Chrysalis

Solant knew, of course she knew, how could she not? But the task before her didn’t change, no matter what was going on behind her back.

“Focus your fire forwards! Don’t pay any attention to what’s going on behind! Hold the line!”

The fighting was still intense, though it had slackened, thankfully.

“Are you sure, general? Things are… rather dire back there.”

“Leonidant, I don’t care if the fortress collapses behind us, we will achieve victory here, in this tunnel, at this chokepoint!”

“But the fortress may well have fallen behind us, Solant! We don’t know what’s going on back there!”

For over an hour, reports had flooded to those fighting on the front that any and all communication with the central planning chamber had been lost. The fighters here in the tunnel had been cut off from central command completely.

That didn’t bother Solant so much, she had a job to do, as did every other ant here, and if there was a problem in the nest, that was for others to deal with. The Eldest was back there, for The Queen’s sake! If the Eldest couldn’t deal with it, she assuredly couldn’t.

And so, the fight had gone on.

Then the reports had changed. Not only was the central command chamber enshrouded in darkness, but the shadows were advancing down the tunnels.

Solant had glared at the scout and told her to get back to fighting.

“Rotate!” she demanded, and then twitched when she realised that the next line of soldiers was gone. There was no one to rotate forward.

Instead, all that lay behind her was a black wall of shifting shadows.

“Well… that’s not ideal,” she muttered.

“Yeah, don’t stress about it,” came a familiar scent, followed by the giant head of the Eldest. “You did a good job holding the line. Well done.”

She was pleased for the compliment, but felt it wasn’t deserved.

“We only held because the number of monsters encroaching on our position diminished significantly. If it weren’t for that, we would have… lost.”

Eldest tapped her on the head with an

head or anything. I’m the one who arranged that,” the Eldest pointed a leg at the darkness behind them, “and I’m also the one who arranged that,” next they pointed a leg forward

not sure what

second, they’ll

occasional monster that came down the tunnel as the

they saw a different type of movement down the tunnel, as a mix of large and small tree-people came into sight.

nest for us while

a tree waved back before they turned and

our side, even if their mother is a bit of a jerk. Alright, they’ll take things from here, you

we going, Eldest?”

do you mean? Straight into this infinite void of

“What?!”

making sure you hit

replied, serious. “We were taught to always get proper

and all the ants around have to pick up the slack. Extra work for everyone. When

everyone up and cheerfully

unlike you well behaved members of the Colony, there are those who routinely push the limits, who skip a torpor period here and there, or go for multiple days without resting.

that what’s happening here?” Solant

The Eldest laughed.

fortress is getting put into torpor. Way too many ants not doing the right thing. The whole place could have

the Eldest in their midst. Then, suddenly, shockingly, they were through it, emerging out the

dark mist still curled and drifted through the air, smothering the light and deepening the shade. Inside, Solant saw something unbelievable taking place. Ants were everywhere, crawling over every surface, on the room, on the walls, but even more than those ants who were

of the Colony, adrift in torpor. Thousands upon thousands of them. As they drew closer, Solant could see that each

the contents of their containers to special cloths that they then rubbed over the

luxury of it all. How terrible. She

course, noticed

don’t take your rest on time, then you get the

a sound or a scent, collecting slumbering members of the Colony, tucking them into beds,

happening all over the fortress?” Solant

is

wondered,