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 Frra propelled their boat forward until it scraped against the muddy bank.
They leapt to safety just as the fish lunged, its jaws closing around nothing but the dried leaf. The boat disappeared into its mouth with a splash.