Deep under a big oak tree lived a busy ant colony. One ant, named Pip, was very smart. He wasn’t the strongest, but he was the best at noticing things. Other ants thought he worried too much.
One sunny day, the sky turned a strange, heavy purple. The air felt thick, and Pip heard a deep, scary rumble in the ground. Pip remembered the old stories of the “Sky Tears”—a giant, dangerous flood! He knew the colony’s entrance would soon be swamped.
Pip raced back to the anthill. “Danger!” he cried. “A huge flood is coming! We must climb the high tunnels now!”
The other ants didn’t believe him. “It’s just rain, Pip,” they grumbled.
But Pip didn’t wait. He quickly led the few ants who trusted him toward an old, unused tunnel that went straight up.
Just as they started to climb, the sky broke open! Water poured down like a waterfall. Soon, a rushing stream of water filled the main entrance and began to flood the lower tunnels.
“Pip was right!” cried the colony in a panic.
Thousands of ants scrambled. Pip pushed ahead, guiding them up the steep, secret tunnel. It was a terrifying race, but Pip kept them moving until they reached the highest, safest chambers.
Hours later, when the water was gone, the ants came out, safe and dry. They saw their ruined lower home and knew Pip had saved them all.
The Queen Ant herself came to Pip. “Pip,” she announced proudly, “you used your mind to save our home. You are Pip, the Wise Protector!”
The whole colony cheered for Pip. He was no longer just the dreamer, but their hero!
