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Spirit Circles
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>>82116
The Flash finally respond, using a response that plays upon their hesitance to respond immediately.
"We.... believe that Scars Of Yesterday is to the North, somewhere. At least, that is what we have gleaned from other ants bringing news. We are sorry if we cannot be more help, but we are still learning the area around us."
...Hm. Technically, this is true. I am slightly north of the Flash above me, and they are aware of this via other ants: Namely, myself.
Now, I wonder how Burn Crazy The Hellion will take such misrepresented data....
"To the North of here? That shouldn't be possible, security is far tighter up there, the chance that a Valiance bearer would not be detected that close to one of our hives is negligible."
"Perhaps they are in the forest we heard about, to the north? Several visitors cautioned us not to go there, that no one can lay claim to it."
"....Possible, I suppose, but how could ants, strong for their kind or no, survive surrounded by those who live there? Running into even one of the more aggressive inhabitants would mean their doom, and with Valiance of it's own, Scars Of Yesterday would be detected and slain quickly."
Burn Crazy The Hellion leans in closer, it's massive jaws only scant millimeters away from the communicating Flash.
"Are you sure that is what you heard? I am reluctant to believe that this place where one of our warriors fell for a reason we do not yet know could have so little information on this ant I seek."
His mandibles open marginally, a glistening ring of fluid covering his jaws, gleaming in the light with a sickly blue/green color.
"I am not sure I believe you, little ants."
.....This exchange seems to be souring.
>>81951
...Perhaps there is a way to dispatch this foe that would not require revealing Crescent's location.
I dash along the ground, moving further North as fast as I can, and the moment I have enough foliage to ablate sound between myself and the bee, I start to employ Aerosmith to accelerate my rate of travel.
Once I have moved some several dozen centimeters distant, I brace myself beneath a flower, and imploy Aerosmith more drastically.
AEROSMITH
I jet upwards, flung into the air above the flowers, my limbs akimbo as I reorient myself to face the distant flower that the bee accosts our scouts on. As it is, I cannot see the bee, it's form blocked by a particularly thick petal.
I open my spiracles wide once more, and as I trigger them to send me hurtling through the air towards Burn Crazy The Hellion's location, I exhude a ringing proclamation, hoping to build on the farce the Flash established.
"No matter where in your so-called empire I go, I find you and yours accosting or enslaving all you find. Well, I see no empire here to protect you, bee!"
I snap my mmandibles shut as I rush closer, watching Burn Crazy The Hellion turn slowly, oh so slowly towards the newly percieved threat I represent.
PATH OF GLORY
I accelerate further, turning my body into a spear, aiming to rip a gory hole through the bee's thorax, removing it's ability to fly if not killing it outright.
Instead of piercing a great path through the bee, I rebound with tremendous force, the impact too jarring, disorienting for me to compensate with Aerosmith. I vaguely percieve the bee flung off the flower by the force of the blow, it's body careening through the foliage.
.....And yet the bee rises up again as I regain my focus, it's baleful gaze directed upon me as it's wings beat out a resonant drone.
!? It is completely unwounded from the assault. The only creature that could claim to be so durable before was.....
The Metal.
"....I go seeking you out, and you come to me, you wretched little ant. Fine, this saves me the trouble. In the name of Acid Queen, I will kill you. .....But for what you did to The Metal, I will make you feel agony as you die!"
The bee begins to dive straight at... !? The Flash beside me are it's target!
I scoop up their forms in my legs, and wrench my spiracles open as the bee plummets ever closer.
AEROSMITH
I fling myself aside from the bee's destructive dive, my flight slowed by the extra weight I carry.
As I alight on another flower's petals, I release the flash, and continue with the facade.
"Flee, little ones, flee back to your colony and your queen. I will not bring my troubles down on you."
The Flash thankfully seem to grasp my plan, and dash off down the stalk on their path back to Crescent as the bee turns to face me once more, doing what they can to look like terrified and horrifically outclassed ants trying to escape death in someone else's fight.
But now it is just Burn Crazy The Hellion and me above the flower's canopy. The bee is hovering in the air some several centimeters distant from my location atop another flower's petals, it's gaze speculative and intent on my form.
What should I do?
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