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.”

understood what the Eldest wanted, but she would have really preferred more fighting ants instead. Still, she felt

significant enough to have made a difference. Where had they

sort of shifting error putting more ants on the frontlines than there should be?

start our shift, Postant?” Sloan asked,

ago, general,” came the

had she not noted such a

froze, her mind halting in its

you say?”

Postant shifted.

“Thirty-six hours, general.”

shouldn’t be the case. It couldn’t be

and the generals sprung into action, igniting the braziers they kept close to hand for

away as every ant eyed even the tiniest sliver of

soon,” she told everyone.

wartime, it wasn’t good to push your limits too

antennae through her elbow joints, cleaning them, to help relieve her stress.

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

see that tablet again,” she requested, taking hold of it in her mandibles once more

in the fight. The listing, which usually read

hadn’t taken a single ant… for

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

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

“It’s too late

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

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

It’s FAR too late for that.

Heresy. Heresy. Heresy. Heresy.

Unbeliever. Unbeliever. Unbeliever.

realm of madness the waking could never see, surrounded Sloan

fires!”

the next, they were gone. The fires sputtered and died, robbing the huddled ants

like that, shadows

trembled. She didn’t want to go out like this, not now! There was a war to fight, things to do! She shivered in fear at the thought of what may await her. The comfortable bed, the carapace wax

nobody, “we’re going to rest soon! An hour