Flashes of communications crossed my mind. No longer could I hear the Great’s voice. No longer could I hear my family’s unified song.

Not after I had ripped off my antennae.

Flashes of commands would still rage against my brain, my body nearly jumping on its own to obey.

The atmospheric pressures alerted me to the coming sunlight. I opened my eyes as I waved my antennae. I activated my harness with a thought, unfurling my wings. Still injured. Needed to be straightened and dried. I clicked my mandibles, looking for a flat enough spot in the sunlight. I shifted the colors of my shell away from the wood. I needed food.

Olfactory receptors picked something up. I analyzed it as I held my wings open in the sunlight. Would have to walk for two sun cycles. Sucrose, nearby. I grabbed my tonfa and claws, small and chipped. I had lost my Ka’thra gear when I left my drone ship, having to replace them with bones of my prey. I still ached from the separation, but survival is what mattered for now.

I followed the trail of chemicals. The sun had risen high into the center. I concentrated on my shell, and felt the colors change into the green hue of the foliage.

I have uncovered many abilities in my time away from the Ka’thra. My shell being able to shift colors was by far my most potent ability, as it easily responded to my will. There was more that I was still learning.

I came across a herd of beasts, close to the food. Facultative bipeds, with bills instead of beaks. They muddled around the clearing, combing the bushes and trees for food. As I snuck into the clearing, I saw the herd’s young trotting about, watching as they danced about, calling to their elders. I noted a single sharp claws on their front limbs, their natural weapons. My senses picked up something behind me, hiding among the trees. Large, scaled.

Hunting.

I rolled softly as two large creatures broke through the bush, hissing as they ran towards the herd. Reptilian, with wicked claws and oval heads, they aimed straight for an older member that had been sunbathing. The herd erupted in chaos, the young running to their parents as they tried to huddle together before half of them simply fled, the surprise and fear fighting against their ability to stand as a unit and fight back. The two hunters converged on the elder as it struggled to get up, claws clamping down on its bulky hind leg as jaws bit into its neck.

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The kill was quick and effective, and as the prey bled out onto the grass, the two animals sniffed the air, turning to me. Seeing no use in hiding, I dropped my camouflage as I held my blades in my two smaller hands, keeping my larger ones open and wide. They circled me slowly, trying to place me in between them, but I didn’t let that happen. I stepped back between the trees, maneuvering myself between trees to make it difficult for them to follow. They stood at twice my height, with clawed hands poised open. I put my back to a tree trunk and used four of my limbs to scale it, climbing just enough to be at eye level. Without looking, I grabbed two branches to suspend myself as they prowled closer.

Before any of us moved however, I felt a vibration through the ground. The two creature’s shut their mouths, heads flicking about and sniffing the air. They hissed, moving back to the clearing, ripping chunks of flesh and fled. I looked around, and though I saw nothing, I knew better than to ignore the potential danger that would have caused two massive carnivores to flee. I grabbed some fruits, walked over to cut a slice of meat off the carcass, and climbed a tree to observe. I took small chunks of the meat and fruit, swallowing quickly.

It was then that the forest became completely silent, every croaking or chirping creature. I felt a slight vibration on the tree. A moment later it happened again, this time more noticeable.

They grew stronger, until I could sense it with my single antenna. Then, a resounding vibration ran over my shell.

Something roared, and I saw a massive shape crash through the trees past me. A massive head sat on a plump body as this monstrosity stepped towards the corpse. As it breached the trees it looked around, pausing. It was three arms lengths away from me, and looked to be searching for something. I planted my feet under me, ready to move, but it went for the carcass instead.

I was about to relax when the call reached me again. Like a thousand screams, I felt my body contort as it fought against both mine and the hive's will. M vision went white, and all my senses overloaded as the Hive's will screamed. The last thing I remember is falling from my perch.

Something had attacked the Great.