Queen Odonata took a step back as she stared up at the eyeless warrior. His maw was dripping with blood and was caked with dust from one of her drones. Fluffy antennae sat atop his head, and he was readying to attack again massive claws flexing.
She growled and her mandibles moved anxiously as she too readied herself to fight. Then a shadow fell over them, and the enemy warrior calmed, his nostrils flaring and his antennae perked as he turned his head to the source. And she too craned her head up to see what he was regarding.
Another Queen was flying toward where their Hives were facing off, on large, beautifully colored wings. She landed delicately, but her size and weight still made the ground shift as she smoothly transitioned to walking to the front of her forces.
Calm eyes lowered themselves to look at her, and, infuriatingly enough, the enemy Queen smiled. Lavish jewelry hung from her neck, pressing down the fluff. A nose ring drew attention to her face, and the silver circlet that sat on her brow.
Then the Queen was standing besides her warrior, gesturing for him to retreat a few steps. At this range, Odonata noted that she didn't even reach the waistband of this Queen's silk skirt.
One of the enemy Queen's extra limbs softly touched her chin and forced her to look up to the moth Queen while her Warriors snarled, sharp eyes focused on the point of contact.
"Is this really a war you want to fight, little dragonfly?" She hummed, tilting her head.
Queen Odonata backed away at the seeming agelessness in those eyes. It was clearly evident that this Queen had lived much longer than she. She knew things that Odonata hadn't even had the chance to hear about.
"I do not think it is. May I have the name of my Elder?" She asked, recognizing that she was outclassed, even if she had the other vastly outnumbered.
"I am Queen Selene. And who might you be?"
"Well, Queen Odonata, I have a proposal for you..." Queen Selene hummed, kneeling down and bracing her larger arm on the ground while the other set rested on her knees.
"Of course. what might it be?"
"I propose that you leave my lands, and cast any thought of future invasion out of your mind." Selene said firmly, her soft eyes taking on a hard edge, while her warriors growled behind her to further convey unspoken threat.
Odonata could not help but to glare, but still she nodded her head and turned away. "Of course. it would be a folly on my behalf."
"Quite right! Now off you go!"