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.]

come here. I

we can remove the mould from this area and return it to wonderful forest, filled

the aphids are

farming, we wouldn't let it run wild and out of control like this. It just isn't

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

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

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

to work on your stamina somehow,] I tell her, [how

[that usually takes care of

Oh, right.

for that here and now,] I hastily assure her. My antennae waggle furiously as I

drive myself to the right, taking a chance to look behind as I do. There are definitely termites on our trail, but I can't really tell how many. Tiny bounds along in my wake, suffering much like Sarah is in this long distance sprint, Invidia perched on his back like a nightmarish

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 I get

termite nest. The whole damn mountain

kind of expected it, but to see it for myself… it's just ridiculous! You could fit the main nest

they aren't alone. Not only are they swarmed by a host of termites, which is bad enough, but watching from above are five kaarmodo with their attendants in

pinning them here, using shields and spells to lock Vibrant and her group into a fight so

Not. Acceptable.

I roar to Tiny who is only too

rage in an ear shattering roar that shakes the trees around us. Then he's off, bounding across the mould covered stone, his fists cracking the ground with every step,

alive and blow

[Even the lizardsssss?]

[Especially them.]