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.

lot? What will they need with these books. We don't even know if many of them

Another shrug.

a shot. It's 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 I'm going to scout. Pursuit should have started by

"Good point. Stay safe."

signs of the Golgari. They must be out there somewhere, ready to hunt us down. We exposed ourselves by going back to retrieve Sarah and raid the Shaper outpost, but I have to hope

should. Tiny is the first of my own group to grow tired. Hardly unexpected since Crinis is being carried by me and Invidia is hitching a

something enervating on Tiny, Invidia? Big guy’s

know thisss magic. Can

enough. Going to have to

he whines in the back of

and secure Biomass for the group. Energy is

pace. I wouldn't think those meatbags would be able

the Core Shaper

Propellant. They were able to capture the Eldest, I think they could

and Shapers are working together. It's possible they have other castes that they can deploy

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 stay well rested and well fed for the journey. If they manage to catch us and start a fight, I

our energy up, stay alert and push hard.

about torpor? We need to rest at

of the members of the council look uncomfortable when I mention the hated

it later," Sloan clacks her mandibles, trying to move

then not let anyone sleep. We have to rest if we're going to be

supplied with all the energy I can spend. I won't need to rest until my mental fatigue piles up to

it's going to take to make it back to the nest?" I