Chrysalis

THWACK!

HIYA!

SNAP!

The moment I entered the Queen’s chamber, a powerful antennae came flying at my head. This time though, I was prepared, I’d thought ahead, inspired by Morrelia’s thoughtfulness I had anticipated how my reception would begin.

Thus it was that I stood upside at the entrance, clinging to the roof with one of my mother’s antennae clasped between my own. Sword catching is for fools, antennae catching is a whole new level.

"Hold on a second, mother! It isn’t like you to be hasty!" I appealed.

The Queen’s eyes lay on me like a weight, peaceful, serene, but heavy.

"I see you have brought a gift for me child" she replied evenly.

I tried to shrug my antennae whilst still gripping hers and largely failed. I wouldn’t weaken my hold just yet, in case she felt I was being particularly foolish.

"Oh this old thing?" I deflected, "there are so many of them up on the surface that I’m starting to think they don’t hold any value at all. Why, I almost feel bad giving you something of such low rarity."

"In that case" mother answered, amusement rippling through her voice, "perhaps it would be best if you kept it for yourself."

Dang it! Operation downplay the core was a failure.

"Is this the kind of welcome you give to your child who was away from home, slaving away as a scout in dangerous territories for the colony?" I try a different tack and divert the conversation.

I may have struck a chord with mother on that one, since she retracts her antennae from my grip before she responds.

"Welcome home child. I am, of course, very pleased to see you, even if I am concerned at what mischief you might have caused whilst you were away."

Oh, she’s definitely amused now. I reply whilst climbing down the wall to the chamber floor, hoping to put myself on more solid ground.

"You wound me, mother" I say reproachfully even as I sweat inside.

this time! I may have caused Garralosh and company to come down this was earlier than they had planned, but considering the Kaarmodo lizard was actively utilising scrying magic, chances are they already knew

seizing monsters the moment they spawn from the walls, subduing them and more often than not bringing them to

things that came up

waggled with frustrated

as much the moment you walked out of

Ouch.

haven’t seen her about?" I wondered, trying to shift the focus of conversation

was only too happy to take the bait.

worried that Aphy would be at risk here in my chamber, she is currently positioned with the brood under the watchful eye of the tenders. Did you know she’d already evolved?" she

pleased to see your pet has brought you such

and we all loved her back, but we had stuff to do. It’s nice to have someone be your devoted companion. I only had to think of the ever loyal Crinis resting on my back to

be able to add her own eggs to the

the Queen nodded happily, "it will be so helpful for the

her of all the good work I’ve

"So about this core..."

THWACK!

Ouch!

lightning bolt from the sky, the Queen’s antennae descended on my head. Even with all of

to make use of this gift than I, child, we have discussed this before" Mother

but held

long time. I promise you I will obtain more of these cores for myself before I need it, but right now there is nobody in the colony who can make use of this core as much

The Queen wasn’t convinced.

fight for its survival, they will need to be as strong as possible. I am the only Queen in this colony right now, but there

if she just genuinely doesn’t understand what it would mean for the colony if she were lost. In truth, I suspect that she simply sees herself as performing her function for the family as well

I’m

we already have me. I have a rare core already and soon I’ll be prepared to evolve. I promise you that whatever battles threaten the family, I will stand forward and fight. There is no other ant in this colony who is close to matching me. What we need isn’t more battle potential, we need

in the air as I try to convince the Queen to go along with my

you’ve been the last line of defence for us and I suspect that you will be again. In truth, giving you this core will increase our fighting potential the most, as well as increase the future growth prospects of the colony. You have to accept it. Even if all it does is

was the Queen watching me in her careful way, but so where

one of

be a boon to

fall" a third chipped