I enter the egg-laying chamber to find Sarah rubbing the top of her giant bear head with one paw whilst mother looms over her, clearly irritated. A nearby mage spins together a mind bridge and I allow it to connect to me without complaint. It seems that mother wants Sarah to be able to listen in on the conversation. Makes sense, excluding her and using pheromone language would be quite rude in these circumstances.

[Was this your idea?] Mother demands with less than her usual patience.

[She blames herself for what happened and you are the only one who can really forgive her,] I shrug my antennae. [It made sense to send her down here so she could tell you herself and get punished for it.]

[Wait. You knew I was going to get whacked?] Sarah says, an accusatory glint in her eye.

[Thwacked. And of course, you were being ridiculous. Me trying to knock some sense into you just wouldn't have the same effect, so I sent you down to experience some of Mother's wisdom.]

THWACK!

Oof! Still hurts! Maybe after my next evolution and my carapace is upgraded these won't be quite so sharp? Or perhaps I should concentrate a build-up of extra dense carapace on the top of my head? I eye the Queen's antennae carefully. I'm certain she's chosen some form of mutation that makes them hit harder.

[Stop staring at my antennae,] the Queen demands.

[How could you even tell?! I have compound eyes!]

[I just know,] she says nonsensically.

[Alright, so Sarah got thwacked for being dumb,] I rub my head just as she was a moment ago, [why did I get hit?]

[The same reason,] the Queen tells me, still clearly annoyed.

Well, it isn't as if I didn't know it was coming.

[Did you explain to Sarah that she was wrong to think as she did?] I try to deflect.

[No,] the Queen replies, [I just told her she was being foolish, because she was.]

[This all seems a little rude,] Sarah grumbles.

[Quiet, child,] the Queen tells her, [I'll get back to you in a moment.]

The Asura Bear flinches and sits up a little straighter, like a schoolchild being reprimanded by a teacher. I snicker at the sight and the Queen rounds on me again.

[Something funny, child?] she says, dangerously calm.

Careful Anthony…

[Absolutely not, mother. My attitude is solemn and serious, as always.]

Her antennae twitch, but she finds nothing wrong with my words so finally settles down a little. She turns back to Sarah, sparing me her forensic examination for the time being.

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[I will hear no more talk of forgiveness from you,] she tells Sarah, her mental voice once more settling into its normal soothing tone. [This is now your home and we are now your family. There is no such thing as blame between us so long as that remains true. The choices of your friend are not your choices and we do not hold them against you, so from this point on, neither will you.]

Sarah hung her head.

[I'm not sure it's that easy,] she whispers.

The Queen raises an antennae threateningly.

[It's fine! I'm fine! No more guilt!] Sarah waves her massive clawed paws in front of her muzzle in surrender.

I nod from the side. Truly there is no power greater than the thwacks of mother. Such miraculous results.

THWACK!

[What was that one for?!]

[I sensed some foolish thoughts coming from your direction,] the Queen says firmly, [was I wrong?]

Dammit! I need to be more careful when there's a mind bridge connecting us!

[Now come,] the Queen turns back to the centre of the chamber and settles herself comfortably. [Let us talk, it's been some time since last you paid me a visit. You too, Sarah. It will be pleasant to share your company.]

As I walk over I take note of the human sized table and chair carved from stone that had been installed in the egg-laying chamber, but quickly put it from my mind. I'm sure there's a reason for it. With the three of us seated, we take a few hours to discuss the various goings on. The Queen and Sarah ask me about my evolution and I'm honest with them, for the most part. I talk to Sarah about her current evolution and how she feels about it, not great, it turns out. The Queen suggests that perhaps she push for tier seven, where she may be able to reverse or at least alter some of the things her current form does that drive her out of control and Sarah promises to think about it.

[Don't forget you have Granin and his triad here,] I tell her. [They might be from the cult of the worm, but they're good people, like the ones who originally took you in. They'll be more than happy to help you with some advice.]

[Thank you Anthony, I'll think about it,] she smiles.

It's a scary smile, but a smile nonetheless. The conversation turns from there to the Queen's evolution and I ask her about it directly, but I get a surprising answer.

[I do not plan to evolve again anytime soon,] she tells me bluntly. [I consume enough resources as it is, with my hunts and having to take in Biomass for the eggs. I am accumulating experience slowly, on my own, eventually I will reach tier seven, but it will not be for a long time. I think this is fine, since reaching the next tier would force me deeper into the Dungeon and away from this nest.]

Actually, come to think of it, I haven't bothered to examine my own core since waking up. How am I holding up? I turn my senses inward and I'm a little dismayed to find that I'm leaking mana. How's this even possible? There's a wave going on! Only then do I remember that the walls in this chamber are free from dungeon veins, making the ambient mana much lower than it would otherwise be. Even so, I'm quite shocked. It's quite possible that once the wave is finished I won't be able to sustain myself at this depth without making a conscious effort to drag in mana, and even then I might not be able to do so indefinitely. Has the time come already to relocate myself further down? I suppose the Queen is fine since her core isn't as dense as mine, but Sarah might be in a similar boat as me.

[How are you doing at this depth, Sarah?] I ask her directly. [Is your core able to handle it?]

[I'm probably the same as you are now,] she admits. [before the wave, it was a little tough. In these chambers, the mana is a bit thin. I can't stay in here forever. Without the golgari enchantments thickening the mana in my chambers, there's no way I would have been able to stay in the second strata as long as I have.]

[Does this mean you need to move deeper, child?] the Queen asks me.

I reluctantly nod.

[I think so,] I confess, [especially once the wave is over.]

The Queen shrugs her antennae.

[I do not see the problem,] she says, [before long there will be many ants who need to move deeper. You will do as you always have and move as the vanguard of the Colony. I am sure you will be able to secure a place for us in the depths before we need it. You have always been capable in that regard.]

[You sure you don't mean to say that I'm capable of getting the Colony into a mess and then needing the whole family to drag me out of it?] I ask.

She frowns at me. It's an odd thing, an ant frown. There's no facial muscles, obviously, it's more about the mandibles and antennae than anything else.

[I was trying to be nice about it,] she says. [Enough. I think it is time that you return to your duties.]

[Who, me?] I ask.

[Of course you. There is much work to be done, is there not? The wave threatens our nests even as we speak and the most formidable warrior of the Colony is sitting here idle. I will keep you no longer.]

[Ugh, fine.]

I push my legs under me and stand up.

[Sarah, mother. It's been wonderful to chat with you, but duty calls.]

I turn and walk away, Invidia floating over my shoulder.

[Anthony…] the Queen's mind rings against my own.

[Yes?] I ask innocently.

[You appear to be walking towards the brood chambers,] an undercurrent of warning runs through her mental sending, putting my hairs on end.

[Hah! Whoops! What a blunder! I think I better go this way then… thanks for pointing out the mistake! Haha!]

Dammit! Wait for me, grubs! I'll be back!