Rewrite the Apocalypse dream (by Dee Cari) novel Chapter 359

Chapter 359 Annie

+5 Pearls

Joanna raised a hand slowly, signaling the others to hold position, and reached into her space, pulling out several rabbit carcasses in quick succession, tossing them one after another toward the snake’s massive coiled length – a clear offering, more generous than before.

The snake’s head swung toward the fresh meat immediately, tongue flicking rapidly this time there was no sharp spike of aggression behind it.

Raven stepped forward carefully, focus already turning inward as she pushed the message through to the snake. “Joanna means no harm,” she said, half to herself as she relayed. “She wants to help. With the ants.”

The massive body, already heavier with its recent kills, settled lower against the rock, posture losing some of its earlier coiled tension now that a full belly and an unthreatening visitor stood before it. Its head remained raised, watchful, but the immediate danger had eased.

Raven’s eyes unfocused slightly as the response came back, translating in halting bursts. “She says she’s angry. The ants have been killing off her food sources all winter – other prey she used to rely on, gone now because the swarm’s been hunting the same territory.” A pause, Raven’s jaw tightening. “She says they thought they could kill her too. Today.”

Joanna stepped a little closer, keeping her voice level. “Tell her we know the ants were behind an attack on one of our own, too. A friend of mine was taken underground, poisoned, nearly killed.”

Raven turned back to the snake, relaying the message carefully, and a long silence followed the snake’s head tilting slightly, tongue flicking slower now, almost thoughtful.

Finally, Raven spoke again, her voice dropping, something uneasy creeping into it. “She says the ants that got away – the three that escaped into the tunnels – they taunted her before they ran. Told her they’d be back.” Raven swallowed hard. “With swarms. More ants than she’s ever seen. Said they’ll kill her, and everything else in this valley, once they come back in force.”

Joanna looked out over the ridge, the full weight of what was coming settling heavy across her shoulders. A swarm large enough to terrify something the size of this snake. A hidden enemy that had already been watching her for weeks, led by a man who already knew her bases schedule. Tunnels running near her own base that she hadn’t even known existed until today.

“We’ll help protect this valley,” she said finally, voice steady despite the dread coiling in her chest. “We’ll fight the ants with you, if you fight with us. In return, we only want information.” She held the snake’s gaze, unflinching. “We’ve heard the ants are somehow working with people living a few ridges over. Do you know anything about that?”

Raven relayed the question, then went quiet for a long moment, listening, her expression shifting through confusion and then slow, dawning understanding.

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10:04 Wed, Oct 21 FO

Chapter 359 Annie

+5 Pearls

“She thinks the people want your base,” Raven said finally. “But they know they can’t take it directly – not with how it’s defended.” Another pause, longer this time. “She says she’s seen them. Watching you. They follow the ants and use the tunnels the ants made.”

Joanna’s stomach twisted at that, the timeline lining up far too neatly with everything else Jolie’s attack, the first ridge sightings, the poisoned bushes.

Raven continued, voice quieter now. “She thinks it’s possible the people pointed the ans toward your base on purpose. Because of the tunnels. All the ones running underground, connecting everything.” She swallowed. “If the ants mapped out your tunnel systems already…”

Joanna’s jaw tightened as the pieces finally clicked fully into place. “I’d bet Shane and his people used the ants to tunnel near our base. Even stole supplies somehow – thinking they’d wait until the ants were busy fighting us before making their actual move on the base.”

Julian nodded slowly, already thinking several steps ahead. “We should use this snake as an early warning system. She’s right at the choke point between the ridge and the valley – anything coming through has to pass near her den first.”

Joanna liked the idea immediately. “Raven – tell her we’re going to prepare for the ants coming back. Ask if she sees more of them, or the people again, if she can rattle loudly enough for us to hear it from the base. We’ll listen for it.”

Raven relayed the request, focus narrowing as the response filtered back, and after a moment her expression shifted into something almost amused despite the tension still hanging over them.

“Boss – her name’s Annie,” Raven said first, like that detail alone deserved acknowledgment. “She says

she can give us a heads-up. But she still wants everyone staying clear of her den.” Raven paused, listening further. “She’ll only allow us near it. Specifically you. Nobody else.”

Joanna offered a final nod of thanks toward Annie, who had already turned her attention back toward the carcasses of the dead ants, and the group made their way back down the ridge in tense, purposeful silence.

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The moment they reached the base, Joanna turned to Briggs. “We need to find those hidden tunnels, and whatever entry point they’re using. You and Julian get into the tunnel system and figure out where they could have broken through.” Briggs nodded once, already moving, Julian falling into step beside him without a word.

“Raven,” Joanna said, turning next, “we need the moles.”

She led Raven across the courtyard toward the greenhouse, waving at Willow as they passed still elbow-deep in soil near one of the garden beds, humming to herself as she worked.

Raven called out, her focus turning inward for a moment, and within minutes several moles emerged from the loosened earth near the greenhouse’s foundation, blinking uselessly, noses

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