[It's so damn hot!] Sarah complained.

[Of course it is,] Granin snorted, [it’s the third stratum. Place is nothing but ash and lava.]

[You might be fine,] the giant bear grumbled, [but I'm covered in fur. If I was a rock person like you, maybe it wouldn't bother me so much.]

The old shaper harrumphed.

[For starters, I am not a rock person, I am a goglari who has bonded with a true skin, a layer of ore that covers and melds with my natural skin. And I think you'll find that mental toughness, rather than heat resistance, is responsible for my tolerance.]

Torrina rolled her eyes and joined in the conversation.

[Actually, our true skin does provide a huge increase to our ability to endure extreme temperatures. It's one of the reasons the goglari were so successful expanding to the third stratum in the centuries after the cataclysm.]

The giant bear turned her head and fired a glare at the leader of the triad who did his best to ignore the threat of being stared at by a truly vicious tier six Asura Bear. Particularly one equipped in the way that this one was.

[The armour probably isn't helping the situation,] Corun observed helpfully. [I know I'd be hot under all that.]

It was true that the padding and weight of the armour, nearly two tons of it, were doing little to improve the situation. As if being a furred animal wasn't enough, she had layers of cloth and steel covering her to the point she felt as if she were sweating literal buckets every second.

[I need to hydrate,] she gasped.

[I think you need an enchantment to help manage the heat issue,] Torrina observed.

[That's a valid point, actually,] Granin observed. [Usually a first stratum monster is a little more resistant to the environmental changes as you descend through the layers, but I think this is something of a special case. Sarah is much better built to tolerate the cold than she is the heat. If Smithant is still about down here we should approach her to make those adjustments.]

[I'd really appreciate it,] Sarah said.

The four of them looked out from the platform on which they stood for a moment, taking in the absurd view of the wide open space that opened up before them and extended in all directions as far as their eyes could see. The harsh glow of lava burned into their eyes and the taste of ash lingered on their tongues, making their welcome to this place an altogether unpleasant one.

[I hate this place,] Granin grumped, [it's put me in a bad mood. Sorry if I come across as dismissive, Sarah. I'm just grouchy.]

[That's alright,] she sympathised, [I'm much the same as you.]

Torrina could only shake her head at the two of them as she glanced over the side of the platform for a moment.

"I don't know how you do that," Corun shuddered. "I'd get vertigo."

[We should be down in another five minutes or so,] she informed the group. [Pretty quick trip, all things considered.]

[It's impressive the Colony managed to get this lift system in place so quickly,] Sarah said, looking up at the massive rope system that connected them to the ceiling so far above.]

[There's a lot of things that impress me about the Colony, but their ability to get stuff built quickly is starting to become just a normal expectation from my point of view,] Granin shrugged. [How many times do they need to pull of the impossible before I just start to expect it from them?]

A short time later the platform finally touched down into the city and they were able to unpin and open the gate, allowing the heat affected bear to stroll out and then slump onto the ground.

[Alright I'm here, take it off now.]

It took nearly ten minutes for the trio to unbuckle all the straps, by which time the platform had already ascended halfway back to the roof.

[Oh thank goodness,] Sarah groaned, [that is so much better.]

[You didn't have to come down here,] Torrina reminded her, [this was your choice.]

The big bear rolled her shoulders uncomfortably.

[It just doesn't feel right, sitting up there, enjoying the benefits of the Colony's achievements without contributing anything. They work so hard whilst I sit around and what? Play with the grubs? It's not right,] Sarah repeated herself as she finally pushed her body back onto its feet.

[That doesn't mean you have to fight,] Corun reminded her. [It didn't work out so well last time did it?]

Sarah flinched a little but then held firm.

[It didn't go terribly,] she defended herself. [I helped protect the nest … and if I hadn't, who knows what would have happened? It went bad at the end,] she shuddered, [but I think I can control myself better now.]

[I think you can too,] Granin told her, his usual gruff tone just a hair softer than usual. [You just need to remember not to get carried away.]

As they moved through the city, it was heartening to Sarah to hear many of the mage ants and others reach out to her as she passed.

[Friend Sarah! Welcome! You missed a great fight!]

[Sarah! Had enough slacking? We welcome your assistance!]

[It will be good to fight by your side once more! Now that you are finished being lazy that is!]

Sarah pouted, no mean feat for a bear. She wasn't lazy!

Still, as they continued their walk there were many ants who waved or approached the bear to give her a friendly tap on the shoulder, communicating their welcome even if they weren't able to form a mind bridge and speak with her directly. By the time they had made it to the staging ground around the central pillar, the Asura Bear's eyes were wet, as was the fur trailing down the sides of her muzzle.

The golgari triad politely avoided looking too closely or remarking on it in any way, instead they chatted to each other about the work the Colony had done, already rebuilding the city to the point that it was hard to see any signs of the invasion at all. The area around the pillar, once exclusively the domain of Grokus' compound, had been co-opted by the Colony to become their planning and organising centre. The wall that had encircled that section of Rolku was gone, instead an interlocking series of chambers had been constructed which already had begun to look somewhat nest-like. It was almost as if the carvers couldn't help themselves, given that this was their most frequently used design.

There they found Sloan, the general in charge of the defence of the city, pouring over maps and surrounded by a hundred other generals and scouts, each waiting patiently to say their own piece.

Despite the crowd, Sloan noticed immediately as they approached and rushed out to welcome them.

[Friend Sarah! Granin, Torrina, Corun. Welcome all of you,] the general greeted them once a bridge had been established. [We thank you for coming. If you are willing, there is much that you can do here for us.]

Sarah nodded her big head slowly.

[I will do my best,] she promised.