His thoughts went back to that estate sale. As soon as the professor was declared legally dead, the family were all too eager to sell off all his belongings. Symon feared for what would happen to his precious things if he didn't return to humanity soon. Would they even bother to sell his miniatures since they always assumed it was a waste of time and money? Or would they just throw them away? And then what of the stone? Would they sell it just for another person to fall victim to its curse? Or worse, they curse themselves not knowing of its power? No, Symon couldn't have that.

Aniso sank back into the water at Symon’s determination to leave. “Well, I suppose you could ask the ants for transportation out to the human city. It's a long journey you shouldn't attempt on foot.”

“That sounds like a good plan.” Symon replied. “Are you coming with me?”

Aniso turned away, a frown placed on his otherwise chipper face. “No, you can go on without me. I still have to do my mail routine this morning.”

Symon was surprised by this reaction, “Ah… uhm, very well. I’ll see you later then?”

“Yeah, yeah, sure.” Aniso dismissed.  

Symon was a little put off by Aniso’s tone, but didn't have time to prod about it, instead he finished combing and braiding his hair and headed out into the main village.

Walking alone in the main village was intimidating. Dotted around the outside of the tree were a few smaller cabins, farmhouses embracing the fresh air and nature. He avoided entering the tree, the idea of being in such a tight, crowded space, and being around that stone didn't appeal to him at the moment. Strolling around the tree, he followed crumbled stone paths that coiled around and under the roots. He stared at the overgrown grass that hung over his head, which swayed in the humid breeze, dripping the last of the morning dew onto the ground. The wind shook the weeds, and dandelion tuffs released from their flowers and floated delicately away. Warm rays of sunlight spackled onto the ground like blobs of golden color broken up by the foliage.

He eventually made his way to the opposite side of the tree, where the dense grass abruptly cut off, and he was met with a large open field of dirt and a garden where vegetables were growing. Many of the tall, healthy plants were stretched up in the air, basking in the sun. The produce they grew wasn't very large. Symon spotted berries growing on vines that weren't quite ripe. A sturdy cherry tomato plant rose high like a tree next to its neighbor, a pea plant with its pods roughly the size of sleeping bags for miinu. Small tufts of leaves in the ground indicated the growth of pearl onions or small carrots. Symon could imagine the miinu growing a lot of ‘baby’ vegetables and fruits, things that are simply novelties to humans might be vital for the miinu to have a varied, healthy diet. Even what they did grow would be like the size of watermelons or pumpkins to them, anything larger than that would be unmanageable. And lord knows how hard it would be for them to harvest actual watermelon or pumpkin.

Irrigation canals ran through the garden, pumped full of what looked like rain water through a siphon drawing water out of the tunnels below. Just past the garden was the cylindrical, volcano-like structure that acted as the opening of the ant hill. Surprisingly the entrance seemed unattended at the moment, but that wouldn't last long as a small carpenter ant crawled her way up a ladder out of the hole. Symon took this as an opportunity to get some help.

“Excuse me, Miss?” He yelled as he moved towards her waving his hand. “Can I get a moment of your- EEP!”

Before he could ask his question, he had pitchfork pointed at his throat. Perhaps pitchfork was too strong of a word, as it seemed he was actually being threatened with a cocktail fork; rusted, worn down and caked with dirt, but still faintly presenting the embossed designs that even the cheap silverware had now-a-days. He clammed up as he stared down at the defensive ant. Despite her size and proportions giving her a childlike appearance, the wrinkles lining her face and the silver strands in her hair showed decades of life experience. She stood guard until she got a good look at his face, before heaving a sigh and lowering her ‘weapon’. 

“Oh, it's just the newwing Aniso brought in.” She resigned. “What are you doing out here? Civilians shouldn't be out here unless they are on the job.”

“Oh well, my apologies, I wasn’t intending to disturb your lovely garden.” He cleared his throat. “I’m Symon, I’m just looking for someone who could assist me. What would your name be, ma’am?

“#444” She said tersely.

“You… Your name is just numbers?” Symon asked in confusion.

“We all are. Do you know how hard it is to name 600 worker ants? But most of us have nicknames, so if you must, you can call me Fours.” 

“I see… well just making my way here to ask --before you shoved a sharp object in my face-- if I could get some assistance traveling back to the city.”

“What city?” She asked skeptically. 

“Or right, the uhm… human city.” He clarified.

Fours blinked in disbelief, planting her pitchfork into the dirt. “The human city?! Now why on Earth would you wanna go there?”

“Ah, well it's a little hard to explain, but I am from there, and my house, in the city, may be in possession of a valuable artifact to your people.”

“You had a house in the human city? I thought only nomads lived out there.” 

“You misunderstand. I lived in a human home. I'm a human… formerly human.” He corrected.

Fours just cocked an eyebrow at the man's explanation.

“You… don't believe me, do you?” Symon's shoulders sank.

“I mean, it does sound pretty ridiculous, but surprisingly, not the first time I've heard that story.”

“There's been others like me?” 

“I don't know, maybe? Only if you're willing to believe Papilo’s wild stories.” She shrugged. “Regardless, that's a no on transportation.”

Symon blinked, “Wha- why ever not?”

“Don't you understand how far away that is? It'd take three days to get there by cart and you and I both know your wings aren't carrying you that far,” She turned and started plowing at the dirt with the fork, “plus it's incredibly dangerous. We lose a few ants every time we go out. You'd never survive alone.”

“But it's an urgent matter! People could be in danger if I don't go back.” He insisted and stood back in front of her. “Please, maybe I could have some ants accompany me if you're worried about me traveling alone.”

“No can do. Even if we wanted to escort you, we've got too much on our plates already. All our soldiers have been sent out for a rescue party.” 

Symon tensed, “Rescue party?”

As if to answer his question, Aniso flew over, panic strewn across his face.

“Fours! We have a problem. I went to deliver Dr. Leif’s mail again, but he's still not home.” Aniso spoke frantically. “Usually he leaves a note if he's going to be gone for a few days, but everything has been left as if he was just taking one of his morning walks. Please tell me you've seen him.”

“Negative.” Fours answered. “He's missed appointments for a few days now.”

“Did he get lost in the woods? I could fly out and look for him.”

“No need. We already have an idea where he went.” Fours pointed out past the tree's trunk to the distant blurry form of the A-Frame cabin at the other side of the large yard, towering over  the yard like a mountain. “We've been trying to expand inside the cabin. We waited a few years after the woman who lived there died, but since then, no one has come back to claim the house, so we figured it's time we take advantage of the structure to expand the village.”

“Since when did the doctor work in territory expansion?” Aniso raised an eyebrow.

“No he-” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “During our time surveying there've been… accidents. Several members of the last troop that was sent through have reported serious injuries, so we had to ask Dr. Leif to assist with treating the injured. The problem is, we haven't heard back from him, or the rescue team we sent out in a few days.” 

Aniso put a hand to his face. “That's horrible! What if they ran into trouble?! I can go in there and help-”

“Aniso, honey, come here.” Aniso flew down and Fours cupped his face much the same way a mother would do to her child. “I know you’re stressing out and you want to help, but we have it under control.”

“But you just said-”

“I know what I said, and I’m telling you now, stay here and let us handle this. I don’t want you getting hurt.” She gave him a pat on the cheek. “Why don't you focus on helping the newwing some more. He's going to need a place to stay soon. You know how your father is about sharing his place with people.”

Symon waved his hands, “Oh no, you misunderstand, I don't plan on staying in town for much longer. I’d rather just get home as soon as possible.”

Aniso's lip quivered before he flew off without a word. 

“Aniso!” Fours called out to him, but it was no use. Aniso was able to pick up speed so quickly that there was no catching him. “Augh… okay.”

“Is that… normal for him.” Symon asked, having never in his few days of living here, seen Aniso lose that chipper demeanor of his.

“Oh, this happens sometimes. Kid really likes to help people and is really hard on himself when he can't.” Fours explained. “Do me a favor and look after him a bit. After my shift is over, I'll go look for Dr. Leif and hopefully that will easc his mind.”

Symon fidgeted his hands. “I mean, I can certainly try.”

Symon wandered back towards the lake and looked for any sign of the damselfly. He peered over the waters surface; sunlight gently glittering across the waves. He eventually spotted a small lump of deep blue among the rock and reeds. Aniso was sitting curled up on one of the lily pads in the center of the pond, his head resting on his knees and arms wrapped around them. He stared listlessly down at the bottom of the pond, where small fish swam around.

“Aniso?” Symon asked calmly from the rocks, but there was no response, just a flicker of his wings. 

Symon looked down at the lily pads in front of them, they were clustered together in such a way that he might be able to reach him in the water. He carefully pushed against the leaf with his foot. It buckled a bit, bouncing up and down from the waves beneath, but it seemed to hold his weight. He cautiously made his way from pad to pad over to Aniso.

“Aniso, are you alright?” Symon asked again once he was closer.

“Have you been doing a bad job helping you?” His voice was small and quiet.

“What?” Symon seemed taken aback by the question. “Whatever do you mean? Without you I would likely be dead. You’ve been a tremendous help the last few days.”

“Then why do you want to leave so badly.” He asked. “Do you not like the village? Do you… not like me?” 

“Heavens, that’s not the case at all Aniso.” Symon tried to explain. “I just… ah..”

“I’ve tried my best to make you comfortable here, but you still just have that sad, lost look on your face.” 

Symon pursed his lips in guilt. “You are correct. I’ve been having a difficult time… adjusting. But that’s not your fault. But I also have a family, one that I wish to return to. You must know how it feels to be separated from your loved ones.” 

Aniso stared off at the distant cabin. “Yeah…” 

“I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful for all the help you’ve offered.” Symon sat on his knees on a nearby lily pad. “Admittedly, there is something wonderful and amazing about this place you call home, but… I guess I feel a little out of place here. This is your home, not mine.” 

There was a moment where they both sat in silence, with only the sound of the rippling water and the gentle up and down sway of the lily pads they sat on. Aniso’s gaze remained firmly locked on the cabin.

“I know you want to go there and help, but it really is okay to sit back and let the professionals handle it. Fours even said she’d go there herself.

“What?! Fours is going?” This broke Aniso out of his slump and his wings perked up. “No way, she can’t go over there on her own. If something happens to her…” 

“Calm down Aniso- It’s just one ant.”

“Just an ant! She’s a person! All of them are!” He took to the sky again. “I gotta go out there and stop her!”

“Wait! You can’t just go flying off, I was told to keep an eye on you.”

“I’m a grown adult! I don’t need anyone to watch me.” Aniso said. “I’m making the call to go find the villagers.”

“Now hold on Aniso!” Symon searched for the right words to say, anything that would stop the young man from flying off, but he realized that the boy was determined to go no matter what he said. Realizing he wouldn't be going home until, until the situation was resolved, he sucked in  a breath. “I'd feel terribly guilty if you went off on your own and got hurt. At least let me come with you. I know my way around human habitations; likely better than anyone else here.”

Aniso paused and turned. “You'd do that?”

“Well, it’s the least I can do for you and the doctor’s help.”

“Yes!” Aniso flew down and pulled Symon's hands into his own. “Thank you so much. We don't have time to lose.”

Aniso quickly scooped Symon into the air like he was used to doing and flew off toward the cabin.