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 rude,] Sarah

her, [I'll get back to you in

Bear flinches and sits up a little straighter, like a schoolchild being reprimanded by a teacher. I snicker at

funny, child?] she says,

Careful Anthony…

My attitude is solemn and serious, as

with my words so finally settles down a little. She turns back to Sarah, sparing

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

Sarah hung her head.

it's that easy,]

Queen raises an antennae

fine! I'm fine! No more guilt!] Sarah waves her

no power greater than the thwacks of mother.

THWACK!

was that

from your direction,] the Queen says firmly, [was I

I need to be more careful when there's a mind bridge

centre of the chamber and settles herself comfortably. [Let us talk, it's been some time since last you

had been installed in the egg-laying chamber, but quickly put it from my mind. I'm sure there's a reason for it. With the three 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 feels about it, not great, it turns out. The Queen suggests that perhaps she push for tier seven, where she may be able to reverse or at least alter some of the things her current form does that drive her out of control and Sarah promises to think about

the worm, but they're good people, like the ones who originally took you in. They'll be more than

you Anthony, I'll think

The conversation turns from there to the Queen's evolution and I

in Biomass for the eggs. I am accumulating experience slowly, on my own, eventually I will reach tier seven, but it will not be for a long time. I think this is fine, since reaching the next tier would

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 a conscious effort to drag in mana, and even then I might not be able to do so indefinitely. Has the time come already to relocate myself further down? I suppose the Queen is fine since her core isn't

Sarah?] I ask her directly. [Is your

mana is a bit thin. I can't stay in here forever. Without the golgari enchantments thickening the

you need to move deeper, child?]

I reluctantly nod.

[especially once the