Queen of Dust and Bugs

Cass hadn’t realized that there was a look of nervousness on her face, not until she felt a hand wrap around hers and a friendly shoulder brush against hers. Looking up she saw Morrie and gave her a smile.

‘anybody up for a little bit of naked cliff-diving?’

‘a promise is a promise.’

‘that secretive bastard refused to tell me.’

‘if i had his head in my hands now, i would squeeze it like a giant lemon! squish!’

‘i’ll never forget what you did.’

‘you’re going to get yourself killed.’

‘i don’t think there’s anyone else who can help you.’

‘i don’t want any trouble from you, do you understand me.’

‘there was nothing i could do or say that could appease her.’

‘everything’s fallen apart, and i’m responsible.’

‘i have to make it right somehow. i have to.’

‘let me help you fix this.’

‘he’s not responsible for what he does.’

‘you’ve been protecting him this entire time?’

‘nobody tells me what to do anymore.’

‘i warned you what would happen if you kept shouting!’

‘all this sneaking around and killing is so unnecessary.’

‘you do nothing but deprive me of my fun.’

‘i would never have forgiven myself, had you died.’

‘i see no way this can end happily.’

‘death would be… merciful.’

‘it doesn’t hurt to be optimistic sometimes.’

‘i’d kiss your feet if you didn’t look as if you’d kill me if i did that.’

‘handshake, yes. kiss, no.’

‘making deals with demons never turns out well.’

‘he does not seem to remember anything, which is a blessing.’

‘she told me of your daring rescue.’

‘there’s been so much death and destruction.’

‘now that the warm, fuzzy part of the day is over with, we can get back to the ritual dismemberments.’

‘perhaps you mean more to him than you think.’

‘i thought i’d lost this to my own stupidity.’

‘i wish i’d had this a long time ago.’

‘i would thank you for this, if i knew how.’

‘what? and i’m not even drunk yet!’

‘there is so much left to do.’

‘no one is content to be who they are.’

‘he carries his old life with him as a turtle carries its shell.’

‘roses can open any woman’s heart, you know.’

‘my brother hit him over the head with a pot.’

‘that happened once, just once, and you never let it drop.’

‘i gave that man the best seven weeks of my life!’

‘you’re hiding something. i want to know what it is.’

‘anyone need help? maybe with something not strictly legal?’

‘i hoped it wouldn’t be you who came for me.’

‘i think i need to go hide somewhere.’

‘things are about to get messy.’

‘and people actually voluntarily attack you? are they stupid?’

‘hundreds have died in my wake. you’re just a number to me.’

‘you’re not worth my time.’

‘she’s disappointed there was no fighting.’

‘a lot of folk swallow whatever lies are fed to them.’

‘i don’t take kindly to threats.’

‘i see we have guests.’

‘i thought it best to leave the decision to you.’

‘i’m good at non-trivial tasks.’

‘but you’re going to ask me to get it anyhow, right?’

‘it has a history full of carnage and murder.’

‘your attitude is getting annoying.’

‘you think sarcasm is going to help, do you?’

‘the forest is like a thing alive.’

‘more likely she would love to eat you.’

‘i wasn’t trying to sneak up on you.’

‘she was always safest in my care.’

‘i’ll make you dead if you keep up the puns.’

‘i just want a nap, of all things. go figure.’

‘if you don’t want it, give it back.’

‘now that’s gratitude for you.’

‘i appreciate the fact that you even thought of me.’

‘i was a dreadful mentor, harsh and impatient.’

‘i’m sorry for the way i treated you.’

‘i’ve put it behind me. you should too.’

‘we’ve spent enough time on my personal affairs.’

‘let’s see… when was the last time i slipped my hand into a dark hole?’

‘why can’t the dead stay in the ground where they belong?’

‘there is a soul within the stone.’

‘we’re talking right now, aren’t we? so talk.’

‘we’ve slaughtered our way this farm what’s a bit further?’

‘arguing with that logic will just give me a headache.’

‘he struggles with his nature.’

‘i’m making this my fight.’

A patrol was easy enough, Morrie wasn’t worried. She and her massive spiderant went out to do patrols all the time when they got tired of being cooped up inside the camp. She let go of Cass and winked.

“I’ll b’ back ‘fore ya know it!”

Of course, Pandora being what it was, there was never a guarantee of success. The shrieking of an injured spiderant that caused all the other ones in the camp to take note was the first clue that something had gone amiss. Mitch, Avery’s knight, went scurrying off without him and came back shrieking in distress just as he recognized the pitch of the other ant as Morrie’s Mim. If Mim was hurt Morrie was sure to be too and he went skidding into Cass’ clinic as Jax took off for the camp entrance.

“Cass! Something happened, Morrie’s hurt! Dunno how bad but Mim doesn’t make noise like that unless it’s bad!”

Of course, Cass being Cass, she believed her that she’d be right back and that everything would be fine. Instead of spending any time worrying about the other woman she spent most of the day thinking up things she’d like to do with her when she got back.

From her position in the clinic Cass couldn’t hear the shrieks of the spiderant, so it was quite the shock when then man burst in.

“W-What?” Her eyes went wide and she immediately stopped what she was doing.

Morrie was covered in blood and it was hard to tell what was hers and what wasn't. A gash on the shaved side of her head had been hastily and messily bandaged, and more red stained bandages wrapped around her torso and covered several gashes and bullet holes in her skin. The most obvious injury was the broken off blade of a buzzaxe buried just below her right shoulder, deep enough that it had impacted and stuck in the bone. The queen had been smart enough not to try getting the thing out and Jax was very careful not to touch or disturb it.

Her eyes were open but just glassy slits in a nearly white face.

She gives the other woman a smooch on the cheek through her bandanna.

“Promise. I’ll b’ back inna couple hours at most, ’s jus’ a routine territory patrol ‘n shit, shouldn’t b’ a problem. I’ll count th’ hours till I get back.”

“Heh, you better. Because, y’know, i’ll totally be able to tell if you didn’t.”

"I'll b' back 'fore ya know it!"

Of course, Pandora being what it was, there was never a guarantee of success. The shrieking of an injured spiderant that caused all the other ones in the camp to take note was the first clue that something had gone amiss. Mitch, Avery's knight, went scurrying off without him and came back shrieking in distress just as he recognized the pitch of the other ant as Morrie's Mim. If Mim was hurt Morrie was sure to be too and he went skidding into Cass' clinic as Jax took off for the camp entrance.

“Guilty! Ya so cute when ya all needy ‘n wantin’. Can’t resist.”

Cass walked on over to the small group, a smile on her face to greet new people.

“This’ Jax,” Morrie points to the nomad. “An’ Avery. Jax does a lot ‘f th’ day t’ day stuff ‘n does raids wit’ me, Ave takes care 'f a lot 'f th’ supplies 'n shit. Ya ever need anythin’ an’ I’m not 'round, ya ask 'em an they’ll get ya what ya need. This,” she points up at the psycho leaning over them all to peer at Cass. “Is Steven. 'E’s m’ lil brother. Relatively speakin’.”

He grunted and waved with his little arm.

She blinked when he spoke, taking a second to register what he was saying and understand it before nodding. He wasn’t wrong. Those were all ways you could kind of describe a doctor.