Chrysalis

[Yes, you] I snap.

Enid immediately stumbles forward until she reaches the side of the still sonorously praising one-armed priest.

I see her concentrate and then her voice appears in my mind.

[Wouldn't it be more appropriate to communicate with this man?] she indicates the priest, [it was he who led our people to this place].

This priest?! How the heck did he find me?! Does he have some sort of tracking device on me or something?! More likely he was able to follow our trail somehow but the bottom line remains, what the heck are these people here for? They certainly don't look as they've come to fight, judging by the number of women and children in the crowd, not to mention the sheer lack of arms.

[I will speak to you since I have had dealings with you before. Make it clear to the others I am speaking to you].

I don't want to talk to that guy. He makes me a nervous.

Enid take a moment to gingerly touch the priest on the shoulder and indicate that I am communicating with her using mind magic. Rather than disappointed, the priests face is overcome with enlightenment and he bows low before me, head nearly touching the ground, before he backs away to speak animatedly to the crowd. Nothing phases this guy…

[Enid. Tell me why these people have followed my family here to the wild lands]

the assault on the castle things settled down at first. Many of the villagers wanted to know where you went but we weren't

her recollections are apparently

[Then the capital caught fire. We could hear the roaring of beasts from our houses and flames reached the so high it was sky was burning. We were terrified, nobody knew what to do. Then monsters burst out of the Dungeon and into the church, dozens of them. Some

go on. I'm not as good at reading human expressions as perhaps I was before but she seems overwhelmed with sadness

organised a retreat. We ran from the town with nothing but what we could carry on our backs or throw

people behind her. [Without food or supplies, without knowing what was happening we decided to flee south. We heard word of the colony's passage as we travelled. Father Beyn believed that perhaps you would be able to help us as

in the deception

us settle nearby and leave us in peace, that's all we can ask. If you aren't willing

anyone here, even if I do need Biomass. I'll be getting that from the Dungeon in short order, I need to prepare myself before the future generation of ant workers is born! This is a critical time for me and the colony! I

go make camp at least one kilometre in that direction] I point with my antennae in front of the shocked woman, [tell Beyn I want him to get them settled make sure they don't interfere with the workers or approach the nest, he's in charge. I want you to stick around so I can

dark and dull faces. With a little more energy and spring in their step they turn as Beyn, delirious with joy at being entrusted with this task begins to lead the others across,

point the tired old woman to a nearby stone and she gladly hobbles over to it and sits. I have no idea how she managed the journey at her age, trudging by foot over such a large distance. It was

has happened Enid? Tell me what you

shakes her head, grey hair swaying around her ears. [I don't know much. I think the monsters have invaded the surface. The capital got the worst of

have been thousands of people trapped inside those walls. It isn't hard to imagine the chaos that would have

the Dungeon] Enid continues, [my husband taught me a lot about his work.

strange stuff has been happening ever since I arrived here, so I'm not

Croca-Beasts? I mean the Garralosh Infants?