Formicea

 

I still clearly remember the way to the nursery.
That's not too hard, since the whole hive is designed with that giant pillar that contains it at its center.
I think this is because the babies are completely defenseless and could fall prey to any kind of burrowing predator.
The wide vacant space around the pillar makes it impossible for them to enter from the sides and the top and bottom are thoroughly patrolled.
A princess on the other side is by no means defenseless and always under tight personal watch.
Such a single entity doesn't need as many guards as this whole structure in comparison.
And in case of a greater attack, it's better when the princesses are in a position where they can escape on their own.
Meanwhile, the brood can't be moved this easily, so they might have to be left behind.

Yet now I grow a little anxious.
This understanding of the hive's structure was not my own idea, but rather an ingrained instinct.
It would make sense that a princess knows how to build a base if she is ever going to found one.

 

<So, what do you exactly want to do there, mum?> (E)

 

I think it might be better to speak in insect speech with mum to make her feel like that condition isn't abnormal.

 

<Oh, you're interested in my work?> (F)

<Sigh, don't act as if I wouldn't care. I am just worried.> (E)

<I naturally have no direct assignment. Last time Liseti's nurse always brought me there. But I know the way and am somewhat confident.> (F)

<Kyska?> (E)

<Yes, my princess?> (K)

 

If anyone should know about the procedures there, then the elite nurse, who was assigned to me.

 

<Do you know if that's fine? I mean, can my mother just like this go there?> (E)

<It shouldn't pose a problem. Young nurses are ought to develop a feel for where their work is needed, while the elder nurses fill the gaps and correct the distribution if necessary. It's not like tending to the little ones is a perfectly exact act. Each of them is unique and has its own intervals of need.> (K)

 

So the nurses are rather free to look where they have to help before a baby dies.
I mean most of them still live, so the system seems to work.
We soon reach one of the bridges leading to the pillar.
I walk a little closer to Kyska.

 

<Will my mum be fine? I mean, before she couldn't communicate, but now she might say something wrong to them.> (E)

<I can hear you just fine! Or rather...smell you?> (F)

 

Oh, wonderful.
No more having secrets from my mother.
Great.

 

<It should be fine as long she performs her tasks with attention. Nothing else is expected and the nurses shouldn't care about anything else. As long she doesn't insult the queen or their respective broodmother that is.> (K)

 

Sounds convincing.
No one likes it when you mess up their work or insult their mothers.
And the hive is certainly not the right place to call for a revolution.

 

<Wait! Respective broodmother? Isn't that Honiu responsible for the nursery? I don't think we have positive feelings towards her. Some of the nurses belong to her, right?> (E)

<Obviously, but most originate from the queen.> (K)

<You don't need to worry. I will simply avoid talking about politics.> (F)

<Sigh! I'm still worried to have you here.> (E)

< As I said, she was a strange one, but I wouldn't say that she acted with malicious intent.> (F)

<Please, don't defend her! I already said I wouldn't start a war, but this doesn't mean I will get along with the one who did this to you.> (E)

<Fine, but now get going. It's still an important job.> (F)

<That's for sure!> (K)

 

Damn. I'm fighting a losing battle against this alliance of nurses.

This is my second time in the nursery, and again I think I cause a commotion.
At least I gather quite a lot of attention.
But it could also be because of the little army behind me.
Anyway, I think I disturb here the process.

 

<Mum, I think I shouldn't stay too long.> (E)

<If you say so. But we should at least go to do our visit.> (F)

<As you want.> (E)

 

I know she means well, and it might be the right thing to do, but just looking at these beings, knowing how they came into existence makes me feel incredibly uncanny.
We decent till we are somewhere in the middle of the pillar, maybe even the lower segment.
It's rather dark, with only occasional light stones.
But the corridors are all coated in this brown-orange applicant which reflects the bit of light.
Eventually, we reach a room with more light stones than usual.
In there are many of these tubs, yet slightly larger than I remember.
Some nurses are around, tending to the contained creatures, but most of them stop when we approach.
Mum just like this approaches them.

 

<Ehk, ski, skriak/Uh. Hello. I would like to ask if there is anything I can do.> (F)

 

They tilt their heads for a moment, which is kinda funny in that unison.
Then they recover and one addresses her.

 

<You come back. Three, five, and six are in worrisome condition. Please take care of them.> (nurse 1)

 

The first nurse to approach has a professional attitude it seems.
She waves to a lane of pods and I guess the numbers mean the location within.

 

<Your speech adjusted. Beneficial.> (nurse 2)

 

This one looks a little older. Somehow more experienced and calm.

 

<Ehk, you know it's a bit of a sore spot of mine. My old way of speaking was somewhat needed.> (F)

<Understood. I won't mention it any further.> (nurse 2)

 

Well, these insects at least never do anything unnecessary.
Mum goes to one of these pods and as soon she comes close promptly clamps her nose.

 

<Uhh, this wasn't this bad before.> (F)

 

Seems like her different sense of smell isn't that much of an advantage here.

 

<Are you fine?> (E)

<Yes, sure. I can ignore it. Even more, I now really think that I cannot leave that poor thing inside there if it has to endure this stench.> (F)

 

She takes it out and holds a rather large larva in her arms.
She seems to carry it in a special way.
Some appendages already developed and its body starts to get a brownish tint.
Or it's just the residue of whatever it laid inside.
I hope for the first.

While mum brings the larvae to a new pod, another nurse approaches her.

 

<Isn't this princess Erys you came with? Are you acquainted?> (nurse 3)

 

Oh, a cheery younger one.
I would compare her to Suki.

 

<You know her?> (F)

<I was once assigned to her. It was a little difficult, due to her intensive emission of stress pheromones. But on the other side, she didn't move, which made her easier accessible. Also, we were close to the nursery at that time, which was convenient.> (nurse 3)

<Sorry to hear that my Ery gave you a hard time. Her feels are quite much, right?> (F)

<Cruuhk! Scri, cree!/Your Erys? How can a princess be yours? How are you related?> (nurse 3)

<Well, I'm her mother.> (F)

<Mother? You are a broodmother? But you work as a nurse?> (nurse 3)

 

Mum should hurry to explain this to her because it feels as this nurse might any moment implode as confused she is.

 

<Ehk, no. I'm no broodmother.> (F)

<Then how?> (nurse 3)

<I'm a human. Humans get very few children. Two or more. Who they care for the rest of their lives. This one is mine.> (F)

<Hu-man?> (nurse 3)

<There are some more at the moment, somewhere in the middle of the outer layer.> (E)

<So you made princess Erys?> (nurse 1)

<I gave life to her. But I guess for her current position and being a princess the queen is responsible.> (F)

<Fascinating. To care only for a few individuals for the rest of your life. How could this work?> (nurse 1)

<Well, just till they're adults. After this, they head out and live their own lives.> (F)

<So after around fifteen activity intervals?> (nurse 3)

<No, not really. More like eighteen cycles. And also after this, they need much attention even when they're already grown up.> (F)

<This long!?> (nurse 3)

<Being a mother means very much devotion.> (F)

<Unbelievable.> (nurse 3)

<Could you please resume to your tasks? The pods are still in need of an exchange.> (nurse 2)

 

Mum realizes that she stopped working while talking and immediately tends back to the pod where she took the larvae from.
There she starts to scope its contents out, using an earthen vessel, and pours it in some kind of drainage.
The first nurse is still close to her.

 

<Could I ask how my Erys' little ones are? All fine?> (F)

 

Those larvae are all mine here, right?
Uncanny.

 

<All her offsprings are incredibly healthy. They develop great.> (nurse 1)

 

That's oddly reassuring to hear.

 

<That's good to hear. It would be sad if they were ill.> (F)

<You seem to care very much about princess Erys' brood.> (nurse 2)

<Well, they are family in some way. Even if that viewpoint is a little strained.> (F)

<Fa-mi-ly?> (nurse 2)

<It means to love those closest to you. That those who belong to you are the most important. I was told that you feel something like this towards your originators.> (F)

<It's natural to feel devoted to your creator.> (nurse 2)

<But the feeling should be mutual. One should be devoted and responsible for the life one has created. My daughter is like this to me.> (F)

<What a concept. But I lack insight on that matter. To have life created on your own means you are ahead of me.> (nurse 2)

<Basically it just means that you think your children are the best. And isn't she cute?> (F)

<She behaves very unusual for a princess but has some charm.> (nurse 2)

 

Right now their working chatter becomes very embarrassing for me.
But it seems mum is getting along with her colleagues.
So I should leave now, to avoid bothering them any further.
And to escape their gossiping.