- Erys -

Ugh, I slept in.

After yesterday's negotiations, I had a laying session and was so exhausted afterwards that I directly went to bed.

Kyska insisted quite hard on this and I didn't have much leeway to refute her.

And those worried nurse pheromones are quite tough stuff to deal with.

Originally, I planned to look for mum after I heard that she and Honiu went to town.

But Aaron didn't mention that anything happened, so it should be right to assume that they're fine.

After waking up I first receive the usual breakfast of mushrooms and nectar.

The recent days were stressful and a balanced diet is important to keep up, according to Kyska.

I can fortunately finish it quickly enough.

(E)

(K)

Wow, it's not Kyska's style to hesitate if she wants to say something.

I directly feel dread about the reason for it.

(E)

(K)

Okay, that's not the slightest bit ominous, huh?

(E)

(K)

Graah.

This princess is a pain to deal with.

But fine, I wanted to visit my mum anyway.

I walk through the fairly spacious halls of the newest base my favorite underground insect species created in the shortest time possible over to Honiu's temporary district.

From the outer appearance everything looks calm, so maybe there's no need to worry.

The first one I see is mum, commanding some nurses around.

When I get closer I notice that she has literal rings around her eyes.

Is Honiu pushing her too hard?

"Hey mum." (E)

(F)

What was that for a sullen greeting?

She seems kinda uncomfortable with my approach.

"Okay, mum, what is going on?" (E)

"What do yuu meean?" (F)

"I mean that I had this expression often enough myself, so I can easily recognize how it looks when someone got caught redhanded and that you're deliberately speaking in human words to avoid giving too much away in Formicea." (E)

"WEll, wee have a bit of a sietuation here." (F)

"And now please in more detail." (E)

At this moment, I perceive an unfortunately familiar presence.

(H)

"Now could anyone please actually tell me what's going on?!" (E)

(A)

Gulp! What exactly was that?

I didn't recognize those pheromones.

But I'm sure that wasn't a Formicean drone.

They would never act out like this.

This was far too emotional.

Not that Formicea don't have emotions but they tend to answer more mechanically.

Bewildered I look at mum.

"What did you do?" (E)

(F)

"And what exactly did she want to do?" (E)

(H)

She didn't just say this, right?

(A)

Setbacks...

(E)

(H)

(A)

Okay, damage control.

(E)

(K)

While I know just too well how this child, which I perceive as a girl, must be feeling right now and that another giant insect nurse won't do too much to help her, Kyska is still the one with the greatest proficiency for such cases that I know.

(E)

(F)

(E)

(H)

Everything clenches inside me at this comment.

(E)

(F)

Okay, mum took pity on some children, but what did Honiu get out of it?

I look over to Kyska who should by now have reached the place where that voice came from.

I need to say, I'm curious, so I draw a bit closer to get a better look.

Weirdly enough, Kyska stands in front of the entrance, talking to a nurse.

(nurse)

(K)

Kyska, I didn't send you to give the nurse tips, but to help the girl!

Oh my, apparently she heard my thoughts.

(K)

God, this is seriously getting out of hand.

(A)

Okay, this girl needs help, and I think a human face might be better suited to calm her down.

So I'm going in there.

The girl I find not only looks like she's close to a mental breakdown but is, in general, in a rather poor state.

Mum didn't overstate things when she indicated that she wasn't treated very well for a considerable period of time.

At least in a way that she's obviously malnourished.

Okay, I should try to appear as nice as possible.

"Ehk, hello, I'm Erys." (E)

I think human sounds might be more soothing for her to hear right now.

She takes her hands from her face and looks at me.

(A)

The moment she states these words she quickly covers her mouth.

Obviously, she's embarrassed by her new voice.

"Sorry, I know you went through quite a hard time and everything seems quite bleak right now, but I promise that nobody here wants anything bad to happen to you." (E)

(A)

"Well, at least you didn't grow a tail." (E)

I let my ovipositor emerge and show it off to make a point.

Didn't extend it in a while, but there's no way I wouldn't get familiar with my body over the course of months.

"Scriekh!" (A)

She swipes at her butt but shows obvious relief when she cannot find anything there.

"You see, I know it doesn't feel that way, but it's gonna get easier. And if my case can be taken as a precedent, you'll be able, with a bit of effort, to speak like before." (E)

I think what this girl needs now the most is a bit of hope.

When Kyska told me I could recover it helped me so much to have something I could focus on.

(A)

She's pointing at the princess who is the usual culprit I would look at whenever stuff goes downhill anyway.

Well, Honiu makes this impression on others.

Wait!

She stung a boy?!

And now she's wondering about having a bad reputation with the kids?

"I'm sure you are allowed to look after them." (E)

(H)

I'm pretty sure this was advice not to try to run off.

The poor kid is already terrified by her mere presence, quivering just from looking at her.

(nurse)

(H)

Whoah, that was almost caring.

Not sure if she's even able to feel any real affection but she seems to care for their well-being.

The nurse meanwhile takes her by the hand and walks away with her.

But after the first couple steps, the girl looks down at her body, confused.

(A)

(H)

Okay, she even got her treated.

It requires a certain level of awareness to take notice of an injury.

But now they go for real.

And I'll have to deal with this catastrophe of a princess.