Chrysalis

That… was exhausting. Holy moly I'm tired.

I managed to break the stalemate, but it wasn't exactly the most subtle or efficient way to do it. This is why I leave the thinking to the Council. I nearly died, but hey, the problem has been solved!

The bruan'chii are more than happy to keep rolling the offensive forward. The poor dudes have been bottling up their aggression for so long, they're practically about to burst! Now that the big Mum has let them off the leash, the pent up rage is quite the thing to see.

Nice to see them so full of beans. The bruan'chii can be a lively sort when the mood takes them. Good on 'em. Go be the best wooden tree people that you can be.

I'm just going to chill for a bit. Maybe try and count all the holes I now have in my carapace.

"Master, are you well?" Crinis asks, worried.

"I'm just dandy. A little worse for wear, but nothing that won't heal up in fairly short order. How about you?"

"I lost a great deal of flesh. Those filthy, worthless creatures… I will be glad when they no longer trouble us."

"Me too."

Going around the group, it seems as though we mostly pulled through ok. Tiny is exhausted, having drained his stamina completely. He barely has the energy to shovel some Biomass into his face, which is saying something. Invidia was barely scratched, which is a good thing considering how relatively squishy he is. One bite from a termite and those copious brains might have been leaking out again.

By far the most wounded is Sarah. Under the careful ministrations of our floating eyeball demon, she's recovered a fair bit, but even healing magic has diminishing returns. To completely heal, she'll need food, rest and ongoing treatment over a couple of days.

to have fallen asleep in

so I don't feel too threatened. It won't be long before they converge

"Eldest."

"BOOGAH!"

alertness and find the tunnel around me has already become filled with ants. There's a ton of Biomass to be carted off and my family is already

called me?" I say. "I'm

Eldest. I was just hoping for a chance to thank you for what you've done. Our situation has

the eyes with one antenna, freezing her in place. I turn

"Uh… yes?"

Yuck.

a job to do that only I could do, so I did it. Every ant in the Colony would have done the same if they had the

Then a thought strikes me and I dive into the Vestibule, actively sifting through the stream of Will that flows into me. To

And a

to celebrate what I'd done was Leeroy, which obviously isn't a good thing! What I said to the two council members, I meant. The ants are the most selfless creatures I've ever met or heard of, just like they are in their natural state on Earth. The intelligence they've gained hasn't seemed to change that one bit.

annoyed if any other ant did, and to be honest, getting this gratitude for it is making me uncomfortable. Not forgetting for a second just how

credit than I do," I tell them firmly, making sure to say it loud enough for all the ants around me to hear. "She threw herself into the fight

treated well. We're extremely grateful for