Chrysalis

Ah, it’s nice to see everyone looking so lively in the fortress.

“You’re looking good there, siblings! Such gleaming carapaces!” I greet a squad of ants moving to the frontline.

They duck their heads in shame and rush past me, trying to conceal the beams of light reflecting from their exo-skeletons with their antennae.

Gweheheheh.

Everyone is metaphorically shining with good health while also literally shining from the torpor police’s patented wax and shine. I’ve never seen such a well-groomed group of ants.

“Make sure you don’t miss your next torpor session!” I remind them as they flee into the distance.

The reinforcements arrived yesterday to find the fortress still in the process of waking up. Quite an odd sight, I wager. With the added numbers, including a solid bolstering of the poor, overworked healers, things are running much better in the fortress. Getting a good snooze into the tired and bedraggled defenders has done them a world of good as well. Thanks to this escapade, the fortress has a decent chance of not collapsing during the wave.

I mean, I could probably have held off the wave if I went all out, but I’m a limited resource. I can’t be everywhere at once! Maybe once upon a time, I would have tried to take all the burdens onto my own back and promptly messed everything up, but I’ve matured!

We’re ants, dammit! If we don’t grasp the concept of teamwork, then nobody on this planet does!

I was able to reach out to the tree without too much trouble, and she was loath to lend me her children at first, but I told her I absolutely didn’t want any of her freaky gardens popping up around the fortress, so she should just let the kids out to play.

insistent on repaying the debt they owe to the Colony. The

feeling well rested?”

in the air as

Thank you… Eldest… for

I not notice?

“Haha… ha.”

my direction, too ashamed to front up

understand why I had to do what I did, right? I’ve warned you before about pushing too hard and asking too much. This fortress was on the brink of collapse right at the point the wave would shift to its most intense. I would have been able to save it, probably, but how many would have died? Ambition is good, but failure is not. This isn’t only on you and Victor, it’s the responsibility of the entire Council, and every ant

honest, which is exactly how my siblings want their criticism. She nods slowly, though I

Eldest. We

don’t want to have to keep poking my antennae in and messing with everyone else's business. You’re supposed to be so much

ant in the entire fortress is up to at any given moment. If Sloan had access

won’t be troubled

long as it doesn’t involve the imminent collapse of a nest, you know, I’d prefer we

to go, then

to call on me, in the

“We will.”

Great. Good luck with

the other generals some space. They’ve got a lot of work to do to get the