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.

be told 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 planned,

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

came up whilst I

waggled

had assumed as much the moment you

Ouch.

I wondered, trying

bait. Her eyes shone warmly

positioned with the brood under the watchful eye of the tenders. Did

pleased to see your pet

member of the colony 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

and she’ll be able to add her own eggs to the brood chambers"

"it will be so helpful for the

of all the good work I’ve done, it’s time to

"So about this core..."

THWACK!

Ouch!

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

position to make use of this

but held my

long time. I promise you I will obtain more of these cores for myself before I need it, but

The Queen wasn’t convinced.

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

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 as can be she believes there are other parts of the colony that

we disagree and I’m not going to back down this

is no other ant

antennae wave passionately in the air as I try to convince the Queen to go along with my idea. Why is it so

growth prospects of the colony. You have to accept it.

the Queen watching me

Mother" one

boon to the colony" another

a third chipped in, standing directly on