The Queen crunched her demon prey with satisfaction. A strange, bladed creature, the monster had put up quite a fight before she’d been able to overpower it. There was something so gratifying about hunting for her own Biomass. She doubted she would ever get tired of it.

“This area isn’t secure, Mother. We shouldn’t tarry for long.”

There was something else that she was definitely tired of, though.

“We are perfectly safe, my child,” she gently reminded the soldier charged with managing her security today. Her antennae waved to indicate the area around them. “We are secure within the borders of the Colony. There are cities held by our family in every direction. What harm can possibly come to us?”

Indeed, the Queen was suffering from the overprotective nature of her children even more than usual lately. She insisted on her daily hunts, but the restrictions they tried to put on her grew more onerous by the day. The area she’d been limited to held only meagre prey, and wasn’t large enough to replenish between hunts. What’s more, it was bordered on all sides by Colony strongholds. She was literally surrounded by armies of her children.

She’d even begun to suspect they were combing the hunting grounds to prune out any creatures that they thought might be too dangerous.

She was a patient creature, the Queen, filled with love and acceptance of her children’s quirks, but even she had limits.

“I think I’ll head somewhere different and continue my hunt,” she announced, “I am not yet satisfied with the Biomass I have collected.”

Indeed, it was difficult for her to gain sufficient food on these trips, since there were so few higher tier demons.

Her guards grew still and looked at each other warily.

“A-are you sure, Mother? Normally you would need to return back to the nest right about now. You wouldn’t want to miss your quota for the day.”

“There is plenty of time. You are not obliged to come with me, of course.”

“We will come! We wouldn’t dream of abandoning you!” She paused after her outburst to steady herself. “Uh. Where would you like to go, Mother?”

The Queen thought for a time. The issue was, no matter where she went, there were likely to be a thousand family members sweeping the place clean before she got there. The Colony hadn’t had the antpower to waste babying her like this when she’d hunted in the second stratum, but apparently that wasn’t an issue now.

Every direction would take her into Colony controlled and sanitised areas of the third stratum. That is, every direction except for one.

“I think I’ll head down through the tunnels to the layer below. I hear there are strong monsters down there.”

All of her guards within range to smell what she’d said froze in place as the Queen began walking toward the nearest tunnel entrance. There was a little lift in her step as her six legs carried her forward toward excitement.

“Wait! Mother! You can’t go down there!”

“Of course I can, child. The tunnels are more than wide enough, I know that many have been working on them.”

The mining and exploration had been constant since the Colony had made their home here. Constructing wide and safe pathways was always a priority for the family. Luckily enough, even she would fit on the wider roads, despite her size.

Although apparently the troublesome one was evolving, which may mean she was no longer the largest ant in the Colony. That was likely a good thing. If the children started to make roads even larger to accommodate that danger magnet, then there would be even more paths she could take.

“That’s not what I mean!” her guard protested. “That area isn’t safe.”

“Are you saying that I’m not strong enough? Do not worry yourself. I was fighting long before even the first eggs were laid. I know how to take care of myself, or retreat from danger.”

She now had a long trail of followers rushing along behind her, and even more running ahead, desperate to reach the tunnels before she could get there. She didn’t mind, she couldn’t race faster than them anyway. In the short time they had before she arrived, there was little they could do to sanitise the area.

“That’s not what I mean, Mother! There has been word of great danger brewing in the layers below! Powerful demons of extremely high tier. The whole stratum has been bracing for trouble.”

Interesting, she hadn’t heard of such a thing. Clearly, they had worked to keep it from her.

“I am the second strongest member of this family,” she said firmly, “if there is danger, then I should, of course, be involved in protecting the family. I will not stand aside and have my children rush into danger in my stead.”

Even though she had heard from her friend, Enid, that human Queens often behaved in that way, sending others to fight in their stead. Bizarre.

When she arrived at the tunnel entrance, it was crawling with her children. Hundreds of them, inspecting every nook and cranny to ensure there were no hidden dangers. Their care warmed her heart even as it exasperated her. Such a waste of time and energy! There were so many more important things for them to be worrying about.

With a friendly patter here and there with her antennae, she plunged into the tunnel and continued on her way down to the next layer. Her heart beat a little faster as the excitement built within her. Finally, somewhere she might find a real challenge. How long had it been?

The demons were closer to her tier and far more fierce than what she had been able to find in the second stratum. Now she had a chance to engage in a real hunt.

Her mandibles clicked in anticipation.

Of course, if it was too dangerous, she would return to the nest. The last thing she wanted was for her children to throw themselves into an unwinnable battle to protect her.

With how many were rushing down after her, there likely wouldn’t be anything they found that they couldn’t handle.