A Nurse in Disguise

Chapter 1

Nephila's quiet shift was nearly at an end. Even though she couldn't feel it deep in the dark under the mountain, she knew the first rays of light would soon be reaching the mountain's peak. Soon, the quiet murmur of the nighttime Hive Mind would grow from a few hundred voices into the thousands! Bustling with voices as the Hive began its day.

However her quiet contemplation of the dawn that would soon be coming was interrupted by a sense of unease from the outer sentries. Normally, she would not be able to feel anything so mild, but with so few voices adding to the Mind any irregularity stood out. Out of curiosity, she turned her mind towards the voice, wondering what could be the cause o- ALARM! ALARM! ATTACKERS ATTACK-

Nephila staggered under the sudden weight of the sentries' cries! It felt like the entire perimeter was shouting as one before falling silent just as suddenly. She hoped from the guards being simply too busy dealing with this threat - whatever it was - to continue their warnings, but....she feared there was another reason.

This sudden, oppressive silence did not last long. Her fears soon doubled as the entire mountain - from root to peak - was rocked by a series of explosions. Down in the depths it was scarcely more than a series of dull 'thumps' through the rock. But for her to even feel it at all-! Higher up it must be devastating!

Her growing terror and the panic of a hundred other Changelings soon filled that terrifying vacuum in the Hive Mind. Quickly, more and more voices began to join in, woken by the shock of both the initial cry and the blasts.

More wordless fear. More warnings. More queries. More. More! More! Until the Hive Mind - normally a calm, quiet chorus of unity - was true bedlam! Nephila felt the entire hive dissolve into chaos as the panic of every Changeling within it built upon itself over and over again.
Nephila did notice some voices trying to reign in the chaos. Various commanders of the guard tried to organize their troops, get them out of their quarters, and into the growing fight. Yet they weren’t but a faint echo amongst the cacophony of chaotic noise.

Queen Vevnith was having slightly more success organizing all those unskilled in fighting, organizing them into ad hoc militias and evacuation parties, leaving the main battle to her experienced commanders. Nephila felt her Queen as a reassuring presence amongst the chaos, her presence taking the edges off of the jagged terror still echoing through the Hivemind. It was too much for even the Queen to truly quell, but it was enough that Nephila was able to think once again.

As her individuality reasserted itself, Nephila grew more aware of the wails of the nymphs around her. Their minds were still developing, and were practically open to the Hive Mind pressing in on them. So she blocked out the roaring chaos as best she could and focused on her own duties. She might not be able to help the fighting up above, but she could help here inside this room.

So she set about caring for her charges in the nursery. Using touch to bring nymphs back into themselves, soothing them despite the panic pounding at their minds. She focused on doing what she could for her charges, even as the shouts from above became audible through the air instead of just through the Hive Mind. Even as the explosions drew ever closer.

Soon, the explosions and sounds of fighting became far too much to ignore. Cracks were beginning to spider web across the ceiling as rock gave way to the constant jackhammer of blasts. Nephila gathered all of the soft grubs into what sheltered alcoves were available as the dust shaking off of the ceiling changed to rubble falling down and bouncing off of her carapace.
The clangor of desperate fighting sounded like it was right on top of her! Oh and the buzzing. Oh Queen the buzzing of a thousand wings from what must have been a massive swarm bearing down right! At! Her!

The escape tunnel! The thought burst through her mind. I need to take all the young into the escape tunnel! I'll have to have the older nymphs help carry the grubs but we should be able to-

Nephila's thoughts of escape were brought to a sudden halt when a massive blast - the closest one yet - dislodged a shower of stones from above as the ceiling threatened to give way entirely. Her last coherent thoughts were spent trying to shout at the nymphs through the Hive Mind to hide even as a stone crashed directly onto her head, leaving her a heap on the floor of the nursery she loved.