Siblings ran through the forest, heading straight to the grove of upside-down trees. This time of the year was marking the start of spring: the weather got warmer, first birds started to return from the south, and the timidly leaves began show up from the buds on the trees. And while most of the swarm was content with a meat diet, they craved for sweets. Hailstone was the first one to come up with idea, and the rest picked up enthusiastically.

They reached the grove in no time. Here, on the higher branches, in the dry leaves were hiding the last year’s fruits. Without falling down on the ground not many could reach them. The siblings grinned to each other. The twisting tree trunk wasn’t really an obstacle for their sister who could change into human.

Storge climbed up the upside-down tree in mere seconds. The fruits that they desired so much were in her grasp. She ripped one and bit the dried up, yet still sweat flesh. She took a few and threw them down to her brothers, who waited under the tree impatiently. Rainstorm caught his share splendidly, but Hailstone failed, and the fruit flew through his gaping mouth. Rainstorm laughed at his brother clumsiness, and the younger one tried to bite him. They played a lot, but never used full strength, so Storge just grinned looking at her brothers’ squabble.

Storge ripped a few more fruits, when heard an irritated chirring. She looked up – above her a pair of honey squirrels was staring at intruders. They hastily tried to find some weapon, but the soil and resin lumps were out of their reach. Storge chewed on a fruit, and then placed a piece between branches. One of the honey squirrels cautiously moved forward. Sniffing on a chewed fruit the animal started to sip the juice from softened piece. Its proboscis wasn’t much of a help when it comes to eating the dried food or breaking through the shell. Curious, the second squirrel followed the example and joined the feast. The scene made Storge smile. She threw a few more fruits on the ground and climbed down.

Her brothers grasped her intentions. Both of them picked up the fruits with their teeth. They were still growing, and while it didn’t pose much problem for the most time, their mandibles molted often. The hard chitin shell fell down just yesterday, and the new one was still too tender and soft to hold anything. This was inconvenient and unfortunate, but it was for the best to use their teeth instead.

The three young wolf ants raced back to the nest, each holding a fruit. ‘Mom and dad will be so happy when we bring them this treat!’ Storge’s thoughts were contagious – her brothers were practically brimming with the same delight. They already forgot that should assist hunting party. From the swarm’s perspective they became workers, young but capable for most tasks. Their cub’s grey spots on the black fur were long gone. But unlike their peers three siblings acted too carefree, more like cubs than actual adults. Even now, instead of heading back with a steady pace, they started to play tag.

When Hailstone tagged his brother, Rainstorm leaped to a side. He opened his mouth in a heat of the game and dropped his catch. Frustrated and a bit embarrassed, Rainstorm bent down to pick up the fruit but froze. His siblings were catching their breath keeping a small distance. Brother’s peculiar behavior made them curious, and they approached him. But before anyone could wonder what caused Rainstorm to stop the game, they heard a rustling sound. As if on command siblings dove in the thick bushes.

Fortunately, the intruders were still not too close, and even engulfed in the game young wolf ants remained unnoticed. It was one of the basic rules – do not let predators take you by surprise. And though physically they were not cubs anymore, they followed these rules properly. Putting the fruits on the ground, they remained still.

Waiting stretched for a bit. The wind was blowing in the direction of the intruders, making it harder for wolves to pick up their smell. Rainstorm got bored and poked his sister with his nose. Storge gave him a meaningful look. 'You want to play now? Seriously?' Barely hearable, Hailstone coughed, attracting the attention of his siblings. Three wolf ants looked through the branches and leaves of the bushes.

On the trail, which swarm was using for their tasks, stepped four creatures. Siblings were staring at them, golden eyes wide open. Mother has told them stories, but it was the first time they saw humans. They moved on their two legs, like their mother and Storge did when they changed. They were similar, but so different in other ways. These humans were wearing some kind of hide above their skin, were holding sticks in their hands. Their hairs were short, and their voices sounded low. But more than anything they were loud. Even careless siblings heard them from afar. Now that they came so close, Storge flinched at the sound of their shouting. Hailstone whimpered shortly. His ears hurt too, and he suggested they should head back to the nest.

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Rainstorm on the other hand looked concerned. He exchanged glances with Storge. 'We didn’t make a mistake; we didn’t cross the creek. What humans are doing here?' Confused, the siblings looked at the humans once again. A sudden thought crossed Storge’s mind. All four humans were young men. 'Maybe they left their nest to find a mate in another swarm?' But then again, why did they travel in group? In group you usually hunt…

'Hunt? They are hunting?' her thought was carefully picked up by Hailstone.

'On our territory?' outraged Rainstorm.

Both were on guard. The voices sounded close; the humans were practically in a one leap reach. Storge tilted her head, staring at the intruders. Rainstorm once turned into a human too, when he was a cub. But he didn’t like his human form, so it was a onetime experience. She didn’t see an adult version of the human male before.

Three siblings observed humans like enchanted. They used to hear speech only from their mother. Wolf ants could communicate with pheromones, sharing feelings and signals. However, siblings could share short, but more accurate thoughts with each over. Hearing and looking at these four humans were fascinating. And it would be even more interesting, were they not so loud.

"Listen, we have come far enough. Let’s go back!" one of the young men was practically shouting, as if trying to sound confidently. But his voice sounded wobbly.

"Ha! Just admit you have no guts, you coward. I’ll make sure to tell this Rasha when we get back." Another guy said these words and two others burst in laughter.

The first human’s face turned bright red, and he exclaimed: "Stop it, Eshan! You just are trying to show off, as always!"

Their constant shouting was worse than spitting boar’s squeals or chirring of a full tree of honey squirrels. Hailstone tried to cover his ears with his paws, but it hardly made any difference. Storge frowned. No matter how interesting these humans were, she didn’t like nor their brazen behavior, nor the fact that their noise made her brother suffer so much. She felt Rainstorm’s paw on hers. He shook his head slightly. He knew her too well, but it was too late.

'Watch me.' With a sparkle in her golden eyes Storge tensed her muscles.

Like a string she jumped onto the trail, right in front of the group of humans. She wasn’t intending to use her yet weak mandibles but bared her teeth and hissed.

The effect was tremendous. The young men shrieked and took a flight. Some of the wooden sticks they were carrying proudly were thrown and forgotten. One of the humans stumbled upon his feet and fell head over heels. He screamed sorrowfully for help, but his companions were running for their life. The human got up on his feet and limping, followed others. In a blink of an eye the trail became empty.

Storge heard a panting and turned around. In the bushes Hailstone was practically rolling on his back from laughing. She grinned triumphantly. She was bursting with a sense of self-importance and achievement. Rainstorm however shook his head. Just one glance was enough to cool her a bit.

'I know what you want to say. That we shouldn’t get involved with humans. Mom would scold us, if she knew. But it’s them who came into our territory. We didn’t cross the creek.'

Hailstone was sharing the same sentiment. At least one of her brothers was glad she taught the intruders a lesson. Storge picked up a fruit and headed off at a trot to the nest.

'Don’t you dare to snitch to mom!' she glanced at Rainstorm, who was following her beside. Her brother sighed and rolled his eyes. A sweet scent of the dried fruits they were carrying suddenly became more intense. Two siblings slowed down their pace and sniffed. Then they turned around.

Behind them Hailstone was happily chomping on the fruit he was carrying. When he met with his siblings gazes a blissful smile faded from his muzzle.

'Oh… Right.'

Storge and Rainstorm, still with the dried fruits in their teeth, exchanged glances.

'Well, two should be enough for mom and dad.'