Lost lodge antics

As the golden autumn light spilled across the mountains, Badger and Yote made their way through the dense forest of the Columbia River Gorge, eventually arriving at an isolated lodge nestled among towering pines and overlooking the vast, winding river below. The lodge was the picture of rustic charm—its log walls and slate roof blending seamlessly into the backdrop of fiery red and orange leaves. The two friends were welcomed by the sight of smoke curling from the chimney and the smell of cedar logs burning in the grand stone fireplace within.

Inside, the lodge was alive with warmth and wonder. The main room featured vaulted ceilings, thick wooden beams, and old mountaineering equipment hung as decoration. Badger and Yote dropped their bags onto the braided rug in the center of the room and made their way toward the cozy sitting area near the hearth, where rocking chairs sat in a circle around a crackling fire.

After warming themselves by the fire, they noticed a large wooden sign hanging above the fireplace mantle, and it read: "The Lodge Ant Word Challenge" in finely carved letters. Below the sign, there was a small side table with paper, pencils, and a list of clues neatly written out for guests to solve. The list was titled “Ant Words,” and it immediately caught Yote’s attention.

"Looks like we’ve got a word game on our hands, Badger," said Yote, his eyes lighting up. "Think you're up for it?"

Badger, ever the fan of a good brain teaser, nodded enthusiastically. “Let’s do it. This is our chance to test our wits and add our names to the lodge’s wall of solvers.” He picked up a pencil and began to read the clues aloud, ready to puzzle through the words and solve each one.

The challenge was to solve clues that described words containing "ant." However, the twist was that each clue didn’t directly describe the word itself, but the meaning of the word when combined with "ant." Here are the clues:

1. This ant will rely on you.

2. The end of an ant's trousers.

3. The first ant.

4. This will burn an ant severely.

5. Two ants going to get married in secret.

6. This ant rides up sloped driveways.

🧠 This word puzzle is a playful way to connect vocabulary and critical thinking. As you work through each clue, you're encouraged to use creative problem-solving and language skills to find the word that fits. Just as Badger and Yote challenge each other, these word puzzles encourage us to think differently about words we may already know.