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 hate this

remove the

alright, the

wouldn't let it run wild and out of control like

trail?] Sarah asks, sounding a little panicked

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

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

to work on your stamina somehow,] I tell her, [how do you even last in a

she snaps, [that usually takes

Oh, right.

and now,] I hastily assure her. My antennae waggle furiously as I follow the trail. [The

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

this landscape. In 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 I get from here. There are holes, all over the place, fortified with dirt and each angled differently. It's clear to see that they aren't natural features

nest. The whole damn mountain is

fit the main nest of the Colony into this thing ten times over with

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 with their attendants in tow. In a flash I take in the full scene, drawing

to lock Vibrant and

Not. Acceptable.

I roar to Tiny who is

ear shattering roar that shakes the trees around us. Then

keep him alive and blow up everything I

[Even the lizardsssss?]

[Especially them.]