Sprout

From the ground I came and henceforth I shall return. But first I need to fulfil the quest I was given. I am an ant, and the queen needs me to find sustenance. I remember the conversation like it was yesterday…

“What do you ask of me? Why have I been birthed to life?”

“Food.” She replied. I was confused.

“Food? That’s why—”

“Food.” She repeated. And that was that. She rolled over and left me on my own. I now have a job: Get food. Once I do, I will be devoured. Not a great outcome but I am excited to be alive in the first place to do it. The horror will come but it doesn’t have to be a constant presence in my life.

Back on the surface, a crow was looking at me with particular contempt. I wanna be inside its head, know its thoughts, but in case it was eyeing me for a tasty snack I hastily left. The ground is barren but there are still decently sized rocks I can hide under. I’m pretty strong, I’m an ant. We don’t actually communicate by vomiting into each other’s mouths, that’s just gross. We have a little class, give us credit. I saw a half-rotten piece of bread lining the ground up ahead. I could easily go right up to it and just snatch a crumb and my job would be complete. I wanted to do that, the pheromones made it very tempting to do so, but I wanted to live just a little bit longer.

“HEY!” I heard something shout in a very clicky language. I turned around. A gigantic spider towered over me, its sheathed fangs glinting in the sunlight.

“Hm?” I replied, trying and failing to act cool like I wasn’t terrified to my core.

“You need something? You look lost.”

“Um, yeah I’m on a mission.”

“I’ll come with, I really need something to do and I’m bored.”

“What are you doing? What was the last thing you ate?” I asked, walking further and further away. It began trailing after me.

“Oh, I didn’t realise you said no. The last thing I ate was ant but you seem interesting enough to not eat.”

“Gee, thanks,” I replied.