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.”

wanted, but she would have really preferred more fighting ants instead. Still, she felt bad that Mendant

weren’t as significant as a full reinforcement, but were significant enough to have made a difference. Where had they come

error putting more ants on the

our shift, Postant?” Sloan asked,

general,” came

had she not noted such a significant shift?

mind halting in its

you say?” she

Postant shifted.

“Thirty-six hours, general.”

shouldn’t be the case. It

and the generals sprung into action, igniting the braziers they

away as every ant eyed even the tiniest sliver of darkness

need to finish up soon,” she told everyone. “We’ve gone too long

it wasn’t good

joints, cleaning them, to help relieve her stress. She

come for her already. Thirty-six hours was a lot… not something

taking hold of

more ants in the fight. The listing, which usually read Casualties of rest,

hadn’t taken a single ant…

her grasp to clatter against the stone floor of the chamber.

Postant asked, looking concerned. “I’ve sent messages

Sloan whispered. “It’s too late for

but suddenly, she knew it wasn’t enough. Every hint of shadow loomed like

her know that they haven’t taken

too late for

Heresy. Heresy. Heresy. Heresy.

Unbeliever. Unbeliever. Unbeliever.

of madness the waking could never

fires!” she

that, too, was too late. One moment, the braziers burned brightly, the next, they were gone. The fires sputtered and

that,

out like this, not now! There was a war to fight, things to do! She shivered in fear

protested to nobody, “we’re going to