with a chuckle.
That night, as they rested in their cozy chambers, Irra whispered, «You know, Frra, we make a pretty good team.»
«We do,» he agreed, his antennae brushing hers affectionately. «But next time, let’s explore *closer* to home.»
And with that, the two little adventurers drifted off to sleep, dreaming of future escapades – though hopefully less dangerous ones.
Adventures on the Pond
Though the holiday spirit buzzed through every corner of the anthill, Irra and Frra were up bright and early, just like the diligent adult ants. But unlike the adults, burdened by their endless work gathering food and maintaining tunnels, Irra and Frra had their own kind of busy day planned. Today was no ordinary holiday. Today, they were embarking on a grand and *forbidden* adventure.
«Pass me the pine needle,» Irra whispered to her brother, holding up her tiny forelegs like a swordsman preparing for a duel.
Frra grunted, lifting a long, sharp pine needle on his back. «Here. Now let me get mine! We need to look like warriors when we reach the pond.»
The pond. For as long as they could remember, the pond had been the forbidden jewel of their childhood. Stories about its shimmering surface
and the unpredictable, treacherous creatures lurking nearby were told almost like bedtime tales to warn the young ants. The adult ants would shiver with dread even while telling the stories – black water beetles, dragonflies with glinting wings, a strange slippery thing called ’frogs,» and, most terrifying of all, the pond’s vast expanse, a death trap for anything unlucky enough to fall into it.
But Irra and Frra didn’t have time for fear. They were small ants, but their dreams were colossal.
– —
After completing their apartment chores faster than ever – tidying up stray crumbs, fluffing tiny moss beds, and rearranging pebbles into neat borders around their home – they dashed out of the anthill.
«Are you sure we won’t get caught?» Frra asked, scurrying behind Irra. His antennae twitched nervously.
«Relax,» said Irra, her voice tinged with excitement. «We’ll be back before anyone notices. We just need to handle the predators and…» She paused dramatically, squinting her compound eyes as she spotted something. «…and sail *the boat*!»
The so-called «boat» awaited them on the edge of the pond. It was a dried-up leaf, curled perfectly into the shape of a small dinghy. Though uneven, it looked sturdy enough to float on water, and in the eyes of two adventurous young ants, it was magical.
The journey to the pond was, as the adults had predicted, dangerous. They avoided the fluttering shadow of a butterfly, narrowly dodged their neighbor – a grouchy grasshopper who nearly stepped on them – and took extra care when they passed the territory where the spider webs stretched like shimmering nets in the sunlight.
When they finally arrived, the pond stretched in front of them like an alien world. The sunlight reflected off its surface, and ripples danced hypnotically. But the most incredible part wasn’t the water – it was the sheer abundance of life. Dragonflies zipped by, their wings humming loudly. Water bugs skated effortlessly across the pond’s surface. And farther out, a sleek, glistening fish jumped, its silver body flashing briefly before vanishing into an ominous ripple.
«This is it!» Irra said, puffing out her tiny chest. «Time to sail the boat.»
«But… the pond is vast,» muttered Frra. His antennae twitched again, this time in unease. «What if something… eats us?»
Irra rolled her eyes. «That’s why we brought the pine needles. Look!» She jabbed her weapon into the ground. «We’re fearless! Anything tries to mess with us, we *sting* it!» She brandished the pine needle with such dramatic flair that Frra couldn’t help but grin.
Emboldened by his sister’s confidence, Frra picked up his own pine needle and together they pushed the dried leaf toward the water. With careful effort and teamwork, the two managed to climb aboard, balancing themselves as their ’boat’ bobbed on the surface. It wasn’t a perfect fit – Frra kept slipping to one side and Irra had to anchor him with her legs – but they were finally doing it.
«We’re sailing!» Irra cheered, holding her stick up high.
Frra hesitated, looking at the dark water beneath them before letting out a cautious cheer himself. «We’re sailing!»
For a glorious few moments, they glided peacefully along the
shimmering surface as the gentle current carried them. It was everything they had imagined and more – the exhilarating wind brushed against their exoskeletons, the water sparkled below, and the world seemed infinitely larger than it had before.
But their adventure wouldn’t stay peaceful for long.
A sudden shadow loomed overhead, and the humming sound of wings filled the air. A dragonfly – a massive, iridescent predator – circled closer, its goggled eyes locked onto the two ants. To the dragonfly, they were nothing more than a tasty snack.
Irra’s instincts kicked in immediately. «Frra! Stay low and hold on tight!» she barked, grabbing her pine needle like a spear.
The dragonfly swooped closer, its wings slicing through the air like blades. Irra stood her ground, brandishing her needle and jabbing at the air with a ferocity that would have made the bravest ant soldier proud. She hissed in defiance, making herself look as big as possible.
The dragonfly hesitated for a split second, just long enough for Frra to jab his own pine needle upward, grazing the insect’s delicate leg. The dragonfly buzzed angrily, but the tiny resistance seemed to surprise it. With a loud whir of its wings, it decided the meal wasn’t worth the trouble and flew away.
«We did it!» Frra gasped, clinging to the edge of the leaf. His whole body trembled with the thrill and sheer terror of what had just happened. «Irra, we actually did it!»
Irra, still gripping her makeshift weapon, gave him a shaky smile. «I told you we’re fearless.»
But their relief was short-lived. A ripple appeared in the water, growing in size and heading straight for them. Something was coming – a fish.
«Row! Row!» Irra yelled, tossing her stick into the water like an oar. Frra did the same, and together they paddled furiously toward the shore.
The ripple grew larger, the fish’s sleek body beginning to emerge from
beneath the surface. Its enormous mouth opened wide, ready to snap shut on the tiny, floating ants.
With one final burst of effort, Irra and
