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.

we can remove the mould from this area and return it

the

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

little panicked as we continue to blast through the termite’s

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

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

on your stamina somehow,] I tell

[that usually takes

Oh, right.

antennae waggle furiously as I follow the trail. [The trail is

my weight and 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

trees cleared for hundreds of metres in all directions. Like a passageway into the

the termite nest. The whole damn mountain is

just ridiculous! You could fit the main nest of the Colony into this thing ten times over

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, but watching from above are five kaarmodo

pinning them here, using shields and spells to lock Vibrant and

Not. Acceptable.

I roar to Tiny

shattering roar that shakes the trees around us. Then he's off, bounding across the mould covered stone, his fists cracking the ground

and blow

[Even the lizardsssss?]

[Especially them.]