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.

there is some bad news coming our way but it isn’t my fault this time! I may have caused Garralosh and company to come down this was earlier than they had

still so much larger than myself. Her chamber still rests under the surface level, within the Dungeon, which necessitates her guard to be constantly on-alert, seizing monsters the moment they spawn from the walls, subduing them and more often than not bringing them to the Queen to kill, feeding experience

been a couple of things that came up

antennae waggled with frustrated

as much the moment you walked

Ouch.

wondered, trying to shift the focus of

the bait. Her eyes

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 said

I’m pleased to see your pet

we had stuff to do. It’s nice to have someone be your devoted companion. I only had to think of

and she’ll be able to add her own

Queen nodded happily, "it will

Now that I’ve reminded her of all the good work I’ve done, it’s time

"So about this core..."

THWACK!

Ouch!

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

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

but held my

I’m not going to need another for a 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 Queen wasn’t convinced.

only Queen in this colony right now, but there are two others who will soon fulfil this role. I do not fight as the others fight. They need all of the strength they

lost. In truth, I suspect that she simply sees herself as performing her function for the family as well as can be she believes there are other parts of the colony that need

that point we disagree and I’m

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 the strongest Queen possible to act as our

Queen to go along with my idea. Why is it so

of the colony. You have to accept it. Even if all it does

only was the Queen watching me in

right, Mother" one

be a boon to the

not fall" a third chipped in, standing directly