Chrysalis

The heat continues to rise within the flash hardened shell that I'd created, to the point I create some ice just to cool us off. As an ant, I don't mind a bit of heat, but Sarah, even with her temperature regulating enchantments, can't handle this level. We are literally cooking as the twin fire-tornadoes roar throughout the tunnel outside.

If we're cooking in here, then I can only imagine what's happening to the termites outside.

Actually… I don't really want to imagine. That's going to be gross, not that I feel any sympathy. With a little luck I might even catch a ka'armodo who got too close, trying to lead the troops from the front, but as I listen to the notifications roll in from Gandalf, none come up.

A shame.

[Good job, Anthony!] Sarah congratulates me. [I can't believe you can cast magic like that!]

[I can, but it nearly emptied me out,] I say, [I'm running on fumes over here, as far as MP goes. So don't expect anything out of me for a while.]

[Oh. Is that so? Well, we should be able to hold them off until you recover, at least a little.]

My legs are buried in the floor of the tunnel, gathering up mana, but it’s a trickle compared to the flood I would need to be full. A mutation or two for absorbing mana isn't going to cut it at the level of spells I'm playing with now.

[I'll try and draw in as much ambient mana as I can. If you guys do your best, we'll be able to hold them off long enough for the Colony to arrive.]

It's seriously cramped inside this shell. It's even more cramped when I think about the fact that Protectant and her squad are in here with us. Idly, I bump up against the wall and even though I don't actually reach the heated surface my brain doesn't seem to register it. We are bumping up against the guards all the time, but it's like our minds refuse to acknowledge it.

insight I'd have no idea. The stealth organs these siblings of mine have taken on are absolutely insane. If they reach tier six they'll be even harder to notice,

another minute, I would say,] I tell the others. [When it fails

this time to tunnel down, Master? We might be able

thinking from Crinis? It brings a tear to my

might be hard to tell with the storm of mana around us right now, but the termites are beneath us as well. Digging down won't help

that is Crinis tries to cover herself with tentacles to hide her

give her

you to know when it's so hard for you

[I-I-I will!]

grow up

act casually

you heard anything

tilts her head as

in the first place. It was

[let me know if

are going to have very sore feet. Eventually the tornadoes begin to peter out and I can feel the massed termite horde begin to move once

and just

a second for my eyes to refocus and when they do what is revealed is a true wasteland. Crispy termite remains cover rocks that are blackened with soot

sides from the floor to the roof. A heaving mass of cockroach descendants that writhes forward like an