When the mana starts to drop, it drops fast. One second I’m up to my eyeballs in the stuff, absolutely drowning in energy, the next it’s receding so quickly I feel like I’m going to get swept down a stratum if I don’t hold onto the ground.

So. That’s it? Just like that?

Hanging from the top of my tunnel, I feel relieved and a bit… disappointed? Look, I’m not asking for the Legion to come knocking on the Colony’s door every wave, but I kind of expected something. This wave has ended with a murmur rather than a roar.

Ah well, it is what it is.

I drop off the roof, stretch out a bit, clean my antennae, then walk back into the nest. Time to go find something else to do, I suppose. Back in the central command chamber, the generals are running around like mad, as always. I find Sloan right in the middle of it all.

“Hey there, Sloan. What’s happening?”

“The wave is ending,” she says, obviously distracted.

I poke her on the head with an antenna.

“Yeah… so why is everyone so busy? Shouldn’t you be winding down? Slowing your roll a little bit? The wave is over.”

She sighs and turns to face me properly.

“The wave being over means the siege has ended. It’s once again safe to venture out of the fortress and into the tunnels.”

“Right. So?”

“So we have to get back to exploring the lower tunnels and completing the lower sections of the nest as quickly as possible! If we can leave our safe places, then so can everyone else!”

Ah.

“Do you really expect we’ll come under attack? I hadn’t heard of any impending threats….”

“We shouldn’t assume we’ll have forewarning of an impending attack, Eldest. Better to be prepared. If you’ll excuse me, we are in the process of organising over a dozen expeditions.”

“Make sure you send Solant out there,” I tell her and the general pauses for a second before she nods in agreement.

A little practice in the field is exactly what the little general needs after this protracted defensive battle. Leaving the generals to it, I go find a nice nook to tuck myself into, out of the way, and let the Will of the Colony wash over me.

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So many individuals, each with their own desires, yet all pulling in the same direction. It’s amazing, when I allow myself to indulge in it, just to feel the unity of the Colony. I may be the only creature who gets to feel it like this in the entire lifetime of my family, which is a real shame. Others can see how well my siblings work together, the thousands and thousands who cooperate, seemingly flawlessly, at so many tasks, but seeing it as I do is entirely different.

Millions of individuals, each with their own vision, their own wants and needs, all working to better the life of the ant next to them. It’s beautiful. Truly, the ant is…. The ant…

Why are there humans here? And I think I know which ones!

Nestled within the endless stream of energy coming from my siblings, I find a few threads that are ever so slightly different. Sure enough, when I take a closer look, I find out just who has come to visit. It doesn’t take long for them to find me, either. A procession of robed priests, each with antennae rising from their hoods, make their way into the chamber before they congregate nearby. Not close enough to bother me, but not so far that they aren’t around if I decide to talk to them, they group up and begin some sort of bowing and kneeling ceremony.

They talk, shouting and weeping openly, but thankfully don’t use any pheromones, so none of us ants are all that bothered. I decide to just ignore them, hoping they’ll go away eventually.

More and more humans are arriving, warriors for the most part. It appears that now the wave is over, the humans have decided it’s safe for them to come and live at this level. That’s handy. Incorporating the ant priests and human soldiers alongside our own forces will help return them to full strength, taking advantage of the powerful buffs of the clergy.

If it saves a few lives, then I’m willing to put up with a bit of chanting and kneeling. In moderation.

[Alright then, gang. Time to assemble. Come and find me.]

It doesn’t take long for my friends to gather. Crinis, Tiny and Invidia all look weary after the long weeks of fighting. The big ape is singed in places, still-healing wounds marking his enormous arms and shoulders. Crinis glomps onto me the moment she’s in range, moulding herself onto my carapace and retracting all of her flesh until she’s about the size of a beach ball. It’s not always easy to tell how Invidia is feeling, but I can detect signs of weariness from his eye and the way he lethargically flaps over to join the group.

Nevertheless, I feel a sense of satisfaction radiating from each of them.

[So… have you guys reached the magic number?]

Tiny narrows his eyes before he slowly raises one arm and flexes it, then nods. Crinis is a little more vocal.

[Yes! Only a few days ago, Master!]

[Well done, you two! Sensational work!]

[Praiiisssssee.]

[You too, Invidia.]

Well this is great news. The whole gang is ready to evolve.

[I’ll send word up to Granin and the others straight away. And I have to get the cores prepared. Taking in a mythic core is… difficult, but you’ll be fine, I promise! You should start thinking about what you want from your evolution as well, build up some ideas to talk to the golgari about, then they’ll be in a better position to help you.]

All three of them acknowledge me, but I can feel they’re struggling to match my energy.

[Well. It’ll take a few hours for the triad to make their way down, so you guys should probably just have a snooze and rest until then, alright? Great work. You’ve earned a break.]

In moments, the three of them are snoozing, Crinis on my carapace, Tiny leaned up against my side, and Invidia perched on one of my antennae.

The gathered priests seem to have launched into a frenzy of chanting and kneeling, but who cares? Honestly, it's been a while, I might as well grab myself a little shuteye as well.