Hive worms made their sealed structures from chewed vegetable matter, mud, resin, and extruded web fibers. The enormous colonies were both nests and cocoons, hundreds of meters in diameter. In the center a grublike queen gave birth to larvae that became large worms anchored to the colony’s heart. The worms extended their segmented stalks outward with heads like huge petals surrounding a voracious mouth.

Normally, the worms extended from their nest to capture any prey that ventured within reach. After digesting animals and insects, they fed the nutrients back to the queen in the center of the nest. At night the sleeping worms drew their facepetals together like a flower returning to a bud.

When this phase of growth was complete, the larval worms pulled back into the nest, sealed the openings, and converted the hive into an armored fortress. Her work done, the queen died, and the sleeping worms digested her body while they gestated. It was incredibly rare to discover a pupating hive, especially one ready to hatch.…

She had to find Beneto. Estarra hurried back, knowing her brother would be planting new treelings in one of the sundappled clearings. She found him working in the shade, surrounded by pots into which he packed fertile soil.

Beneto looked up at his sister with a smile that always warmed her heart. The marks of his accomplishments, tattoos and designs of the green priesthood, gave his features a totemic appearance. She thought her brother was very handsome and suspected that he would soon choose a mate—probably from among the green priests, though that was not required for marriage.

Beneto knelt, intent on his young trees. Gently, he stroked the tiny fronds as if to apologize for cutting them loose of the parent tree. “These four are scheduled for Dremen, where it’s cool and moist but without much sun,” he said to Estarra. “Though there’s no green priest assigned to the planet, we will still plant a grove for telink access.”

Beneto pointed to other strong treelings. “These two will be potted and carried aboard merchant vessels, though eventually they’ll grow large enough that they’ll need to be planted in soil again. At that time, we’ll ask the trees where they want to go.” Then Beneto noticed her breathless excitement. “All right, what have you brought for me this day, little sister? A new insect? An untasted berry? Or a flower with a perfume that will make me sneeze?”

“It’s too big to carry, Beneto.” Catching her breath, she told him about the sleeping worm hive. “It’s big enough for a dozen families at least! We’ve needed new quarters for over a year.”

“Indeed we have,” Beneto said. “A remarkable discovery, and a very good omen. I’m sure Mother and Father will pat you on the head.” Estarra scowled, and he laughed at her predictable reaction. “It’s a valuable find, Estarra. When do you predict it will hatch?”

“Two weeks, I think. Three at the most. Probably about the time Reynald returns from his peregrination.”