Planning for the Hive

Diner had been simple, and Londra had been told most didn’t eat lunch either. She smiled and thanked those clearing the tables while waiting. The tables were in a circle pattern so everyone could see each other even if they were bunched together. Their Feline Drakes were on their tables just lazing but actively listening while the other Familiars were with their parties too. Yet, nobody had really said anything other than comments on the food.

It was Trianga that spoke first, “Thank you Alden for saving us. I froze and nothing anyone could say woke me. It won’t happen again.” Her diamond, silver face and green-violet Demon eyes showed her shame and resolve. A male beside her held her shaking hand for a moment and her short tail wrapped around him.

Delta sat up and cleared his throat showing his slick, shiny black fur and golden eyes. “He says, ‘you are welcome. Once again, make sure your life parter is with you so that doesn’t happen again. I am sure he could have reached you. I guess you thought the teams were better balanced that way, but you must remember that emotion is a big part of keeping Purifying Flames strong and bright.’ I also agree. I know the last time we went out with the teams for the night battles they were grouped so mates were together. Those battles went smoothly and required little of us. Why change?” he asked curling his black tail.

Captain Richard sighed with his whole short, lean body. “We didn’t want you waiting on us, so we decided to go with the groups that worked faster instead. We talked about it and now understand that it was wrong. We also listened to that recording… we were right above you. Ours was like a level four camp with the added challenge of fighting in tunnels. Nothing too extra to worry about. I don’t know what we thought your fight was like, but after waiting for ten minutes the walls seemed to cause us to lose our nerve. It was hard to get it back for the purifying burst.”

“Ours only lasted for thirty minutes,” Captain Vitus sighed, rubbing his strong hands on his muscular legs while his silver eyes, hidden in his green, orange, and golden Kaijin mask, looked over at Twilight Star. He lowered his head, letting his long red hair fall around his long face showing just how thick and shiny his brown horn with flecks of orange and gold was. “I owe you an apology. We began to wonder and doubt. When we heard you, it was almost as if it was far away and mocking us. I still don’t know why I felt that way. If not for Rei waking us up, I don’t know if we would have pulled our weight, as small as it was.”

Rei smiled at the room; her twin silver horns with flecks of blue and white radiated with warmth. Her deep blue eyes, thickly outlined by blue, white, and green, showed so much emotion it was a wonder others didn’t start crying. “It is our shame, and we will do better. Ours was only a level one camp and it was open. Of course, we would be done first and to think badly of our other brethren fighting for their lives below us is dishonorable. We have talked about much… and want to do both level one and two of the hive. We know how to set it up so there are barriers keeping the M-Ms on their floors. We fought without music, unsettling as it was, but it did give us opportunity for surprise attacks. We are not as big or balanced as the rest of you, but we will do this.”

“That will work greatly,” Anna smiled, softening her light tan, heart-shaped face. “Horns is mostly Ogres at various stages, but you work well together. The few humans and Elves that are with you add to your strength. Look what you have done with just twenty and four Elemental Falcons. Be proud, because we are. Your Party allows us to help other areas… because you are here to keep the camps in check. We know that you can take on level four camps and your teamwork is so much better than Tails and Scales.” This caused all of Horns to stand and bow in unison while the four Elemental Falcons sang.

Captain Rison cleared his throat after they sat and the song ended. He sat at attention with his red, yellow, and violet hair perfectly braided behind his slightly pointed, ivory ears. His diamond face and violet eyes showed a torrent of emotion. “We too are grateful for all you have done for us. When I say all, I mean everyone here. You have all given us such valuable knowledge and encouragement, so our thanks. With that said, we froze at the worse moment, and we didn’t even have tunnels collapsing in on us. But we will do this! We are starting on floor four and working up to three. After we clear both floors, we will break in half and wait while drinking potion to help ease our nerves and restore our magical energy. I know we will need it. We will keep our groups with mates to help with the positivity. We too switched them around for power and speed.”

“Good,” Robbie nodded, running a buttercream finger down Anna’s light tan forearm absently. She did her best not to make a noise while Ryan’s ears twitched happily within her short black hair. “Knowing your party and the teams makes you a good leader. I agree with all you said. Starting with the stronger level is a good strategy. I would take extra mana potion just in case. Even if you don’t have a lot of mana, it can help restore your body.”

Captain Elizabeth looked around to see if it was her turn to speak. The others were silent. “I am glad we fought in the dark,” she began trying to keep emotions from her golden, oval face and blue eyes but it was evident in her voice. She took a deep breath, “fighting in the tunnels was unnerving… lots of times we hit the walls with our weapons or was tossed into them. Nothing like you had but still…” She ran a steady hand through her short, light brown hair. “We are doing five and six, starting on six and working up. Like you said, the lower the level the harder it gets. We are twenty-eight strong now… we will not embarrass ourselves.”

“I don’t know what you did that was embarrassing,” Trenton started with his deep voice. His deep green Demon eyes focused on Captain Elizabeth making her blush slight. “Having the tunnels collapse in wasn’t something I took lightly either. Fern calmed me then I came to help you. This isn’t something that is easy. Just the fact that you are doing it shows your valor. Your party freed the souls and purified the land. It doesn’t matter how it is done. Believe in yourself…” Trenton smiled. “Londra tells us that daily.”

“That she does,” Anna chuckled, leaning against her best friend. “So, you are figuring that one and two will be like a level one camp, three and four will be two, five and six will be three, seven and eight will be four, and nine and ten will be horrible level five camps?”

“Yes, that is our best guess,” Captain Rozile answered. She sat tall, proud of her evolution to Ork Hero Priestess. Her snout was gone, replaced by a thick, flat, humanlike nose on her pink porcelain, round face. Her long, snow-white hair now had three streaks of color; blue, green, and indigo, while her eyes were now more golden than brown. She no longer had pig-like ears but slightly pointed human-like ones, yet she still had only four fingers that were slightly thinner and more humanlike. “This is our quandary; one we have discussed in length. Do we take the two level four camps or does Darkest Knight?”

“Yes,” Captain Richard started with a nod. “We compared our floors and the way things happened while fighting. They were practically the same, but they finished ten minutes before we did. It could have been because of our teams, but they too switched from partners to be faster. Yet we both found out it wasn’t better.” His back, diamond face and indigo-green Demon eyes were focused on Londra. She seen it was weighing on him since his normal neat, short black and green hair was messy and covering his slightly pointed ears.

“Having a Phoenix does give them a slight advantage,” Londra started looking around at her team for their ideas. There were a few nods and Anna motioned that she wanted to add.

“I would think it slightly easier for Purgatory to navigate the tunnels,” Anna started looking at Captain Rozile with a smile. “There are many that can see in the dark and shrink when needed. Now that you have experience the tunnels you can use your abilities to help. Both teams have taken on level five camps successfully.”

“I agree with that,” Belle added in her crisp way. “If you use the life partner teams both would be successful. We also figure that floor nine will be intense. Thus, I would say Purgatory would be better with two floors while Darkest Knight has experience more… strange. The last level five they tried while we watched, on a starless night, was different in the worse and grotesque ways.”

“I tend to lean that way too,” Fern added, leaning against Trenton for a minute. “Now the tunnel unnerved us all. By doing two floors we all should be done around the same time but if you need to wait try to meditate. Keep your mind focused on all the souls you have reunited with the lifestream that can be reborn again. If you need more just look into each other’s eyes,” she added smiling at Trenton. “Such lovely eyes.” He cleared his throat.

“If by chance,” Robbie started seriously, “Darkest Knight gets done before Purgatory they could always help each other. I don’t think the other teams will need reinforcements, they are all quite skilled and have done multiple camps in a day. Yet two strange, level five floors might need some extra. So, use these lovely communicators and see if they need help before taking the shower and redistributing your party members.”

Rozile and Richard nodded at each other. Rozile said, “thanks, that was our thought. We plan on doing seven than eight just in case we do need help and they are available to help. Yet we want to try finishing both floors without it.”

Richard sat back in his chair, “Anna already showed us all how to add masks to the skin spell. Is there anything else we need to talk about?”

“Not that I can think of,” Londra answered. “Tomorrow, we start the day like any other. Do whatever you need to. Thanks to the Archdukes and Archduchess our meals will be prepared here. Lunch is at one while dinner is at seven, like today. The following day we head to the nest around nine. It is a longer ride and a few more of the Knights will be tagging along to take out any creatures that might try and stop the larger skiffs. From what I understand they plan on waiting for us like they did with the nest. So, we plan on leaving here around eight-thirty. We can and will do this!” This caused everyone to cheer while she smiled. The atmosphere in the area changed just with simple conversation. Now they all started to mingle. Laughter could be heard throughout while they pushed fear to the side.