ANThology 4 The Banished Princess

The flag was flapping, held high in the air by Ricky, as the ants rounded the corner of the barn on their new mission to save Rusty from the wrath of the queen. Ricky couldn't have been happier, after missing out on the last adventure because of his sore leg. Digger and Luna raced across the dirt behind the barn, along with their forty passengers. The rescuers were on their way to the expanse of the field and the forest beyond, which held the bleak colony of the Black Queen.
The rabbit and the mouse kicked up a cloud of dust as they galloped toward the fence line encompassing the grassy meadow. The ants had become very familiar with the sights of the field, having spent so much time exploring it from the ground or in the air on their past adventures. While most of the ants had experienced the wild ride on the two critters, there were a few rookies, who spent as much time in the air as they did sitting down. The new recruits hung on for dear life, as they entered unfamiliar territory for the first time.