Chrysalis

Dammit, Victor! You set me up for a thwacking! Why the heck wouldn't you tell me that The Queen was coming down here?! Despite being more evolved than her, those antennae still pack a serious wallop! How does it hurt this much?

“Hello there, Mother! I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”

She turns to look at me directly.

“Then why are you here? Lazing about, avoiding work?”

“Whoa! No! Not at all! Why would you jump to that conclusion?”

Her antenna is poised, ready to strike, and I retreat, desperately trying to defend myself from her pointed accusation.

“I was asked to come down here and meet someone, I was just saying I didn’t expect it to be you! They didn’t tell me who was coming, so I had no way to know!”

Her antenna lowers, and I relax just a little.

“Why are you here, Mother?”

THWACK!

“Should I not be here? Are you saying I’m not strong enough?”

“No! Sheesh! I was just wondering why!”

She’s so touchy today! Did Victor know she was grumpy in advance or something? Is that why I was sent here? I’ll get her back. Mark my words, I will get her back for this. Another flash of light, and lo and behold, the aphid queen arrives. It’s been a while since I’ve seen Aphy, and she’s certainly gotten bigger than before, but, relative to me, she’s smaller, so it isn’t easy to tell.

on the little creature, fussing and clacking over her as she ensures the aphid has arrived safely. On one level, I’m even more surprised to see Aphy here. I had no idea there were plans to start aphid

Aphy made it alright. Uh. Do you

at me, her pet falling

Surely you can

depends, to

“Depends on what?”

question without getting my

is on Amazon without the author's

disapprovingly, as if offended I would dare suggest

“Of course, child.”

mean, ‘of course’?! Do you not

you tell me why you are here in the fourth, then I’ll have a much better time being able to take you where you are expected. Are

“Permanently,” she replies.

interesting. I’m guessing you

carefully ensure that I make a statement, and not a question. Mother’s antenna twitches once again as she sniffs something offensive

not able to make decisions for myself, child?” she asks,

otherwise? It would be ridiculous to suggest that anyone other than

to be a complex web around The Queen, ensuring she stays happy and satisfied so she doesn’t do things like this. She’s going to get herself killed fighting

want to go for a hunt now, mother?

space for Queens. There’s going to be brood chambers and Queens’ quarters, fully furnished with a pot of hot tea kept on the

to get the children to get out of my way. For some reason,

were no emergencies, that was the family desperately scrambling to delay and buy time to convince her to stay somewhere safer. No wonder she’s so grumpy. She’s been patiently

I don’t understand her frustration, but the same goes for us, the children! Is it so much to ask

your chambers. I’m pretty sure I know where