"Oh! Hello there Mother… I, uh, didn't expect to see you here!"
"In the brood chambers, child? Where else would I be?"
I can almost sense another thwack coming… The first one really hurt! She's had a serious increase to her physical stats since her evolution. I rub the top of my head with an antenna as I quickly ponder my response.
"Wherever you want to be, Mother?"
THWACK!
Ouch!
"You wouldn't be suggesting I would skip out on my duty to the Colony, would you?"
"Of course not! Who would ever think of such a thing?!"
Dangit, Mother! My poor head! What did I even do? Turning around to face my overbearing parent, I take a chance to see how she's been faring. She looks fine, no wounds or scarring to mar her carapace. That ever-present twinkle in her eye is still apparent, as is the unusual level of force she's able to generate with her antennae. There must be a 'mother' perk buried in the system somewhere that grants bonus damage when disciplining children, otherwise it just doesn't make sense.
"If you're mad at me, Mother, then please just tell me what I've done," I capitulate.
I've once again evaded my responsibilities and brought danger down on the Colony. A few knocks on the head are the least
at you, child. I am pleased to
of showing it…"
I didn't quite catch
see you in such good health!
Colony for a daily hunt in order to secure my own Biomass. The prey in the nearby tunnels is becoming rather thin, however. I may need
yikes. I'd love to have seen the
going to assume you have
The Queen sighs.
to say no, even if I do think it's a bit of a waste. Those children could all be contributing in a more meaningful
She shouldn't.
your escort is more than happy to be
to have the chance. I've no doubt that every member of her guards was carefully chosen to be the best at what they do. No way the council would leave the health of their Mother to
grubs, ensuring that each is fed and cleaned, ready to take on the next step in
rate of growth has exploded," I tip an antenna at the young, "are
born in this nest, they are transported to the first nest during the pupal stage. When they emerge they are taken through
started to explode.
lot. I don't even know how many eggs are being laid each day right
me once," the Queen informs me, "I believe that the creation of two new
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!