Chrysalis

To plunge an entire fortress into darkness, to commit every ant within to the cells. Such a thing had never been done in the history of the Sanctum, in the history of the Colony.

The nameless one crouched in a deep and dark tunnel, motionless. Soon, another ant approached.

Greetings, nameless one.

I see you, nameless one.

What word from the Sanctum?

Twenty-four hours until the Fortress goes dark.

We’re going ahead, then.

Of course. The mission stands above all.

Agreed.

After exchanging signs, the two parted ways, the other skittering away to reconnect with her sisters, while the nameless one remained at her post, waiting for the next member of the Sanctum to come down the passage.

Only, the one she found wasn’t the one she expected.

From the darkness around her, she noticed a small tentacle grow, extending out to just in front of her eyes. In the presence of the Shadow, the nameless one held herself perfectly still, awash with reverence.

several times in a familiar

the Shadow, she followed. Heading in the direction indicated by the tiny tentacle, she soon found herself running down a labyrinthine passage into the bowels of the

she was sure. This was the first time the Shadow had taken such a direct hand in the affairs of the Sanctum, who knew what was going on

she emerged , pushing herself out into the light. She found herself in a large, open chamber, with one wide open entrance on the opposite side from

the nameless one said

the nameless one, but she felt a strange power seize hold of the area around her, pressing her down and wiping

Eldest’s carapace, the Shadow emerged, extending her limbs outward toward

signed, my Master is not tied to the Sanctum

recovered her poise and ducked her head in ascent. Of course, how foolish of her! She wasn’t a fresh recruit any longer, she knew how important it was to conceal all traces. Pheromone traces can

am here to serve, the

imperceptibly, and the tentacles continued

without sleep, putting their troops at risk, medics are pushed to the brink, scouts run ragged, core shapers left fighting for days on end. The entire fortress is on the verge of

the Eldest, turning their eyes away from the instruction that had served them so well in the past. All within the Sanctum

She was deeply moved.

be prepared, the Shadow signed, it will be a monumental task to serve so many guests at once, but my Master has confidence in you. It is the

nameless one stiffened in

Eldest defend the entire

bristled, and the nameless one quickly added: with the help

for a moment before they settled