Chrysalis

There they are. Look at them. Peacefully sleeping for now, awaiting the day when they awake and take their first steps into the world. Shhhhhh little ones. You don't know it yet, but the world will be your oyster. Yes it will! You will roam wherever you wish and bring prosperity to our family. Our enemies will flee before your strength and become food beneath your mighty mandibles.

Yes they will! You adorable little things!

[Master]

WHA?! What now?!

[Crinis, why are you interrupting egg time?!]

[I'm very sorry Master but I believe I have detected another wave approaching from the tunnels below]

Haaaa. These stupid monsters just won't stop! I'm going to have to work out a solution for this problem before the time approaches. These waves have caused no end of headaches and significant losses to the colony over the last week. Those Crocs down below are going to get what's coming to them, the sooner the better.

[I'm on the way Crinis. Tiny wake up! Time to fight]

[oh? OHHHH! FIGHT!]

…..

have been caring for them diligently but I can't help coming up to take a look at them every now and again. When I think of

of work to create those eggs! I deserve to be a little happy now that they've finally arrived

the Biomass necessary to lay this small clutch and it'll take a few more days before they hatch and then two weeks for them to complete their time as larvae and become pupa, then a little longer for them to finally eclose

It's soooo loooong!

feel like kids probably felt at Christmas when there were presents waiting under the tree. I didn't get to experience that during my human life but I think I

the area my pets and I have made our home. It's been somewhat expanded recently, mainly to accommodate Tiny and allow us a

pumping up our new skills and our overall combat effectiveness has risen as a

of the ruckus and rushed down to support her. By the time Tiny

started calling for reinforcements. When the Queen's guards

fighting had gone right to their doorsteps. Being saved by the colony seems to have driven their affection for ant monsters to even greater heights. When workers wander past their growing encampment they bow respectfully and cheer. It's getting

more careful

I could, but I wanted to make sure the colony was safe first. That was a few days ago now, we've been quietly building our

my family and gets away

extended her tentacles down the tunnel for more than a hundred metres, stretching her strange flesh to the limit in order

back Crinis. Time to get ready

[Yes Master]

begins to retract the thin, wire like tendrils she had painstakingly extended down the tunnel back into her body. When the task is done she

fists to go to work. The silver hair on his arms is already beginning to rise as electrical current begins to flicker across