Chrysalis

"Hold the line!" Advant flooded the surrounding space with her pheromones.

"FOR THE COLONY!" The ants roared back.

BOOM!

Another explosion rocked the tunnel, sending Colony members sprawling in the dust. Healers rushed forward, antennae darting over the fallen, checking for pheromones indicating injury or distress. The medics had to be careful, too many soldiers were hiding their injuries, or at least refusing to acknowledge them.

Once they'd identified those in need, they pulled them back from the front line and began to administer emergency treatment

"Mages! Return fire!" Advant continued to flood the combat zone with instructions, trying to bring some order to the chaos. "Another acid barrage! Where's my artillery!?"

A team of ants pressed forward, collectively raising their business districts and unleashing a flood of acid at the enemies in the distance. With dust, spells, smoke and the acrid haze of acid filling the tunnel, it was almost impossible to see what was happening in the distance. Advant strained to see, frustrated by her inability to determine the enemy’s movements.

"They're advancing!" Called her spotter.

"Fall back!" she roared, "Give ground, steady pace! Healers to the rear!"

The ants organise themselves instantly, tiny bursts of pheromones flying between them as they communicate rapidly. Every member was constantly aware of where their neighbours were. Compound eyes, antennae firing with the scent messages, the Colony members were in constant communication with each other.

wounded family members clung

collapse!" Advant ordered and the gathered mages

torrents of the stuff, drilling into the ceiling, softening the rock in places, splitting it apart in others. The mages were guided by

mage, then another twitched as if

One of them announced. "I've lost control of the

force it! Pull back with the others.

groan and shift above their heads. The powerful Soldier was the last to retreat, watchful for any pursuit, but none came. The Stone people had been advancing for a day, frustrating the Colony's attempts to hold them back. Somehow they were even able to overpower the ant mages and prevent them from collapsing the tunnels when they tried it. With their superior command of earth magic, it was even possible that they could drop the tunnel ceilings right on the Colony's

two kilometres until they reached the next defence point, a joining of three sizeable tunnels to form one major arterial passage. The Carvers had been hard at work here, ambush tunnels,

her group into

them, "anyone skipping torpor will be sent straight back to the nest. Maybe you can explain to mother why you thought you knew

got to experience, but all dreaded. Only the Eldest had demonstrated any capacity to withstand the pressure,

scent commented, "I

The mage looked exhausted, her antennae drooping against her will, her legs barely holding her abdomen

to use it on you," Advant observed, "it seems you're in need of some torpor

mage waved

I could. I assume

"The tunnels not collapsing?"

The smaller ant nodded.

was central to our strategy, but it has exposed a weakness. They are stronger than us when we fight them directly without bringing our advantage in numbers to bear. This goes

we didn't