The narrow, branching tunnel opened into a large, quiet chamber.
The air inside was warmer and more humid than the main passages.
The medicinal scent of sap and moss lingered in the air.
Structures meant for rest lined the chamber.
Elevated basins woven from slender, dried sticks and broad, soft leaves rested along the walls.
Nova lay on one of them.
She buried her face in the heaped leaves.
Strands of hair clung to her damp skin.
A leaf bandage covered her head.
The memory surfaced again.
The Centipede's massive exoskeleton bursting from the ground.
The ragged pit left behind.
Ari's hand reaching toward her as she fell.
Her fingers curled into the leaves.
The memory shifted.
Ari stumbling through the forest while they returned to the colony.
Blood streaked his skin.
His steps faltered.
Even so...
He turned away.
Then disappeared deeper into the trees.
Why did you go... when you were hurt that badly?
Nova swallowed.
Her grip tightened around the leaves.
Please... don't die.
Be okay, Ari.
She turned her head.
Her eyes settled on the thick roots woven across the ceiling.
A soft crunch echoed from the corridor outside.
Then another.
Several sets of footsteps drew closer.
"Who is coming?"
Nova's antennae twitched as she sat upright.
Her hands reached for her mandibles.
They trembled.
What do I do?
At the entrance to the chamber, Beatrice stepped inside.
Nova let out a slow breath.
The tension eased from her shoulders.
"We are here," Beatrice said.
She stepped aside.
One arm swept toward the entrance as the large group of Butterflies entered the chamber.
Nova's eyes widened.
They followed the vibrant colors of their wings as they filled the room.
No way... what...?
The guardians gently seated Luminara on one of the woven beds.
"I appreciate your kindness," she said with a small smile.
Beatrice straightened.
"I am only following orders."
"Utilize this time to rest."
Seraphina stepped into the chamber.
Her eyes moved across the glowing fungi.
Then over the woven beds.
She released a quiet sigh.
"The materials are not to my liking."
A brief pause.
"Though I must admit..."
"You possess some level of competence."
Her gaze wandered around the chamber once more.
"The structure of this chamber is superior to any of ours."
Ignatia stood off to the side with her arms crossed.
Nytheris stepped back until his shoulders rested against the tunnel wall.
He remained silent.
Nova's eyes moved from one Butterfly to another.
What kind of species are they?
And... how did they enter our colony?
Her gaze settled on Beatrice.
"It looks like Corporal Sylvie still hasn't returned from her expedition," Beatrice muttered.
She rested a hand on her waist.
"So I'll be the one to treat his wounds."
She motioned toward one of the empty beds.
The two guardians carefully lowered the injured Butterfly onto the woven bed.
"Ahh!"
His body tensed.
One hand clutched at the wound.
Beatrice turned back.
Warm sap coated her hands.
She spread it over the deep puncture wounds with slow, practiced movements.
Ignatia drew in a slow breath.
Without another word, she turned on her heel and headed toward the chamber entrance.
"And where do you think you're going, Sister?" Seraphina asked.
A strand of orange hair slipped over her shoulder as she turned.
Her blue eyes followed Ignatia.
"Do these tunnel walls feel too constricting for the mighty War Monarch?"
"Or is it simply beneath you to rest in a place like this?"
Ignatia's crimson eyes narrowed.
"We are at a disadvantage," she said.
Her gaze remained fixed on the tunnel ahead.
"And we do not have much time left."
"It is a waste of time waiting here for them to come to us."
She took another step toward the shadows.
"So I will go to them."
Beatrice pushed herself to her feet.
"Wait."
She stepped after Ignatia.
"You can't just wander through the colony on your own."
"You don't know these tunnels."
"And the soldiers outside won't know who you are."
Ignatia did not look back.
"Nytheris."
She continued walking.
"Stay here and watch over them."
"Yes... my Monarch."
Nytheris lowered his head in a bow.
Luminara rested against the woven bed.
Her blonde hair spread across the soft leaves beneath her.
A small smile curved her lips.
She's just as impatient... and just as blunt as when we were younger.
Some things never change.
"You know..."
Seraphina's voice broke the silence.
"She may be right."
She walked toward Luminara.
"Time is against us."
She stopped beside the bed.
"If your objective is to forge a temporary alliance with this colony..."
"We should do it now."
A faint smile touched her lips.
Her gaze slid toward Nytheris.
A sharp glint settled in her blue eyes.
Nytheris met her gaze without a word.
"Before it's too late."
The boulder at the entrance groaned.
Stone scraped against stone as it was pushed aside.
A faint draft slipped into the grand meeting chamber, stirring the warm earthen air.
Ari stepped inside.
The quiet murmurs spreading through the semicircle of elders faded one by one.
Heads turned.
Every gaze settled on him.
Ari's back straightened on instinct.
At the center of the chamber, Queen Celeste sat upon her elevated throne.
Lieutenant Tavian and Sergeant Cassian stood at her right.
Princess Emilia sat nearby.
The moment she saw Ari, the breath she had been holding escaped her lips.
Her shoulders eased.
Moisture gathered at the corner of one eye.
I'm glad...
She quickly brushed it away before anyone noticed.
Valeria walked to the center of the chamber.
She lowered herself into a respectful bow before the Queen.
When she rose, she moved behind the final elder.
Her arms folded across her chest.
Ari took two measured steps forward.
He stopped before the throne.
Lowering his head, he bowed.
Queen Celeste gave a small nod.
"And... what of the Butterflies?"
"They're currently resting in the recovery chambers," Valeria said.
"I've already stationed soldiers nearby in case any conflict breaks out."
She remained standing at attention.
"I await your orders to bring them before you."
"Very well, Captain."
Queen Celeste's gaze shifted to Ari.
"Now then..."
"Sergeant Cassian has already informed me of the events that transpired above the surface."
A brief silence settled over the chamber.
"I see you survived your ordeal, Lance Corporal."
"It is undeniable that your resilience exceeds expectation."
Ari blinked.
His mouth opened slightly.
"T... thank you, My Queen."
"So then, Ari..."
Celeste's voice remained calm.
"Tell me."
"Why did you bring those Monarchs into our colony?"
Her eyes never left him.
"And choose your answer carefully."
Ari swallowed.
He drew in a slow breath.
I've been in situations like this before.
This is no different.
He slowly raised his head.
"I brought them here because they saved my life."
"They were injured."
"I believed our colony was the safest place for them to recover after the attack from the Moths."
Before Queen Celeste could respond, a chair scraped sharply across the floor.
Elder Junon shot to his feet.
"Silence!"
His voice rang through the chamber.
"How dare you speak such falsehoods before our Queen!"
The chamber fell still.
Every eye turned toward him.
"So what you're saying..."
Lieutenant Tavian looked directly at Ari.
"...is that you may have led an army of Moths straight to our colony?" he asked.
He released a slow breath.
"If that's the case..."
"...then you may have doomed us all."
"I warned the Queen this conniving ant could not be trusted."
Elder Junon's teeth clenched.
"He slipped away from his squad."
"He used that opportunity to return to his original colony and expose the strength of our army."
He thrust a finger toward Ari.
"Tell us."
"What are you concealing?"
"We demand to know which colony you truly serve..."
"...and where your loyalty really lies."
Another elder leaned forward.
"Are you plotting to overthrow this colony?"
"To finish what Aixen started?"
The elder's eyes narrowed.
"Or perhaps..."
"Do you serve him?"
Ari drew in a slow, steadying breath.
"Listen."
He lifted his head.
"I'm not lying about my reasons."
"I left my squad because I heard a voice calling out to me."
He shifted his weight.
His armored feet pressed into the packed earth with a dull thud.
"I was severely injured during our encounter with the Centipede."
His hand slowly curled into a fist.
"But I endured."
"I saved one of their Monarchs."
"Her sister healed me."
Elder Junon let out a sharp scoff.
"Healed?"
Queen Celeste regarded Ari without a word.
"Beatrice's report stated your injuries were grave."
Her eyes moved over him from head to toe.
Not a single wound remained.
A faint look of curiosity settled across her face.
"Are you telling me..."
"...those Monarchs possess healing abilities?"
"Yes," Ari said.
Queen Celeste rested her cheek against her hand.
Her gaze never left him.
"Then answer me this."
"What reason do we have to involve ourselves in their conflict?"
"How can you be certain they can be trusted?"
A quiet silence settled over the chamber.
"And if this was merely a plan to infiltrate our colony..."
"...what would you do?"
"I don't know."
Ari lowered his eyes.
His shoulders dipped.
"I'm still trying to understand what's really happening."
He slowly looked back at the Queen.
"But I do know one thing."
"If we stay out of this..."
"...our colony will be in danger as well."
"And what do you mean by 'danger,' Lance Corporal?" Tavian asked.
Ari's lips parted.
The answer caught in his throat.
Before he could speak, Elder Junon slammed his hand against the armrest of his seat.
The crack echoed through the chamber.
"The soldier has proven himself to be either a traitor..."
"...or a fool who places his own reckless instincts above the safety of this colony."
He rose to his feet.
"I move that Lance Corporal Ari be exiled."
His glare locked onto Ari.
"If not exiled..."
"...then imprisoned."
His voice thundered through the chamber.
"Or executed immediately!"
No...
No, this can't be happening.
Emilia's breath caught.
Her fingers tightened around the edge of her seat.
They can't...
They can't just exile him.
Imprison him.
Or worse...
Her lips trembled.
Ari saved this colony.
He risked everything.
And now...
They're treating him like a traitor.
Her hands slowly curled into fists.
I can't...
I can't just sit here and do nothing.
Valeria stepped forward.
She came to a stop beside Ari.
"If I may, My Queen."
Valeria's voice cut through the silence.
She kept her eyes on Queen Celeste.
"Ari's recent conduct is indefensible."
A brief pause followed.
"However, the Elders are placing a single infraction above the strategic value he represents."
She turned toward the council.
"His importance to this colony has been proven time and time again."
"Ari is not a disposable soldier."
"He has prevented catastrophic losses."
"He has secured food for this colony when we needed it most."
She let her words settle over the chamber.
"To cast him aside over a matter that can be addressed after our safety is assured..."
She paused.
"...would be a far greater act of recklessness than the mistake he made."
Ari stared at her.
His eyes widened.
Valeria...
Is she really standing up for me?
Lieutenant Tavian slowly raised a hand.
"With respect, Captain Valeria..."
"...your assessment is fundamentally flawed."
Valeria's expression tightened.
"You speak of his usefulness."
"My concern is the sanctity of command."
Tavian turned toward Ari.
"This soldier did more than step out of line."
"He ignored direct orders."
"He compromised the colony's safety by bringing an unverified delegation into our territory."
His fingers settled around the hilt of his mandible.
"That cannot be overlooked..."
"...regardless of what he has accomplished in the past."
He straightened.
The plates along his shoulders shifted with the movement.
"I stand for the discipline that shields our Sovereign."
"If a Lance Corporal believes his judgment outweighs his commander's..."
"...then the fracture within our chain of command has already begun."
His eyes returned to Valeria.
"That, Captain..."
"...is the true recklessness."
The corner of Valeria's mouth lifted ever so slightly.
Well...
This is a surprise.
I never expected Tavian to be this direct.
A low scrape echoed through the chamber.
Stone ground against stone.
Every head turned toward the entrance.
The massive boulder slowly shifted aside.
A faint draft swept through the room.
Luminara's guardians pushed the boulder the rest of the way open.
The three Monarchs stepped into the Grand Meeting Chamber.
Ignatia walked ahead of the others.
She stopped near the center of the chamber.
Her crimson eyes swept across the elders one by one.
A faint glint flashed within them.
"I have no patience left."