Chapter 650: 650

She took another deep, slow breath . In . Hold . Out . Wait . In . Hold . Out . Wait .

This was a cycle she remembered learning as a human on Earth, something her psychologist had told her would help her be calm . Cyclical breathing . That was the name of the technique . It had helped her, in her past life . Most of the time . She flinched away from the memories of her previous existence and once more focused on her breathing . Each stage five seconds long .

In . Hold . Out . Wait . In . Hold . Out . Wait .

Even though she wasn’t conscious of it, a team of ants crawled over the enormous bear as she lay sprawled on her belly . The great warrior Sarah had contributed much to the defence of the Colony and her unselfish fight had made the ants well disposed towards her . As she rested, they tended to her fur, cleaning it meticulously and ensuring there were no small wounds or barbs that may cause issues later . It was the same level of care with which they tended to each other before and after a battle, Sarah deserved that much . Also, they had noticed that she breathed easier when they were active around her, the aura of violence and malevolence that suffused the air around her abated when they drew close . From this they surmised that they were providing some sort of emotional comfort, another thing they were pleased to do .

From the wall of the tunnel, Jim watched silently as his companion battled her nature . He had created a burrow within the tunnel wall and only his head emerged, protruding into the open space . From the moment Sarah had joined the front lines, he had been here also . Not to fight, he wasn’t much use for that, but to try and support his friend . He could feel her now, sense the internal struggle with his mind as she battled against the violent nature that had lain dormant so long within her .

[Sarah… ] he eventually asked, [are you alright over there?]

The great bear opened one eye and for a terrifying instant an overwhelming pressure of violence pressed into the consciousness of the worm, filling his mind with a hunger for battle . He wanted to rip, to tear, to do all sorts of non-worm like things . How would he even tear? Then Sarah released a great huff, knocked over another ant and the aura was gone, restrained once more in the depths of her mind .

[I’m fine,] she replied, [it’s alright . I’ve got it under control . ]

She pushed her feet underneath herself and forced herself to standing, sending the cleaning crew on her back to scatter quickly . She turned to face her friend in the wall .

[See? No problem . ]

[Sarah, you’re the worst liar I ever met . Putting that aside, I can still feel the malevolence inside you . I have very sensitive mental faculties, remember? You can’t conceal this from me . ]

Sarah just sighed and shrugged her massive bear shoulders .

[What do you want me to do about it? It’s not like I can just stop fighting . ]

[Why not?] Jim asked indignantly, [you’ve done more than enough! How long do you expect to throw yourself against the golgari to defend a place that isn’t yours? You don’t owe …]

[Don’t I?] she cut in . [Are you sure that I don’t owe anything, Jim? If it weren’t for the Colony, if it weren’t for Anthony, where would I be now?]

[Then what about what you owe me?] the worm demanded . [Have I been useless? Have I not supported you and helped you escape? Huh? Don’t I deserve a little gratitude?]

The two looked at each other for a long moment .

[So . What? You want me to pay you back by betraying the Colony? Is that it?] Sarah asked, her mental voice low and soft .

Jim recoiled as if struck .

[What? No! I mean…]

At that moment the two friends were interrupted as Coolant arrived .

[Hello to you both,] the ant said once the mind bridges had stabilised . [I hope I find you well . ]

[O-of course,] Sarah replied . [And you?]

The ant paused for a moment .

[I am also well . I am still not used to your human style greetings, I hope I was accurate . ]

Sarah briefly wondered how the ants greeted each other and once the thought was in her head, she couldn’t shake it . She had to ask . In response, the mage ant turned to the nearby traffic . There was no visible response, but first the passing ant’s antennae began to twitch, followed by Coolant’s .

[I told them to work hard,] the ant explained, [and they told me to stop slacking off . ]

Sarah and Jim both stared at her .

[We usually encourage each other to work when we see others of the Colony . If we see them not working, we tell them to get to work . If we see them working hard, we tell them to keep it up . ]

[Don’t you ever tell them to rest?] Jim wondered .

Coolant looked nervous for a second .

[No,] the ant muttered as she turned her body this way and that, as if searching for something, [we don’t say that . ]

[Why do you look so nervous?] Sarah asked, confused by the transformation .

[I haven’t gone into torpor for a few days,] came the distracted reply, [I’d forgot about it until just now . ]

[You haven’t slept? Why is that so worrying?]

[It’s nothing,] once again the mage was cool and composed, [I’ve been sent to let you know our plan for the upcoming defence . ]

[Okay] said Sarah, [ I’m ready to fight anytime . ]

She pointedly ignored the bristling worm in the wall .

[That is good . We are retreating . ]

[Whe- wait… what?!]

[Retreating,] Coolant emphasised . She gestured with one leg toward the procession of ants making their way past . [As you can see the process has already begun . The generals have decided to cede the final stretch of defences in order to consolidate around the gates . Let the enemy extend themselves across the distance as we recuperate . ]

Sarah was confused .

[I thought you wanted to fight for every inch of ground,] she protested, [wear the golgari down, has that changed?]

[We have worn them down,] Coolant told her, [in no small part thanks to you, we have been able to force them to pay a high price for advancing . There are many circumstances that led to this decision being made . ]

[Like what?] having been so ready to throw herself back into the fight, Sarah was keen to understand the change .

[The mana is rising in the tunnels,] Coolant said, [the spawn rates of the shadow creatures is rising . Extending our supply lines outside the nest is becoming more difficult and it is necessary to withdraw soldiers to defend the young . And if it is difficult for the Colony, with all our numbers, to hold off the beasts . . . ]

[It’s worse for the golgari…]

[Just so . We anticipate there will be another wave before too long . Though exactly when is not something we can guess . If we are able to repel the enemy at the gates, then our hope is that they will be forced to retreat when the Dungeon becomes too dangerous . ]

Slowly, Sarah and Jim began to understand what this meant to the ants .

[The time for the final stand is fast approaching,] Coolant confirmed, [we will live or die based on the events of the next few days . Keep in mind Sarah and Jim, you are friends of the Colony but you are not compelled to fight . The battle will be fierce at the gates, so think carefully whether you want to fight . None will think less of you if you choose to sit out . ]

The ant spoke to both of them, but all present understood it was to the great bear that her message was intended . Sarah wanted to reply immediately, but felt her thoughts constrict unexpectedly . Before she could force herself to agree, Coolant had vanished . Had she been less distracted she would have noticed the council member being dragged away quickly and silently by a team of ants as she struggled for freedom . With the liaison gone, she had little choice but to join the trail as they made their way back to the nest .