As if to prove my point, one of the many caretakers gives me an irritated prod in the side with one leg.
“You need to give me that grub,” she says curtly.
“Ah, sure.”
I release the larva I’d been tormenting with relentless tickles into her care and the little thing collapses with relief, finally freed from my antennae.
Time for the next victim! Gwehehehehe! Sourcing another grub, I roll it about with my antennae and the little thing wriggles with joy. So cute! So soothing! It takes me a little while to realise that Sarah still hasn’t said anything. She’s sitting morosely, a pensive look on her bear-face.
[Look. Nobody here is going to make you fight. And if you want to fight, nobody here is going to stop you. Here in this colony, you can make your own decisions, you’re free. If you want help, for anything, just ask and me or someone else will come and do what needs to be done. You’ve earned that from us.]
She nods and I return to my tickles for a time.
[What about Jim?] she asks quietly.
Hot anger burns in my gut at the mention of that traitorous tapeworm.
[The moment we find him, he’ll be food,] I say, my mind tight with rage.
She’s obviously troubled, wrestling with thoughts, until she sighs.
[I didn’t think he would be forgiven,] she said. [Not after what he did. I just… I don’t know.]
[He was your friend. I think I understand where you’re coming from. But brood died because of him. There’s no coming back from that. Not with us.]
[I think he did it for me, you know,] she confesses, her mind so still and quiet I almost can’t hear her words. [He didn’t want me to fight. He was so scared, so worried that I’d lose myself again. Maybe he thought that if he ended the conflict, broke the siege, then it would all be over. I think he wanted to save me.]
I shrug my antennae.
[So?]
The giant bear huffs in anger. [What do you mean, so? Doesn’t that mean the betrayal and everyone who died, the brood, almost the Queen, it was all because of me?]
[Is that what you’re worried about? That’s just nonsense. You were helping us, any decision that moron made is one he made himself. He bears the responsibility, not you.]
The bear drooped her shoulders.
[I wish I could agree with you,] she mutters.
[Look, you’re really being a downer in what is meant to be joyous tickle time. Tell you what, why don’t you go explain yourself to the Queen and see how she feels about it. She was the one most affected by your actions, so you should go and listen to her words on it.]
There’s a moment of silence as Sarah digests my words before she nods with determination.
[You’re right. I should talk to the Queen and let her decide what to do. Whatever punishment she decides, I’ll live with it.]
With a resolute attitude, the powerful bear rises onto her four legs and pads down the tunnel, making her way to the egg-laying chamber. Content with the extra space, I settle in and keep rolling the grubs around, laughing as they wiggle about with glee. I’m also making sure to prop an ear open, waiting for a particular sound to echo down the tunnel. It doesn’t take long, and when it finally arrives, it’s like music to my ears.
THWACK!
Holy moly! That sounded like a big one. Chuckling to myself, I push my six legs under me and make my way out of the brood chamber. Mother will be wanting a word with me as well, no doubt. Good thing my carapace has gotten this tough.
33. And Thwacks for All
I enter the egg-laying chamber to find Sarah rubbing the top of her giant bear head with one paw whilst Mother looms over her, clearly irritated. A nearby mage spins together a Mind Bridge and I allow it to connect to me without complaint. Seems that Mother wants Sarah to be able to listen in on the conversation. Makes sense, excluding her and using pheromone language would be quite rude in these circumstances.
[Was this your idea?] Mother demands with less than her usual patience.
[She blames herself for what happened, and you’re the only one who can really forgive her.] I shrug my antennae. [It made sense to send her down here so she could tell you herself and get punished for it.]
[Wait. You knew I was going to get whacked?] Sarah says, an accusatory glint in her eye.
[Thwacked. And of course, you were being ridiculous. Me trying to knock some sense into you just wouldn’t have the same effect, so I sent you down to experience some of Mother’s wisdom.]
THWACK!
Oof! Still hurts! Maybe after my next evolution and my carapace is upgraded, these won’t be quite so sharp? Or perhaps I should concentrate a build-up of extra dense carapace on the top of my head? I eye the Queen’s antennae carefully. I’m certain she’s chosen some form of mutation that makes them hit harder.
[Stop staring at my antennae,] the Queen demands.
[How could you even tell? I have compound eyes!]
[I just know,] she says nonsensically.
[Alright, so Sarah got thwacked for being dumb.] I rub my head just as she was a moment ago. [Why did I get hit?]
[The same reason,] the Queen says, still clearly annoyed.
Well, it isn’t as if I didn’t know it was coming.
[Did you explain to Sarah that she was wrong to think as she did?] I try to deflect.
[No. I just told her she was being foolish, because she was.]
[This all seems a little rude,] Sarah grumbles.
[Quiet, child,] the Queen tells her. [I’ll get back to you in a moment.]
The Asura Bear flinches and sits up a little straighter, like a schoolchild being reprimanded by a teacher. I snicker at the sight and the Queen rounds on me again.
[Something funny, child?] she says, dangerously calm.
Careful, Anthony…
[Absolutely not, Mother. My attitude is solemn and serious, as always.]
Her antennae twitch, but she finds nothing wrong with my words and settles down a little. She turns back to Sarah, sparing me her forensic examination for the time being.
[I will hear no more talk of forgiveness from you,] she tells Sarah, her mental voice once more settling into its normal soothing tone. [This is now your home, and we are now your family. There is no such thing as blame between us so long as that remains true. The choices of your friend are not your choices and we do not hold them against you, so from this point on, neither will you.]
Sarah hung her head.
[I’m not sure it’s that easy,] she whispers.
The Queen raises an antenna threateningly.
[It’s fine! I’m fine! No more guilt!] Sarah waves her massive, clawed paws in front of her muzzle in surrender.
I nod at that. Truly, there is no power greater than the thwacks of Mother. Such miraculous results.
THWACK!
[What was that one for?]
[I sensed some foolish thoughts coming from your direction,] the Queen says firmly. [Was I wrong?]
Dammit! I need to be more careful when there’s a Mind Bridge connecting us!
[Now come.] The Queen turns back to the centre of the chamber and settles herself comfortably. [Let us talk. It’s been some time since you last paid me a visit. You too, Sarah. It will be pleasant to share your company.]
As I walk over, I take note of the human-sized table and chair carved from stone that had been installed in the egg-laying chamber, but quickly put it from my mind. I’m sure there’s a reason for it.
With the three of us seated, we take a few hours to discuss the various goings on. The Queen and Sarah ask me about my evolution and I’m honest, for the most part. I talk to Sarah about her current evolution and how she feels about it—not great, it turns out. The Queen suggests that perhaps she push for tier seven, where she may be able to reverse or at least alter some of the things her current form does that drive her out of control, and Sarah promises to think about it.