Chrysalis

The Eldest had laid down the challenge and Solant could feel the pressure immediately. Someone like her, not even a full graduate of the Antcademy, was to be put in charge of a battlefield during a wave. Only the authority of the Eldest made something like this possible, the defenders of the nest put their faith in their strongest member and trusted that Solant would not fail them.

The pressure was immense.

Clearly, the Eldest intended to put her and her broodmates directly into the fire, the only place the strongest steel could be forged. The weight of responsibility settled on her carapace immediately, a crushing weight that threatened to drive even the mana from her core.

She welcomed it. More than that, she relished it.

“I am grateful to the Eldest,” she told her precious sisters as they gathered in their chamber after torpor. “Either we are right in what we do and how we do it, or we are wrong. If we are wrong, let us fail now, before too much damage can be done. If we are right, then let us succeed, and lead the family to victory.”

The others listened solemnly, fully aware of what was riding on their performance in battle that day.

“We’re with you,” Leonidant assured her. “All the way.”

“Of course. There’s no such thing as a general, unless there is an army.”

Two parts of a single whole.

When they emerged from the chamber, they found the Eldest and the three guardians waiting for them.

big day?” the Eldest asked, looming

course,” Solant confirmed, no hint of wavering

charge,

little taken aback at the thought of leading the Eldest anywhere in the nest, Solant nevertheless stepped forward and marched to the centre of the enormous staging chamber, in which the gathered

from this one central hub. Some were returning to rest, others shifting from

their unmatched speed, they could leap from one hotspot to another, the best

announced to the frazzled Victor, who sat

back. “Oh. Fine. Go quickly and don’t make any mistakes. We’re hard pressed down here

worry. We will

led her procession to the tunnel scent-marked as A3. She had led the troops

arrived, she immediately made contact with the general in charge

next twelve hours,” she announced to the far larger and

ant sized her up in an

The changeover is happening in two hours. I’ll inform

a quick salute with her antennae which was returned before the two generals went their separate

flopped down with the three guardians beside them. It hurt her heart to see the strongest fighting force of

for you, she reminded herself, if they don’t think it’s a waste of time, then

frontline. She needed to check in with the healers, the soldiers, the scouts, the mages and the