Chrysalis

"I'm really not sure about this," Isaac muttered under his breath.

[That makes two of us…] his new partner replied.

"I really didn't think they would go for this as enthusiastically as they did."

[It's how we are. If there's an advantage in it, we're more than happy to explore it. Even if it does prove to be… unconventional.]

Isaac felt the massive ant shift beneath him and tried to adjust his position to roll with the movement. The saddle they'd created wasn't quite the right shape, the craft ants having never made anything of this sort before, and it chafed him ever so slightly in an area he would prefer didn't see any chafing.

"I just never imagined that I'd ever be riding on the back of one of you. I mean, I didn't expect that I'd be fighting alongside any monstrous ants, but I got used to that well enough, but to be riding on one? Feels kind of weird. You aren't horses."

[What's a horse?]

"Have you seen a cow?"

[I have, in the farms around Renewal.]

"Right, so think of a cow that's prettier and faster."

[… I do not like this comparison.]

"That's what I mean!"

The once former guard captain heaved a sigh and once again fruitlessly tried to protect his most vulnerable zones from the pommel that rose too sharply between his legs. If it was made of cured leather, that'd be one thing, but that damned armour ant had decided to cover the thing in folded steel. To say he was sweating would be an understatement.

count you in starting

then, here

sure you don't

are at least half

[That is somewhat true.]

of rock, up the walls, across the

hadn't bothered to correct the ants about it; after all, what the hell did he know about wielding a lance? On the surface it was a noble's weapon and down below no idiot would be

Cavalant and

his thoughts connected to the ant he rode, to the point he didn't need to

flexing her six legs as she lowered her centre of gravity. When the countdown finished, she would explode from the starting line and

as predicted, Cavalant launched herself forward, all six legs firing in a rapid

to hold on. Gripping

going up,] Cavalant warned

could I

image of himself splattered across the rock flashed into his mind, then, with a mind bending twist of perception, Cavalant

he did have a strap to grip to

plops," he swore as he struggled to

madly along the trail. For his part, Isaac held fast to his

Crack. Crack. Crack.

beneath the point of his spear and then, with one

and Isaac hurried to tighten

think I’m going

[Don't you dare!]

Crack. Crack. Crack!