DATE: June 29, 2001 CAST: Basil, Holly and Willow Center of Ant Island You come to the center of the island. This is a large clearing with the ant hill mound nearby. There is also a banquet to one side, the tree to another, and the offering stone. On a sunny day in the summer you can usually see a line of ant coming through here with all kinds of food. Basil points out to Holly the 'bird scarecrow', and relates a few more details about Flik's and the colony's experiences with it. "So, it really was one of the most spectacular things /I've/ ever experienced. Who would have thought that it was Flik's idea? But now that we know that Hopper is back and a real threat to us, it's hard to live quite the way we'd hoped to." Basil finishes by turning to Holly, interested in getting her thoughts. Holly looks onward with a general interest in Basil's retelling of the incident, though it's not quite as astonishing as the first time she neard it, or the second, or the miriad of times afterward. But since this conversation is about the latest fears with Hopper, she is still quite attached to the conversation topic. "Yeah, from what I've heard, it was a really frightening situation." She takes a step back and hold her chin in her hand. "But now from what I've heard, Hopper as a threat has even me anxious too, and I haven't met him." Slowly trudging into view is another ant after several long hours of distributing water beads in the tunnels, emerging from the anthill's entrance. Willow wipes her forehead briefly, antennae twitching at the sound of a nearby conversation. Basil looks at Holly with a similar expression. "I had the opportunity to see the entire scenario. Right from the beginning, when Flik knocked that offering." He expresses with more humor in his voice than before. Sarcasm can be one of his stronger suits, when he feels the need for it. "So I've seen him up close. Don't wish to do that again." While continuing to listen to Basil's conversation, Holly notices the tired young ant walk out from the top of the anthill. She waves with an enthusiastic smile on her face. "Hey Willow, we're down here." Hoping she would be intersted in joining the conversation. "I hope you don't mind me doing that, okay?" She tells Basil with a little concern for his feelings. Willow tilts her head as she scans the area, and finally singles out the source of the familiar voices, near the carcass of the (in)famous fake bird. As Holly notices her, she returns the wave and strides down the length of the sloping hill, starting to approach them. "Hey Willow, how was work? Did I hear right? That you have a new job?" Basil asks Willow as she approaches them. "It seems like I heard you say something when you headed off so quickly earlier." He tilts his head, smiling widly. 'Yeah just like a colony efficient.' He contemplates. Holly nods quickly. "I guess you were too entranced in our converstation in the tunnel. Yeah, she did say something about that earlier." She give Basil a little smirk at his lack of being attentive again. This is something she has noticed about him, but has never found it a source of irritation. First, a blank expression, then a look of realization. "Oh," Willow says at length. "Yeah. It just involved carrying water around and keeping the diggers hydrated. Nothing major." She sits down on a smooth rock near the bird decoy, rubbing the area between her antennae. "But it was a vacation compared to the past several months." "I can imagine it is." Basil shakes his head slowly. "I was just telling Holly about the colony's situation with Hopper before. Now that he's tried to come back for revenge, we need to keep on our toes." Basil looks off into the horizon, as if he might actually see Hoppers gang coming that moment. "So I hope you weren't expecting things to be too boring around here, okay Willow?" He tells her with a little bit of sarcasm. "Yeah, but Basil, at least we have those other grasshoppers keeping us safe." She shows a look of horror in her countenance. "In fact the only reason I could even stand to so much as /look/ at one of those horrible insects, is to try to help my family." Holly puts a great deal of emphasis on 'insects' not holding back any resentment for what they did to her family. "Horrible Slavers." She spats out after folding her arms and looking in a similar direction as Basil. At Basil's last comment, Willow heaves a sigh and rubs her forehead, with a look of weary defeat. "Mnf. Don't remind me. Unless you've got a plan in case something happens, I'd like to at least delusion myself into thinking we made the right choice in coming here." Glancing up, she gives an assenting reply to Holly's comments on having the other grasshoppers protecting them. "Yeah. There's always that, at least." Basil notices the look on Holly's expression, giving one of concern. "I'm so sorry, Holly, I really wish there was something I could do to help, but..." He shies away at the very idea. "But it's much too dangerous to go now. Besides, I don't think your family would want you to put your life in risk for them." "I know, Basil." Holly lets out a frustrated sigh. "But it hurts so much to imagine what might be going on with them as we speak." Holly can no longer speak, just letting her emotions go. She simply didn't mean to interrupt Willow's conversation. She goes over to Basil, and puts her arms around him for comfort. Willow, from her sitting position on the rock near the fake bird remains, offers no further comment on the conversation between Basil and Holly. Oh, she listens curiously, but that's about it. At some point, she discreetly glances away and stifles a sigh. Basil overhears Willow sigh, and turns and lets go of Holly when she is able to get some control. "I'm sorry Willow, didn't mean to ignore you." Basil comes to a stop and looks at the ant before him. "I'm pretty sure /you/ understand the dangers of going back." He speaks hoping to get her attention. Willow does not look up when Basil speaks, continuing to study a shred of grass lying on the ground, having nearly lost all of its green coloring. Her shoulders slump further. "It's dangerous no matter where you go." Holly looks out to the horizon some more. She makes no sound at that time, but within the absence of Basil's attention, a look of irriatation comes across her face. 'When am I going to gain the confidence of that guy. I simply can't wait much longer!" She sighs and simply looks on toward where he and Willow stand, wondering how she can persuade him more. 'It's not like I have a choice, anyway.' She tells herself inwardly. 'I'm sorry, but my life is more important than a few ants' slavery.' She contemplates with a somewhat hateful stare, at both Basil and Willow. "I know how you feel, Willow." He sighs outwardly. "It was that way when I came here from /my/ old colony.' But at least we have our freedom." With that he winces inwardly, know how much that comment might hurt Holly. He wheels arround and gives Holly a sincere apology. "I'm so sorry Holly, I know that didn't help, did it?" Willow, for the time being, offers no more verbal replies. She cups her chin in her hands, eyes continuing to make an inspection of the ground. As Basil addresses Holly, however, her attention lifts up to focus on the other female ant. Holly stands defeated at Basil's total lack of co-operation. Then an ideas come to her mind. 'Brilliance, absolute brilliance! It can't fail.' she snickers inwardly. "That's it, I'm going!" She turns quickly toward the anthill, and begins her ascent to the entrance. "Basil, I can no longer stand here and let my family suffer. I'm going after them." She stops momentarily then gives Basil a longing look. "Are you going to come and help me get them back?" With a look of unmeasurable shock, Basil gives Holly a look of total uncomprehensiveness. "What? What do you mean you are going." Basil steps forward, hoping to convince her otherwise. "It's too dangerous, you can't leave on your own." He takes in a deeper breath, and exhales. "Please don't go. It's too dangerous." He pleads emphatically. Willow's eyes widen as well, as Holly announces what she intends to do. Say what? Of course she and her fellow refugees had managed to escape the more stupid slavers those few times, but... "I have to agree with Basil on this one," she calls, standing up. "Going against slavers by yourself is suicide, if that's what you're going to do." As an idea of her own occurs to her, she adds, "Have you asked the grasshoppers here to help you? They're supposed to stop slavery anyway, since that's what they were hired for. I'd bet they'd be happy to help out somehow." Holly gives Willow a look of momentary irritation, then her face softens and Holly responds to her comment. "Willow, I don't expect you to help me. You've been through far too much." She then glances a look to Basil, one of hope. "But I also know that Basil has been without his family too, and hasn't had to suffer recently." She then thinks momentarily about Willow's offer, and glances back at her. "I've never trusted grasshoppers, and I never will!" Deciding for herself she will be getting no help from either of these two, she turns and goes toward the top of the anthill. "I'll just have to do it myself." "Holly, please don't go!" he calls out to her. But upon hearing her comment, about going alone, he knows that he can't go with her. He also knows that Holly is the type who can't be stopped. "I'm sorry, but if you do go, it /will/ have to be on your own." [END LOG] Next Log: True Colors: Part I Return to: Muted Identity logs.

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