Chrysalis

"Are we there yet?"

"No."

"Are we there yet?"

"No."

"Are we there yet?"

"Dammit, Vibrant! NO! It's going to take us a while to get there, okay?! We're moving as fast as we can already. We can't go any faster than this. Just think of something else to talk about!"

A moment of blessed, blessed silence descends amongst our group as we run through the tunnels. My pets and I are all here, along with Vibrant and her whole posse, several hundred ants at this point, as well as my twenty 'shadow helpers.' This is the advance group of powerful troops that I've chosen to take on a push further into the depths of the Dungeon. A special mission, in a sense. If the warning given to me by Corun and Torrina is true, then there's likely to be more settlements, cities, probably larger ones than Rylleh, below us. My suspicion is that the next closest path of attack is likely to be from deeper in the third strata or perhaps even in the fourth. The Colony needs to get its eyes as deep as possible and we will be the vanguard of that.

I still feel a little useless. Although I think this work is necessary and that we're the best group in the Colony for the job, I have to say that the real work, of building the nests, rearing the young, developing the culture and taming new territory, you know, actually constructing the kingdom of the Colony, is being left for the others. We’re just off to fight and snoop around. It kind of fees strange to consider my family as now large enough, and powerful enough, to be taking territory and building something that is closer to a nation than a family. But hey, hard to keep a good ant down. Can't really fault them for being the industrious, powerful and all around awesome collective of kick-ass insects. They gonna do what they gonna do.

As the Eldest, it's my duty to oversee and support them as they grow! Not to inhibit their dreams and desires!

"Are we there yet?"

you around and all that? You have a position on the council! How the heck are you still this

me to change? I've just kept on doing things the way I've always done them! It's

sceptically. She's still this casual and cavalier, yet things have been working out alright? Somehow I'm doubting that. I take a moment to have a look at the group of ants that is dutifully following along in their leader's wake. If Vibrant actually hasn't changed from the hyper-energetic, impulsive and enthusiastic ant that I recall, how the heck are any of these Colony

too busy nattering on and flicking her antennae in every direction as new scents make themselves known to her. Sigh. I honestly thought she'd grown past

been doing lately? I can see that your group has grown in size again. How do you recruit

from the first strata? I suppose so since that's where we're all raised. Not me though! I spent a lot of time on the

"I do."

This is exhausting.

to… never mind. Where do they

group and I always say yes, because, why

a lot of humans who didn't necessarily enjoy the company of other people. I mean, as a human I frequently tried to get people to enjoy my company, but I don't think I could say I was successful. I mean, my parents certainly didn't like spending time with me, given the whole abandonment thing. I guess not all humans enjoy company? Personally, the ant vibe is good, now that I'm more accustomed to it. The more of my siblings there are, the more

you don't have any criteria or anything? Everyone

"Yep-yep!"

the smaller ant I noticed behind us and she tenses immediately, not expecting me

made you

described by the humans. Individuals born with higher stats, better evolutions and a strange capacity for leadership that attracts others towards them. To my knowledge, another

by the look of her, considers my question seriously

that aiding and assisting Vibrant would be the best outcome for the Colony and for myself. I believe I made the right choice, considering all that