Chrysalis

When the mana starts to drop, it drops fast. One second I’m up to my eyeballs in the stuff, absolutely drowning in energy, the next it’s receding so quickly I feel like I’m going to get swept down a stratum if I don’t hold onto the ground.

So. That’s it? Just like that?

Hanging from the top of my tunnel, I feel relieved and a bit… disappointed? Look, I’m not asking for the Legion to come knocking on the Colony’s door every wave, but I kind of expected something. This wave has ended with a murmur rather than a roar.

Ah well, it is what it is.

I drop off the roof, stretch out a bit, clean my antennae, then walk back into the nest. Time to go find something else to do, I suppose. Back in the central command chamber, the generals are running around like mad, as always. I find Sloan right in the middle of it all.

“Hey there, Sloan. What’s happening?”

“The wave is ending,” she says, obviously distracted.

I poke her on the head with an antenna.

“Yeah… so why is everyone so busy? Shouldn’t you be winding down? Slowing your roll a little bit? The wave is over.”

She sighs and turns to face me properly.

“The wave being over means the siege has ended. It’s once again safe to venture out of the fortress and into the tunnels.”

“Right. So?”

back to exploring the lower tunnels and completing the lower sections of the nest as quickly

Ah.

under attack? I hadn’t

an impending attack, Eldest. Better to be prepared. If you’ll excuse me, we are in the process

send Solant out there,” I tell her and the general pauses for a second before she nods

what the little general needs after this protracted defensive battle. Leaving the generals to it, I go find a nice nook to tuck myself into, out of the

to feel the unity of the Colony. I may be the only creature who gets to feel it like this in the entire

each with their own vision, their own wants and needs, all working to better the life of the ant next to them. It’s beautiful. Truly, the ant

humans here? And I think I know

me, either. A procession of robed priests, each with antennae rising from their hoods, make their way into the chamber before they congregate nearby. Not close enough to bother me, but not so

stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please

of us ants

are arriving, warriors for the most part. It appears that now the wave is over, the humans have decided it’s safe for them to come and live at this level.

I’m willing to put up with a bit

to assemble.

ape is singed in places, still-healing wounds marking his enormous arms and shoulders. Crinis glomps onto me the moment she’s in range, moulding herself onto my carapace and retracting

a sense of satisfaction

you guys reached the magic