Chrysalis

Tiny looked down at the little one cradled in the crook of his arm and felt a smile creep up on his face. It was good to protect the little one, and make sure that she survived as she slept. Keeping her safe when she was awake was much harder. Tiny preferred time like this. It made him feel good, feel strong, when he cared for the little ones. They took care of Tiny, brought him food, were family with the master, so, he would care for them in turn.

The other thing that made him feel strong was the curve of his arm as he held the little one against his chest. This angle, this position, allowed him to flex his big bump of an arm muscle to an impressive degree, something that he was sure to slowly emphasise as he moved, so that all could appreciate the wonderful sight.

In truth, it absorbed his attention perhaps too much.

On several occasions the little one had tricked him by asking him to pose and then escaping when his back was turned! Trickery! One time she had asked him which arm was thicker, his right or left and Tiny had become so absorbed in the question he had remained as still as a statue for six hours. Only when the master had realised that both he and the once-hatchling had gone missing did he return to find Tiny looking down at both arms, flexing and straightening them one after the other with a thoughtful frown on his face.

Luckily the master wasn't too mad, though he did check Tiny's core just to make sure his Cunning stat hadn't changed.

Tiny found that a little insulting. No he hadn't changed his stats! He just devoted most of his brain to hitting things and muscles, which were a key part of hitting things. Now that he had more brain than before, he could think even more about hitting things and muscles! He didn't mind it so much, though sometimes he wished his shoulders were a little larger and his brain a little smaller.

(It should be noted that Tiny has truly, ridiculously, absurdly large shoulders.)

[Tiny. I believe that Brilliant may be stirring,] the voice of his sister breaks into his thoughts of shoulders large enough to hoist a mountain on top of and his gaze flashes down to the small form that he holds in his arm.

spoken truly, the young has begun to twitch and wriggle, much as the grubs do, in small increments as she returns to the world of the waking. Moving gently, he places her down on the stone floor with one massive palm before

on him again. The master would get annoyed and then for his next evolution his brain would have to be even bigger… which would mean less energy for more important things! His fists curl in determination which does interesting things to his forearms but before he can

That was close…

he will be with us soon,] his sister informs him and Tiny gives

to wait. Little brother decides he doesn't want to float any longer and settles himself on top of Tiny's head, his two stick-thin arms supporting him. It's a shame that the little brother has such a weak body, he'll never know the true joy of smashing things with his fists, which makes Tiny a bit sad. On the other hand, the little brother is very good at

the brain is

but the little brother enjoys it, so that is good. At the movement of the head beneath him Invidia stirs as he is

little right now, the weight of that ponderous brain looms like something

down to his resting place's massive frame.

his head again, causing the little demon to hiss with irritation. He knew the little

awake, leaping up onto her six

she cries over

only a wall. Perhaps she wanted them to see the wall? Before the pair can lean in closer to more thoroughly inspect said wall there is skittering noise followed by a thump behind them and they turn back to see the hatchling splayed out on the ground, each of

the newly evolved ant

up,] the sister said. [Stay still until the master arrives and