(POV Elise. After Sylvia got abducted)

"How could this have happened? There shouldn't be such a large flying creature here. It probably came from outside the forest and didn't find anything to eat in its usual territory, so it extended its search to the forest. I can't be sure, though, it could be that the Everglade forest has simply gained new inhabitants," I think as I walk through the forest looking for Sylvia.

There is one big problem though, since Sylvia is not human I can't just report her missing to Westerville or the Adventurer Guild. I have to find her myself, which brings me back to the present. Hurrying through the forest in the direction where the bird of prey flew. I can't see it, but with fresh prey it will surely fly in a straight line back to its nest. The only reason I can think of why it didn't mangle Sylvia directly is that it wasn't looking for food for itself, but for its brood instead.

I slow down as I realize that without careful preparation I won't get very far before I have to turn back. I have only my usual equipment and supplies for a few days. The greater the distance the creature travels, the more difficult it is for me to follow it through the confusing forest. My search area is more than just a line. On foot I am much slower than the creature in the air, especially since I have to take detours to make sure I don't miss the target. As soon as it arrives at the nest, that's probably it for Sylvia. Still, I have to try to save her, even if the odds are against it. I pick up my pace again and continue the search.

(POV Sylvia)

I move further away from the nest and go deeper into the forest. I must first cover enough distance to be reasonably safe. My next priority is to find a water source. My new swarm and myself need water to live. I slow my pace and move more carefully so as not to draw unnecessary attention to myself. In this way, I continue to move through the forest.

After a few minutes I am sure that I am far enough away from the nest. I turn my attention to my next target. Around me I can make out the sounds of smaller animals. Among them many new sounds that I do not know. Without other Sylv to protect me, I feel vulnerable. Everything seems so much more dangerous ...

I manage to remain undetected for the time being and after some time I hear a splashing in the distance. I decide to follow the sound and a short time later I come to a pond. It is big enough and looks okay as a water source. There are some water plants growing in it and there might be other animals in it or nearby. I am not very thirsty and decide to play it safe. I move away a bit again and test the consistency from the forest floor at regular intervals. It doesn't take long until I am satisfied and find a suitable spot. I start digging with my hands, this will be the start of my new Hive Complex!

I continue to shovel earth out of the way and compress it on the sides of the tunnel I dig. For the start, this does not have to be particularly deep tunnel. Then I expand it with a small bulge in the side. Satisfied with the progress, I concentrate on the next step, laying a new egg. With a soft plop it sinks to the ground and I maneuver it into the prepared bulge in the tunnel. Satisfied, my antennae dance lightly around before I leave my new lair. It is still dark outside and I intend to take advantage of this.

I camouflage the entrance of my tunnel with some twigs and foliage I find nearby and then start foraging. I need more biomass to survive and to create more drone eggs. I could go back to the predator's nest I came from, but the risk is not worth the meat scraps there. Until I have new hunters, I should refrain from attacking creatures larger than myself. It is safest to absorb plant biomass or very small animals that pose no threat to me. I turn my attention to the forest floor, watching for smaller creatures and nutritious plants. Through the hunters from my first hive, I could already gain some knowledge about possible prey and where to look for it. In addition, I don't have to pay attention if something is poisonous, because my digestive system as a Sylv queen is able to neutralize such things.

After a couple of hours my tummy is full again and I return to my lair. I move some of the camouflage from the entrance to the side to get in. Then I continue to expand my tunnel. After a while I have dug the tunnel one meter deep down and extend it from now on horizontally to the surface. I get 70cm further until it becomes day and some light from outside falls into my tunnel. I decide to leave it at that for now and fix the camouflage at the entrance of the tunnel before the sun shines with full power. I dig out a new bulge at the end of my tunnel where it is darker and reposition my egg in it. I lie down next to it on the ground and try to sleep.

I wake up and notice that it has become darker again. The sun should set soon and no longer disturb me. I consider continuing to dig my tunnel but decide against it because I lack the special coating my drones secrete to stabilize it. Instead, I focus on improving myself. I have already learned the basics of fire-based magic from Elise. That's the first component to casting a spell. I shouldn't have too much of a problem with the third component, since as a Sylv Queen I have very fine control over mana. I'm really only missing the second component, the correct formula to cast a concrete spell.

Here in the middle of the forest I can't get that knowledge. I keep thinking and then something strikes me! Some creatures are also able to cast magic and these do not speak a formula to cast it. I myself am an example of this, as my mental connection to my drones is also magic based. So it must work without the second component, the question is how? Is there something else that is needed instead, something that can be used as an alternative?

That makes me quite thoughtful. If I investigate my connection to my drones more closely, I may find the answers to these questions. More experimentation is needed here. I would like to start right away, but unfortunately I don't have any drones to connect to yet. This complicates the whole thing, but I still try to go into myself and find out something, maybe it works without an active connection to other Sylv.

Half an hour later I sit there frustrated with no result, my antennae cutting through the air with dissatisfied movements. Anyway, it's dark now and I decide to lay my next egg before heading back outside to acquire more biomass. In two more days my first drone should hatch. The start is always slow, but once I get my unit production up and running the growth of my swarm will accelerate quickly. This is important because I will need warriors and a hive commander to return safely to my old home.

Like last time, I make sure the entrance to the tunnel is camouflaged in my absence and set off again. At first everything goes well and I even manage to get a new Strain I name Silk Generation, from a nest of small hand-sized spiders. This allows me to modify Sylv to create spider threads that can be used to build traps. The problem is that this prey distracted me, so I didn't notice a large lizard over 3 meter long with 6 legs sneaking up on me from behind. When I notice this, it is almost too late and I escape only scarcely the snapping mouth of the creature. I try to run away as fast as possible, but the lizard follows close behind. I change my strategy and try to get to safety on one of the trees before I attract the attention of more creatures or get lost in the forest.

With my claws, I quickly and safely climb the next tree. Directly below me, the lizard rams its body full power against the thick trunk of the tree, causing the entire tree to shake menacingly. With my claws, however, I have a secure hold and am not shaken off. The lizard looks at me with a hungry look and tries to climb behind me. My eyes widen in fear and I begin to climb faster. I reach a thick branch and take another look down from there. The lizard seems to have no success in getting up the tree and has only been able to rise a little further on the trunk. That is not enough to reach me. I seem to be safe here for the time being. The lizard notices this too and starts to slowly circle the tree I am on. This is a problem, because I can't climb down as long as this stupid lizard is lurking down there.