Chrysalis

I have seen many things, dear readers, been to many wild wonderful and dangerous places, but even I felt a moment of trepidation as we passed between the legs of a giant carved statue of an ant and the hard stone closed around us. My two guards and I had now left the world of the sun behind us and delved within the nest of the Colony. I have to admit that this is the first time in my long life that I've willingly plunged within a nest of monsters, though my apprehension was somewhat mollified by the smiling guide at my side and the children running before me.

"Was that statue another depiction of the… great one?" I asked my guide, Emilia, mainly to distract from my feelings of discomfort.

The young woman chuckled a little before replying.

"Although there are many, MANY depictions of the Great One, that statue is an exception."

"Oh really?"

"Yes. That was a memorial placed in memory of Grant, one of the first twenty ants of the Colony to be raised by the Great One, and who sacrificed her life against Garralosh, helping to bring about that monster's defeat."

"Sounds like quite a story."

"Yes. I was a young girl then, but I can still remember the sounds of battle from the shelter where the children were kept. When we finally learned that it was over I almost couldn't believe it would be possible, that this beast who had destroyed kingdoms was defeated by these ants."

We fell into silence as we continued to walk, the path sloping downward at a steady pace before it turned to the left and began to spiral. We'd gone down perhaps a hundred metres before the tunnel opened into a wonderfully pleasant welcoming chamber, with human attendants, comfortable chairs, thick woven rugs on the floor and core enchanted lighting along the ceiling.

"This seems… oddly luxurious," I murmured.

of their own but sleep in designated chambers with

me the other woman had left the room, but returned a few moments later holding a tray laden with a teapot, cups and delightful little cakes. Such a sight warmed my heart dear readers, you can imagine how much I had missed my tea! And let me tell you that the ceramic work

chairs and enjoy our snacks, which I did! I was halfway through the delicious cake

was made by

"Even the tea?"

"Especially the tea."

• from Chapter Seven of 'Traveling Tolly in the lands of the Colony' published in the

the finishing touches on the new defensive works. Small forts in the shape of anthills were now dotted throughout the city, giving the ants a fallback position and safe firing platform. The pillar above the city now sported similar protected hollows formed by bonding stone to the harder material of the pillar itself. Any approach to the city from the air would be

home ground advantages would be enough for them to utilise the sheer weight of numbers to the fullest extent,

of thousands of members of the Colony remained within the city, dug into position and ready to fight at a moment's notice. When the enemy came, they would be made to understand the folly of challenging

goes the preparations?" Advant asked, crawling up into the central compound

have been hectic,

been plenty of work to go around," the soldier agreed, "not that I

With the Eldest personally involved, everyone

be alright here? Will the contingencies be enough to handle a tier seven if it

Victor shrugged her antennae.

an element of chance

I wish you all the best. If all goes well, I'll see you when the column returns with word of our