Chrysalis

"Termites."

The council recoils in shock, snapping at the air, their antennae twirling violently through the air.

"That is quite uncomfortable," Coolant observes in a detached way, as if she weren't currently gnashing empty space as if it had a head she wanted to remove.

"WhataretermitesI'veneverheardofthembeforebutallofasuddenIwanttofightthingsrealbad!"

"Vibrant…"

"Sorry-sorry! Sometimes I forget. Anyway, I really want to fight something right now, why is that?"

The council all turn to look at me.

"It's not easy to explain. I had the same reaction," I tell them.

I hesitate.

How much do I want to reveal right now? If I tell the council all about termites, won't they quite reasonably want to know where I came by my knowledge? I've never explicitly explained my origins to my siblings, and I don't see why it would matter, but I feel a little awkward now that I'm on the spot. Bah! To hold information back just because I'm a little uncomfortable would be ridiculous! Ant lives are on the line here!

"Termites are a social insect, much like us. They have a Queen, possibly a king, they produce eggs which hatch into nymphs that eventually mature into workers and soldiers. They are known to eat wood which is likely why the kaarmodo decided to use them against the bruan'chii. They can even hollow out trees or logs and form their nests inside. Since the reptiles are using them as a weapon I'm sure they've done extensive modifications to the core of the Queen in order to influence the offspring and the overall species. In truth, they could be a very powerful enemy and we should be extremely cautious."

The ants gathered around the council table all nod solemnly as they consider what I've said.

"So when do we attack?" Leeroy asks.

"Dammit Leeroy!" I crash an antenna down on the carved surface of the grand circular table. "This is serious business, not your usual 'charge in recklessly' routine!"

might be right this time," Sloan says, her foreleg tapping thoughtfully against

the

be serious. From you, Sloan? I feel like

good reasons for my stance, Eldest, if you would hear

whole thing

"Right then."

address the table, all our eyes focus on

believe," she begins, "that I really hate the sound of these 'termites' and want them exterminated

are solemn nods as each of the council members

SLAM.

"You can't be serious!"

of these fiends stirs the

into some hair-brained invasion of a stratum that is far too strong for me at the drop of a hat, but that doesn't seem like a good policy for the Colony as

her forelegs in a calming

the third we will be in a much better place than we were before to safely hold that which we take. We currently don't have anything like the strength required to conquer ground in the fourth,

Send me! I want

volunteer

"No problem!"

about weird politics, we just need to protect the tree from the termites. Will we be able to destroy the infestation and annihilate their nest immediately? No chance. But we can dig in and fight

get there," I fret. "Even the tree and the bruan'chii are struggling, which means these termites are powerful, perhaps more powerful even than the demons we've been

we can. As long as we blunt

to go personally," Cobalt chips in, "working in a whole new environment is going to be difficult to say the least and if I'm on location I can provide the best

the healers," Mendant says in her quiet scent. "We can't afford to lose any of you, so

operations on the third don't stumble like they did before!" I

all look

the fourth, are you nuts? Imagine leaving me in charge of