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.

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, but considering the Kaarmodo lizard

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 and Biomass

came up whilst I was away. Nothing we can’t

antennae waggled with

moment you walked out of

Ouch.

about?" I wondered,

take the bait. Her eyes shone warmly

was worried that Aphy would be at risk here in my chamber, she is currently positioned with the brood under the watchful

Mother. I’m pleased to see your pet has

someone be your devoted companion. I only had to think of the ever loyal Crinis resting on my

add her own

"it will

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

"So about this core..."

THWACK!

Ouch!

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

make use of this gift than I, child,

but

of these cores for myself

The Queen wasn’t convinced.

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

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

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

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

the Queen to go along with my idea. Why is

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 relieve the nerves of the workers, none of us want to lose you and it will give us comfort to see

noticed that not only was the Queen watching me in her careful way, but so where

right, Mother" one of them

boon

fall" a third chipped in, standing directly