After Storge opened her eyes, it took several minutes for her to realize what had happened. Kindhearted was lying beside her. Before she could stand up, she noticed that he was worriedly looking at her. Her muscles felt sore, and her throat was dry. Even though she had fallen asleep during the day, it was already late at night. Her father gently touched her cheek with his nose. Storge rose up from the ground to stretch her stiffened back. She looked up at Rainstorm as he approached her. Their eyes were level, their heights almost equal.

'Ah, so that's what this slumber was all about.' A sense of relief and joy overwrote her gloomy mood, which had lasted since the swarm's escape from the hunters. Finally, long-awaited good news.

'Congratulations,' Rainstorm tapped his nose over her mane. Storge lowered her gaze. A mix of pride and sadness overwhelmed her. Her metamorphosis was over, and she now shared the same mane color as her mother's. Bright scarlet stood out among the black ones of the soldiers. Seeing her feelings, Rainstorm added: 'She would be very proud and happy for you.'

'How long was I asleep?'

'The sun set four times,' answered Hailstone for his brother. 'It took longer than it usual, and we were worried.'

‘Sorry,’ Storge thought, that her metamorphosis had not only made her family anxious but also taken precious time to move forward. They were stuck on the same piece of land, with no opportunity to find a place for a new nest and food sources, and it also exposed them to danger. Remembering her finding before slumber, Storge gasped. 'Did anyone attack you?'

'We felt the presence of another swarm, but we didn't confront them. They are close, watching us, though.'

Rainstorm's message relieved only a portion of her worries. Being observed, there was still a high chance of a conflict. Right now, they were on the border of another swarm's territory. The queen's thoughts were easily read by her brothers. They shook their heads, and Rainstorm noted: 'By the smell, it is a larger swarm than ours, even before...'

The end of his thoughts was drowned in grief. Storge looked around - Creak, Parsley, and Clear-Eyed was away, scouting for food. Apart from Spot, all others were present. She sniffed, trying to find him by smell, when Hailstone interrupted: 'Spot has also changed. He went through metamorphosis the day after you fell asleep. He's gone to help with the hunt.'

The news about Spot's metamorphosis eased her tension a bit. Now they had four soldiers, and with her increased strength as a queen, they could fight off most of the danger. As if reading her thoughts, Rainstorm shook his head.

'Fighting will still be difficult.'

'Relax, I don't want to fight,' Storge looked past her brother. The direction of another swarm drew her. The mix of wolf ants’ smells felt like a stream, carrying its water so fast that it splashed all over the riverbanks. It was certainly an unconventional approach for swarms, at least as far as she knew. 'But we always had better at sharing our thoughts than fighting.'

Her last remark, without much context, left young wolves confused. They glanced at each other, then at their sister, waiting for elaboration. However, instead of explaining, Storge called everyone to gather. They picked up workers and Spot on their way and then, led by their queen, headed towards a new swarm.

It didn't take long after they crossed the border for them to face a soldier wolf on a patrol. Alone, he still hissed, doing his best to scare away intruders. But Storge ensured that none of her swarm behaved aggressively. Her intention was peaceful; she sought a meeting, not a fight. She tried to express her feelings to a stranger, hoping they would reach him as they usually reached her family.

The soldier's hissing quietened down. Still wary of the foreign swarm, he ran back to his nest. The wolves followed him, keeping a certain distance from their guide. At least, Storge hoped she was a guide and not a messenger who would alarm other soldiers and lead them to a brutal attack. She felt how nervous her family was. They followed her bold decision, despite the possibility of being led into a trap. She tried to remain calm and confident, to reassure them. She could only hope that her recklessness wouldn't betray their trust.

They approached the hill towering above the vast meadows. The area around it was mostly covered by low soft grass, except for one side where the plants grew luxuriantly. But as they walked closer, Storge realized that the brownish hill with little green wasn't just a part of the landscape. It was an artificial construction. Wolf ants came in and out of this hill. Living all their lives underground, the swarm gazed at this creation. They didn't know it was possible to build a nest on the flatland above. 'I wonder how they did it? The soil here is loose, how did they fasten it? How did they strengthen the tunnels without wood?' Storge stared at this new nest. She was sure she wasn't the only one with such thoughts. 'Three-Legged' would be astonished at this sight. The memories of a kind, hardworking wolf made her heart ache. She shook her head. Now was not the time to be distracted.

The queen went out of the nest, accompanied by four soldiers, including one that guided Storge's family here. While the queen was walking towards the intruders, another five soldiers joined her. Several workers stopped in their tracks, but most continued with their tasks, stealing glances at the strangers. This swarm was indeed larger than Storge's. Fighting was most likely useless. Kindhearted stood beside his daughter. His wound had healed and, for the time being, he put aside his grief.

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Storge sat down, trying to show that her intentions were not aggressive. Fortunately, the local queen did not look angry, keeping her mandibles hidden. She approached the intruders, sniffing each of them. While she was gathering information, Storge concentrated on her thoughts. She explained how her swarm had been attacked by humans and how they had had to flee their familiar land, ending up here. She wasn't sure if the queen would understand her, if the method of exchanging information would work with this swarm or if the queen even knew what humans were.

'We didn't come to threaten you. We simply want to rest for a bit and find a place to settle down.'

The queen finished her investigation. She held longer in front of the workers who were carrying aphis cows. It looked like these animals were somewhat new to her. She paused, staring at the cows. Storge felt a question and eagerly answered, 'No, these are not food. They produce nectar for us.' Her answer interested not only the queen but other wolf ants too.

Finally, the queen returned to Storge. Permission to follow her was granted. Storge felt her family relax. The worst outcome was avoided, but they hoped to be able to pass through the territory at best. Instead, the queen invited the wanderers into the nest to rest and eat. Her generosity moved the tired wolves. Their desire to repay hospitality pleased their hosts in return. The tension and wariness faded. The strangers who crossed the border became guests.

After a month spent outside under the burning sun, the shade and comfort of the nest felt heavenly. Kindhearted walked beside his daughter. His curiosity didn't go unnoticed. Storge shared this feeling. Her father sniffed the tunnel walls, trying to figure out the secret behind the construction. Meeting new wolf ants was exciting in itself, finding out differences in their lifestyles and housekeeping methods intrigued both parties. 'Maybe that was at least one reason why we were allowed to come here - to exchange knowledge,' thought Storge. One thing still bothered her: the queen didn't ask about humans. This could mean she knew about them, and they were often seen here or even lived nearby. 'Or maybe she just wasn't interested. I hope that's the case.'

The swarm was guided to several resting rooms connected with each other by narrow tunnels. Both in shape and with traces of grass used as the material for the tunnel walls, the nest resembled a hive that Storge had seen near the creek. As cubs, she and her brothers once tried to investigate this hive, anticipating finding a sweet treat inside. But all they achieved was stings from enraged wasps.

Happy to receive a shelter, the swarm rested for the next day and night. After that, the guests offered their help with work. And here was another discovery made. The wolves of the hive didn't have cows. Instead, they used cut grass to grow mushrooms inside "farm" rooms in the nest. Storge's family watched the actions of their hosts, learning the process. They found it fascinating and helpful. It became clear how this swarm could support a large population with scarce food sources outside. In return, Storge tried to explain how to use aphis cows, but it was difficult with all three cows in hibernation and without rocky trees near the nest.

The few days that the swarm stayed with their hosts were filled with communication and learning. It was only after the time for leaving had come that Storge noticed her brother's peculiar behavior. Whenever Hailstone was near the hive's queen, he would start to follow her with his gaze, and when she passed him, he radiated amicability.

'She is pretty,' Hailstone's eyes were still fixed on the queen with a grey mane. A sudden remark from her brother amused Storge. It was the first time in a while that he expressed anything so bluntly, aside from grief. But that doesn't mean he can ignore the truth.

'She is older and a queen. Surely, she has a mate.'

'Oh. Right,' Hailstone's ears dropped down, giving him a sorrowful look. 'Of course she has.'

Rainstorm approached them. He glanced at his dejected brother and sighed, 'I don't smell her on any other wolf. It looks like she has lost her mate.'

Hailstone ears instantly pointed up. Rainstorm panted, laughing at the sight of such a dramatic change in a matter of seconds. 'Still, she must look at you like a сги.'

'Don't get cocky just because you changed earlier. I will be a soldier in no time,' pouted the younger brother.

But Rainstorm continued to tease him. 'A simple soldier will not catch her attention. She is a queen. To win her affections, a soldier must be strong and brave.'

'I can be brave,' stated Hailstone. But Storge interrupted them before the jokes could go too far.

'Stop, both of you. Finding a new mate is not easy when your heart is broken,' she did not specify, but the brothers glanced simultaneously at Kindhearted. They lowered their gaze, looking embarrassed about their carefree behavior. However, there was another problem that Storge had decided to keep for herself. A queen who stays single for too long will be overturned. It is still summer, and she could skip the first courtship period, but when winter comes, she must find a new mate. 'So should I,' thought Storge. She had already met several soldiers when they arrived at the hive, but none of them had caught her fancy. If she doesn't find anyone here, she will need to look for other swarms.

'Wait, no. I think my father mentioned something about single soldiers looking for queens. I'll need to discuss this again, but finding new territory and building a nest comes first.'