Chrysalis

[Run, run, run!] I holler at the others as we continue to sprint through the mould covered forest.

It really is obnoxious to run through this mess. There's mould beneath us, beside us and crawling up the trees to cover the canopy above us. It's like being in a suffocating winter wonderland except far more horrifying. Especially now that some of it is on fire.

[I don't think more fire will be a good idea, Master!] Crinis suggests as we race through the terrain.

[We might need another distraction soon. Starting a small fire will get the termites off our trail.]

[Won't it just bring more of them?] Sarah demands.

[I mean, yes. But also, yes…]

They be distracted though…

Perhaps that's still not good enough.

[No more fires,] Sarah tells me firmly, [we can think of something else.]

[Hmph. You're just worried about the fungus spores getting inside you,] I mutter.

[I hadn't even thought of that! Anthony!]

[Breathe it in deep. That's the sweet smell of fungus country.]

should never have come here.

on the bright side. When the termites are defeated we can remove the mould from this area and return it to wonderful forest, filled

the aphids

we started fungus farming, we wouldn't let it run

still have the trail?] Sarah asks, sounding a little panicked as we continue to blast through

it,] I confirm, [it's getting stronger even. Wherever they are,

the giant bear as she heaves for air. She may be a somewhat delicate flower internally, but externally she is all beef. Her legs are thicker than a person and positively bulging with muscle underneath all of that fur, much like her shoulders. In fact, the shoulders are even larger. For all of her strength, she isn't much of a long

work on your stamina somehow,] I tell

she snaps, [that usually takes

Oh, right.

no need for that here and now,] I hastily assure her. My antennae waggle furiously as

in this long distance sprint, Invidia perched on his back like a nightmarish bat, green eye blazing with energy

front of us a vast yawning chasm has been carved into the rock, the trees cleared for hundreds of metres in all directions. Like a passageway into the pit of doom, the wide tunnel is completely black on the inside, with no light source to be discerned from this distance. More terrifying still, is the view of the mountain

is the termite nest. The whole damn

it for myself… it's just ridiculous! You could fit the main

shocking development is the appearance of our quarry. In the mouth of the tunnel a tight gathering of ants can be seen, the large form of Vibrant zipping here and there amongst them. It's too bad they aren't alone. Not only are they swarmed by a host of termites, which is bad enough,

shields and spells to lock Vibrant and her group into a fight so that the termites can harvest them

Not. Acceptable.

Tiny who is only too

giant ape rears back onto his legs and thumps his chest with his enormous palms, bellowing his rage in an ear shattering roar that shakes the trees around us. Then

keep him alive and blow up everything

[Even the lizardsssss?]

[Especially them.]