm the caravan the horse the truck the people and forest passed them by.
In the late evening the minivan came to a stop at a some kind of an inn after going full speed as fast as possible without endanger the student and we each in two pair got room to spent the night.
When they left the car Josh dump the empty cookie box follow by Calamity.
‘What? When did he eat the whole thing I literally sit next to him.’
Prof. Rio told us to get rest since we’ll leave in early morning and by tomorrow before we know it we pass into New Terra territory and seeing a city of Willstand under red sunset.
“I know for most of you this is the first time in human city and you want to walk around town but we need to catch a train in the morning so please stay in your room and rest for tonight.”
‘Dammit I saw some fresh strawberry grew locally a few block back. I guess we’ll just have to eat whatever they prepare for us.’
Good thing the food that was prepare is very varies and in high quality and Amy is quite surprise when she saw a fruit section with a bunch of strawberry.
They even have cookie where you can take as much as you want “I think your taste better Biscuit” said Amy.
“Yep your is much better this one is a little dry” said Bill.
“Thank you you’re all too kind.”
Everyone then head for the night to hop on train in the morning they said the train should only take one day to reach Orenda which is surprisingly fast consider usual trip for ant from Fia to Alana by walking through New Terra could take up over a month but most people would rather use carriage anyway.