I, Nathaniel Tunneler, and my family have personally made the choice to accept life in the wild, rather than submit to the dictates of the Fire ant colony, or any other unfriendly colony we've encountered during our journey. I do not look down upon the other members of our former colony for choosing to remain. Many whom no doubt live as good a life as they did before. It was there choice to do so. Though many others will live a life a great deal less pleasant. Which is why we and the others whom have joined us have made the decision to do so. We weren't forced to leave, we made that choice. Many feared the wild, I fully respect their fears, but the group of us who chose to leave would rather live as we do now, as nomads, rather than to support the needs out our enemy. For anyone who reads this, a great deal of explanation will in no doubt be required. For it's been quite a topsy turvy ordeal we've all been through. By we, I mean our old colony. Glendale Hill. The following are the copied pages from my journal. My son, Macadamia will be taking them with him, in hopes that our lives can be read by the sympathetic eyes of others. A special note to anyone who reads this; I'd like you to understand that my family, friends and others whom I have written about have chosen to live the way we have. We chose this way for principles we believe in. We don't have any harsh feelings for our friends, and other colony members who decided to stay behind. But we do considers ourselves as survivors. And happy for the lifestyle we've chosen. "My neighbor, Durian Root and I were just discussing the strange event of the lack of sight or sound of any member of the fire ant colony from up north. I would like to take a moment and make a description to anyone who might in the future be unaware of our association with the fire ant colony. The enemy I speak of are the fire ants. They are red in color, and are a more powerful and vicious group than we are. It seems ironic that we've been at odds with them for so long, and yet don't even know the name of their colony. In fact, no one knows exactly how we came to this state of discords with them. Some say it was because of a trade agreement, other say it was a miss-communication, but no matter what the reason is, we've been their enemy and vice versa for longer than anyone can remember. Lately it's been more of a warm conflict, than actual battles, but they have been known to challenge us without warning, and as early as five years ago. Which was just a few short months after our younger daughter, Ember, was born. Our older daughter, Clover, is quite the curious little wonder, and nearly got herself in the middle of our last battle, bless her heart. I'm just glad she came out okay. Please excuse me if I ramble on. Both my wife, and my friends, Durian and Carissa have many times teased me about my ability to add too much to a discussion. So I'm attempting to keep this to the point. It's been nearly a year since we've seen exoskeleton nor antennae of them. Not that in itself is a bad thing. On the contrary, it's been a very pleasant time. But only a fool would determine that this is simply the sign of peace. I don't wish to assume that they are planning anything against us. But there must be some reason why there has been no contact. I do not wish to harbor ill feelings toward them. But if there is some way for peace to be reached, I'm all for supporting that. It does either of us little good to be at odds like this. More speculation and tongue wagging has been going on, but no more word from the other colony. It's now two months later, and some are contemplating a permanent freedom. Other like me are much more conservative about the whole affair. Don't underestimate your enemy, my grandfather would tell me when I was young. It's paid off well. Oh, sure I'd love to see peace for our people, who wouldn't? But I'd need more evidence than a lack of the site of them to assume there will be no more conflict. On a more personal note, I'm being transferred in position. The work in the South West tunnel has been mostly completed, and now they wish to expand the infirmary. Good choice with the ever expanding size of our population. I can't help but wonder how much larger the colony can grown before a group of us has to be transplanted to another colony. The queens daughter is only five, so any drastic changed might not happen for a great number of years. But I'm not worried. Well, it would seem that cause of the absence of the other colony has now become clear. At least according to the claims of the new fire ant queen. Oh, and it might be of some interest that their colony is called River Fork. Well, according to the young queen, their colony was ravaged by a rare strain of Influenza. She say's that they lost a good number of their members. Whether this is true, or not, I'm rather shocked by the behavior of some of the colony members. I know, it could be a trick, but to cheer the demise of so many ant's lives. Whether it be a friend or enemy, is a sad circumstance. I can't include myself in their celebration. Our queen as chosen to send three of her councilors to confirm the words of the fire ant queen. I've heard some of her comments to my own antennae, and she sound sincere. Gentian Sunray, my co worker has quite a different attitude on the situation. He feels this would be a foolish endeavor. That this could be the demise of our entire colony. I really doubt his anxious claims. Well, it would seem that the claims of the fire ant queen were true. The reports of our councilors is that they've lost devastating numbers of their colonists. It's sad that we've been at a conflict, as we've had the cure for that stain of the flu. Many lives could have been saved. Gentian can hardly believe my compassion. He feels it serves them right, that as much suffering as they've caused us, they had it coming. Anyway, peace has been established. I'm certainly glad for that, and event I never actually expected to see in my lifetime. As a gesture of good will, all of us will be going to their colony for a celebratory feast. There has been an abundance of food and they are more than willing to share with us, part in showing their intentions are sincere, and to keep so much food to going to waste. The conflict is finally over. As if it were possible, the dearth of which was reported to us was only a smidgeon of what I've seen today. So many whom have suffered, so many lives lost. It's a shame that with the conflict that has gone on, that if it could have been abated. But that is part of the past now, and our futures look bright. Tonight will be the celebration. I look around the living quarters that once belonged to a family. They weren't so much different than ours. They most likely loved their children, friends, neighbors as we do. They probably feared us like we did of them. Such a shame. Perhaps we can take a page from their lives, and apply it's lessons to ours. But, I should be happy for mine, we will finally be at peace with our new friends. May it be a long and lasting one. I can hardly comprehend this nights' events. We have been betrayed! Our coming here was not out of an offering of peace, but to support their way of life. The emotions are still overwhelming me, and my thoughts can hardly focus. But it's important to write this now, as memory fades, this night shall not be forgotten. The fire ants have hidden the numbers of their survivors. Not nearly as many were stricken with influenza. In fact, the healthiest were hidden from first the councilors, and then our view. After the meal, the truth was given to us. The terms we've been given are as follows: The strongest, the smartest, the most attractive, essentially the members of our colony whom are the best will be treated as equals, and become regular members of their colony. The rest, and I should point out, the vast majority, will be put to work in the worst jobs. The most dangerous, the filthiest, and most undesirable. We've been told they will not be treated as slaves. They will be compensated for their efforts. But at what price? Dignity, health, the very lives that will be at risk? We all will be made to supplement them. How much better than slaves are they really? I must ask. I should also mention that no one is required to live under these conditions. And, no one will be imprisoned if they do not comply. They will be exiled. The fire ant queen has told us that no one will benefit off the efforts of others, and not contribute. That will keep most of us in line. They say we aren't slaves, that we aren't prisoners. But we are being held against our will, and the majority will be treated very much as sub-par citizens. I'm having trouble seeing much difference. Most will comply as they greatly fear the wilderness. I can't blame them. But a couple have already voiced a preference of the wilderness. We can return to our colony if we have a large enough number. I suspect it will take at least eighteen to twenty families to become self sufficient. Both the Roots and the Sunray's have told me and my wife they intend to leave if we have the numbers needed. I sincerely hope we do. It's been two weeks and most of our colony has been 'folded' into theirs. Some are living as good or better lives than they did before. But nearly all of them aren't happy about it. They all have friends who suffer day in and day out. They don't always have the food and supplies they need, but at least no one goes without the barest necessities of life. Essentially no one is content with this arrangement. I beg your pardon, many are: the fire ants. The enemy we now live amongst. I'd prefer to call them our captors, but no one dares to oppose them. Most don't have the means or the emotional strength to go back, and our time is running out. Winter will not be too much farther, and no one will be able to return home until next year. I hope we can rally enough ants by then. Our situation worsens. Not only are some of the jobs worse than we could have imagined, some have been severely injured. No deaths that I'm aware of, but then after the silencing order of our new queen, I can not tell for sure. We are not allowed to talk to anyone outside of our class. And any suspect talk of a revolution is dealt with strict and swiftly. The result being a lowering of class, or exile from the colony. And one ant or family can scarce survive the wilderness. I would like to mention the deeply emotional surrender of our queen, whom has always had our best interest first. It was not termed as such, but it was our surrender. She had tears in her eyes, and could hardly speak as she apologized to us for failing us. She did not fail us! No one could have seen this coming, but to have your colony, which as I have heard she considers us as a family, to be ill treated and considered as lowly as we are, must be a terribly bitter herb to taste. She has my undying sympathy. The oppression of our people continues. Our freedoms choked off. There are rules imposed upon us. We can not speak to anyone of the other classes. Nor can the children play with others outside of the same said class. I'd like their leaders to try to explain that one to Lily and Ember. Both are in deep pain at the separation from their best friends. We are all separated from friends. Fortunately no one has looked down upon those of us whom have voiced a decision to leave. We now need to find a few more families. May the skies above grant us that one simple desire. At last, we've found our last family. Actually, there are two more. The Grainers, my long time friend and co-worker. And another family I haven't had the chance to meet yet. We have met together, with the intent to leave. This has been much to the surprise of mine that we are allowed to discuss this being we are from the different classes. But since we have no desire to contribute, they would just assume we gather our families, our possessions and go. No parasites! How can they treat others of the same species like that. No one ant is better than another. But then we are different, and I hope that some of our values can seep into the lives of the fire ants. Maybe this can be of some good after all. But we don't desire to live off the efforts of our own people. I didn't mention this before, but my family and I were chosen as the 'higher class'. We can't live that way and know that friends, even other fellow ants aren't treated as equals. It goes against the very texture of my exoskeleton. We are planning to gather our belongings, say our final farewells, and go back to our old colony. With the numbers we have, it will be difficult, but we can survive this ordeal. It will be many generations until we are as we were before. I am mistaken. We will never be as we were before, but I mean to say that we will restore the colony to it's previous vigor. No matter what happens, we will survive. I swear by my thorax, and the heart that pounds within it, we will survive!

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