The rabbit took some wrangling to remove from its little box and keep in place upon the table, but it was nothing that the swarm queen couldn't do.  With the alchemist and his young assistant looking on in fearful but intrigued anticipation, Clotho pinned the small animal on the table and held up her left hand.  From a groove in the palm, a short, bladelike prong emerged, leaking a dark liquid that glistened in the yellow-green firefly-lanterns' light.  Once her stinger had fully extended, Clotho reached down toward the captured mammal's belly and nicked the skin beneath its scrubby brown fur.

The changes were immediate.  Growing very still but for the occasional twitch, the rabbit began to slough off its hair.  Where the fur fell off, greenish plates of chitin formed, taking on a rough similarity to segmented plate armor.  Legs grew longer, and a third pair began to branch from the middle of the bunny's torso.  Its ears hardened and curved inward, like the prongs of a Hercules beetle, and even the texture of its eyes altered until the thing's vision was compounded.  Spiky mandibles extended around its mouth, and its teeth grew sharp while joining to the gums.  [color=9F8170]“Fascinating,”[/color] Clotho breathed.  [color=9F8170]“Now for the moment of truth.”[/color]  She let the miniature monster go.

Predictably, it remained statuesque except for the constant motion of its orange eyes.  This gratified Clotho immensely.  [color=9F8170]“The prototype serum is satisfactory.  Subject's body structure has been altered immensely, and...”[/color] she gave a sharp, high-pitched chirp, and the former rabbit rolled onto its back.  [color=9F8170]“...it is fully receptive to instruction.  Congratulations, alchemist Omer,”[/color] she said to the man.  [color=9F8170]“It would appear that you're useful to me after all.  I understand the knowledge is limited, but please continue to work on the serum as much as you can.  Work assured that if you do well I shall not use it on you.  Soon I will leave, and you know what fate awaits you should you venture out of my hive.”[/color]

At that moment, an imp rushed into the room.  Before it could even blink, Clotho had reacted, her rapier drawn and nestled against its throat, prompting a terrified squeak.  If she'd still have been human, Clotho would have rolled her eyes.  [color=9F8170]“Announce your presence next time, small one,”[/color] she chided as she replaced her rapier on her back.  [color=9F8170]“I am not fond of surprises.  Do you have news from the Master?”[/color]

Afterward, Clotho was pleased indeed.  [color=9F8170]“Dwarves...master builders and engineers, and less well known, alchemists.  This could be exactly the thing you need to complete my transformation toxin.”[/color]  She zipped into the hive's main atrium, where the bulk of her forces spent their time.  Looking down upon on Myrmidons, Antlions, and Lambent, she silently thanked the Master for giving her an opportunity for her minions to shine.  A series of clicks and shrieks communicated everything that Clotho required, and soon after she emerged from her dungeon with her minions not far behind.  At the entrance, she encountered Twitch, who the imp had said would be joining her on the mission.  [color=9F8170]“Hello again, whiskered one.  The Master has trusted us with a task most important.  I am sure the both of us will prove beyond a doubt's shadow that we are worthy of his trust.”[/color]  A quick look around determined the absence of Ekusha and That Which Consumes Peace.  [color=9F8170]“The demon and the spirit have not yet arrived?”[/color]