While they waited for the evening’s story to begin, the foragers shared experiences from their day’s work. This wasn’t just idle chatter to pass the time. It was an opportunity to disseminate important information to other foragers about the location of new food and water sources. Equally important was information about the constantly evolving threats. Occupying a colony in such a hostile territory meant that any interruption in the flow of food was an existential threat. The foragers needed to know any changes in the location or types of dangers they might encounter, to ensure they could continue to supply the colony with sustenance.

The activity in the chamber began to diminish as tonight’s presenter appeared on stage. Soon, all was still, as the audience focused intently on the stage. It was important for as many of the audience members to see the speaker as was possible. This was to ensure that all of the information could be accurately communicated to the audience.

Without a spoken language, the presenter would be using body language and pheromones to tell the story of Second Sun. Those closest to the presenter would, in turn, replicate her body movements and pheromones for the other audience members. In this manner, the story was communicated throughout the colony, like a gigantic game of telephone.

Every colony member would eventually learn the story. Although, tonight’s presenter would have already finished and left the stage long before the final retelling was completed. Story telling wasn’t just a means to communicate within the colony, it was a powerful bonding exercise. Not only did the colony members learn important information, but they also built strong social connections through the intimate sharing process.

Nin marveled as she learned of the colony’s former home. It sounded like a paradise. She could scarcely imagine what it must have been like to live in such an idyllic place. Lending an almost magical quality to the story was the explanation of how the colony had come to be known as Second Sun. Inexplicably, each evening, after the sun had set, a “second sun” would appear, shining down upon the colony. It was said to have shown throughout each night, only going dark as the “first sun” began to rise again.

Listening intently, Nin learned that foraging consisted of simply exiting the colony, walking a few steps to a nearby garden, and then carrying back any number of delicacies littering the landscape. Aphids were plentiful enough to be farmed by the colony. Their sweet nectar was a daily treat for the busy foragers. With such abundance and short supply lines, the colony thrived.

It was difficult for Nin to conceive of a life so seemingly carefree. After all, she had been born into a poor colony, where mere survival required maximum effort on a daily basis. There was so much hardship at her home colony of Rising Sun that the queen struggled to produce enough offspring to replace the fallen. In fact, the colony’s reproductive needs were so great, it had literally worn out a succession of queens. It would take only a brief interruption in the food supply, to cause the Rising Sun colony to collapse. Consequently, the foragers were worked to their absolute limit just to prevent extinction.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

After the telling of the evening’s story and in anticipation of another hard day tomorrow, Nin headed off to get some sleep. She stopped by her aunt Timka’s sleeping chamber to wish her a good night. The chamber was located deep underground and was shared by a shrinking population of older workers. It was quieter down here, compared to the crowded upper levels.

Although no longer required for foraging, the old were expected to tend to the colony’s precious unhatched eggs. It was a task entrusted exclusively to the older aunts. This was their last duty to the colony before death.

Nin saw her favorite aunt immediately upon entering the chamber. She was sorting out the sleeping arrangements for the youngest inhabitants of the colony.

“Timka!” She ran over and embraced her closest relative. They touched antennae.

“I just learned about Second Sun! What an amazing place. It must have been a paradise. I want to go there. Can we?”

Timka turned away, hiding a sudden sadness from her niece. “Obviously, they didn’t tell you why we abandoned Second Sun.”

Nin was confused, “What? Why would anyone leave such a place?”

Timka explained, “We can never go back to Second Sun.”

“But why?” Nin suddenly regretted having asked the question, realizing she may not want to know the answer.

“It was the Great Dying.” Timka paused, slowly shook her head before continuing “Virtually the whole colony wasted away. A few survivors along with the queen, left and established the Rising Sun colony, where we live today.”

Nin felt certain that her aunt must be mistaken. After all, she hadn’t even have been born when Second Sun was abandoned. “How do you know what really happened?”

“It used to be mandatory for the young of the colony to learn the story of Second Sun … and the Great Dying. But it was decided that with such harsh conditions here at Rising Sun, it would be best to encourage the young to have hope for the future. The story of Second Sun continued to be told, but the Great Dying was never discussed again. And travel to Second Sun was forbidden. I was alive when this decision was made, I remember.”

Nin was troubled by the leadership’s decision to suppress knowledge of the Great Dying. It seemed to her; the colony members had a right to know all of the facts about the colony’s history. Anything less would be a manipulation of future generations’ perception of history.

It was clear that Timka was uncomfortable, having burdened her niece with such an unpleasant revelation. Dejected, Nin bid her aunt good night and left to get some sleep. After all, tomorrow would be another tough day of foraging.