Chrysalis

I enter the egg-laying chamber to find Sarah rubbing the top of her giant bear head with one paw whilst mother looms over her, clearly irritated. A nearby mage spins together a mind bridge and I allow it to connect to me without complaint. It seems that mother wants Sarah to be able to listen in on the conversation. Makes sense, excluding her and using pheromone language would be quite rude in these circumstances.

[Was this your idea?] Mother demands with less than her usual patience.

[She blames herself for what happened and you are the only one who can really forgive her,] I shrug my antennae. [It made sense to send her down here so she could tell you herself and get punished for it.]

[Wait. You knew I was going to get whacked?] Sarah says, an accusatory glint in her eye.

[Thwacked. And of course, you were being ridiculous. Me trying to knock some sense into you just wouldn't have the same effect, so I sent you down to experience some of Mother's wisdom.]

THWACK!

Oof! Still hurts! Maybe after my next evolution and my carapace is upgraded these won't be quite so sharp? Or perhaps I should concentrate a build-up of extra dense carapace on the top of my head? I eye the Queen's antennae carefully. I'm certain she's chosen some form of mutation that makes them hit harder.

[Stop staring at my antennae,] the Queen demands.

[How could you even tell?! I have compound eyes!]

[I just know,] she says nonsensically.

[Alright, so Sarah got thwacked for being dumb,] I rub my head just as she was a moment ago, [why did I get hit?]

[The same reason,] the Queen tells me, still clearly annoyed.

Well, it isn't as if I didn't know it was coming.

[Did you explain to Sarah that she was wrong to think as she did?] I try to deflect.

[No,] the Queen replies, [I just told her she was being foolish, because she was.]

all seems a little

[I'll get back

up a little straighter, like a schoolchild being reprimanded

funny, child?] she

Careful Anthony…

mother. My attitude is solemn and serious, as

words so finally settles down a little. She turns back to

its normal soothing tone. [This is now your home and we are now your family. There is no such thing as blame between us so long as that remains true. The choices of your friend are not your choices and we do not hold them against you, so from this point on, neither will

Sarah hung her head.

sure it's that

Queen raises

waves her massive clawed paws in front of her muzzle

no power greater than the thwacks of mother.

THWACK!

that one

some foolish thoughts coming from your direction,] the Queen says firmly, [was

be more careful

[Let us talk, it's been some time since last you paid me

of us seated, we take a few hours to discuss the various goings on. The Queen and Sarah ask me about my evolution and I'm honest with them, for the most part. I talk to Sarah about her current evolution and how she

his triad here,] I tell her. [They might be from the cult of the worm, but they're good people, like the ones who originally took you in. They'll be more than happy to help you with some

you Anthony, I'll think about it,] she

conversation turns from there to the Queen's evolution and I ask her about it directly, but

accumulating experience slowly, on my own, eventually

inward and I'm a little dismayed to find that I'm leaking mana. How's this even possible? There's a wave going on! Only then do I remember that the walls in this chamber are free from dungeon veins, making the ambient mana much lower than it would otherwise be. Even so, I'm quite shocked. It's quite possible that once the wave is finished I won't be able to sustain myself at this depth without making

at this depth, Sarah?] I ask her directly. [Is your core able to

same as you are now,] she admits. [before the wave, it was a little tough. In these chambers, the mana is a bit thin. I can't stay in here forever. Without the golgari enchantments thickening the mana in my chambers, there's no way I would have

you need to move deeper, child?] the Queen

I reluctantly nod.

so,] I confess, [especially once the