All three ants fell as well seemingly having followed Bodger when he jumped. Bodger splashed down Gar felt a drag on the rope as the current pulled Bodger, the jerk of it was almost enough to pull Gar off his feet he managed to keep his balance, starting to walk backwards as he pulled in the rope. The three ants hit the water at practically the same time causing a massive splash of water that blocked them from Gars view. When it had settled down there was no sign of the soldiers not large enough to be above the water, Gar hoped the current had swept them away.

  The queen’s guard was another story it was larger again than the soldier ants it stuck out above the water moving slowly towards Gar. Gar sped up as the water got shallower reeling in Bodger as he went. The water had washed of the sap from Bodger but that didn’t seem to matter the queens guard was following them showing no sign of stopping, Gar got out of the water quickly dragged Bodger out as well. With deft fingers Gar untied the rope from Bodger throwing the end off to one side before untying the other end of the rope and throwing it off to the side, leaving the rope where it was Gar and Bodger hurried up the path to where he had left his spear retrieving his weapon gave Gar a confidence booster until he turned round and saw the massive ant bearing down on them. It slowed as it neared the edge of the water Gar splashed some sap on the ground in front of him from the bucket trying to get the ant to rush, this ant seemed to not only be bigger than the others it also seemed smarter or at least to have some self-control. It flicked its antennas in Gars direction Gar was sure it could sense the sap it didn’t however rush forward it continued moving forward at its slow pace watching Gar and Bodger the whole time. staring into those big black eyes was terrifying they were soulless unblinking things Gar thought he could feel them boring into his mind.

  “Now” Gar screamed. Triggering B1 and B2 to dart out from where they were hiding, on either side of the path, grabbed the rope in their mouth then ran back pulling the rope tight raising it off the ground, it worked like clockwork the rope raised as the ant stepped into it catching it part way up its leg. That’s when things went wrong the ants leg kept going taking its step as if it hadn’t even noticed the rope or two badger skeletons it was now dragging behind it. It took another step forward and the rope slid off its leg being left behind. Gar started backing up, he tried to keep calm the puddle of sap was still in front of it no ant was able to resist it yet he just had to wait. The ant got to the puddle of sap, lowered its head down, then waggling its antennae kept moving forwards. Gar was starting to realise how strong and smart this thing was and it was looking more and more like they were going to have to fight. B1 and B2 where back on their feet moving to keep up with the ant, Gar was making sure they were well clear of its back end, he didn’t know for sure but suspected this ant could shoot acid like the soldiers. Gar waved his spear at the ant while having Bodger snap his jaws at his side trying to draw all the ants’ attention to them. While doing so B1 and B2 went for its back legs they rushed in, B1 went for a swipe with its claws only to receive a kick from the leg before it could finish its swing, B2 had gone for a bite the ant had again retaliated with a kick which had unintentionally brought its leg into B2’s jaws. Normally the pain of impact would have been enough to stop any response however B2’s skeletal puppet nature meant it felt no pain it closed its jaws on the offered leg with an audible crunch, it then held on its jaws latched in place.

  Nothing else that had been done so far had seemed to have changed the ants approach, this for the first time did. Unlike what Gar thought would happen the queens guard sped up, ignoring the badger clamped on its leg, instead using the other five legs to run forwards straight at Gar. Gar dived to the side rolling before coming to his feet expecting to see a massive ant right beside him, he was mistaken, when he had jumped to the side Bodger had ran the other way. The ant had turned following Bodger.

  Gar realised the ant had never been following him, the entire time since it was in the cave it had been after Bodger, he could use that. Gar had Bodger start to run in wide circles around the ant, the ant was fast just not great at turning especially with B2 still latched onto one leg. Gar got up and had to start moving, with the ants turning constant its back end acid shots were going to become more of a potential threat pointing at anyone stood still. Gar followed the ant round as it turned, as they passed he had B1 join at his side they stuck to the ants’ side just outside of its legs range. They had to do a full circle before they could get what Gar wanted, the bucket of sap, just because the ant was ignoring it didn’t mean it couldn’t be useful Gar dipped his spear in the bucket then had B1 do the same with its teeth, it was a little difficult doing it on the move but somehow they managed it. Done with it Gar got a bit farther away and put the bucket down before returning to his previous position. Prepared Gar didn’t give himself time to doubt his plan, he had Bodger stop circling moments before he and B1 attacked the last two good legs on their side. The sudden stop meant the legs dug into the ground not giving them a chance to respond to the attacks, B1 bit down hard as Gar swung for the joint of the leg. With two badgers latched onto legs and Gar pulling back for another swing the far back end of the ant swivelled independently of the rest of its body, acting like a hose and splashed all three with acid. All three moved away looking to rub the acid off on the ground, only Gar was feeling the pain B1 and B2 still needed to get it off before it caused too much damage.

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  The ant was unable to capitalise on its attack as its attention was rather violently drawn back to Bodger. During the minor distraction of the ant when it had aimed and shot its acid Bodger had jumped on the queens guards’ mandibles, while fearsome weapons they were also large enough for a skeletal badger to walk along. Bodger had landed on the mandible then practically ran up the creatures face to savage one of its grapefruit sized eyes. Bodger had its head, specifically the mouth full of sharp teeth, inside the ants’ eye. That was when the ant freaked out; its legs flailed spasmodically its mandibles snapped together, acid dribbled out the back of it, as it shook like a bucking bronco. Bodger was flung off.

  Gar and the whole team just stood back and watched, during one point in the ants flailing the leg B2 had savaged snapped off completely. That didn’t slow the ant any if anything the flailing got worse. The minutes passed as Gar stood and watched, he no longer feared the creature he just felt pity for it he wanted to just put it out of its misery, unfortunately he had no safe way to do so. So instead he just stood and watched, time passed and pity turned to guilt, the ants may have started it but it wasn’t this ant Gar had been the one to come into its home then attack it, make it suffer. As the movement slowed Gar was able to get a bit closer, bucket in hand, the ant was still flailing but weakening, to ease its suffering once as close as he dared. Gar threw the sap from the bucket into the ants face, slumbering vine sap entered both its mouth and injured eye, Gar had thought he would have to finish the creature of once it was out, that was unnecessary in the end the sap was enough to finish it.

  “You have killed a level 7 Mega-ra ant queen’s guard 23 experience awarded”

  Gar set his face into one of grim determination he was going to go finish this, he was tired and sore yet he could not stop now if he backed out of doing this now that ant had suffered and died for nothing, this had to be done for his survival he had to see it through. The rope was retied to the two of them then things got a bit messy he had thrown all the sap he had on him so Bodger had to roll around on the dead ants face to get covered in the sap again it was almost impossible for him not to get some ichor and mess from the destroyed eye as well. Bodger freshly coated was sat on Gars shoulder again as he waded off into the water. He got to approximately the same spot as last time then stopped, set his balance, aimed and threw. His battered body protested at the throw, Gar pushed through doing it anyway, again Bodger sailed through the air, a better shot this time landing almost central in the cave entrance, another dip for Gar to clean off as Bodger walked in.

  Gar was nervous again all his previous worries coming back only this time worse he had been given a hint as to what could be hiding in there with the queen’s guard what if there were more guards what would he do if Bodger came out with two guards following this time, they had barely survived against one they had no hope against two. Also if there where queen’s guards then what of the queen what sort of monster ant would she be? At that point Gar just stopped, stopped thinking clamped down on his worries and waited. He couldn’t do anything now Bodger had already gone in he would just deal with whatever came later there was no choice. Gar stood wrestling down his emotions focussing on the cave entrance watching for Bodger’s return, Gar waited, then kept waiting Gar could feel his connection to Bodger still strong so there was nothing else to do but to wait.

  Eventually Gar saw signs of movement, then it got closer and came into the light. It was Bodger walking out. Bodger got to the edge and stood in the mouth of the cave, it stopped and waited, there was nothing chasing no more ants. Gar had not expected this, he hadn’t planned for it. He needed to check the cave for himself, Bodger could do a lot but in the end it was still only a skeletal puppet it was only as smart as the instructions given to it. Before he went anywhere near the cave he needed his spear, he was not going to enter that cave without a weapon. He started to back off letting out the rope as he went, he also had B1 and B2 pick up the spear between them and start carrying it towards him, they met in the middle Gar slipped his spear strap over his head so it was held on his back.

  He then made his way to the cliff wall before starting to edge round it he wanted to be as close as possible to the cave before he started climbing, it was easier to fight the current with the cliff to hold onto. Gar started to climb, glad of the practice he had done recently, as the rain slick rocks made it difficult. He took it slow making sure each grip and hold was secure before moving, between his increases in strength and endurance pulling himself up and keeping going was no problem he just had to make sure he didn’t fall. Slowly and surly he made his way to the cave. He pulled himself into the mouth of the cave rolling over only to find himself looking up at Bodger with a pile of rope sat next to it, Bodger must have been pulling the rope in as he climbed, that explained why it hadn’t been getting in his way or draping in the water. If he didn’t know better he would almost say Bodger was smiling at him.