"The mutation of sub-sapient species is a hotly debated topic. Why certain species mutate the way they do, why some mutate differently, and why the speed of mutation differs has been discussed ad nauseam. No one knows, but anecdotal evidence can confirm that the most dangerous mutated beings are insectoids. Mana allows for insects to mutate to a much larger size than evolution ever intended, and the system is very literal with the growth of abilities versus size. Things that should become less possible with an increase in size, like the prodigious strength of ants, continue working just fine as the mana mutates them. More dungeon world deaths are attributed to mutated insects than all other beings combined." --- A lecture on mutative theory.

  The first thing Erick noticed on their trip away from the apartment complex was that Cujo was utterly silent. He wasn't sure if the dog had a skill or if it was just a canine ninja prodigy. Either way, no leaf rustled and no twigs snapped at the dogs passing. Erick, on the other hand, sounded like a bull in a china shop. The normal trash that would be found on the streets of their city had begun to pile after twenty-four hours of inactivity. It seemed like everywhere he stepped was a crinkling wrapper or a crunchy plastic bottle. He started to mutter "sorry, sorry" about ten minutes in and was quickly shushed by Tasha.

  Tasha called for a stop as Cujo's head lifted. They both crouched behind a bench and trashcan combo. Erick wasn't any better at hiding than he was moving silently so he just tried to huddle behind a much too thin tree. Tasha looked back at him with a raised eyebrow and whispered, "This is not a looney tunes cartoon. At least get lower to the ground."

  Erick quickly crouched down, but he still hadn't seen what had caused them to stop. "What do you see?" He whispered. She made a face at him and he stared at her confused. She cupped her ear, and he realized he'd been whispering too quietly. He tried again, more stage whispering, "What do you see?"

  She pointed to her right, across the street. Cujo was staring in that direction as well. His eyes followed the direction she pointed to find a pile of stone, probably high enough to come to his chest and easily six feet wide.

  Erick stared at the pile uncomprehending. He noticed a bit of movement at the top and a pair of jaws the size of a baseball glove came up out of the top to drop off a chunk of what looked like concrete. The concrete rolled down to the bottom of the hill joining a pile of similar chunks. "What the" Erick started to say before he was shushed by Tasha.

  As they watched, every minute or so another chunk of material was brought out of the top and deposited on a side.

  Tasha watched the pile with wild eyes. "That was not here when we came by a few hours ago. That looks like an anthill, a huge one. Judging by the size of those jaws coming out the ants must be the size of house cats. Oh god. This is just a dump tunnel, it's on the edge of their colony." She turned to Erick speaking quickly. "We've got to go, depending on the direction the colony is that could be right under the Walmart!" She turned and sprinted away, Cujo hot on her heels.

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Erick took off after here, making a note to ask why she knew so much about ant colonies. He didn't bother trying to be quiet now, but even going all out, he wasn't nearly in good enough condition to keep up with Tasha. So when she stopped at the top of a particularly steep hill, it took him almost a full minute to catch up and he was severely out of breath. "What's," Wheeze. "Wrong?" he coughed and tried to catch his breath.

  Tasha just pointed down the hill. Erick looked and grimaced. Ants were everywhere, swarming around the building, climbing the sides of it, and ranging out towards them. "Well Shit," he muttered as he stood up straight. "That looks like probably a hundred of them?" Erick had never realized quite how hard it would be to get an accurate count when they were all moving constantly.

  Tasha shuddered, "Erick there are people in there. We had the place partitioned off some what, but I'm not sure how well that would hold off monster ants." She looked to be on the verge of tears.

  Erick surveyed it again and shrugged. "As much as I'm not looking forward to being ripped to pieces by ants, they're still pretty small. I can probably rile them up and then kite them away. Might be enough for you to get people out? what do you think?"

  Tasha blinked at him, "Erick we have no idea how fast they are. You could get swarmed as soon as they see you. You could run into something more dangerous while kiting them."

  He bobbed his head back and forth, "Yeah, maybe, but we don't have time. If there's anyone left in there they don't have long, here." He handed her his eyes and grinned at her. "If I don't make it, go back to my place. It should be safe from the ants expanding that far. You and whoever you save are welcome to raid my fridge, should still be cold enough since I only opened it once." He winked at her and then hefted his bat and charged down the hill.

  Tasha reached for him, trying to stop him but he was already gone. Cujo stood at attention watching Erick sprinting down towards the ants and rumbled out a growl. Tasha sighed and ruffled the fur on his head. "Yeah I know, you wanna go with him. You two are way too alike. Starting to think I have a type." She turned and started sneaking down the hill curving to come in at the opposite side of the direction Erick went.

  Erick activated his mark as soon as he was within melee range of the closest ant and swung the bat down, crushing it in a splatter of goo. He roared at the rest, his vision going red with the rage. The ants did not hesitate and charged him. He swung his bat down again crushing another that got too close and noticed that about a third were larger, closer to the size of small dogs. Their mandibles were much thicker. As he stared at one a window popped up.

Skill gained: Appraise (common)(rank 1)

Mutated Ant Soldier (Level 3)

  Erick growled, turned, and sprinted away, a horde of angry ants right on his tail.