Once I get close enough I'm quickly recognised by the people and the reaction is a unlike what I expected.
Firstly the humans seem unusually comfortable with having a monster ant wandering up to their area. I guess they've seen plenty of ants wandering here and there over the last few days.
Secondly they seem a bit… reverential. When they recognise me (I look different enough from the other workers I suppose) they fall quiet and still. There are hushed whispers and people rushing off towards the rear of the settlement where the shelter is. Other people are gesturing in my direction and talking animatedly to the people next to them. Even the children are pointing and whispering.
….
Annoying!
So annoying! What are these people doing anyways?!
I wait impatiently on the edge of the settlement, not willing to wander in and subject myself to more pointing. After a few moments Enid and the white robed priest Beyn came rushing over. She looks a bit nervous but he appears positively beaming with joy.
Hastily I weave together a mind magic transformation construct and connect to Enid whilst she patiently waits for me to complete the magic.
[Enid. Have your people managed to stay within their bounds?] I say abruptly once the mind bridge is finished.
[Yes. We've been staying within the boundary you set very carefully] she says nervously.
….
It appears to be true. When I detect the pheromone trail on this side of the settlement with my antennae it does seem to be fine. I'll check the other side before I leave as well.
more
is moving further south. These people arrive only this morning and we herded them in here as quickly as we could so that
[Eaten?]
[… right]
...
to do?] I ask. More
here and build a temporary shelter. Wait for the wave to pass
I brighten up immediately.
want to stay forever? Head back after
….
go for? Well.. As long as it
with what we have. We have access to the stream
anymore. I do spend most of
stretch. The colony is chewing through a lot of the local beasts on
to forage for food, perhaps try to clear a field that we can sow in the spring. The people here are feeling positive about their prospects of living safely here. They have hope again and they want
to it. Since this area is untamed, uncultivated wildlands there are woods everywhere, plenty of places to go foraging. If they want to clear a field though, that's going to be a heck of a lot of effort. There's
as well help them out a little. If they get off to a good start they'll have less reason to come and whinge at
cutting some trees and bringing the logs to the edge
field started. Tell your people they can start foraging but not to come closer to the anthill. I'll mark a new
you so much! This will mean the world to these people.
flood down his face
….
starting to
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!