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.

me and turns to check on the little creature, fussing and clacking over her as she ensures the aphid has arrived safely. On one level, I’m even

Aphy made it alright. Uh. Do you have any idea where I’m supposed to take

me, her pet falling in

child. Surely you can figure it

that depends,

“Depends on what?”

this question without getting

is on Amazon

as if offended

“Of course, child.”

do you mean, ‘of course’?! Do you not recall

I’ll have a much better time being able to take you where you are

“Permanently,” she replies.

interesting. I’m guessing you

make a statement, and not a question. Mother’s antenna twitches once again

decisions

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

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

for a hunt now, mother? Or would

way this nest wasn’t built with space for Queens. There’s going to be brood chambers and Queens’ quarters, fully furnished

my way. For some reason, there was constantly some pressing

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

not like I don’t understand her frustration, but the same goes for us, the children! Is it so much to ask that your mother doesn’t recklessly throw herself

your chambers. I’m pretty sure I