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!”

and found the ants had already collected their less active riders and deposited them in a line of sorry-looking sods. Covered in

what had just happened. And why wouldn’t they be? The

line, calling names softly, placing a hand on their faces, shaking hands. Most were able to acknowledge him, some were able to get up and assist with

this dust?” he asked one of the ants. “It’s as thick as me

been purloined without the author's

think so. Most of them are clearing out the rock, but I’m sure someone can spare a

Isaac wondered just what she’d meant when she said they were ‘clearing out the rock’. A minute later, he no

undamaged. The brathian merchants were

the exit. Ants were crawling all over the rubble now, doing their best to clear a pathway. Isaac saw immediately what the problem was. With so few ants allowed inside, most of those who had entered were carvers who specialised in making things, and

a sigh, Isaac headed over to

met his offer

hands… to shift some rock… I suppose?” one

you even move rock with those? They aren’t

can move rock,” he snapped, reaching down to

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

squeezed out. “Don’t underestimate the

smugly, holding up one of her front legs and

known that, but it wasn’t really something he kept in the forefront of

know what happened?”

chorus of them replied, seemingly

Isaac had been around Anthony long enough to

the Eldest did?” he pressed. “I’d love to have a little more knowledge about why this mountain decided to shake