I wanted to simply dive into my [Skills] and decide what to prioritize for my next focus to evolve, but I couldn’t shove off the entirety of integrating our new members of the swarm to my inner circle, as much as I would have liked to. I rolled my shoulders back and, flaring [Imperial Bearing] and [True Dominance], I walked around and presented myself to my newest subordinates. Whenever I passed, the puny keelish stared up at me listening to their mundane conversations and went slack-jawed whenever their eyes met mine. With a laugh and confidence shown to my original khatif, I let the keelish know, “You are now new members of my swarm.” The keelish bowed at my reassurances, and I could see some eyes glow with excitement.

Beyond the mere bolstering of our numbers, it was reassuring to once again have the swarm be a swarm. I mourned and lamented the losses of hundreds of keelish and looked forward to what my new solid core at the center of the swarm could do. These khatif were those that had gone through the marshes, mountains, and rivers to escape with me. Silf, the quiet scout, was posturing before interested females. Foire, the reticent father, gave instructions on hiding from detection. Brutus, the earnest and dim, was already organizing a pack to follow instructions from the experienced hunters from our newest additions. I had judged my khatif by what they had been before, but now, I could more clearly see their potential through [Evolutionary Exemplar]. I needed to work with my 24 elites, and the hundreds of newcomers. Fortunately, according to Mpitar, we had ten days’ journey ahead of us, plenty of time.

As I walked, I learned that there was a newly hatched clutch of spawnlings, less than a week old. When I heard as much, I had a brief flash of a memory thinking of the small spawnlings of my brood from when we’d hunted our first toothy bullfrogs just half a year ago. The rainy season of the rain forest was beginning, but from what little I understood of the world, I knew that weather would vary widely in different places. I resolved myself to ask Mpitar as much when we reunited because I wasn’t yet sure how different weather would impact our ability to travel moving forward. We had a long journey still ahead of us, and I wasn’t sure how exactly that would need to change as the weather became less temperate. From some of the oldest members of the Viertaali tribe, I’d heard about “winter” in far-off places, and I thought I remembered hearing that winter came after the wet seasons. I’d need to ask whoever would answer, though a part of me suspected that Sybil had already, somehow, learned what seasons we would encounter moving forward.

I shook myself, trying to focus my still-addled mind on the task at hand. My mind wandered much more easily after the effects of Farahlia’s magic, even though I was able to shake off the most potent effects on me. I called out to Trai and Foire, then was quickly able to convince one of the new swarm to take us three down to the spawnlings’ den.

As we stepped into the enclosed space of the den, the stale, putrid air set my eyes to watering. It reeked of rutting in a way that almost made me gag–these keelish weren’t attempting to produce offspring, but simply indulging in each other at every opportunity that presented itself. It was off-putting, the foreignness of this new swarm. I’d been accustomed to the order, the civilization of Redael’s swarm, and this was like I was seeing what I’d thought a keelish was before I’d died–a group of animals. I didn’t like the feeling, and as we crawled forward into the den, I felt myself begin to look down on Farahlia and her rule even more.

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Interrupting me from my distaste, our guide pointed us to a little hole near the bottom of the den. Inside it, the hatchlings huddled together in the darkest, most secluded offshoot of their little tunnel. They seemed to be having some sort of a conference among themselves in hushed whispers.

“... don’t understand…”

“... the Alpha …”

“... is a male…” Hushed squeaks of barely contained terror arose among the hatchlings at that. Then, suddenly, there was a squeaking call and the collective group of spawnlings whirled around to face me and my children as we entered.

“Hatchlings. I’m the new Alpha of this swarm, and some things are going to change now.”

At my words, one of the spawnlings, larger than the rest, so presumably their Alpha, stepped forward.

“What want? You let any us live?” He was stocky, well built, and obviously respected by his subordinates, but I was confused by his words.

“... Why would I kill you?”

“Because others’ babies get in way. Get in way of be Alpha. Get in way of be strongest. Get in way of rutting Mother.” His words dripped with acidic certainty and a deliberately provocative tone, especially on the word Mother.

“You can become my second in command if you’re capable of actually surpassing this child here.” I nodded at Trai, and she strode forward proudly, posturing and showing herself off. Though she was still only a ways past toddler, so far as I could tell, Trai was larger than all of these hatchlings, and not by a little bit. As the hatchlings looked between Trai and myself, I continued, “Additionally, you misunderstand: this little one here will become your new Alpha. She is strong and smart, so make sure you work well together, because, frankly, seeing this swarm, I doubt you all are currently at a satisfactory level for me. So, she’ll work on getting you all up to the level of our original swarm.” Finally, I couldn’t help but ask, “Have there been slaughters of spawnlings here?”

The male looked at me, at least as confused as I was. “Yes? When new male ‘conquers’ Mother, he think he’s new ‘real’ Alpha, there always killing of the surviving hatchlings that not his own. Adults stupid, think with dicks.”

I was half infuriated, half holding back laughter at the matter of fact tone. After just a moment’s thought, I turned to my beloved little niece. “I trust you all to work together. You’re in charge now, so make sure you lead well. If you don’t, I won’t put you in charge again.”

“I’ll be the best leader! You’ll see!” Trai chirped up.

“I want to see them nearing your level in a month. Clear?”

“Yes, Alpha! I will make them strong!” Before I could say anything else, Trai commanded, “Now, follow me! We need to go into the light! Wait. No, Alpha! Sing to them! Give them the magic song, then we’ll go up to the light!”

I grinned, pride sparking in my heart at her request. “Good choice.” The spawnlings looked around, confused at the turn of events, but I simply began to hum and then sing, the sounds of [Nurturing Enunciation] echoing around the den. Before long, I felt my sonilphon beginning to empty, the drain of using my [Skill] on so many hatchlings at the same time much greater than usual. While the little ones tried to gather themselves, Trai didn’t wait. She grabbed the little Alpha by the hand and began to drag him up the slope and towards the light of the surface.

“There’s so much I need to teach you! Come on!” She shouted as Foire glowered at the hatchlings. I laughed, my breathing difficult while still cramped in the den, and then began the long, painful ascent from the den.