Chrysalis

Philosophants have long debated the reason the Eldest was so secretive about their mutations. There could be any number of reasons for it, though it’s extremely difficult to find evidence to support or refute one in particular. We know that the Eldest didn’t like to be seen when mutating, there are innumerable, reputable accounts of the lengths they went to in order to avoid being seen.

The guardians were frequently deployed to shield them from scrying eyes. The Eldest would frequently mutate away from the Colony entirely, a notable choice, given the greater safety within the nests.

Some postulate that the Eldest was engaged in experimental, dangerous selections, pushing the boundaries of what was known. This could well be true, given that the accumulated knowledge of the Colony didn’t exist back then. Evolutions and mutation combinations were being discovered all the time, and many dead ends were found to the detriment of the brave ants who volunteered to explore them. Perhaps the Eldest wanted to shield others from following in their footsteps in case they themself fell into such a trap, dooming those to follow.

But why hide the process itself? The Eldest was famously taciturn about sharing their status screen, which worked to hide their choices, but to go as far as to ensure that none could even see them mutate?

We may never know the full story.

- Excerpt from ‘Choices of the Eldest’ by Emmanual. K. Ant.

It takes me a bit of time to recover from such a devastating mental shock. All this time, I was the only one suffering from this itch?! That’s… that’s…. It’s so ridiculously unfair! What the hell is going on here, Gandalf? I feel such rage, such frustration. This is absurd!

If that bearded charlatan were here in front of me right now, I’d give him a taste of my mandibles. Just what’s he playing at, inflicting me with this awful sensation?

Perhaps this is the bearded bozo’s idea of a joke. Has he been watching me roll around, legs flailing in the air all this time, just having a laugh? There will be payback. There will be justice! This travesty will not be allowed to stand!

[Anthony? A-are you alright?]

Sarah is concerned, her big bear head hanging low as she looks at me. Overcome with my despair and anguish, I’ve flopped onto the ground, legs splayed in all directions around me.

[No. Not really,] I reply. [I’ve just learned that someone out there really has it in for me, and I don’t know why.]

this about the itching thing? You itch when you mutate? It can’t be that

you sweet, anxiety-riddled summer child. You

eyes, it feels like they’re

[Oh.]

[Yes, oh.]

entire Colony patrol with my antics. A hundred ants are standing around, pointedly not looking in my direction as I flop morosely on the ground in front of them. The Will flowing from them

There’s nothing I can do about this situation right now. I’ll store up all my anger and unleash it on Gandalf

and rise to stand once more. It’s kind of weird seeing Sarah like this, now that I think about it. She’s significantly smaller than me after my evolution, and I easily outmass the hulking pile of

her directly in

up

[Heh,] I snigger.

seeing a giant bear

you’re bigger than me now. What do

don’t mean to be rude about it, it’s just a new experience is all. Besides, I won’t get to enjoy this for long, you’ll be bigger than me again after your next evolution, which can’t be far

moment and

not sure I

What kind of monster doesn’t want to evolve? Isn’t that missing the point

You’ve been doing so well getting on top of that lately, don’t even

She shakes her head.

worse until I was completely lost. Now that I’ve finally taken steps towards mastering it, I feel like I’m becoming myself again. I’m terrified it’ll get taken

calm and collected in my head, I can see her trembling. It’s the fur. Impossible to hide your shivers when you have fur.

the beardy-weirdy-one, broken people, placed into powerful, monstrous forms and let loose in a world that wants us dead. I’ve never really felt that

her and give her an encouraging pat on