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.

tiny limb flicked several times in a familiar gesture. Come this way, it

Heading in the direction indicated by the tiny

her for, something to do with the coming darkness, 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

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

the nameless one said

on and blocking sight from the entrance to the nameless one, but she felt a strange power seize hold of the area around her, pressing her down and wiping

extending her limbs outward

no scent, she signed, my Master is not tied to the Sanctum directly, and never

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

here to serve, the nameless

imperceptibly, and the tentacles continued to

nest, including the activities of the Sanctum. Master shares your frustration. The carelessness, the recklessness, the selfishness. Generals go without sleep, putting their troops at risk, medics are pushed to the brink,

one felt the dull anger that had been burning in her thorax roar back to life. Yes. YES. The Colony spat acid on the wisdom of the Eldest, turning their eyes away from the instruction that had served them so well in the past. All within the Sanctum felt it, and now she knew the Eldest

She was deeply moved.

at once, but my Master has confidence in you. It is the wish of my Master that you focus your energies on this task

one

defend the

added: with the help

writhed for a moment before they settled once