The ant Queen marched her legion of a thousand ants with purpose. The other eight thousand were taking different roads to the Badlands. They were nearing the border when a human regiment of soldiers came and stopped them. They wanted papers and something called a caravan fee.

The ants behaved honorably and allowed for the humans to see their adventurer papers that were strapped to their armors and to rummage in the coin purses that were strapped lower.

The humans took two coins from each purse and placed them in a large chest. The most official looking person spoke in the speech pattern of the overlord.

“Well, you are all in the clear. I hope you know that all the land you take will be added to the Dawn Empire’s territory. Apart from any dungeon grounds. Those go to your dungeon core.” Said the Captain.

The ant Queen rose on her back legs and nodded her head. Then she fell down on the ground again and addressed her ants.

Daughters, we march into the unknown, and we may never see the forest where we were born and worked to improve. But for the glory, of both ourselves and the overlord, we must march on! Onward!

The Captain heard only screeching and the thundering of ant feet. Weird days were coming if even ants became soldiers, he thought. He stepped back to let the horde of ants through, and made a sign for his fellow soldiers to carry off the chest with the gold coins.

The ants marched forward, and then No Man’s Land spanned before them. Grass was crushed beneath their feet. Trees toppled to make way for the ants to come. Puddles bypassed.

Then, three ogres came forward, brandishing their clubs.

“Look Hob, big ants. Do you think they are juicy?” Asked Bob, his brother.

“What happened to the trees, Bob. They look like a strong wind uprooted them.” Said Gob, making a step back. “I don’t like these ants.”

Daughters! Screamed the ant Queen as she faced her ant subjects. Remember what the overlord told us! Subdue, do not main or kill! A challenge such as this will bring us more honor than three dead ogres ever could.

The ant Queen turned around and made a step forward. Bob raised his club.

“Uh, we are not the food here. You are.” Said the ogre, and he crouched down to prepare to crush the ant Queen.

Then, the ant Queen leaped at him and bit his knee cap. Bob began hopping on one foot as he began to wave his club around. The rest of the ants charged. They piled on top of the ogres, toppling them to the ground, and began to vibrate.

The sheer bulk of the ants held the ogres down. As they vibrated, they heated the ogre’s skin. Soon, the ogres lost consciousness and the ants made ten columns to hear the assessment of their Queen. 

Daughters, we have defeated the foe who wished to eat us!

The ants began to stamp their feet joyously.

But if we rely on our strength alone, we will not make it into the Badlands. A squad of a hundred of you will carry an ogre each. I hereby recruit them in the United Apple Grotto Armed Forces!

Three hundred ants lined up, so they could take turns carrying the ogres, and the march continued. When nightfall came, the ogres awoke. Now more careful and shaken.

“Bob, the evil ants have kidnapped us.” Whispered Gob to his brother. Then he felt small, needle things pierce his flesh.

“I think they want us to be quiet.” Whispered Bob back.

Gob ran a hand through his bald head and poked an ant.

“Gob hungry. Gob needs food.” Said Gob. Neither of the ogres have eaten anything since they were captured. Before that, they only had some bugs to eat. The life of an outlaw ogre was a tough one.

The ants began to vibrate and Gob’s skin began to heat up.

“If I don’t eat, I will die.” Protested Gob. The ants stopped vibrating, seeing the wisdom in this. They let the three ogre brothers down and made a line leading to the river.

The three hundred ants made up a perimeter around the ogres as they began to drink and catch bait fish with their bare hands. Gob offered a nearby ant a bait fish and watched as it ate.

“Bob, I think we are recruited for something.” Said Gob as the ant finished eating the fish.

“For what Gob?” Asked Bob, mouth full of fish.

Twenty ants gathered in marching formation and began to march in a circle.

“An expedition of some sort.” Said Gob. Then he watched as the ants stopped and then began jumping as if thrown by an invisible force. Or a volcano.

“I know, I know.” Said Hob, hand raised.

“Yes, Hob?” Asked Bob and Gob at the same time.

“They are these strange ants from the paper. The one going to the Badlands.” Said Hob, proud to have figured it out.

“But where are the goats? A roasted goat would have filled our bellies better than fish.” Said Gob wishfully.

“The goats are the generals, stupid.” Said Hob, nose high in the air. “And you wouldn’t want to meet them. They are probably man-eating.”

“You are the stupid one. Hey, ant, do we get a cut of the treasure?” Asked Gob, hopefully. The Badlands were a terrible place and if there was no treasure at the end of the journey then he and his brothers needed to run away from these crazy ants.

Three ants stepped forward and pushed three stones to the ogres.

“We get one thing each?” Asked Bob, disappointment filling his voice.

“Does it matter how big it is?” Asked Hob.

The ants shook their heads and returned to their perimeter position.

“Bob, Gob, we can get rich with this.” Said Hob. “We can demand a giant gold nugget, or an entire dragon skeleton. Then we will be able to become citizens of Norgog’s village and live like kings.”

His brothers’ faces broke off in a smile. Dragons were very long-lived, and so their bones were hard to come by. Yes, with three dragon skeletons, they would be set for life. And all they needed to do was fight.