My eyes adjust to the light, and my magic double-checks the world ahead. My brow settles and I shuffle about, my free claw flexing carefully. I see light, light like the surface. But, I feel the earth around and above, and it never ends.
I sniff the air, feel the disturbances, and my frown only grows. This is not the surface, yet it feels like it. My instincts call for me to go elsewhere, and yet... Strange.
"Weird." I chitter, gesturing for the royal soldier to follow as I do my best to set aside so many signals within my flesh. It looks, smells and feels like the surface, but it cannot be. We cannot build a hive here if luck remains on our side. We cannot.
The hive will be constantly breaking apart as its instincts warn them about the surface. Well, we might be able to make a proper hive, something to douse the feeling. But, that's just the problem. I can feel the earth on the rock, it's not deep. Barely so.
"A problem for later me, if there is a later me." I remark, putting my focus back on the present, where it needs to be.
My claw settles on the edge of the hole, and I peek in. I keep the royal soldier behind me and tap the ground with my staff again. There are hosts, weak, paltry hosts. Men.
"Females... I need females to be certain. Something I can test the eggs for certain on." I say, looking around with my magic as something eats away at my strength to search deeper. I withhold my power and head on into the... Forest?
A signal brings the royal soldier to my side, and I have him imitate my actions. We look one way and then the other, minding the strange nature of this... Cave? Tunnel? Underground anomaly.
I shake my head clear of the unity with the royal soldier and approach a tree. My free claw pushes against it, cracking the bark with no effort at all. A forceful thrust is all it takes to make the tree break in on itself, and I step aside. It falls, doing much as any tree might do properly.
The royal soldier twitches into action, and I gesture for it to stop. He keeps quiet and stays close as we move further. Sources of food go by, but no suitable hosts come into view. I know they're close, though.
Familiar trappings edge into view, the signs of tents and the signs of a camp's fortifications. We edge the forest's limits and peer closer. No doubt these soldiers are here to guard the gap in the mountain. Yet, they're hardly the most dedicated about it.
They never even kept an eye on the hole itself. They're simply near, and while they have many races among them... They seem... Innocent.
"Keep silent." I order the royal soldier and we head out into the open. While I have the power to kill them, all should the problem arise, I wish to test something. I have to test all options and possibilities. With so few of my hive left, I can't be risky with their lives. Eggs are a limited resource until I can be certain of a queen's egg among my stock.
"Who doth go there among the foliage and treeline!?" one of the human soldiers calls out, rising to his feet, sword drawing. Though I am no friendly-looking critter, it should be be enough to simply be calm. Easy and calm.
"Easy... Easy... I'm a friend. A friend." I lie for the sake of my hive as I watch them rely on their instincts well and true. They can see how I am dressed, they know what I am-
"The Crack in the Sky spits out more travellers. Though I must say, we are quite perplexed as to what you might ever be?" one soldier goes and I blink, a smile coming to my lips. One of both sincerity, and knowing opportunity.
"Yes, travellers. We saw the light and mistook it for the surface. Me and my friend here were hoping to catch up with our friends. We lost them in the... Earthquakes." I tell them, weaving in a lie that centres around my revenge just for the possibility of being able to make use of it. Kelbalids and humans, both surface species living in the underground. Yet, none the wiser.
"You are quite behind the last lot of travellers, no?" one of the soldiers suspects, and I twist his way, staring intently as I chitter away.
"The Crack in the Sky must've been quite powerful." one whispers and the others nod away.
"Please, then! Come, come and stay with us for the moment while we send out a rider and we can let them know!" the lead soldier goes, and I nod for the royal soldier to follow. I make a point of signalling for him to keep to himself and otherwise remain mute.
"Of course." I answer, heading towards a table as my coat of crushed helms keeps them on edge.
"Certainly a... Foul, suit of attire you choose to wear. Why such a choice?" one soldier cautiously asks, his hand never quite leaving his sword. I eye the armour they all have on, and, for all the wear and tear of my current gear. None of what they have deserves to share a place on me. Like them, it lacks everything.
"My home bears the tradition of wearing the helms of those we best in duels. As you can see, I've got quite the successful history." I say, spinning the truth a bit as they thankfully make a point of leaving the royal soldier alone. I'm the only one beyond the queen of the hive who can speak. Everyone else is to serve me and her, both the one gone and the one to be.
"I see, a warrior! You certainly carry yourself with a cunning only one of the sword might know!" the man goes, his worries somewhat gone and dusted. Irrationally so.
"Do I? I tend to pride myself on being as blatant as the rocks of a mountain." I joke, chuckling to myself as my power makes its way through the earth. Though they do not seem to find it funny, they laugh all the same in a show of welcoming warmth. My smile grows, my chitters growing as my magic sharpens itself.
A dozen spikes shoot out the ground, paralysing all of them and blocking up their mouths.
I get up, chittering away as my body calls forth some of the eggs on my person, "Now, let us bring the hive here... And get started."