Formicea

I'm still looking at this place.

The little monsters are running around within, screaking and lashing out at each other.

Or, are they?

I mean, I guess it's playful, but they have those sharp claws at their forearms.

Like mine... Now I think I get what this little wall around them is for.

While I don't think it's actually keeping them from getting out, it serves as a barrier to keep them inside.

This, this is...

"This is a pen!" (F)

Yeah... that.

A dwelling.

All of them are kept here.

And there are so many of them.

One, two, three, four, five...

Argh, I can't count that high, and they won't stay still, even for a moment!

I only know that there are many, many more than this.

<What are you even saying?!> (F)

<Isn't it obvious? This one is a hunter. As such, she is to be kept with her pack in the respective den. That's where they're supposed to mingle among each other. To this end, the only reasonable course of action is that our hunter will have to be relocated here. Once that is accomplished, we will prepare to make use of the now-empty chamber for another drone.> (H)

I'm going to live here!?

With the monsters?!

<You can't be serious!> (F)

<Why are you emitting such discontent, Farrah? I was merely offering a suitable dwelling for this new hunter?> (H)

<Suitable?! This! This is not suitable!> (F)

<What would you be referring to? This environment is ideal for hunters, which prefer more spacious environments, while they aren't out. Also, it's important for them to be kept in groups. As they act in packs, they require time to properly bond with each other. It's essential for them to figure out their pack leader and gain a mutual understanding, so they may act as one on an instinctual level.> (H)

<You can't just treat her as any other hunter, Honiu.> (F)

<In some way you are right. She's obviously bigger and stronger than the usual hunter. I reckon she could have the makings of an alpha. On the other side, her human nature could lead to too much timidness, which would place her at a lower rank in the pack. Then she would have to obey their commands. The transition phase could prove quite difficult for her to adjust into this social hierarchy.> (H)

<She's not some animal!> (F)

<That much is obvious. She's a hunter. And a hunter ought to be treated as one. The bonding is an essential part of ensuring their proper performance as a pack, and they suffer if not allowed this. Therefore, she will remain with them, as one of their own. You'll see, this group should be suitable to take one more member into its ranks. I know you aren't all that knowledgeable about such things, Farrah, but believe me, I make this decision based on the knowledge I gained throughout the centuries.> (H)

<Sccchhhh!... Scrrrreoh. / Honiu. I understand that you are very knowledgeable about all the possible drones. However, we are not referring here to a common hunter. This is Sarah, a human girl. The way you are about to treat her, you are reducing her to a mere animal. Which in human society, merely speaking of one this way is a terrible insult. However, the fact that you'd even put it into practice is simply not agreeable. So if I ever said something that even remotely got you to consider my word, please follow me on this. I’m pleading with you not to go through with this. You'll leave this girl her chamber and allow her to lead a life that allows her to have dignity as a human. Please, I beg of you. You can't do this.> (F)

I appreciate that she's speaking out for me.

The maid was always looking out for us.

<P-please! She's right! You can't do this to Sarah!> (A)

I agree.

This is a place to keep wild animals...

Such as she considers me.

By now the hunters have spotted us.

Given how my senses are sharpened, I suppose they did already quite some time ago, but just now went to interact with us.

I unwittingly wandered a bit closer at the sight of them coming near, and find myself now at the wall, directly eye to eye with one, being very aware of its circular maw with toothspikes going every which way in there.

<I understand that you are taking a human viewpoint on this. Yet I'll fancy your opinion. So how about we ask the hunter about this? She already seems to be pretty invested in them.> (H)

The moment I feel her attention on me, I rip my gaze away from the staring contest with that hunter and look back to Honiu.

She's asking me, right?

So I think I should ask for what's important to me.

<I, I don't want to live here. I need a bed in my own room to sleep. I, I don't want this. Don't make me do this. Please.> (S)

Did, did I anger her?

I sense scrutiny.

<...Alright. But it won't do your role good. A hunter shouldn't separate themselves from their pack.> (H)

God's blessing.

I think I dodged this.

<Th-thank you.> (S)

Not sure if I even should thank her, as this was simply about not treating me as some animal, but she didn't, so it's probably smart not to make her reconsider.

I wouldn't want to have to run away because of that.

The others are still here, and aside from how weird the princess is, it's overall quite okayish here. We got enough food and a place to sleep.

Nonetheless, I'm rather glad that the princess leaves now without having taken the latter from me.

<Puh, that was awfully close. I was quite worried with her.> (A)

<I guess. She's a bit scary.> (S)

<By the way, your speech pattern is a bit different. I mean the scent emission. Did you notice?> (A)

<Maybe? What do you mean exactly> (S)

<Yours is more intense, or rather, direct.> (A)

She might have a point.

If I directly compare mine and hers, our speech has a bit of a different pitch.

Like, hers is very pronounced and clear, while mine feels powerful yet serious, as if its particular scent alone would carry weight.

<I, I think you’re probably right.> (S)

It feels at least, as if I can shout those smell thoughts now.

I suppose it might have to do with how my mouth has changed.

<Ehm, if you want to, we could practice talking human again. We got a group. Millie and Owen are in it as well, yet Owen is mostly goofing off by now. Also, it's not today, but tomorrow.> (A)

<Yes. Thank you.> (S)

I really want to talk human again.

I noticed how much the others struggled, but I think that's worth it.

The one thing I fear is with how unusual my change is, there might be more issues with me relearning to talk.

On the other side, I suppose it makes talking with the insects easier.

At least it gets quite easily out of my throat what I want to say.

"Grmbl"

Urgh, I'm hungry.

With all that was going on, I didn't even notice how bad it was.

<Oh, but I think first we should get you something to eat. I was also quite hungry after I changed.> (A)

That sounds like a great idea.

We move back to our 'crib' as they call the place where they're keeping us.

It's fortunately about eating time.

They serve the usual mushrooms.

It's a bit boring by now, but as hungry as I am, I'd stuff myself with almost everything.

"Scsh"

Damn, I almost forgot how my mouth works now.

Trying to bite into the food only extends these teeth, and I can't call what they do chewing as much as that my food just gets shredded between rotating blades.

Then, pushed back towards my throat when my teeth move, without me even truly having to swallow, the parts sprinkle right down into my stomach, which I immediately feel get to work.

Like, for real, I‘ve never felt my stomach this strongly.

It's like it's really doing something to the mushroom I swallowed in there.

Then, there's also a bit of a strange sensation with my mouth.

Aside from all these teeth, it's a bit weird to move it.

I can still close it like normal, but when I'm eating, there's this sensation.

As if I can spread it a bit more in all directions.

People called me a glutton before, but right now, I'm feeling as if I could extend my mouth much further than it should be possible.

Then there's another thing.

My tongue.

Since I've become aware of how my teeth work, I tried not to bring it too close to them, fearing I might chop it off.

Yet right now while eating, it wants to come forward.

And not just into my mouth, but all the way out.

Maybe if I'm careful?

"Sstk"

Whoah!

That went right through the mushroom!

But more importantly, I kinda latched on!

The protrusions, no, barbs, the barbs hold the mushroom and drag it inside my mouth, right to the teeth.

"Scsh"

Which close, once the haul brushes by, but not so much as that they would shred the tongue as well.

That's actually a bit scary.

I try around a bit, but without going to the limit.

I'm pretty sure I could expand my mouth really wide, like to swallow a whole loaf of bread at once.

Also, I think I can stretch my tongue far beyond my face, well, maybe not all that far, but still I believe I could manage from my mouth to the table.

However, the others are looking weirdly at me already.

Speaking of them, it's a bit hard to bear the stares from the others.

I guess they're just curious about what could be in store for them if they went through with Honiu's offer.

While some have played with the idea of going through with the change, not many have taken the jump yet.

Even I can't quite tell if I'm fine with what happened and still happens to me.

By now, I can walk somewhat fine again, and most of the unpleasant stuff has worn off, but still, it's all so utterly crazy that I couldn't quite make up my mind on it.

To get away from the gawkers, I leave as soon as the nurses take the food away.

Well, that's one reason.

The other is that I wanted to try something.

First, I wander a bit through the base.

It got quite a bit larger by now, with all the expansions Honiu ordered for.

Therefore, I eventually find what I'm looking for.

A big hall that is mostly empty.

Perfect for what I had in mind.

I gouge my lower claws into the ground.

In hindsight, this likely means that I won't wear shoes anymore.

Not like my feet have any trouble with that.

Actually, my sole feels kinda hard, but at the same time, flexible.

The ground does nothing to it.

Once I got to relish a bit in this feeling of having my claws out, I start for real, and run!

Yes, this is it!

I let my wrongly bent leg snap out as hard as I can and feel how it catapults me forward.

The other effortlessly catches my weight and does the same.

It's almost as if I'm flying, the way I'm mostly gliding through the air.

I'd also say that I can move my legs much further back than before.

Yet while I can go quite fast this way, at the end of the hall, I notice I can't change directions.

Fortunately, my hands catch me once again.

They even dig into the coating substance that the insects are using for all their walls.

Coupled with my speed, this makes me actually climb the wall a bit.

These claws are truly great for climbing.

I jump off and run the other way, latching onto the wall the same as before.

There I can climb even higher, and it feels almost effortless.

That I can lift my weight so easily...

Does this mean I got stronger?

I must be if moving like this is possible, right?

I get down again and go for another sprint.

This time, I wanted to stop on time, but I didn't quite manage to stop as I wanted before toppling forward.

Also, once I'm again on all fours, there's something about my position...

I face again the other side, and jump!

And jump again!

Whoah!

This really works!

I can jump and easily catch the drop with my claws, then without stopping, push off just enough to get my legs under me so I can fling myself away again.

This way, I can even target much better where I want to go.

Uh, the only awkward thing about this is that it reminds me a bit of how animals run.

Nonetheless, I'm going so fast that it's just fun.

I might be the fastest in the world!

I dash away from the wall and am in an instant on the other side again.

There I jump first against the wall, which is a lot better than stumbling while trying to stop.

Though, is it just me or is the impact on the rest of my body kinda dulled?

I hit it a bit with the hip and chest, but barely felt a thing.

But I'm not done yet.

I jump again and get even higher, my feet and hand claws digging easily into the surface, finding enough purchase to propel me upward.

Again!

Wait!

There's the ceiling.

Damn, I'm way too fast!

I need to catch myself!

Urgh!

Ehm... okay, everything is upside down.

I'm upside down!

For real!?

I can cling upside down from the ceiling!?

These claws are something else.

Can I..?

Yep, if I'm careful, I can even crawl slowly along the ceiling.

This is freaky.

Yet now I need to somehow get down again.

Could I just... Uh, but it's quite high.

But given how hard I jumped before... Umph.

Yep, I could just take this fall.

My legs feathered the drop perfectly, and my arms took the rest of the brunt.

Well, this is something.

Let's try around a little more.

So I get again into a sprint and alternate running and jumping.

At one point, I leave the hall.

I'm not directly exhausted, but maybe a little bit tired.

Or rather... I'm hungry again!

Urgh, I really need some more food, but the next mealtime should still be quite a while away.

You know, I went often times hungry when I was still at the orphanage, but it's a bit something else if you feel like you actually need the food.

Like, I feel how my body is working and demands something to fill me up.

"Sniff"

Huh?

I smell something.

It smells tasty!

As I just can't help myself, I follow the scent.

If I can smell it, the food shouldn’t be too far away, and maybe if I ask nicely, I might get something.

I barely notice how I start running.

Even rather fast, almost colliding with some workers, but I can just jump against a wall and past them and am already down the corridor.

Through a cavern, down another corridor, past a hall, up another passage.

The smell is getting stronger, but how far away is this food?!

Eventually, I reach the source, a hall.

I enter and... look at a pen with numerous hunters who stare back at me.

I somehow ended up here again!