Story Pitch - Colony

Colony

This one's got a lot of history and inspirations.  Starting out as a spur-of-the-moment novella idea based on my obsession with insects over college (if you all remember my 3D models I did for Insectora), the manuscript I started eventually found its way into the hands of my mom and two younger siblings.  They've liked it enough that they now want me to finish it, so at this point it's kind of in dedication to them.  Kind of awesome that I've got family rooting me on for a project.

The story goes like this; similarly done in the fashion of books like Redwall and Watership Down, the story involves a colony of Red Ants (also known as Wood Ants, of the species Formica to be specific).  Focusing on the viewpoint of a few characters, the main character, Cor (short for Corinthia) is an adolescent ant recently pupated from the Warrior Caste.  But she's got a problem; unlike her countless sisters, she cannot spray, a tactic that is vital as a part of Warrior life.  To try and see whether or not she is a late bloomer, the Queen decides to elect Artemis, the Captain of the Guard, to watch over her and mentor her until the day of the Deciding occurs, where Cor will either become a true Warrior or be shipped off to one of the other caste broods.

Meanwhile, within the depths of the Nest's dark corridors, one of the Royals, a juvenile queen (or Princess) named Helen, plots with her close brother Paris.  Rather than be forced to go on a mating flight and start her own Nest, Helen schemes to try and take over the Nest and depose her mother, the current Queen.  Plotting with rival nests and gangs of enemy ant species, she intends to fully take control of the Nest and eliminate everyone loyal to her mother, and feels that Cor would be the perfect scapegoat.

Will the inventive Cor fall into Helen's trap?  Will she ever learn to spray or be drummed out as a seperate caste in the Nest?  Will she discover her place in the Colony?