Insecta: Unexpected Beginnings

By DJ Bartolini and Minali Singh

With over two hundred and fifty million years of insect history, science, lore and stories to draw upon, “Insecta: Unexpected Beginnings” is a brilliantly realized work of fiction, a classic quest story of insect high adventure, survival, friendship and courage.
The story is filled with fascinating insects (Dragonflies, Butterflies, Bumblebees, Walking Sticks and more!), friends and enemies, as well as many insect secrets, riddles and magic.
Insecta is the compelling tale of young Antime, a brave and determined ant who, when suddenly separated from his Amazonia colony, sets out on a perilous quest to discover both the secrets of his identity, as well as how to find and then save his threatened colony.
Antime discovers, along the way, that the jungle’s forest floor is paved with unexpected insect friends, and cruel enemies lurking in shadows. His adventures take him to see places and meet insects he never thought possible: to visit King Beeltor of the Beetles, Queen Bumble of the Bees and the mysterious and enchanting Fogwood Forest.
But as his quest continues, Antime slowly grasps that the terrifying dangers shrouding the forest of Amazonia could overshadow the whole of his world with the threat of catastrophic Insect Wars.
Insecta, Unexpected Beginnings is book one in the Insecta trilogy.
**Proceeds from the sale of this book will go to Cancer Research.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Feb 21, 2013
• ISBN: 9780991847303

Book preview

Chapters

CHAPTER 1: Amazonia, Terra Incognita

The gathering of leaves continued into the early afternoon, then suddenly was disrupted by a black Ant’s scream heard in the distance.

Worker Ants stopped foraging. Powerful soldier Ants took to higher ground for a better vantage point. Every Ant’s attention was directed toward the scream. Moments later, an old worker, who had been gathering leaves from a plant farther off, finally came into view.

She was a Black Ant and she was running wildly, her eyes wide with fright. She stumbled many times as the strength of her six legs seemingly failed. HELP! yelled the old worker breathlessly. The old worker ran to the Captain of the guards, Captain Hemet.

Clearly, she had seen something terrifying.

She stumbled at Captain Hemet’s feet, and he lowered his massive head to check her for injuries. But he found none.

What’s wrong? Where are the others? Hemet asked. Approaching the old worker, it was evident how he dwarfed her; she was so small and frail from years of arduous labour.

GONE! They are all gone Captain! she cried. "All our Ants are gone. They are… de-de-de-dead. All the guards and workers are dead. A horrible de-de-death!" she replied quivering, rambling.

What did you see? stated Captain Hemet calmly. He could not hear or see anything indicating danger in the forest. He wondered what could have come out of the forest. And what could have come out so suddenly.

All I saw was re…red. The forest turned RED! she repeated, and immediately a quizzical look displayed on Hemet’s face. They came out of the forest so quietly, she continued with urgency. We did not see them. I did not stay and fight….I just ran and then they ---

"Who are ‘they’? What did you see? he interjected, but the old Ant collapsed. She fell unconscious from exhaustion and fright. The astonished guards, who had now gathered around the unconscious old worker, stared down at her, quietly absorbing the words red forest". An evident look of concern surfaced on their usually stoic faces.

Could they have found us? Can it really be them? Came the whispers from the Black Ants. But no Ant really knew for sure.

* * *

Captain Hemet was troubled. He did not like what he had heard from the old worker’s ordeal before she fell unconscious. But he was a Nera Ant. And that meant confidence, pride and above all, fellowship.

He ordered several Nera guards to gather all the remaining worker Ants, head back to the colony immediately, and stay there to look after the Antlings (baby Ants).

"The Antlings represent the future of the Nera colony, and this is no place for the workers today. The workers are better off caring for the Antlings back at the colony," Hemet said, addressing his guards. Better to be proactive than reactive, the Captain always said to his subordinates.

Dispatching his two best scouts to ascertain the danger in the jungle, Hemet gave them strict orders, Do not intercept! Only observe…and return here in haste.

The scouts were sisters and Hemet’s fastest runners, named appropriately Sprint and Hurdle.

Quickly, all remaining guards ATTENTION! he commanded, and pointing to a respected female guard named Lieutenant Harpet, he gave orders. Return to the colony with a few guards and all the Nera workers. Inform Queen Nera that danger is imminent. Protect the Antlings. Tell our Queen that there is ---.

Pausing in mid-sentence, Captain Hemet paused as new loud sounds were emerging from the forest. The whole forest was bustling with activity, bordering on chaos. Thousands of flying insects deserted the area altogether in a panic.

Even mighty insects fled….like the Butterflies, Moths, Grasshoppers, Beetles, and many others. Insects on the ground scurried for safety too. Insects everywhere fled in the wake of whatever was approaching. And trying again to return his attention toward the matter at hand, his Queen and colony, Captain Hemet was interrupted. But this time it was by the returning Nera scouts, Sprint and Hurdle, whom he had only just dispatched.

Or at least, what was left of them.

Captain Hemet peered onto the ground and there, resting beside his legs were the heads of the two famous Nera scouts sent out only moments before. Sprint and Hurdle’s heads had fallen from the sky with a thump and rolled to their present location. Their eyes were closed and their heads were resting in a pool of black fluid.

How they died and how their heads landed before them, the Captain did not know. Lieutenant Harpet, tell the Queen to send reinforcements immediately, he commanded after a long silence. And then the Nera Captain paused as he gazed at his army.

All fell quiet.

His army stood in utter silence watching his face intently and waiting for their Captain to confirm who or what approached and to tell them what to prepare for. To tell them some information to allay their fears.

And it was then, unexpectedly that the old little worker Ant returned to consciousness and started rambling.

Yes I am alone! I ran all alone. Thousands of them came quietly…no hundreds of thousands! she related frantically. I am the only one left. BUT THEY ARE RIGHT BEHIND ME!

"Who followed you? What is behind you?" Hemet pressed.

Thousands and thousands of them, she repeated. THE FOREST TURNED RED! THEY SURROUNDED US! she blurted. Not a moment later, the forest behind the Nera came alive with terrifying sounds. Instantly, Hemet understood the old Ant’s words. It confirmed his worst fears.

Then inside the forest, somewhere, echoed a horrible high-pitched noise the Captain had heard before. The noise pierced through the armour of his Nera. CAPTAIN, THE RED ARMY ANTS HAVE FOUND US, finally revealed the old worker. IT IS THE RED ARMY ANTS! THEY ARE HERE!

Indeed they have come, privately acknowledged the Captain, but his eyes focused steadily into the vast forest. War sounds came closer and closer.

We must hold our ground against the Red Army, Hemet declared to his army, breaking through the Red Army’s screech. "And we must give our Queen and workers time to escape and save the Antlings. Today, we FIGHT for their tomorrow.

FOR QUEEN AND COLONY! Captain Hemet roared.

"FOR QUEEN AND COLONY!" his army cheered in chorus.

Captain Hemet looked toward the jungle beyond and saw the forest floor move. Hundreds of thousands of Red Army Ants moved like a flowing red sea. He saw the forest’s floor was absolutely teeming in red Ants. Wave after wave of Crimson Ants poured out in numbers so vast they completely carpeted the jungle’s ground. It had begun.

CHAPTER 2 - Battle of Carnage

Somewhere deep within the interior of South America’s wilderness, a jungle thrives. The inhabitants named it Amazonia and black swollen clouds darkening the entire forest, cover this jungle.

But that is because it is the winter season in Amazonia. And if it isn’t raining, it always seems as if it is about to. During the winter months, the only constant in Amazonia are the rains that can last six long months. The jungle’s only reprieve from rainfall comes in short bursts when the glorious sun breaks through overcast skies and shines down upon the jungle’s immense canopy. But just as quickly as the sun appears, dark clouds swallow it up again. Clouds hold dominion over the land this time of year. There are only two seasons in Amazonia, and the summer season is still months away.

During these rainy months, the jungle lies under a perpetual white mist that is most pronounced early in the morning. Eerily, the fog-like mist lethargically floats over the canopy of leaves and conceals the forest floor. The moisture is so thick that the days are stiflingly humid. Especially at midday, sticky hot air makes movement almost unbearable and Elephants, Monkeys and Crocodiles, keep cool by seeking shelter in the cool mud or lounging in water reservoirs scattered throughout the jungle. But the weather enables Amazonia to sustain a vast jungle with giant trees over a thousand years old that take firm root, and like any wild jungle, it is unpredictable but thriving with life.

According to popular insect opinion, among the more pleasant inhabitants of the jungle, is the black Ant colony, called the Nera Ants. The Nera Ants live deep beneath the soil. They are small creatures and tall grass blades are as large to them as skyscrapers are to a Human.

But the Black Ants’ small size, however, allows them to go unnoticed by mammals and usually other insects, most of the time. And the Nera Ants would tell you they prefer it that way. It does not mean they don’t like visitors. No, that is not the case at all. It is just that they are always busy building or cleaning, and they have very little time for anything else. The occupants of Nera Castle never slept, there were always Ants working. Some Ants worked the morning shift, others worked the night shift. Production never ceased.

In a long single-file line, the worker Ants travel across the forest floor every day in search of plants, while Nera guards station themselves strategically high above the ground on branches or tree stumps along the way to watch over them. Whether it is the sunny or rainy season, foraging for food is important business and has to be done no matter the weather. Workers set out each day to forage and were always accompanied by a battalion of guards. The jungle is a terrifyingly dangerous place.

Predators lie and wait in every nook and cranny – under leaves, deep in the soil, among the trees or in the air. And even though the Nera Ants are powerful, there are animals higher in the food chain, lying in the shadows. And despite their collective colonial strength, the Black Nera Ant colony is peaceful; their interests lie principally in finding food of the green leafy variety.

Like all other Ant colonies in Amazonia, they are named after their queen, Queen Nera. The Nera Ant colony numbers a respectful two or three hundred thousand, give or take a few! And while no Queen could be affectionate to all her children, Queen Nera always did her best, especially toward her daughters. Ant colonies are a sisterhood after all, with few males about.

From the surface, Nera Castle appeared small with only a few tiny Ant hill openings, but deceptively, its tunnels extend deep beneath the forest floor and span across thousands of Antons (an Anton is a form of Ant measurement, it is an Ant ‘foot’). The underground colony is a complex labyrinth with thousands of tunnels going every which way. Yet surprisingly, each Ant knows her way very well in the dark tunnels.

Inside the underground tunnels it is dark and cool. The deeper one went, the cooler it became. The tunnels are small but surprisingly several Ants could pass through at any one time. The tunnels lead to over 1,000 chambers, both small and large with some galleries designed for celebration, some for debate, and others for food storage. Most rooms, however, are quarters for the workers and guards with at least three thousand Ants per chamber (some Nera protested it was too many roommates!).

A very large room housed Queen Nera and her mate, Captain Hemet, the leader of the powerful Nera army. Queen Nera is perpetually pregnant and gives birth every day (in fact, hundreds of times a day). And the rearing of the young is vital to the Nera colony. Every day female workers collect the hundreds of Ant eggs from the royal chamber and lovingly deposit them in the nursery where thousands more rest.

The nursery is the most important and talked-about room. Located near the surface where the air is warm and moist, it is very well guarded. Only a few openings lead to the grand nursery but once inside, the room is massive. It is a circular hole in the ground, devoid of any roots or debris. Around the inner surface of the circular nursery wall, lay thousands and thousands of small holes and inside each hole, there is a small white sac, a precious Nera egg –affectionately called an Antling.

* * *

Among the more distasteful inhabitants of Amazonia forest is the Red army Ant Colony, known as the Crimson. The Crimson Colony lives in the stench-ridden waters of Blood Marsh, far away.

The Crimson preferred to eat other Insects, Reptiles, and Amphibians or even small Mammals–if the Crimson numbers were great enough–rather than eating green leaves. Their faces were etched with scars and their bodies badly marred by torn limbs from previous battles. The elderly were easily identified by their chewed antennae and lost legs, while the young were marked by their foul-speaking mouth.

But in reality, they were cowards. If the odds in a battle were not in their favour, the Crimson would pass other insects without incident. And it was for these reasons, that not a single insect in Amazonia had respect for the Crimson Ant Colony.

* * *

Throughout the years, the Crimson army continued to grow and numbered in the millions. They not only won numerous battles against other Ant colonies but also against any group of insects. They charged the forest in the hundreds of thousands to take what they wanted. From these battles, they were always well fed and their prisons well stocked. Many slaves were devoured on the battlefield, but most were captured and brought back to Crimson Castle. And once inside Crimson Castle prison, all hope was lost.

Enslaved insects were constantly beaten and starved, and it was all done purposely. This treatment ensured the prisoners did not have enough energy to fight or to flee.

The Nera Ant colony was aware of the Crimson’s devilry, and for this reason they would rather die than enter a Crimson Castle prison. But the leader of the red army, Lord Crimson, (also known as Lord Mort, meaning Lord of Death), had a different agenda. His mission was to bring back thousands of Nera Ants including, and most importantly, Queen Nera herself.

His Lordship had received intelligence of Nera Castle’s location from the villainous Naggy Flies – a group of common thieving Flies who were not trusted by any insect in Amazonia. His army had come upon them in the deep woods where the Flies were attempting to barter goods for information. But the Naggy Flies, who were often the tricksters, were themselves tricked. Beaten at their game! In this deal, his Lordship promised the Flies no food-goods but only that they could keep their ‘miserable lives’ so he had told them. He wanted information on Queen Nera’s whereabouts.

And with that stolen information, Lord Crimson now stood before his army, itching for war.

* * *

The skies were getting darker and lightening danced across the black clouds. Thunder rumbled in the distance so loud and powerful, that it shook the very ground the little Nera Ants stood upon and even made their legs wobble uncontrollably.

Determined, Captain Hemet climbed to the top of a rock and peered across his army as lightening flashed in the skies behind him.

He ordered his army to keep the battle perimeter in formation, giving time for Queen Nera and the Antlings to escape. But the rains pelt down upon the forest floor and pelted down upon his army too.

Captain! Captain Hemet! yelled a Nera guard who was running toward him. "Our army on the South side has been forced to retreat, and the Crimson army shepherds them into a valley! But water overflows from the basin-like leaves and crashes down on our battle perimeter.

Each raindrop that falls smacks upon our heads! And look above --- she said but a raindrop splashed between them and filled their mouths and eyes with water. It was then followed by a massive wave engulfing them and they were instantly separated.

Brushed aside, soaking wet, and some Antons away from where he had stood, Captain Hemet slowly rose to his six feet. When he looked about, the Nera guard had vanished. And so had the Nera Ants he was fighting with.

Steadying himself, Hemet scanned the area. The rains had come and the deluge was overpowering.

Terribly strong gusts of wind howled and blew wildly through the forest floor carrying with it leaves and debris and even the occasional Ant. Behind him came another tremendous PLOP! And a huge raindrop engulfed hundreds of Nera Ants fighting the Crimson. He saw several hundred Nera Ants trapped and drowning inside and he leapt out of the way as a rain bubble flowed downhill just brushing past his legs. Helplessly, Hemet watched the bubble carrying so many Nera, burst upon hitting a fallen stick.

Nera guards were tossed and scattered across the forest floor. Many either dead or dazed. Moments later, the storm’s intensity increased, and yet another torrent of water flowed rapidly down the steep hill. Seeing the danger, Captain Hemet sprinted on the soggy ground and jumped upon a fallen leaf and narrowly escaped the flash flood.

The water flowed underneath the leaf and carried him away suddenly but the leaf eventually brushed aside, landing close to the base of a tree trunk but farther away from the battle. He had no choice but to climb the tree for safety as more water hurriedly flowed toward him.

The Captain grabbed hold of the bark just as the leaf capsized and washed away. He clambered up the trunk to find his remaining Nera army. Frustrated, he noticed that a stream of run-off water flowed opposite of the battle and all about the tree’s base, isolating him.

Then a voice yelled to him from the trees above and broke his thought.

We have been ordered to bring you back to Lord Crimson! exclaimed a Crimson guard. Why not make this easy and surrender?

Our orders are conflicting Crimson! the Captain grumbled, though he was truly taken aback by being spotted. Not a moment later, a Crimson guard jumped from a branch above with three others just behind.

"So it begins," the Nera Captain muttered.

Charging two Crimson guards headfirst, Hemet knocked them off the branch instantly. But he caught the third female guard between his large mandibles and purposefully dangled her above the forest floor by her antennae. The lone Crimson Ant screamed and tried to kick and bite him, but lifting her high above his head, he shattered her armour with one tremendous kick and discarded her Crimson body into the rushing water below.

But now dozens of Crimson appeared.

Crimsons parachuted down from higher branches and landed on Hemet’s back weakening his balance while their mandibles pinched and chewed relentlessly away on his armour. Releasing every bit of energy he had, he tore off Crimson Ant legs and antennae. He tore off any Ant limb after Ant limb. He sawed Crimson in half with his massive mandibles until the Crimson circle ebbed.

By now, the sound of the raindrops smashing the branch beside him was like thunder crashing. Yet the drenching rains worked in his favour; a single drop on the branch wiped out charging Crimson and they fell into the flash flood below – either swept away or drowned. But Crimson reinforcements just kept coming. Hundreds and hundreds of ruby red Ants left the battlefield and scurried to his branch. It appeared as though the tree was trickling with blood; the trunk was entirely covered in Crimson scurrying about and there were not enough raindrops to wipe them all.

Hemet stood alone - his splendid black armour standing out within a red wall. You’re finished! yelled a Crimson lieutenant from the mêlée just Anton’s away from him. Hemet did not know who spoke from the cowardly crowd. Their faces looked the same to him: Ugly and uglier, he whispered to himself.

But there was nowhere to go. He was surrounded. And it was then a mighty raindrop splashed just behind him and several Crimson shot off the branch. Water trickled to the underside of the branch and Captain Hemet scurried along underneath the branch while the Crimson followed. But when the Crimson arrived they stopped in their tracks and stared in amazement.

Right before them stood the Captain of the Nera guards. But the Captain was completely out of reach and suspended within the water droplet!

How are we to attack? What just happened? What is that Nera Ant doing inside the bubble?

The Crimson were utterly confused. But then one Crimson officer finally growled: Stand back Crimson fools…Let him drown in that pathetic droplet if we cannot rip him apart!

* * *

Meanwhile, Captain Hemet could hear nothing in the water bubble but could vaguely see their distorted, hideous faces laughing at him. Buying himself only a few clever moments, he knew there was no way to exit the droplet now. I must act quickly, he thought.

Holding his breath for some time, his lungs ached and tugged for air. His head swelled and his vision blurred considerably. Every moment that past, it became darker and darker. Summoning all his remaining strength, he swam to the base of the droplet, kicking all six legs frantically, hoping to dislodge it and struggling against the cold enveloping water. He felt his energy beginning to sap. He felt himself spinning over and over as everything became dark.

And then gravity pulled on the droplet.

Slowly, it tore itself from the branch and the droplet fell! But it was only a moment before the water-bubble prison crashed on a branch below. The raindrop splattered and Hemet heaved for air and choked it out, his lungs retching but slowly clearing.

Meanwhile, dark shadows surrounded him.

His vision was still fuzzy and his mind in a daze. And as air filled his lungs his vision slowly was restored but looking around he saw hundreds of Crimson Ants approaching.

The Crimson realized he was weak, and they laughed loudly and terribly at his prostrate body. They jabbed and prodded him and he felt every blow. Each shot sent a pain unspeakable, rippling through his Nera frame and instantly his splendid black armour was lost under a carpet of chomping and chewing red army Ants. But at the same instant, a sharp noise emanated from the distance.

The noise came in the direction of Nera Castle and it was so loud it even momentarily stopped the Crimson’s beating of Captain Hemet. What is that terrible noise?! Who is playing that racket? yelled many Crimson angrily.

But no Crimson army Ant could understand the noise. It was the Nera Song and it was bellowed into the deep recesses of the forest. The Nera Song could only be played by Queen Nera from fossilized leaves and she played it loudly now while fleeing to safer pastures with hundreds of workers and Antlings.

But the Nera song only temporarily distracted the Crimson.

Soon the Crimson ignored it completely, and continued their relentless beating. Those Crimson guards closest to the Nera Captain swore they saw a smile on his face as the Nera song played on. Some even said they heard him cheer, while others declared he mumbled, For Queen and Colony!

But no Crimson really knew for sure.

And so it was that Captain Hemet felt no more pain. He lost consciousness and spoke no more and the sound died away…

CHAPTER 3: Aftermath

Lightning bolts cascaded from pitch black skies while thunder rumbled across the land, and rain continued to drench the ground for two days after the battle.

Captain Hemet and his guards had fought well, but lost.

However, their courage enabled Queen Nera and the remaining Antlings to escape the Crimson slaughter. Queen Nera hid in the forest and fled Nera Castle forever, intending to start over in secrecy. And so, whatever the Crimson army did not finish eating or at least nibble on, they left for scavengers. And only the surviving Nera were rounded up and brought back to Castle Crimson to be prisoners of war.

Leaving the battlefield and Nera Castle, the Crimson left the forest floor blanketed in black Nera Ant armour. The stench of death was heavy. The hot humid air combined with the continuous torrential rains made the area inhospitable to most insects. The foul smell of festering Ant-bodies lying decomposing in the muddy stench-enriched waters, invited scavenging insects to dine on the easy feast left behind by the Crimson.

* * *

It was several days later before the rains stopped. The scavengers disappeared back to the shadows where they lived, and other more favourable creatures returned slowly to the area. Of the insects first to return to Nera Castle were two male ‘teenaged’ Grasshoppers, named Jumper and Stitch.

Grasshoppers were known for their boundless energy and adventurous ways. Jumper and Stitch were inquisitive Grasshoppers, and after a long bout of gossiping together in the jungle, they suddenly caught scent of a foul smell. The duo approached cautiously and upon entering the former Nera grounds, they looked with horror upon the havoc.

Hippity-hop! Look at all the dead Nera! This place stinks! said Jumper to his Grasshopper companion, Stitch.

This place is a graveyard, agreed Stitch, whispering somberly.

What a smell! Jumper repeated, in apparent disbelief that it could smell so bad. What happened here Stitch?

You have to be kidding! Where have you been in the past days? Sleeping in the grass meadows? Are you serious? inquired Stitch, his face displaying utter amazement. Stitch was the elder of the two by a few seasons.

Dunno what happened to be honest, said Jumper embarrassed. Jumper was one of the first insects to leave when he had heard the beginning of the Crimson war-like noises. In fact, he left in such a hurry he did not even know the source of the noise.

Jumper! scolded Stitch. "Jeez insect, you bring shame to the Grasshoppers! The Crimson army led by none other than Lord Crimson, attacked Queen Nera. The Battle of Carnage took place here on this very ground, just a few days ago."

"Wa-wa-wait…did you say Crimson?" said Jumper, his eyes darting into the forest and his legs becoming weak - even for a Grasshopper.

Jumper was about to spring away and it was this tendency that gave him his name.

"Wait! Yes, I said Crimson!" replied Stitch. "Everyone in the whole forest has been talking about it for days, and taking a deep breath, he continued. Queen Nera gave word to evacuate the colony. I don’t have all the details, but the insects say many Nera Ants rushed to the nursery to rescue the thousands of eggs and one by one, worker Ants carried as many away as they could. But so many workers and Antlings died when they tried to exit the castle.

The Birds say that from the sky, continued Stitch. They could see a mass exodus of Black Nera workers evacuating the colony while Crimson hid in the bushes awaiting them! I’ve heard that Queen Nera who was so swelled from pregnancy, she even had many workers enlarge the tunnel so she could fit through.

Jumper shuddered again at the thought of Crimson on the very ground on which he stood. This was not the Crimson’s usual territory. Are there any Crimson still ah-around? he stuttered.

Do you think the two of us would be having this conversation? stated Stitch losing patience. "We’d be killed or even worse, eaten by their pets, those nasty Fire Ants."

Fire Ants? inquired Jumper.

OH PLEASE! You have never heard of Fire Ants? and without giving him a chance to