PoV Luna:

  It took a little while, but Luna eventually stopped running!

  Her new Evolution made her want to show off, but now everybody knew!

  So she stopped, panting slightly, and took in the sights.

  The plains around them stretched wide and steady beneath the sun. The tiny drizzle of a rain passed by already, and it left things looking sparkly.

  And quickly drying off.

  Luna watched as adventurer teams moved in smooth cycles.

  One group pressed forward.

  Another peeled back.

  And she saw a third bringing in more Ants from the distance.

  Hmm!

  Ant numbers remained high.

  But they were scattered now!

  Adventurers constantly harassed and thinned them. Quick strikes, clean and controlled retreats.

  Very nice pack tactics!

  …Just slow.

  Guildmaster Ferric calmly walked the perimeter.

  Hands clasped behind his back.

  Observing!

  And adjusting small things from time to time.

  Luna no longer saw any of the earlier urgency in his steps.

  Luna stood on a big stone near the backlines and watched on, swaying gently left and right, humming to lofty Apex Predator beats!

  “Hmm-hm-hum… stab, claw, step, rotate…! hurr-hmm…”

  Her tail swayed to the silent rhythm.

  As her eyes tracked everything around!

  How the lines held, and how the teams rotated.

  The lively camp, which expanded slightly. More tents, more space cleared, and–

  Oh!

  A couple cooks were starting preparing ingredients!

  Luna could hardly wait!

  But, importantly–

  Everything functioned smoothly.

  She tilted her head.

  Waited.

  Surely they were ready now, and something would change soon!

  A push!

  Or dramatic charge, to get all the Ants!

  But instead–

  It was just…

  Another clean rotation?

  And a… steady clash?

  One more group jogging back while the next stepped in.

  Her humming slowed.

  The sway lost its rhythm.

  Luna waited just a little bit longer…

  But!

  Nothing changed.

  Only the same pattern repeated.

  Steel rang, and Ants screeched.

  Adventurers called short, efficient commands.

  Repetitive.

  Slow.

  And so, so… boring!

  Her tail stopped moving entirely.

  “…Why is this taking so long?” she muttered to herself.

  She hopped down from her perch and shadow-slid straight toward Ferric.

  Shadow-sliding was fun!

  The resistance cut through, and every small move helping her cross distance easier.

  One step, big slide!

  It wasn’t really Running, but so pleasant and fun!

  Ferric noticed her approach immediately.

  Luna stopped in front of him and looked up, squinting slightly.

  “Whyyy?”

  Ferric raised an eyebrow, slowly getting used to her antics.

  “Why what?”

  “Why hunt not done yet?”

  Ferric gave a short exhale that sounded suspiciously close to a chuckle!

  “We are finishing it, right now.”

  Luna blinked, disbelieving.

  “This?” she repeated, pointing her arms everywhere around.

  “Yes. Cleanup can take days.”

  She froze.

  “…Days?”

  “Yes. We need to thin the remaining Ants out steadily. Then check and ensure there are no more hidden clusters or smaller nests. Rushing could mean mistakes, and we don’t want that.”

  Days!

  What an awful thing to say!

  No, no!

  Surely, Luna misheard!

  Days was impossible!

  Too slow, and boring, it just couldn’t be!

  She turned her head toward the forest.

  And saw the same things as before! Nothing has changed, just more of the same steady and slow!

  Her tail went completely still, understanding dawning.

  Incomprehensible!

  This smelled too much like boring!

  Very long boring.

  Stretchy boring.

  Not even Apex Predator waiting for prey boring!

  She glanced back at Ferric, hopeful!

  But the ‘joking!’ didn’t come.

  He had already resumed walking the perimeter.

  Luna squinted at his back.

  Very suspicious!

  What would Luna even do, with days?!

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  She scanned the perimeter, and found Mr. Bull!

  Yes!

  Proper Humans should know!

  Luna bounced over, spirits high again.

  He stood near two recruits, demonstrating an exaggerated heroic pose.

  And Luna didn’t see that one yet either!

  Chest out.

  Arm raised.

  Chin lifted dramatically toward the sky!

  Very nice!

  “When you stand against the swarm,” he boomed to his audience, “you stand tall! And firm!”

  Luna zoomed over and immediately copied him!

  Her much younger voice ringing out!

  “Luna tall! And firm!”

  The recruits blinked.

  Mr. Bull laughed.

  “Ah! Power Fluff Girl, there you are!”

  He reached down and ruffled her hair.

  “Yes! Strong stance! Very strong. But posture is not only arms. Elevation matters too. See–”

  He lifted one of the unsuspecting recruits onto his shoulders for a moment.

  The lack of outward surprise told Luna it wasn’t the first time Mr. Bull did that.

  Hehe!

  “Height gives advantage! You see more, and project more!”

  The recruit wobbled slightly before being set down.

  Then Mr. Bull looked at Luna.

  Grinned.

  “Oh, why not just show you?”

  He picked her up next, settling her onto his shoulders!

  But different!

  Carefully.

  And sitting down!

  Luna froze, looking all around.

  The world shifted upward.

  The plains spread out beneath her.

  The formations became clearer.

  Ant trails stood out in thin, dark streams across the grass.

  She could see the rotation timing better from here. The flow of squads. The patterns of battle.

  Wind brushed her face.

  Her fingers tightened slightly in his hair for balance.

  “What is this?” she asked, quiet curiosity coloring her voice.

  Mr. Bull chuckled.

  “We call it piggyback riding. Very nice, yes?”

  Piggy.

  Back.

  Riding!

  Her eyes widened slightly, and she looked down!

  “You sit on one another?”

  “For parades. For celebrations, or just for fun.”

  Fun!

  Elevated.

  Tallerer!

  Luna’s eyes sparkled with childish wonder!

  She looked down at his shoulders.

  Then at the recruits.

  Then back across the plains.

  “…Oh!”

  Her tail began to move again.

  Slow at first.

  Then a little faster.

  Looking at the battlefield from above, it felt so so… nice!

  And then–

  A beginning of an idea formed in Luna’s mind!

  Oh, this would be so so fun!

  “Thank you, Mr. Bull!”

  She did not linger.

  The moment her feet touched the ground, she was already moving – a streak of fur and intent cutting across the camp.

  Her heart beat excited in her chest.

  Luna wanted to see more!

  To try more!

  She spotted Ray first.

  He leaned against a sun-warmed rock, one boot braced up behind him, blade resting across his knee. He ran a cloth slowly along the edge, polishing away ant-ichor with meticulous care.

  But his posture suggested boredom!

  Though, as Luna looked on–

  Ray’s eyes betrayed him!

  They tracked the outer skirmishes with casual precision, pretending indifference while missing nothing.

  Luna hopped up onto the rock beside him and planted herself within his peripheral vision.

  She stared.

  Ray kept cleaning.

  “…Luna? What is it?”

  But Luna didn’t answer!

  Just humpfed loudly, excitement showing!

  Then she pointed at his shoulders.

  And at Mr. Bull in the distance.

  Then back at Ray’s shoulders!

  He blinked–

  Followed the gesture–

  Processed what he saw–

  “…No.”

  And dared to refuse!

  No!

  Luna narrowed her eyes.

  “But! It’s a piggyback ride! Pretty please?”

  “You are not a toddler.”

  Her pout appeared instantly.

  Hmph!

  Then she leaned forward and began poking him in the side with sharp, deliberate jabs!

  “Hey– ow– ouch! Luna, stop!”

  Another poke.

  “Ow. That’s– please stop!”

  Luna shifted angles as he tried to twist away. Ray ducked left! She jabbed right. He leaned back. And Luna leaned forward!

  “Alright, alright, you win!”

  Yes!

  That was all the permission she required.

  It took just a blink.

  Shadow Step made climbing up simply unfair!

  Ray felt a shift of air and then–

  Luna’s small weight appeared.

  She perched on his shoulders, balanced with infuriating ease, tail wagging so enthusiastically it brushed his face.

  He staggered half a step before catching himself.

  “High!” she declared, leaning forward until her hair hung upside down in his vision.

  Ray squinted up at her.

  “You’re not that much taller.”

  But Luna ignored him!

  The sight from here was same!

  But different.

  But also same!

  So weird!

  And the Ants…

  They looked… manageable?

  “…But Luna sees more now.”

  Ray exhaled through his nose.

  “Hah, fair enough.”

  A faint glint entered his eyes.

  “Hey, Luna? I bet Sepio and Veric would just love to help you see even more from up high.”

  She tilted her head slowly.

  “Really?”

  “Yes. Really really.”

  She studied him for a long second.

  Suspicion stirred!

  But then she spotted Sepio.

  And her excitement won!

  Ray lost his passenger without any warning.

  But if his chuckle was any indication–

  He really didn’t mind!

  ***

  Sepio was mid-adjustment, shield strap half-fastened across his forearm, when something climbed him with alarming speed. Hands found purchase at his belt, then shoulder, then–

  Weight settled atop him.

  He froze.

  “…Why.”

  Luna adjusted herself, steadying easily.

  She looked down at the top of his helmet and patted it with satisfaction.

  A funny little clonk sound rang out at that!

  “Because! Luna taller now. Learned climb trick from Mr. Bull!”

  Sepio stared forward with heroic restraint.

  “This is undignified.”

  Luna leaned down into his field of vision, hanging just enough to meet his eyes.

  “But awoomazing!”

  “No.”

  “Really really?”

  “Yes.”

  She pouted.

  Then her gaze shifted past him.

  Veric stood a short distance away, arms crossed, watching the ongoing battle with measured calm.

  Oh!

  Her silent packmate looked like an even better tree to climb.

  Luna sprang into action!

  Veric grunted softly as she landed, but his stance adjusted instantly, feet shifting to absorb the weight.

  “...Careful there.”

  She balanced atop his shoulders with far less wobble than the others. His center of gravity was solid, controlled, and adjusting to her every move!

  And he didn’t complain like others!

  Ehehe!

  Her tail swept slow arcs behind her as she lifted her chin and scanned the plains.

  From here, she could see the teams doing their work clearly.

  Controlled thinning.

  Her mouth flattened slightly, before she plopped down and leaned onto her packmate’s head, hugging him lightly.

  Veric gently held her legs in place.

  The bestest!

  Luna leaned down until her face hovered just above Veric’s.

  “Ferric says the clean up will still take days. Daaaays! That true?”

  Veric hummed thoughtfully.

  “Yes.”

  She leaned closer.

  “But! It’s days! And days are very very long!”

  “…Yes.”

  Woo…!

  Her ears drooped.

  This was unacceptable!

  She straightened slowly and turned her gaze back to the plains.

  Her eyes narrowed.

  If they intended to stretch this into so sooo long–

  Her tail resumed its thoughtful arc.

  Hum!

  Luna stared out over the battlefield from Veric’s shoulders, watching everything.

  Yes!

  This needed a better plan!

  Luna slid down from Veric’s shoulders without a word.

  Only a quiet huff followed as her boots hit the damp earth.

  Then pomfed into his side!

  “Veric is good packmate!”

  “Ah, hrm. Thank you?”

  The slight surprise colored his voice.

  Luna stood there for a moment longer, eyes tracking the forest line in the distance.

  Then back at Ferric, still walking the perimeter with that infuriating calm.

  And grinned!

  Waiting for days?

  Unacceptable!

  She crouched slightly, feeling the ground beneath her boots. The earlier drizzle had left the surface faintly slick in places, darkened soil holding just enough moisture to test footing.

  But far from treacherous!

  Luna tested a step.

  Her muscles felt light. Rested. Charged with restless energy that had nowhere to go!

  Her lips curled into a grin.

  “Fine,” she muttered to herself. “Luna will do it herself!”

  No one but Veric reacted fast enough.

  And he only shook his head with a slight smile.

  Then returned to his own practice.

  After all…

  There was absolutely nothing to see there.

  Just Ants getting rapidly flung into the air at alarming speeds.

  A completely normal phenomenon.

  And just another day.

  Shouts of surprise rang out.

  …Insofar as it could be when Luna was involved.