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.

they're in here, but without that 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 last another minute, I would say,] I tell the others. [When it fails I'm going to dissolve the walls around us and we can take our

down, Master?

a

around us right now, but the termites

with tentacles to hide her shame. [I couldn't see clearly enough, I

reach out and give her a pat with one

all. It was a good idea, and how were you to know when it's so hard for you to see at the moment?

[I-I-I will!]

up so

act casually as I turn to

you heard anything strange

tilts her

answers finally. [Maybe I didn't hear anything in

worries,] I shrug, [let me know if anything

little longer as the walls around glow bright with intense heat. I wince. My guardians are going to have very sore feet. Eventually the tornadoes begin to peter out and I can feel the massed termite horde begin to

they're going to try and just bury us beneath

I crafted around us crumbles away to nothing. It takes 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

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