While the ant, who didn't seem to have or want a name, disappeared into the underground, I felt my tail twitch, an involuntary expression of both confusion and happiness. I couldn't say that I was sure that she understood everything that I wanted her to, but I did know that we'd made steps in the right direction, and that was good enough for now. The colony, or Queen, or whatever they were called, knew that I existed and would potentially be taking steps to work with me. I turned to stride back towards Sybil, though [Tremor Sense] had alerted me that she'd walked a little bit closer during my conversation. Not so close as to put the children in any form of danger, but close enough to maybe hear a large portion of my side of the conversation.
"What shall I do to serve in this budding relationship we have with the ants?" My mate's immediate question drew a small smile to my face as she remained my Zaaktifi, my most trusted companion.
"There's nothing for you to do right now. Effectively, they wanted us to start hunting some other, different races of ants, the ones they've been feeding to the wolfstags. To that, I told her they hadn't given us any real reason to begin this new fight other than because they asked me to. I told her she should go talk to her queen to come back with some real benefits, and she agreed to do so. That's about where we are."
"Very well, Zaaktif. Please inform me if there is anything that your Zaaktifi need do for you."
"But of course, my mate." I leaned down on her shoulder, purposefully, bringing myself in contact with the squirming babies as I did so. Ragzak tried to chew on my chest as I did so, making me laugh. "I'm sure this isn't the only thing that you wanted to bring to my attention. After all, before, you'd mentioned several things that needed my input?"
"I know that Iituli, the male half of the Alpha from Tala, was looking for you. He had some questions regarding courtship as well as the steps to take in order to evolve to become Keel."
"Interesting. I'll find some time for him, but that's not pressing. What else?"
"Shraal and the Unbroken Blade's priesthood wishes to speak with you. In just these last weeks, they have made massive steps in progress on the construction of the temple. As Nievtala's chosen voice, your approval and assent is necessary in every step of the process, or so I have been told. Beyond that, the Huntmaster, Militia's Superintendent, and General wanted to speak specifically about how we are going to act with the migration of the thickfeathers as they return south for the summer. To be discussed in that same meeting is what our course of action will be with respect to any possible escapees from the Misti Hawar."
"All right. Anything else?"
"Always." Sybil's voice dripped with her usual, subtle teasing, and I felt a sudden primal need for her. Even so, I shook my head and turned my attention away, instead focusing on what she had said instead of how she'd said it.
"Anything that needs my attention today? Or is it all just just things that require the Zaaktif's attention eventually?"
"Do you wish for your mate's answer, your Zaaktifi's, or for my own opinion?"
"Well, I wouldn't mind hearing all three."
"Your Zaaktifi's answer is that your people need to see you. They have continued to see you returning victorious from every fight and venture, and now, they need to see you continuing to care for them. You are respected for your strength and your leadership, and those have never been in question. However, there is uncertainty in our ability as a whole in maintaining our status as a people when it seems that every people and creature we have come in contact with wants us dead. We've seen that we lack the necessary military might to force our continued existence on others, so seeing that you are unworried and able to deal with the less deadly threats to our lifestyle would be immensely reassuring to the Kha.
"My opinion is much the same as the Zaaktifi's. Those who live among the highest echelons trust in you implicitly. Most of us have been with you through straits narrower and more fraught than these. However, those from Tala and the plains haven't seen your determination and capability to pull through . Demonstrating those through the ability to create some things that matches the vision that you have presented to them will allow them to elevate themselves. I would not be surprised if that also allows those struggling to progress to the next caste to do so."
Her voice cut out for a moment as she scratched at the base of Thia's frills by her ear. Then, in a quiet voice, she looked up at me through hooded eyes. "Your mate has missed you. So have your children, but they will have many more opportunities to see you now that you are home."
I couldn't stop my heart rate from climbing as I looked down at my mate being so open with me. I bared my teeth in a smile as I chuckled in my throat.
"Then let my mate's opinion carry the most weight." I chuckled as I gathered my entire family in my arms and carried them away to the slowly growing palace, where I left the babies in Trai's care before going for an extended soak in a heated sand bath with my mate.
Thanks for reading! Check out the Patreon, where you can read up to 40 chapters ahead!
https://www.patreon.com/No_creative_name
Join the swarm! https://discord.gg/RqzsKj8hkD