(C)

There's a notion of alarm in Chera's pheromones, a sense of foreboding danger.

(E)

To be honest, this cave is massive.

It's rather empty now, but some natural light stones can be seen on the walls, and the ground is partly covered in moss.

If this develops it might become a notable land- errh, undergroundmark.

This place below the earth is truly a sight to behold.

(C)

Even if it should, I seriously don't know the answer to this question.

(E)

(C)

I already told her that I don't know all that much about underworld events to make even an educated guess.

However, Kyska next to me feels now increasingly distressed.

(E)

(C)

A terrorworm?

I think I remember having once heard that word.

However, it seems I can't quite remember what it exactly was about.

(E)

I am so eager to see my mum again.

She must've been worried sick since I was abducted.

(C)

She doesn't exactly give a number,

It's just how her estimation translates in my head.

Wait!

A hundred meters diameter!?!

We're talking about a worm so its length must be...

Shit!

(E)

At this size, how much food does it have to consume to maintain itself?

(C)

(E)

(C)

(E)

Does it even change anything if we turn?

Even if we'd manage to fight our way through Gioras' forces back to the hive, would the drones at the hive really suffice to protect us?

(K)

At this Chera chimes in.

(C)

Ahem, maybe Chera has a point, and we shouldn't force our luck by heading further down this cave.

I heard that's inviting trouble to your person.

And who would want that?

However, building a tunnel long enough to get us past Gioras' forces will require quite some time, and this is hardly safe territory to do such a thing.

(E)

(C)

As there's not much of a choice, especially as Chera insists on it, we turn our convoy and are starting to head the other way.

Yet before we reach even the other side of the hole we dug through the cave-in things take a dire turn.

Gioras' troops are right in front of us.

"Did you truly believe those troops would hold us forever?" (G)

Damn, they were much faster than anticipated.

(C)

At her command, our convoy moves back.

The workers try smashing the structures we erected particularly to stabilize everything, but they're solid and there's just no time.

"Oh, no, you don't! Charge!" (G)

I need to do something!

(E)

(C)

The enemies aren't too close yet, so I have some moments.

With a jerk, I extend my armblades and slice them right through the spots the workers seem to struggle with.

Naturally, they don't pose the slightest resistance to my acid.

(C)

Huh!?

Before I can contemplate her words, a worker grabs me and pulls me back, while I was still trying to slash the walls.

Promptly, Chera comes close.

(C)

I look at the few workers in front of me.

Some already having arrows or bolts stuck inside them.

They nonetheless relentlessly hit the walls.

The applicant gives in and at once the ceiling comes down.

It fell right onto some of the workers.

(C)

(E)

(C)

For Formicea standards this thinking makes absolute sense.

If I got buried just now that would hurt the swarm much more.

That those drones lost their lives is still terrible, but I guess even they would tell me that I'm not supposed to take their place.

Sigh.

I can't win this argument.

Better just divert attention.

(E)

(C)

A passage?

Her reasoning makes sense.

Better to cut our losses now and fight our way back to the hive than risk getting mauled by an overgrown earth dweller.

However, it leaves a sour aftertaste to give up on returning to Valera, where I could try to help solve all the chaos my abduction caused.

(E)

(C)

I'm certainly not sure if this is the best course of action.

Depending on Gioras' forces he might even be able to attack the hive directly.

(C)

This plan might work.

But it is awfully dependent on whether or not we can circumvent Gioras' troops.

If we dig the tunnel too short we might just get out within their army.

We'd dig it right to the humans.

The humans!!

That's it!

(E)

(C)

(E)

(C)

(E)