Chrysalis

“Be careful, Tribune. The monster may attempt to manipulate your thoughts.”

Morrelia frowned.

“I’ve received mental fortitude training and raised my Skills to the commander level,” she said evenly. “I will of course remain vigilant nevertheless. Thank you for your diligence, Legionary.”

[What’d he say?] Anthony’s voice echoed in her mind.

[They’re still worried you’ll manipulate me,] she sighed.

[I mean… is it possible to communicate in any way without allowing for the chance of manipulation? I’ve seen what the brathian do to people with just words. It’s not pretty.]

[You know as well as I do that a mind bridge allows for more than just communication. How did you defeat Garralosh again?]

[Ugh… I’d rather not remember, to be honest; that was nasty. Alright, this is the place.]

The ants’ forward operating base wasn’t anything special, yet. There were hundreds of carvers still working on it, and she knew full well what miracles they could accomplish.

[Are there really rooms in there for us?] she asked, a little sceptical.

[Of course! We’re an accommodating group of insects. Unlike your Legion.]

Morrelia felt a pang in her chest.

[Are you thinking of the bolts we shot at you?]

[Of course I am! While I was falling out of the sky as well. That’s such a cheap shot.]

a

is to protect people from the Dungeon, and to that end,

directly, the many

lot are doing what you think is best to protect people. It’s

At least he wasn’t going to hold it against her personally, but he wasn’t

to know,] Anthony continued, [is what you think. Am I a threat to the peace on

to put her on the

sure,] she said. [The wisdom of the Legion has helped us stand firm against the Dungeon since the Cataclysm.

Colony, and we’ll do right

what happened at the

sucked out of

that…. That whole

[Was? So it’s resolved?]

a long

springing back up onto the tips of his legs. To have such a large monster moving so quickly right next to her was unnerving,

you’re going to have trouble fitting into the nests,] she observed

her concerns, and he was probably right. [This is what you came for, right? You want to know how

right,] she said, looking around

a myriad of tasks around her. It was clear the Colony was only beginning to muster the might of

are working on this above?]

not!] he barked a laugh. [The initial invasion force is being prepped

[A million?!]

Morrelia,] he told her condescendingly. [We aren’t going to make any progress being half-hearted about it. Here, take a

walked over to a separate area where a group of ants were tending to hundreds of… strange… wobbly

are the wuffers,] Anthony told her, [I love these guys. I don’t