Formicea

Yeah, the nurses left, leaving me here with a whole pack of the Formicean equivalent to bloodhounds.
The worst is that the big one is blocking the way out, while the others are encircling me.
Did I mention that I find those two nurses to be extremely grating?
If not to say outright irresponsible?

Yet my assessment won't help me much if I don't survive the next minute.
If they now pounce, I'm a goner.
Urgh, I can't look.
I close my eyes, waiting for the end.
Yet suddenly, I feel a nudge against my waist.
It's the little one from before.
It looks serenely at me, and thankfully, its mouth is closed.
Then comes another one from the side, one more, and before long I find myself squeezed between over a dozen heads.

Then I realize something.
I can actually tell that they don't intend me anything bad.
I could the whole time.
It's actually something to feel so many at once.
Of course, their looks are frightening, but once I'm truly aware that they're fine with me... then it's fine.
Well, aside from this whole issue that they apparently are accepting me as one of their own, while they all start to cuddle me.
I mean, I'm not against cuddling animals, I like them, but I'd also like to be human while doing so.

Though, I can barely believe that these cuddly buddies were so scary to me back then.
They're like rubbing all over me, and not once am I even grazed by anything sharp.
Then something wet touches my face.
The small one?
Is that its tongue!?
But that means... yeah, it's poking right out of its teethed maw.

<Hey, be careful with the barbs!> (S)

But I guess it is.
At least, none got me yet, and it's using the length, rather than the sharp tip.
Nonetheless, I could really do without this!

"Skrrrrchh!" (alpha)

Abruptly, I hear a snarl, and the whole group disperses.
That actually helped.
The enclosure is rather large, so every hunter can find a good place.
Some are even lying in nests with straw.
I always spot those little things, where human stuff got just added, which I find very interesting.
Yet all my fascination for these little buddies aside, I've had enough.
I guess it's time to leave now.

Well, getting out shouldn't be all that difficult.
The dirt wall around this enclosure isn't all that high.
Up to my shoulder isn't that huge in the first place, and I just learned that I can jump and climb really well.
So this, not the slightest bit steep, pile of earth doesn't even count as an obstacle.

I get right to it.

"Skcchhhh!" (alpha)

What!?
Why is it now blocking my way out of here?

Oh damn!
I get it.
I understand it.
It thinks I'm part of its pack and right now about to leave without its permission.
Like, I'm just running off while we are supposed to stay in here.
It's less of an ironclad rule and more of a general expectation by the hive, but this one is going to enforce it on its pack.
On me!

No!
I'm certainly not going to stay here!
I walk right to the wall and start to climb.

Yet the moment I do, I feel a heavy impact on the side.
The next thing I notice is how claws pull me to the side, and I'm suddenly flying towards the ground.
I turn away from the ground, and promptly, a weight settles on me, and I'm eye to eye with the big one, who makes it now very clear that it won't tolerate this from me.
Did I mention that it did a great job of frightening me?

Next, I get dragged by my clothes away from the wall.
I don't scrape as badly on the ground, but worry about the accumulated wear and tear.
After this, it gets off but still snarls at me, so I have to step further away in the other direction.
Shit, what to do now?
That hunter has huge claws, is quite big, and is in general, just mean, so I'm not going to fight it.

Could I run past it?
Not right now, that much is clear.
It's totally focused on me and ready to pounce if I break another rule.
And I'm not quite ready to put it to the test if they are going to hurt me for real or not if I push it.

Maybe I shouldn't be too obvious about it.
Yep, I'll just wait for a bit longer.

I take a few steps back and sit down.
It's a bit strange to do so with my wrong legs, but I manage a good position.
But next, my tiny hunter plops down right against my side.
Well, that's a name.
Hi, Tiny.
But, could you tell me, do I have something on me that makes you so focused on my person?

Not important right now.
It seems like the boss is about to settle down.

It does so next to a pile of the slices of meat the nurses left here.
Looks like it guards them from the others.
I think that means it's rationing them.
However, more important is that it's going to rest.
This means, now is my time!

I'll get closer as quietly as possible, jump over the wall, and sprint out of here as fast as possible, right back to the orphanage.
Good, now.
Be sneaky...
Quietly, quietly...

"Skrrrrrlll!" (hunter)

What!?
What does that one now want from me?
We weren't involved until now, so don't make a ruckus while I'm trying to escape!

This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"Skrrrlllll!" (other hunter)

Wait, the signal I receive from the others makes me concerned.
They basically signal that if I go through with my next escape attempt, the whole pack will, although reluctantly, be after me and drag me back in a joint effort.
I look forward again and see that the Big Boss here has one eye open and is looking straight at me.
So he knows he got the others with him and for this reason, can take it easy.

Shit.
Shit!
I, I can't outrun the whole pack.
And if my sense of smell is anything to go by, then getting back to the orphanage won't work at all.
They'll just keep following me there and drag me back all the way.
It's already decided for them that I'm now part of the group and they have to take responsibility for me.

I, I need to think this over.
For now, I'm going to sit back down on the other side that's away from the wall.
Urgh, there's a nest hole.
Well, better than the ground.
Not even dirty.
Yet it gets a bit complicated, to sit down comfortably on my bent legs.
I even have to stabilize myself with my forearms.

Okay, what now?
What if I just wait here?
If I don't show up for long enough, I suppose Allie, Millie, or one of the others will ask themselves where I am.
Especially, Allie has a lot of communication going with the other insects.
So I think someone who's not those stupid nurses will eventually notice I am here.
But just what will happen if I'm eventually found like this?

Oh no, I can already see Honiu in front of me.
All smug because she believes she was right all along.
Next, my room gets emptied out and I become a permanent addition to this pen.
Just another animal like the others here.
Not like I'd ever have the chance to escape after this.

And this only because I wanted to change.
To get towards something better...

"Scriuuh!" (Tiny)

Having nothing else to do, I pat my little friend.
In return, I get nudged back.
Hah, nothing else to do, but to sit here.
Just sitting here...
Abruptly, Tiny jumps up.

"Screeeeh!" (Tiny)

Huh?
What's this?
Oh, I think Tiny wants to play.
He must have noticed that I'm bored.
Well, not like I have anything else to do.
So I let out a short, accepting screech of my own.
Uh, but what do hunters play?

"Screeeooh!" (Tiny)

I realize I should have asked myself this sooner, because next, with a happy yelp, Tiny jumps right at me.

"Umph!" (S)

Quite a lot of weight for this little frame.
He jumped right on and off of me.
Somehow, without making use of his claws.

"Screeeooh!" (Tiny)

Here comes the next.
I manage to dodge this time, but Tiny effortlessly rebounds back in.
He hits me, and I fall to my side.
Urgh.

"Screaah!" (Tiny)

And now he jumps happily around.
Was that the game?
Whoever makes the other topple over wins?
I guess so.
At least it seems elated, and accomplished, but there's also this sense of, yeah, superiority.
Well, like a winner, or... don't tell me!

Urgh, was this a ranking match?
Does he now think he's above me, so he can command me as his underling?

Oh no, not with me!
I refuse to be even Tiny's doormat!

<Screeeooh!/Rematch!> (S)

Tiny doesn't let me ask him twice and goes right into a jump.
Again, I dodge, getting even more secure on my new legs.
Like before, he jumps in again without delay, but this time, I manage to dodge again, right, before this tiny jumping ball comes crashing into me from behind, which makes my stupid legs lose their balance to my front.

"Screaah!" (Tiny)

Okay, I'm getting frustrated.

This time, I wordlessly stand up.
I don't even have to say it.
My intention is enough to signal him.
The issue is that he's moving a lot more than me, and if he gets me from a bad side I can't keep my balance.
I guess, jumping as well would be fair game, but I'm not that proficient yet to deal with such a chaotic round.
Also, I want to beat him on my terms.
So instead, I do the opposite and take a lower stance, crouching my legs and digging my claws into the ground.

As expected, Tiny jumps again.
But this time, I got him covered.
I know what weight to expect and catch him in my arms.
If my foreclaws can propel my whole body into the ceiling then by god, they can also catch this tiny jumpingball.

He yelps, once he notices I got him, shortly before I swing him to the side.
Not hard, but so he doesn't quite catch the fall.

Hah!
That's my win!
Throwing moves are beyond you, huh?

"Scruuuh!" (Tiny)

Oh, now he seems a bit down.
Yet after another second he shakes himself and is already pushing himself again against my side.
Seems to be a good sport, the little one.

A short while later, something happens.
The alpha moves to the basket with meat slices.
It claws them and then begins to drop one next to each of the hunters.
Everyone except me.
I guess that means it's unsatisfied with me.
Oh, how terrible.

"Grmbl"

Shit.
Ugh, just why does my stomach have to act up right now?
And furthermore, be so vocal about this.
After the exertion, my muscles strain, and there's this light itch all over me.
That I'm hungry again makes this sensation more present.
And having nothing to do to distract myself while the others eat, makes this even worse.

I guess I need something to eat, but the big one won't hand any of the mystery meat over.
Though, do I even want it?
I feel like I could devour absolutely anything at the moment, but that's exactly why I'm a little scared.
Already I've gulped down raw meat without thinking, which hopefully won't be bad on my stomach.
Yet as I am now, I doubt it, as it apparently got quite a bit stronger.
But what else might I swallow up without care!?

"Grmbl"

On the other side, my just-mentioned stronger stomach harshly makes itself known.
Urgh, yes, yes, I really want more of them!
But as things are currently, this food is not even an option, so I don't need to wrack my head over whether I'd give in to the lure of this scrumptious meat.
For now, this means I'll have to wait for the nurses to return again if I want to get anything to eat.
However, I'm also dreading it, as I'm quite sure this will culminate in another training session.
Who knows, next time they may ask me to roll over first and give paw.

"Grmbl"

Damn.
I should at least sit still.
If you're hungry, walking around only makes it worse.
Also, I shouldn't look at the others gobbling down their meat with fervor.
That certainly doesn't help.

"Scruuh!" (Tiny)

<Huh!? Hey, Tiny.> (S)

He holds a slice of meat he got from the boss and pushes it over towards me.

<I-is that for me?> (S)

I, I don't know what to say.
If looking at the others gives any indication, they seem pretty ravenous, and to share their food with me means quite something then.
I mean, he had to touch it with his nozzle, which isn't great, but the gesture counts.
Ah, screw it, I'm hungry!

<Thank you.> (S)

I let my hand claw slide out a bit and cut the slice in the middle, handing the part that he held with his snout back.
Thinking of it, it's kinda worrisome how easily the sharp tips of my fingers slid right through the meat.
Tiny looks at me, handing his gift back, but when I signal that I truly mean this, he takes it.
Could it be... Is that because he now sees me as his boss?
Well, I have reason to be grateful.
The meat helps a great deal in soothing my troubled stomach.
Even though, I still don't know what it's made of.
I feel much better now actually.

"ScreeeEEEEHHHHHHH!!!" (alpha)

Shit, wha-
Suddenly, he's between us, snarling hard, and driving us away from each other.

"Scriiiuuuuh!" (Tiny)

Tiny shouts something between confusion and protest.
Suddenly, the alpha jumps and pummels poor Tiny over.

"SKCCCCHHHHHH!!"