Two more scouts vanished during the night patrol. The disappearances are moving closer. And Cinder just found a piece of shell that doesn’t belong to any ant.

In this episode, the colony wakes to an emergency meeting. Cinder, Blaze, and Thistle eavesdrop from a hidden tunnel junction and learn the food shortage is far worse than anyone is publicly admitting. Then Cinder discovers something in the supply room that Thistle identifies as pill bug shell — a creature that shouldn’t be anywhere near their territory. The investigation is now a mission.

Colony in Danger is a serialized adventure audiobook for boys ages 8–14 and families.

Start from Episode 1. New episodes weekly.

For fans of Watership Down, Empires of the Undergrowth, and AntsCanada.

📖 Buy the full Colony in Danger Part 1 audiobook: Coming Soon!
📧 Free Ant Codex field reports: https://compass-codex.kit.com/ant-codex-subscribe

The disappearances follow a pattern moving toward the colony. Cinder finds a piece of pill bug shell in the supply room — a creature whose territory is far to the west, beyond the meadow. Thistle identifies it. Blaze wants to take it to Captain Selwick. Cinder wants to investigate themselves. Three young ants, one dangerous idea, and zero authority to pursue it. This reluctant reader and homeschool audiobook series is built on real fire ant biology and colony behavior.

What would you do with the shell evidence?

Send us Fan Mail

I am the author of serialized fiction books for kids, teens, tweens and young adults, including:

- Brickhaven: A Bricks Fan Fiction Adventure

- Colony In Danger: A Fire Ant Adventure

- Eagle's Edge: A Story of Rome, Gaul and the Making of a Soldier

- Treasure Island: A Classic Adaptation

- Iron Rails & Ruin: A Novel of Steam, Sorcery and the Lawless Montana Territory

📚 All five books -- are now available on Amazon: https://us.amazon.com/stores/Reed-Sterling/author/B0H2ZM86WQ

📖 Wanna check out all five series for yourself? Get all five Chapter 1s free: https://compass-codex.kit.com/middle-school-reader-group

Thank you for listening! This is Reed Sterling. Remember: Never stop exploring unknown worlds.