Kindhearted's condition has improved significantly over the last few days. But not fast enough.

The retaliation from humans has not been long in coming.

They gathered in the "kindergarten" - the most spacious room in the nest. Humans were outside. Their smell, their heavy footsteps and voices, all of them were ringing loudly, like an alarm on the wall. The main exit that the swarm used every day was blocked by burning straw. Disgusting smoke started to fill the tunnels and rooms. For the first time, it was a relief that there were no little cubs in the nest.

Bug looked around at the gathered wolf ants. Even "kindergarten" wasn't large enough to fit them all, and thus some of them waited in the tunnel.

It was the hardest and most painful decision she had ever made - choosing who would get the chance to live and who would likely die. If there was even a slight chance of surviving the attack, she needed soldiers. Bug met Three-Legged with a gaze. He already understood and patiently awaited orders.

At first, the smell of smoke was slight, but it grew stronger as time went on. Most likely, the soldier standing guard outside had already been killed. There was no time to waste. Spot, Creek, and Clear-Eyed returned, each carrying an aphis cow. Dawn and two young workers, Parsley and Grey Belly approached the queen when she called for them. She sent them down the long tunnel leading to the back exit. The soldiers she had chosen headed towards the side exit. The left one was already discovered, and the wretched smoke came from this way. But the right one, hidden by thick holly bushes, was still untouched. If they were lucky, using this advantage might turn the scales in the swarm's favour.

All that's left was her closest family. Three children anxiously awaited her command, looking in the direction of the side entrance. Bug took a deep breath. The fragrance of warm, dry soil that lulled her every day, the toned scent of wood with which they reinforced the tunnel walls, and the smell of every wolf ant that lived in this nest. Everything that was so dear to her heart was a place she could call home.

Bug changed into human form. The ceiling was too low for her to stand in full height, so she lowered herself and stood on her knees. Her children's eyes were filled with worry. To comfort them, she made sure her voice sounded calm and firm: "You must leave with the others. I will fight together with the soldiers..."

Storge violently shook her head. The two brothers, struck by mother's words at first, joined her.

"I am the queen and it's my duty to protect the nest," Bug continued firmly. "If we drive away the hunters, we will join you. If not, at least we can buy you some time. But no matter the outcome, we will meet again one day."

She hugged her children, bringing them all together. They desperately tried to protest, whimpering and even shaking her hands off.

'No! She must go with them! There is still time!'

But she knew there wasn't. Bug knew humans better than anyone else in the swarm. She knew what they were capable of and how persistent they could be. Looking at Kindhearted, she almost broke down in tears. Taking a deep breath, Bug said: "Go to the border. Do you remember the tunnel? Go through it and to the other side. Go far away and find a new home."

The siblings still refused to leave. They gently bit her hands, pulling towards the back exit. Bug moved a little, but only to hug Kindhearted.

"Please, look after our children. I love you all so much!"

Bug buried her face in the black mane of her faithful mate. The warmth that always calmed her down and made her feel safe and loved, the gentle cough that called her, his smell like dry autumn leaves in the sun - she tried to engrave every detail in her memory. Kindhearted licked her face. The pain in his golden eyes was so palpable that Bug's chest started to hurt.

"I'm sorry. I never wanted to break your beautiful heart. I will always love you. Now go."

Kindhearted started to push his children towards the back exit, but they resisted. There was no other way to make them give up, so Bug changed into a wolf and ran to the soldiers who were waiting for her. The whimpering of the three cubs was tearing her resolve into pieces. She rushed away before it could completely crumble.

'Even if we are outnumbered, we still have a chance. Against spears and bows...' Bug paused. The encouragement she was thinking about and sending to the soldiers and Three-Legged stopped midway. People used these weapons to hunt and fight the wild animals. However, humans shot Kindhearted with a gun. Something that ordinary people never had access to unless they served on the wall, protecting the border from nymphs. The danger her swarm faced was far greater than a simple raid on a predator's den.

'It's too late to waver. All the more reasons to fight and distract humans in order to allow the swarm to escape and survive.'

The queen's resolve encouraged her subjects. No matter what, their sharp teeth, mighty paws, and sturdy mandibles will stop the hunters, just as they have done through countless generations in the past. One by one, the wolf ants rushed outside.

The attack succeeded. Humans hadn't discovered this exit and they were taken by surprise when the beasts appeared from an unexpected direction. There was no need to be careful or think about the casualties of the people. It was a fight for survival, and the wolves led by their queen fought fiercely. But the hunters who were knocked down and bitten were locals who had been recruited as a distraction. The core of the hunting party consisted of soldiers armed with firearms. After some hesitation, gunshots pierced through the forest's air. One by one, the wolf ants fell, riddled with bullets.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

The green quiet meadow turned red. Lying on the grass, wet with blood, Bug struggled to keep her eyes open. Bullets had gone through her torso and scratched her neck. 'Was it enough? Had they safely escaped?' It felt like the battle had ended sooner than expected. The pain from the wounds was stronger than anything she had ever experienced before. But hearing the other wolf ants let out their last breath was even more devastating.

The humans, on the other hand, were taking care of their injured ones without paying attention to the dying beasts. No one tried to finish them off, and a faint hope crept into Bug's heart. 'Maybe I can survive," she thought. "I just need to stay quiet and not attract their attention.' She blinked. Her eyelids felt heavy, as if she had been lacking sleep for weeks. Tempted to rest, she spent a few minutes lying with her eyes closed. When she opened them again, one of the armed soldiers was standing beside her, staring at her. “This one is strange. I have never seen or heard of a wolf ant with a red mane."

"I don't give a damn about its mane!" shouted the man behind him with a maimed hand. He kicked the corpse of a wolf soldier before him, but this didn't quell his anger. "I don't see the one I need. I need her alive. Search around - she can't be far!"

The human, who was looking at Bug, turned away. His confusion was shared by other hunters and soldiers. The description they had received wasn't enough, and without concrete reasons, no one other than their master understood why a certain animal was of such great importance.

'They are looking for Storge.'

Despite the hot blood seeping through her wounds, Bug felt chilled. Her fur stood on end. The man with a maimed hand was wearing fine clothes, something beyond the reach of commoners. He gave orders to everyone around him. A nobleman, who knew her daughter's secret. But his subordinates were not aware of this mystery, being kept in the dark for his own benefit. 'What am I doing? There is no time to lie around and wait.'

Bug closed her eyes, picturing her dear family. Happiness and freedom she had never imagined experiencing. Everything started with a strange “egg”, the origin of which remained unknown to her. The dream that turned out to be the best years of her life. Come to think of it, who was that woman she saw back then? There was something in her eyes that felt familiar, but she couldn't understand the feeling then.

'Oh, I get it now. I'm truly thankful for this gift. I dare to hope for another one, though. Life won't be easy for them, but please, Saintess, let them be happy.'

Even without looking, Bug could feel the footsteps approaching her. Impatient and enraged, the man was walking around, barking out orders. Closer and closer, till he was within her reach. The strength she was gathering let her perform the final attack. The man screamed and moved away, his soldiers shouted and raised their guns, but it was too late.

‘No one dares to harm my babies!’

The queen's mandibles pierced the man's neck. His blood splattered over her eyes, making further fighting difficult. But it didn't matter. The prey had been killed, and after a shower of bullets, in the 23rd year of her life, Bug fell in battle defending her family.

Utterly at a loss, the remnants of the swarm took cover near a small hill on the opposite riverbank. The crevice had been partly destroyed, and workers took turns digging and reopening the tunnel. Kindhearted, exhausted from his wound, was lying down on the grass.

Storge sat, gazing at the distance. Her mother was still there, fighting alongside her loyal subjects against humans. The queen would reunite with them at any moment. Yes, it would take them a long time to shake off their pursuers. Wait; there shouldn't be any pursuers in the first place. Mother is so strong; she will deal with humans and lead the swarm. Even if their nest was destroyed, they could find a new home somewhere else and build another one.

Her thoughts were stopped for a moment. The thunder-like sound of gunshots ripped through the air after a while of silence. Wolf ants flinched, sniffed and stared in the direction of the shots. Being awake and outside during the bright day was already stressful enough for them. The loss of their nest shook everyone.

The gentle touch of her father brought Storge back to the cruel reality. The nest was destroyed, the queen had fallen, and she now needed to lead the remnants of the swarm to a safety. She needed to accept this responsibility, even though it was sudden and too soon.

Creek returned from the crevice. The tunnel had been finished. It was time to leave. Hailstone whimpered, refusing to flee. Kindhearted gently bit him on the shoulder. Waiting any longer was futile.

Storge slowly looked around and hissed barely audibly. The wolves gathered around her. Her father, her brothers and her friends - her family. They raised their mandibles and hissed, welcoming their new queen.