Chrysalis

When I finally come across Jim, he's shivering up against the wall of the tunnel as dozens of ants keep watch on him, some literally on top of him.

[Jim! You made it out, alright I see!]

[Anthony! Thank the- WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!]

[You mean Crinis? She's my pet.]

[THAT is your pet?]

[For sure, she's great. Anyway, why are you shaking like a leaf in a storm? Something wrong?]

[Every cell in my body is screaming at me to escape from these ants. I swear they are tasting me in their minds. They look hungry, Anthony!]

[You can't tell if an ant is hungry by looking at them, Jim.]

[I can sense it.]

[No you can't! Besides, what would be the point? We ants are always hungry.]

[Nooooo. Don't eat me, Anthony! I have a family! My poor worm children!]

[You aren't going to be eaten, Jim!] I scoff at him. [If the Colony was going to eat you, you'd be eaten already! Just relax for a second.]

[It's hard to relax when literal predators are climbing on you.]

He has a good point. When it comes to insects and small organisms, ants are just about kings of the hill. Worms are just one of the near infinite number of things that ants will prey upon as they seek out the protein they need to raise the ravenous brood.

[Just take a minute to appreciate your achievement! You're free! You made it out! If you want to, you can slither into the wall and vanish. Back to the Dungeon!]

Besides, I can't feel at ease knowing what Sarah

point. He said before we left that he wanted to go back and rescue his friend. Now that the Colony has exposed itself, there isn't much reason not to back and try to bust her out. If it's going to happen though, it'll need to happen soon. The Golgari will get word of an active ant colony soon and will start to mobilise their no doubt considerable resources against us.

go talk to the leadership and see what we can do

What's going on with these ants,

little hard to explain. Let's just say, I made ants as

did WHAT?!] The worm

I get defensive.

to help out my family,

of humans? Do you have any

super

god. I can't take it anymore. I'm going to

than smart apes or smart rock-skinned people. In fact, aren't they just better? I mean, I'll take my current family over my old one in a heartbeat. No time to worry about that now. I need to

gathered nearby, waiting for me to turn up for a chat. They dug out a convenient meeting chamber for us to use so we don't block off the tunnel,

wonderful to see you again!" This from

that this operation was a

to

learned a lot. About a heap of things, which I'm happy to

changed so quickly that I need a moment to adjust. The Vestibule continues to pump me full of energy and keep me fresh, but the

back with you all. Thanks for

GLORIOUS battle we

"Shut up, Leeroy."

"Yes, Eldest."

even are we? How far from the nest

a hundred and thirty two kilometres in a straight line across the surface from the nest. In terms of movement through the tunnels,

"HOLY MOLY."

of

you guys even manage

a matter of weeks?! What the heck have they had to do in