Hive Majeste
Maelstrom fic, cut for people who don't want to see it. Minimal foip.
If you're very careful about how you stand, you can believe nothing has changed.
The waves roll across the beach, and further down the coast crash against the cliffs.
There is no speck crossing your vision near the horizon.
You cannot hear the sounds of fresh catch being unloaded off to your right.
When I turn round, a glorious stretch of land will roll out before me.
Across the fertile land will be dotted tall black spires, seeming to pin the land in place, lest it sail away.
Further away, beyond the spires, moving encampments that will follow the seasonal migrations of the unicorn.
If I walk towards the spires I will come across a path, that path will lead underground, to a place of contemplation.
There I will find an elder in deep contemplation, if I wait long enough he will speak with me.
After all, he will tell me, if I can't show patience what hope does he have of teaching it to the young?
We will talk of philosophy, of the gods, of the practices of forging a stronger community.
If I turn around I will find the wisest being I have ever met, and the strongest hive I have ever seen.
I start to release my form, without turning.
Perhaps if I believe strongly enough then truly nothing will have changed.
And the latrines of the Majeste's troops will no longer be using a convenient cavern they found.
If you're very careful about how you stand, you can believe nothing has changed.
The waves roll across the beach, and further down the coast crash against the cliffs.
There is no speck crossing your vision near the horizon.
You cannot hear the sounds of fresh catch being unloaded off to your right.
When I turn round, a glorious stretch of land will roll out before me.
Across the fertile land will be dotted tall black spires, seeming to pin the land in place, lest it sail away.
Further away, beyond the spires, moving encampments that will follow the seasonal migrations of the unicorn.
If I walk towards the spires I will come across a path, that path will lead underground, to a place of contemplation.
There I will find an elder in deep contemplation, if I wait long enough he will speak with me.
After all, he will tell me, if I can't show patience what hope does he have of teaching it to the young?
We will talk of philosophy, of the gods, of the practices of forging a stronger community.
If I turn around I will find the wisest being I have ever met, and the strongest hive I have ever seen.
I start to release my form, without turning.
Perhaps if I believe strongly enough then truly nothing will have changed.
And the latrines of the Majeste's troops will no longer be using a convenient cavern they found.