---
Together, they administered the healing honey. They were careful not to agitate the broken shell.
"That's one," Sha murmured. "Keep moving."
They searched further. Behind a huge pile of stone which was covered in slime and moss, Vel uncovered another. "Here!" she called.
This one was younger—one of the scouts ants, barely full adult size. Her limbs were twitching erratically, spittle frothing at her mandibles. Poison veins were visible under her translucent exoskin. It was burning green.
"Damn," Naaro muttered. "They used venom that eats through aura nerves."
"But she's breathing," Sha said.
One ant dashed to her, almost tripping over her own long legs. "We can save her, right?"
"We will," Vel said fiercely. "Carry her."
They fashioned stretchers from bark and silk clothes, bundling the two barely-breathing ant warriors and marking their spot.
"Two more," whispered Tissa. "Please let there be more."
