I knew she existed within the tower, her influence unbeknownst to the citizens but felt throughout their lives. It was only after escaping from Autodale that I saw her for the first time, worn down from decades and millennia of use at the hands of the Mayor. Hive often bickered about the two—their relationship, specifically—but I never focused on the Matriarch, just that I felt a bit of pity from what I heard.
Yet seeing her for the first time felt formidable, her giant body slowly staggering through wastelands. Glancing down at her wounds and missing arm, I almost felt comfort in sharing the same predicament—a quiet understanding of sorts. Her face remained unwavering despite her injuries and pulsing muscles, which made me unnerved yet intrigued. Perhaps she also felt pity for me, perhaps she wanted to whisper ‘I understand’ so only my receptors can pick up the words.
