Chrysalis

Something was off, Sloan could feel it.

“What word from the walls?” she demanded of her scout coordinator.

The distinguished scout, Postant, had been working with her for months, and responded immediately to the sudden demand.

“Holding firm at last report.”

“And the tunnels?”

“Same. There’s been no significant change.”

“That can’t be right. I want a fresh runner sent topside immediately. There’s something going on around here, I can feel it in my antennae.”

“As you wish, general,” said Postant before she turned to direct her scouts.

But as information continued to trickle in, everything seemed… fine. The wave was being held off pretty well all around the fortress. Ants were fighting hard, gaining Levels, training their Skills, and a constant stream of Biomass and cores flowed into the nest, precious resources needed to grow the Colony. Everything was going so well, yet she couldn’t help but feel that something terrible was not only about to happen, but possibly already had.

The runners came back soon after, no significant changes, everything was holding steady. In fact, things were probably a little better than they’d been the day before.

“Better?” Sloan couldn’t believe it. “How are things better?”

“I’m not sure,” Postant replied after conferring with her troops. “The general feeling is that the defence is holding firmer than previously, but nobody has really been able to pin down a reason why.”

Sloan thought back. She’d been on the job since yesterday, could she recall any significant changes since then? Directing the flow of the defence in the tunnels had been her sole responsibility in all that time, so if anyone had noticed a difference, it should have been her!

The general pondered the question.

“Let me see the latest troop report,” she said suddenly.

Other generals, members of her staff, quickly pulled out the stone tablet marked with dense and detailed pheromones, rows and numbers that described the numbers of available troops. There was a change! The number had gone up.

“Have the reinforcements arrived?” she asked as she continued to trace her antenna over the tablet.

“Not yet, general. They aren’t scheduled to arrive for another three days.”

Sloan understood what the Eldest wanted, but she would have really preferred more fighting ants instead. Still, she felt bad that Mendant and Francis hadn’t been listened to, to the extent

a full reinforcement, but were significant enough to have made a

more ants on the frontlines

we start our shift, Postant?” Sloan

ago, general,” came the immediate

hours, how had she not noted such a significant shift?

froze, her mind

did you say?” she

Postant shifted.

“Thirty-six hours, general.”

case. It couldn’t be

igniting the braziers

them, driving the shadows away as every ant eyed even the tiniest

to finish up soon,” she told

all nodded, knowing exactly what she was thinking. Even in wartime, it wasn’t good to push your

her elbow joints, cleaning them, to help relieve her stress. She was safe from their clutches for the moment. As long as she acted fast,

a little odd that they hadn’t come for her already. Thirty-six hours was a lot… not something they would normally

again,” she requested, taking hold of it

were more ants in the fight. The

a single ant…

tremble and the tablet fell from her grasp to clatter against the stone floor of the chamber. Her staff shifted, surprised to

alright, general?” Postant asked, looking concerned. “I’ve sent messages to bring our replacements in, we’ll be done within

Sloan whispered. “It’s

eyes darted around the chamber. Bright burning fire surrounded her in all directions, but suddenly, she knew it wasn’t enough. Every hint of shadow loomed like an impenetrable ocean of darkness. She could almost hear the malicious gnashing of mandibles, coming from some dark space just at the

runners sent immediately,” she rounded on Postant. “Get in touch with Victor, let her know that they haven’t taken anyone in an entire day. A full day, do you understand? They’re planning something. Something big. We

too late for that.

Heresy. Heresy. Heresy. Heresy.

Unbeliever. Unbeliever. Unbeliever.

madness the waking could never see, surrounded

fires!”

brightly, the next, they were gone. The fires sputtered and

that, shadows

fight, things to do! She shivered in fear

“we’re going to rest soon! An hour is