Valinta lay on the ground on her stomach, clutching a small jar she had found and staring a line of bugs traversing the sandy soil. Her golden eyes were wide open, showing her intense interest in the small creatures. When another insect not of their type approached, they attacked and killed it with a single-minded brutality, protecting their colony at all costs.
Ants. They were absolutely amazing. The chocolate-furred female resolved to find a book about ants, and learn to read English. Or have someone read it to her. Sometimes her lack of knowledge in the language of the land she lived in was a hindrance, but sometimes it was handy. If she didn't want to know something, she didn't have to know it. She didn't speak the language.
Tipping the jar down onto it's side carefully, not wanting to harm the precious creatures, Valinta watched with curiosity and love as the insects wandered into the jar, and more followed. When she had more than a dozen, but less than a hundered, she smiled and lifted the container. Scooping some stragglers on the sides into the narrow mouth, she lovingly gazed at the delicate cargo and then corked the fluted top. She would feed them and love them and watch them day after day. The insects were beautiful, and amazingly intriguing.
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