Southern Burrows
Dawn
The entrance opened between the gnarled roots of an ancient tree.
Inside, the ceiling sagged low.
Uneven patches of roots and loose earth stretched overhead and scattered stones had fallen from above, forming small piles throughout the burrow.
The main passage was wide.
Its winding shape bore the marks of countless earthworms that had carved through the soil over many years.
Magnus crouched atop a raised mound of packed earth.
His wings settled around him.
Hawks approached with slow, measured steps.
"I trust you retrieved the flower from her..."
Magnus slowly opened his golden eyes.
Their glow settled on Hawks.
"Hawks."
"Lord Magnus..."
Hawks lowered himself into a bow.
"I only received word from her."
A brief pause followed.
"However..."
"The same ant squad responsible for eliminating the Centipedes we directed into this burrow pursued her."
"So..."
"The location of the Moonveil Blossom remains unconfirmed."
Hawks slowly lifted his gaze.
The moment his eyes met Magnus's face, his breath caught.
His body stiffened.
A faint tremor ran through his arms.
"We never should have allowed them to leave this place alive," one of the Moths said.
His fist tightened at his side.
"Those ants are nothing but irritating little pests."
"Especially that... Lieutenant."
"Of course you see them as a threat..."
A voice drifted through the chamber.
"Rift."
A female Moth stepped forward from the shadows. Her footsteps echoed softly through the burrow.
She stopped a short distance away.
"You've always been weak."
"And you've always feared the tunnel dwellers."
Rift's teeth clenched.
The muscles in his jaw twitched.
Vespera held his stare.
"If memory serves me correctly..."
She tilted her head.
"It was an ant who severed your wings."
Her eyes swept over his back.
A faint smile touched her lips.
"Tell me..."
"How much more pathetic can you become?"
"And yet..."
"You still have the nerve to stand before Lord Magnus."
"Even though you're nothing more than an eyesore."
"Say that again."
Rift's head snapped toward her.
His eyes narrowed.
"Vespera..."
A smirk spread across his face.
"Unlike you..."
"I don't need wings."
"Or quills."
"To kill my prey."
His hand drifted to his side.
One mandible slid free from its sheath with a sharp scrape.
"Would you like me to show you why?"
"I'd be more than happy to put as many holes in you."
Vespera's smile deepened.
The muscles along her back tightened and
her wings slowly spread open. Rows of rigid quills lined her hind wings. They caught the dim light as they came into view.
Magnus slowly spread his wings.
Darkness poured from his body.
It swallowed the entire burrow.
Not a single ray of light remained.
Several Moths lowered their heads.
Others stood frozen where they were.
Thin shafts of light gradually returned along the walls.
Magnus folded his wings behind him.
"My sincere apologies, Lord Magnus."
Vespera lowered into a deep bow.
Her voice shook.
"I... allowed myself to get carried away."
Another Moth released a slow breath.
"It is true that those ant soldiers possess some degree of combat ability. They slew more than five Centipedes. Including the Stone Centipede."
"And they accomplished it with only six soldiers."
He paused.
"However..."
"None of them poses a genuine threat."
"Once the next full moon rises..."
"Our lord will become the most powerful being in this region."
Vespera eyes shifted toward him.
"Tell us something we do not already know..."
"Mirage."
"Aurora reported that the Ants and the Butterfly Monarchs have most likely formed an alliance."
"They're already advancing toward our main lair."
Hawks said.
"She is traveling with that unit as well."
His brow tightened.
"So we may not reach the Moonveil Blossom before midnight."
"Lord Magnus..."
Mirage spoke again.
"May I ask something?"
Magnus remained silent.
"Do you truly trust Aurora with something as powerful as the Moonveil Blossom?"
"It is irrelevant whether she is trusted."
Magnus did not move.
"I am the one who gave her the strength to direct her hatred..."
"...when she was nothing more than a lost child consumed by it."
His golden eyes glowed within the darkness.
"The entirety of her existence belongs to me."
"She will bring the Moonveil Blossom to me."
"No matter what."
His gaze shifted toward Rift.
"Rift."
Rift immediately straightened.
"If Aurora defeats the Monarchs..."
"...eliminate her."
"And should she fall..."
"...kill the one who slew her."
A grin spread across Rift's face.
He laughed.
"Just what I wanted to hear."
"Hawks."
"Yes, Lord Magnus..."
"It is highly likely Aurora concealed the Moonveil Blossom in the same region where you encountered her."
"I am placing you in charge of its retrieval."
Hawks lowered into a bow.
"It will be done."
Rift turned first.
Hawks followed close behind.
Their footsteps faded into the tunnels.
Magnus rested a hand beneath his chin.
It is almost time.
Soon... you will face my wrath, Hopper... Warlord of this region.
A faint smile touched his lips.
Enjoy the sunlight while it lasts.
Soon... this entire region will be swallowed by absolute darkness.
The sun remained high above the forest canopy. Light filtered through the leaves as the wind moved steadily through the branches. Below, the unit advanced through the forest.
Seraphina, Nytheris, and the two Butterfly guardians maintained their altitude overhead, their wings beating in steady intervals.
Ari walked several steps ahead of the ants.
He lifted his head.
His eyes remained fixed on Nytheris.
I took a huge gamble. But it's not like I had a choice.
If my judgment is wrong...
If Nytheris isn't involved with the Moths...
None of us will make it back to the colony.
We'll all die.
His gaze lowered.
But if I'm right...
If I've figured out where the Moths are...
Then this is our chance.
A chance to beat them...
And secure the Moonveil Blossom.
Something bumped the back of his shoulder.
Ari stumbled half a step before catching himself.
"Quit spacing out."
He looked back.
Quinn walked beside him.
"I'll admit it."
"I thought you were reckless when you ran off into the forest by yourself."
She glanced at him.
"But earning the Queen's respect..."
"And the acknowledgment of the Butterfly Monarchs..."
She rested a hand on her hip.
"That doesn't just happen."
"And now you're leading this unit."
A faint smile crossed her face.
"For a Lance Corporal..."
"...you're doing pretty well."
Ari rubbed the side of his cheek.
"Right..."
"I never got the chance to apologize for what I did, Corporal Quinn."
Quinn waved it off.
"Forget it."
She looked ahead.
"What's done is done."
"Right now..."
"The mission comes first."
"I see."
The answer came quietly.
Out of all the female soldiers I've met...
She's probably the most grounded.
She looks like she'd punch a hole through a boulder...
But she's the one who feels the most normal.
Unlike those other misfits.
A slow breath escaped him.
The Butterfly meadows came into view beyond the trees.
The ants came to a halt.
I'm counting on you...
Valeria.
Ignatia.
Bring Magnus down.
His eyes narrowed.
And this only works if you recover the Moonveil Blossom.
Lily.
Beatrice.
Lancelot.
Isla.
Nova.
I'm leaving that up to you.
Above them, Nytheris kept his gaze fixed on Ari below.
At the eastern edge of the training grounds, large boulders rested in uneven rows.
Long shadows stretched across the ground near the colony entrance.
Valeria stood before a formation of more than two hundred ant soldiers.
Twenty Butterfly guardians stood among them.
Ignatia waited near the front.
Luminara stood beside her guardians.
"Listen up."
Valeria folded her arms across her chest.
"As we speak..."
"Ari's unit is advancing toward the Hollow Foundry of Shadows."
"They should be arriving there soon."
Her eyes swept across the formation.
"Some of you are probably wondering why we've split our forces."
"So let me make this simple."
"We're deploying to the Southern Burrows."
A wave of murmurs spread through the ranks.
"What?"
"The Southern Burrows?"
"Isn't that where the Centipedes came from?"
Valeria waited.
The murmurs gradually faded.
"Our Lance Corporal, Ari, has determined that Magnus, leader of the Moths, is operating from that burrow."
She paused.
"Based on his plan..."
"We are more than eighty percent certain we'll encounter him there."
Her gaze sharpened.
"I expect every one of you to remain vigilant."
"This operation exceeds your normal engagement parameters."
"The current threat level is Sergeant grade."
"If we fail to act decisively..."
"It will escalate to Lieutenant or even Captain grade."
She raised her hand.
"Move out."
The formation broke in perfect order.
Feet struck the packed ground in unison as the column advanced toward the Southern Burrows.
Above them, the Butterfly guardians launched together.
Their wings spread wide before carrying them into the open sky.
"As expected of the Captain of the soldiers."
Luminara smiled.
The green cloth covering her eyes fluttered gently as her guardians lifted her into the air.
Ignatia remained at the colony entrance for a moment longer.
Her eyes lingered on the path Ari's unit had taken.
All this time...
To think he could betray us.
Her jaw tightened.
I only hope...
That isn't the truth.
Her indigo wings unfolded.
With a single powerful beat, she rose into the air.
Moments later, she disappeared after the others.
From the mouth of a nearby tunnel, Beatrice watched the departing formation.
Her eyes followed them until they vanished beyond the trees.
A slow breath escaped her.
She stepped into the open and turned toward Lancelot, Isla, Nova, and Lily.
"Alright."
"Let's get moving."
"Yes."
"That's the spirit."
Lily stepped between them.
She gave each of them a firm pat on the back.
As they headed down the passage, Nova drifted half a step behind.
She stopped at the tunnel entrance.
Her eyes lifted toward the dark line of forest in the distance.
Be careful... Ari.