Chrysalis

All work and no play makes Anthony, something, something.

Things have been way too busy! I need some rest!

Not to mention they're only going to get more busy from this point… I need to help the humans out a little, get them up and running so they can look after themselves, especially now it looks like there will be more attacks from those damnable crocodiles, over the surface this time. I need to train up my own skills and fill myself with Biomass to get to the point where I'm ready to evolve. Not to mention I need to prepare for my evolution and decide what to do with the rare core. Not to mention, all of this has to be taken care of before the next generation of workers arrives!

Almost makes me feel as if I wasted my time evicting the stupid Croca beasts from the expanse below, but I know that isn't true. If we had to worry about attacks across the surface as well as from underneath, I'd be too stressed to let the workers out to hunt.

So it's not all doom and gloom.

I've got a heap of Biomass to spend, I've got some skills that I can advance, and I'm sure the same is true for Crinis and Tiny. Vibrant is going to be super upset about missing the battle. All the action and food she missed out on? That's gonna sting.

Thinking of Vibrant, she's been unusually responsible and active around the colony since we got back. I might want to ask about that.

For now though, SLEEP.

With Tiny and Crinis in tow, I depart from the scene of the battle where the workers are still picking over the last scraps of Biomass, cutting it up and carrying it in their jaws back to the anthill. I spent some time helping out, as well as snacking, which earned me another ten Biomass. Even Tiny and Crinis were helping. Tiny can carry an awful lot and Crinis is exceptional at… separating the food into … more manageable sizes. I'll phrase it like that.

Hopefully none of the villagers were watching or they might have been put off their lunch.

Down we go, into the massive mound of earth that is our home, through the Queens chamber and into our own little nook at the very bottom of the colony. Underground where the mana is still strong enough to sustain us.

Crinis descends into the chamber as a mass of ink black tentacles that quickly withdraw until she appears as a tennis ball sitting atop a single stalk. Tiny just slumps into a corner, throwing himself onto the floor and I swear he was snoring before he hit the ground.

For my part, I find a comfy spot between them and grow very still, letting my thoughts slow until they too become frozen in place and my awareness stretches out to nothing…

HAGAH!

I'm up!

into alertness with a suddenness that causes me to stumble slightly as my legs

No problem!

happened when I was

Wazzat?!

the entrance to our

decide to play

do you mean? I don't remember anything

and the workforce is so fat they can barely move! Somethiiiiiiiiiing must have

of curiosity is she that she's practically vibrating in place, her legs scritching and scrabbling against the wall

relent, "there was another mass monster attack but across the surface this time. We fought

"Whaaaaaaaaat?!" she cries, appalled.

knew this would

the colony. The workers were heroic, standing tall as any ant has ever stood,

"No way, no waaay!"

wall and

Gweheheheh.

antennae and for a moment it feels like two ten year olds have a slap fight until she finally

She sighs, deeply.

with hunting I would have got

Which reminds me.

help out with the hunting. Usually you just stick around here

for a moment, her antennae drawing

like the colony needed more food

is her advanced intelligence coming into play? Perhaps it's something else. There is a different sort of air around her now that wasn't present immediately after she evolved. She seems a little more… grounded… and the workers seem to

to check up on what she's

something is up in her status. Speaking