Benny, a small ant with a big name and an even bigger sense of irony, blinks awake, nose twitching at the sweet aroma. He stretches, brushing crumbs from his shell, just as a distant voice calls him to breakfast.
Benny's Parent is heard, their tone brisk but affectionate.
"Benny, come and eat breakfast!"
Benny sighs inwardly, his mind wandering to the apple and his own unlikely namesake, the infamous general.
Benny takes a generous bite, savoring the taste, when suddenly he notices the nest shifting, ants moving further apart. Above, the sky darkens momentarily as birds begin to circle, casting fleeting shadows over the gathering. Just as unease prickles in his mind, a sudden THUD echoes, and his vision distorts, scientific voices and strange facts swirling through his head.
Benny struggles to recall the way home, mind muddled by strange snippets about pheromones and memory. He takes a breath, noticing a puddle nearby, and, ever resourceful, fashions a water holder from a crisp leaf. After slaking his thirst, he gathers sticks, rocks, and grass, using sticky sap to weave a tiny backpack, uncertain but determined to begin his journey.
Benny hesitates, heart pounding, before stepping into the darkness. Inside, a faint, desperate whisper drifts on the air. He follows the sound, discovering a weakened ant from another nest, slumped and barely conscious.
Poisoned Ant mutters weakly, "Help me, help me... I was poisoned..."
Benny stares, horror-stricken, as the ant slips away, leaving him chilled and shaken by the mystery of this sudden threat.
Benny wonders who could be behind the poisoning, his determination burning brighter with every step. His mind races through fragments of scientific facts and warnings, fueling his mission to protect his nest and uncover the truth.
Benny debates, voices in his mind pulling him in different directions, before he steels himself and chooses to follow the trail. Each step brings a mix of hope and apprehension, the world growing quieter as he ventures deeper into the unknown.
Benny creeps toward a window, peering inside. There, an ant exiled long ago from Benny’s nest works feverishly, injecting apples with a strange liquid. Shocked, Benny recognizes the same apple that fell near his cot, the pieces clicking into place.
Exiled Ant lowers his gaze, inviting Benny inside. He explains his actions, voice trembling with a mix of guilt and conviction.
"All this time, I've been trying to protect our species. The compounds were meant to disorient invaders, not harm our own. They’re safer than the poisons others use—meant for good, not destruction."
Benny listens, uncertainty warring with empathy, realizing that sometimes, the line between friend and foe is thinner than a trail of pheromones.
