Chrysalis

Is this some form of ritual suicide now?! Offering oneself up as Biomass for monsters? Or have the people decided to cast off their elderly as a sacrifice to appease the mighty ant kingdom? The older people are the most scrawny among you! If you want to offer Biomass then at least throw in some fatties!

Wait! What am I thinking...

Seeing some workers descending towards this person, ready to defend the hill, I rush down to head them off. There is something about this old woman that’s making my antennae twitch. The way she has approached, so deliberately and with her hands in the air. It’s clear that she came here to find the colony, otherwise she would have run away at the first sign of us, surely? Raising her hands in the air is the classic sign of intending no harm, though how she expects a colony of monsters to know that is beyond me.

So the question remains, what does this human want to find and approach us for? Try as I might I can’t come up with anything at all.

As she sees me approach and warn away the approaching workers she breathes a sigh of relief and her manner becomes a little excited. She was looking for me? Does she recognise me? Perhaps she saw me in the church... I don’t remember her being there but I didn’t spend a whole lot of time taking in the crowd.

Her face does seem vaguely familiar though...

When I draw near and stop the old woman also ceases her steps but keeps her hands in the air.

I stand still and watch patiently.

Taking a deep breath the lady seems to settle her nerves before she squares up to me and then ... begins speaking.

....

.......

I can’t understand you lady! Can’t you use mind magic or something!?

For several minutes the lady attempts to speak to me, earnestly pleading about something, gesturing passionately with her hands, pointing at the colony, pointing back towards the town.

...

to talk to a colony of monsters?! As in, just talk with your mouth?! Internally I’m shaking my head at this

have a way

I walk closer, frightening the old woman with my sudden movement such that she leaps back in fear, once again thrusting her hands high in

...

going to eat you!

tap the back of my carapace. She seems confused at first so I repeat the gesture. The light understanding dawns on her face and she resolutely places

have any

pat my back. When she doesn’t immediately move I repeat

time. I’ll keep going until she cooperates! So she may

can climb on. At the last moment I remember to extend an antennae back for Crinis to grab and shift the little blob up to my head next to Vibrant, who chitters at my pet, unhappy with her space being cramped. Crinis simply waves a few tentacles around until

has been secured I head over to the ant hill, climb up the side and then descend into the main shaft. Worried that the old woman will fall as we start our vertical journey I make sure to tilt

human until she climbs

how this

enters my chamber and sees who is inside she goes completely still with shock seemingly not believing the evidence of her own eyes. It’s a fair response really, you wouldn’t expect to find your Queen inside

old womans’ hands between her own. Having her hands gripped by her own Queen seems to overwhelm my new guest and she falls to

respected as she claims? Or maybe people just fear royalty in general in this socially primitive

the Queens attention I point to the old woman’s head and then at my own,

you to connect this person and me with mind magic so

nods to say she

What the heck....

before I feel the familiar and crude touch of

individuals in this way. Connecting others is ten times as hard as connecting oneself. If you like,

but I’m a little cautious the Queen might

If I believe information has been kept

somewhat angered by my demand. [I am not used to having my honour questioned in this way,