Chrysalis

When the Colony gathers in the tunnels outside the ravaged outpost, we quickly take stock before we march through the tunnels. It's quite an inspiring sight to me, the long column of ants pouring through the tunnels, obliterating everything they find. My pets and I bring up the rear and it's great to finally get a chance to take a peek at their cores and admire the upgrades that they've achieved. Some good evolutions for Tiny and Crinis, and I can see that both of them have been working hard at improving their Skills. Invidia has also been putting in work, judging by the increase to his magical abilities. Considering the short timeframe that he's had, his improvements in the magical fields that I've instructed him to work on are impressive. Although, when you take into account the sheer grunt he's able to put behind his spells, it shouldn't be that surprising.

"Quite a good haul it looks like," I observe to Burke when she drops back to scout the rear of the column.

"Agreed. The wealth of cores we were able to obtain has got the Core Shapers drooling."

"Was there anything other than cores that we got our mandibles on?"

"Oh yes. We cut apart and dragged away anything enchanted as well as a collection of mana empowered materials. The carvers and mages are going to be very excited. Not to mention those two prisoners you picked out. If we can extract anything useable from them then they might even prove to be the best part of the haul."

I'm a bit doubtful.

"You really think they're going to hand over reliable information? They aren't exactly willing co-operators."

"There's a few things that we can try

"Did I see books getting carried away? What the heck are we going to be doing with books?"

The smaller ant wiggles her antennae indecisively.

"I'm not sure on the books, you might need to talk to one of the mages about that one. If I was to take a guess, I suppose it might be for trading with the humans in the village."

I have to think for a second.

mean Enid and Beyn's lot? What will they need with these books. We don't

Another shrug.

entirely possible that the mages have some method in mind to read the texts themselves. I'm just guessing here. If you don't have any more questions, Eldest, then

"Good point. Stay safe."

be out there somewhere, ready to hunt us down. We exposed ourselves by going back

back to marching along with the column. We cover ground quickly, as a nearly tireless army of ants should. Tiny is the first of my own group to grow tired. Hardly unexpected since Crinis is being carried by me and Invidia

Invidia? Big guy’s lacking a

thisss

have to tough

he whines in the back of

for the group. Energy is

We set a good pace. I wouldn't think those meatbags would be able to keep up with us."

Shaper

to capture the

I groan, "but yes, they can be very capable. Especially when their Warriors and Shapers are working together. It's possible they have other castes that they can deploy in battle and I just haven't seen them yet.

"The scouts have been deployed, along with a contingent of our Core Shapers and their pets to keep an antenna out behind us. We marched hard for the last few hours and we need to rest before we continue. I want to ensure that we

Keep our energy up, stay alert and push hard. Sounds

need to rest at some point," I point

members of the council look uncomfortable when I

her mandibles, trying to move

then not let anyone sleep. We have to rest

me, since the Vestibule kept me supplied with all the energy I can spend. I won't need to rest until my mental fatigue piles up to the point I need

make it back to the nest?" I ask. "Probably take a little less time than it took for