Chrysalis

When the noise finally died down, Isaac pulled his hands from over his ears and slowly, very slowly, opened his eyes.

The first thing he felt… was relief that the roof hadn’t collapsed on top of him. A good start. Next came the relief that his legs hadn’t fallen off or been crushed, they were simply numb from the incessant shaking of the floor.

Wins all around. Isaac was beginning to hold out hope that his moustache hadn’t fallen straight off his face from the stress, but he deliberately didn’t reach up to check. He wasn’t ready to find out his suspicions were correct after all.

Soundly convinced that he was (sans moustache) in one, sound piece, he began to turn his attention to everyone else.

“Hello! Ant cavalry, sound off!”

He got a few muffled calls, some groans and a few swear words for his efforts. The air was thick with dust and he could barely see ten metres in front of himself.

There must have been a collapse somewhere in the chamber to kick up all this mess; he could only hope nobody not covered in a second skin of minerals had been caught underneath. Confident he wouldn’t get much more out of his human squad mates, he turned to pheromones and called out again.

“Ant cavalry? Who can smell this?”

“How are you, Captain Isaac?”

“Doing well over here!”

“That was something interesting, wasn’t it?”

“Finished napping, then? Ready to get to work?”

“Anyone else want some biscuits and tea when we get back to the ship?”

“Stop slacking, Captain!”

active riders and deposited them in a line of sorry-looking sods. Covered in dust and

just happened. And why wouldn’t they be? The mountain had been rattled, so it was only fair the mortals

placing a hand on their faces, shaking hands. Most were able to acknowledge him, some were

“It’s as thick as me mam’s porridge, even if it tastes better. I can’t see

narrative has been purloined without the author's approval.

of them are clearing out the rock, but I’m sure someone

said they were ‘clearing out the rock’. A minute later, he no longer

occupied by the trade mission was undamaged. The brathian merchants were there, along with Eran and her family. The ants were also

the problem was. With so few ants allowed inside,

to

his offer with

shift some rock… I

even move rock with those?

can move rock,” he snapped, reaching down to pick up a chunk of

regretted it. However, he couldn’t put it down now, so he grit his teeth and began

he squeezed out. “Don’t underestimate the power of

up one of her front

something he kept in the forefront of

what happened?”

Eldest,” a chorus of them replied, seemingly

correct, Isaac had been around Anthony long enough to know that,

love to have a little more knowledge about why this mountain