Chrysalis

“SHIELDS!” Advant shouted, her pheromones washing over the entire area in a mighty burst.

The two mages, thankfully, were quick to respond and a shield sprang into being around the large soldier, mere moments before the mess of vines engulfed her completely.

She lunged forward, mandibles snapping as she sheared through hundreds of the tough, living ropes, not noticeably making a dent in them.

“Need some fire?” Propellant asked, eager.

“Of course I want some damn fire! Why are you asking? Just cast it already!” Advant hollered.

An immediate burst of flame washed over her, igniting the vines and driving them back temporarily. Of course, it also set the fine hairs on her antennae on fire at the same time….

“Not me, you idiot!”

“Sorry.”

Unsurprisingly, Propellant didn’t sound all that apologetic as she watched the plant monster retreat, smothering the flames with its innumerable vines. Coolant sighed and conjured a jet of water to douse the singed soldier.

“Really now, you should be able to aim better than that, sister.”

Now dripping wet, Advant fumed silently for a moment before deciding she could no longer hold it in.

“You two have been useless since we got down here,” she sniped at the bickering mages. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you’d had a falling out of some sort.”

Propellant and Coolant stood awkwardly for a moment.

did?” Advant asked incredulously, before she shook her head. “Fine, whatever. You’re being ridiculous. Get over yourselves and stop making mistakes, or I’ll tell the Eldest

mages had the grace to be embarrassed just long enough for the vines to surge up the tunnel once again to snag Advant and drag

was your fault,” Propellant

icily. “The creature is clearly weak to fire, you should have fended

has water within its vines. You

being petulant because you’re mad the Eldest didn’t teach you

being petty because they didn’t have a mega-ice spell for you to learn. It’s

so great, then use it. Go help Advant without setting her

“Maybe I will!”

love to

at each other until a bedraggled figure trudged out

to see your incompetence, you’d be back in training before you could

anything wrong,” Coolant defended herself icily. “Propellant, on the other

to hear it,” the soldier

small healer came forward and began to go to work, repairing the extensive damage done to Advant’s carapace. There were a number of smaller wounds as well, places where the vines had pierced flesh and inflicted harm. The healer grumbled to herself as she worked, ignoring the council

Colony to have a disagreement of any kind. Beyond unusual, exceedingly rare, but it did happen. Then

were letting their argument get in the way of their task, which was not acceptable. Especially because

me right now that you can both operate at your best going forward, or we turn around and go back. I only agreed to come with so few in the team because I assumed you two would be such an asset that it didn’t matter. Not only are you not an asset, I would rather

askance, antennae drooping with shame, though neither

out a frustrated

now. The Eldest is out of commission for who knows how long, and we have a ton of things to do, but you two can’t let something petty get in the

Coolant said. “We are not

remarked, still picking chunks of

on fire. I can’t promise you won’t get singed,

the soldier replied. “The light roasting was the issue. I sincerely hope that whatever is bothering the two of you