I'm stuck here on this tree for now. The fat lizard doesn't look like it's going to disappear anytime soon. I have no choice but to wait here longer, because the lizard is at least as fast as I am, so I can't just lose it. I don't want to lead it back to my tunnel either, so I make myself comfortable on the tree and wait. I keep watching the lizard as a precaution, to be safe from surprises.
After a while, the lizard stops circling around the tree and squats down nearby. This gives me the impression that it is thinking of waiting until I have to climb down from the tree. I don't like that at all. Can't it just look for something else to eat than me? I guess I look pretty tasty and have to accept that my opponent won't give up so easily. I start to think about how I could best escape from this situation in case the lizard waits down there too long. I can't stay on this tree forever and would like to get back to my two drone eggs as soon as possible. Theoretically, I could eat parts of the tree to avoid starvation, but that would greatly delay or even completely pause my production of new eggs.
Come to think of it, the lizard is stronger and significantly more resilient than I am. We have about the same speed and from what I've seen I seem to be more flexible. My biggest advantage is my intelligence, as I highly doubt the Lizard is particularly smart. The first and safest idea I can think of is to demonstrate to the lizard that I will win this waiting game if it comes down to it. This is quite simple, as I only need to attract its attention and then consume some wood from the tree, perhaps one of the thinner branches with some foliage. Maybe that will be enough to get this one to look for another victim, since it can't squat in front of my tree forever.
I carry out my plan and call over to the lizard, which then raises its head. With my claws I saw off one of the thinner branches of the tree and begin to eat it along with the leaves. It's not exactly nutritious for me and I would have to eat masses of it for a full meal, but the stupid lizard doesn't know that. I slowly and gleefully consume the plant biomass and watch in anticipation as the lizard looks over at me rather dissatisfied. It seems to work! With my claws I slowly saw off another thin branch, of which the tree possesses plentiful and begin to consume it too. That seems to be enough for the lizard, with an angry snort it stands up, turns around and slowly disappears in the thicket of the forest.
I wait a while longer to make sure that it is no longer in my immediate vicinity and slowly begin to climb down the other side of the tree quietly. I watch this time tensely for my surroundings, for any sign that the lizard is just lying in ambush to pounce on me. Nothing happens and I reach the ground with my feet. I skillfully move on to the next tree and from there on and on. I run in a zigzag through the forest in order to always stay near a new tree on which I can get back to safety. This is no problem since I am in the middle of a forest. There is no ambush and I can't make out anyone chasing me. I regulate my bodily functions to avoid any odor and begin to cover my tracks. I take an additional detour for safety before returning to my tunnel. It would be disastrous if I were to lure a predator here. I see that the camouflage from the entrance is still intact and decide to return to it, since I'm already quite full and it won't be long before the sun shines again.
As usual, I move the camouflage to the side a bit, slip inside and fix the camouflage. I'm glad I made it back in one piece. However, this proves how dangerous the Everglade Forest is. Even at night there are many predators like this lizard trying to hunt you down. As long as I haven't produced any warriors, I have to avoid such creatures. The Sylv hunters are designed for smaller targets, just like me and would have trouble taking down a predator as large as this lizard. With enough hunters it would be possible, but it would not be very efficient, if I suffer too many casualties among my hunters on the hunt, so they will also avoid such predators. I can't wait until I have my first warriors, then I will finally be out of acute danger and can act more openly from this base. I shouldn't get cocky though, who knows what other creatures there are, lurking in the Everglade Forest. I'm pretty sure this lizard is not the biggest and strongest predator in this forest.
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I plan to use the extra time I have until the next night wisely. I've been ready to start my next growth phase for a while now. I have also been able to find enough biomass today to be sufficiently satiated. I see no advantage in delaying this any longer and I am in a relatively safe place. I move to the end of my tunnel and start the transformation. I curl up as much as I can while my body begins to secrete a purple secretion that will enclose me like a cocoon during the transformation. My consciousness slowly sinks into a deep sleep and the changes begin.
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Here a new Overview after the Transformation is finished:
Hive Queen Sylvia: Completed 2 out of 5 growth phases
Minimum time until next growth phase can be started: 2 weeks
Immediate growth effects: photographic memory, control range for Sylv units is doubled, egg production can be increased to two drone eggs per day
Growth effects over time: Increase in size and in all basic physical attributes
Knowledge learned: Human communication (Western language), basic reading, basic fire understanding, basic creature and plants information, running, climbing, small combat experience
Primary Hive Complex (Inactive):
1 small Digestion Pool
1 small Spawning Grounds
1 Drone (Spinny)
6 Sylv hunters (Rapid Regeneration Strain)
Secondary Hive Complex (Unfinished):
No living structures yet
Number of drone eggs: 2
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I wake up inside of my cocoon. I stretch my fingers and use my claws to open it from the inside. Slowly I emerge from the cocoon and take in my surroundings. I’m still in my tunnel with the two drone eggs right next to me. No light comes from the tunnel entrance, so I assume that it is dark outside. I’m quite hungry after my transformation and can’t produce new drone eggs today. My biomass consumption will increase significantly until my physical growth phase ends in around two weeks. I start by eating the remains of the cocoon, which is quickly done. Then I head outside in order to sate my hunger.
I feel stronger than before, my memory is so much clearer than before and I can feel how my control range has increased. Unfortunately, I don't have any units that I control yet, but that will change soon. Next night my first egg should hatch and the day after my second. I plan to let the drones fully grow before I let them morph into the necessary production structures. The next drone eggs I lay should not morph into structures like my first two drones did, so they will receive some of the new Strains I gathered so far.
I sneak through the night and start my hunt for smaller creatures. This time I am much more careful than last time, and after a few smaller treats I find some sort of insect colony. A myriad of finger-sized insects are crawling around proficiently in a two-meter high pile of sand. I lick my lips as I see this wonderful meal. I should nevertheless remain cautious and first pick up a few of these crawlers at the edge and consume them to learn more about them. No sooner said than done and a short time later I am chewing contentedly on three of the insects while two more are squirming in my hands. When I struck, this alerted the others and I had to move away from the colony a bit. This wasn't much of a problem though, as I'm just way too fast for these little insects.
After eating the fifth insect, I am much better informed than before and I was even able to improve one of my existing Strains. Hardened Carapace has been improved and I named it Improved Hardened Carapace, it is giving slightly further resistance for the same biomass cost. I know, my naming sense is just perfect! About the insects, I learned that they can spray some sort of acid, as evidenced by my mild burns on my arms. They're also poisonous, so most creatures just leave them alone. However, that doesn't stop me from eating them. I decide to grab a few more of these walking snacks from the edge of the insect colony until I'm full. This time I pay more attention to the insects' rear end, which they use to spray their acid. My body has very good tissue regeneration, so I don't worry about the occasional minor burn. It also helps that many parts of my body are armored, so I can even block with those parts.