The Kitins were eusocial beings with a collective consciousness and organized into a particularly strict hierarchy. Each of them occupied a specific role in the colony, one that often required little reflexive ability. Conversely, some key positions required a high degree of improvisation. As a result, the Kitins who held these positions often developed a more individual consciousness. This was the case with the kizarak lords, who ran the kitin-nest under the direct orders of the queen, and, less formally, with some of their most requested generals. Non-royal Kitins who were thought to have an individual conscience were monitored, in case any thoughts of secession crossed their minds. The kinkoo was one of them, and had recently awakened from the hypnotic state in which most of his kind would remain their whole life long. He had begun to become aware of his own existence as his lord delegated more and more tasks to him. Eventually, he had understood the thoughts that had been ordering his existence until then, and that he had been following instinctively since his birth, were not dictated by a higher being, but secreted directly by his central nervous system. The bicameral mind had collapsed, freeing the soul from the kinkoo and creating a place for the "self" next to the "we". This awakening had been particularly unpleasant for him, making a previously rigidly channeled flow of thought extremely complex. However, and contrary to what one could have believed, this acquired freedom had still reinforced his obedience: the proximity of his lord saturated his olfactory receptors with pheromones, and awakened in him strange sensations, new feelings, which more than ever gave meaning to his existence.

The Kitins were eusocial beings with a collective consciousness and organized into a particularly strict hierarchy. Each of them occupied a specific role in the colony, one that often required little reflexive ability. Conversely, some key positions required a high degree of improvisation. As a result, the Kitins who held these positions often developed a more individual consciousness. This was the case with the kizarak lords, who ran the kitin-nest under the direct orders of the queen, and, less formally, with some of their most requested generals. Non-royal Kitins who were thought to have an individual conscience were monitored, in case any thoughts of secession crossed their minds. The kinkoo was one of them, and had recently awakened from the hypnotic state in which most of his kind would remain their whole life long. He had begun to become aware of his own existence as his lord delegated more and more tasks to him. Eventually, he had understood the thoughts that had been ordering his existence until then, and that he had been following instinctively since his birth, were not dictated by a higher being, but secreted directly by his central nervous system. The bicameral mind had collapsed, freeing the soul from the kinkoo and creating a place for the "self" next to the "we". This awakening had been particularly unpleasant for him, making a previously rigidly channeled flow of thought extremely complex. However, and contrary to what one could have believed, this acquired freedom had still reinforced his obedience: the proximity of his lord saturated his olfactory receptors with pheromones, and awakened in him strange sensations, new feelings, which more than ever gave meaning to his existence.

The queen's nest was crowded with six-footed and flying Kitins, and the most important individuals were already all gathered. The high ceiling of the huge cavern was covered with glowworms, whose light reflected off the creatures' shells and set the whole space ablaze in a mesmerizing kaleidoscopic effect. The kinkoo moved to the front row and placed his lord next to the other kizaraks in the colony. As he was about to take his own place, a foreign smell came exciting his olfactory receptors. A kipekoo from an enemy colony darted into the nest, soon followed by other Kitins of his rank from several other kitin-nests. Instinctively, the kinkoo saw these intrusions as a frontal attack and stood up on his legs. But it only took him a split second to remember that these foreign kipekoos were actually royal ambassadors. Moreover, the queen responded to the arrival of the messengers with reassuring clicks, to calm her offspring and make them understand that everything was under control. However, a feeling of distrust pervaded the den. Under the orders of their sovereign, the kidinaks broke formation and the kipekoos passed one by one before the mistress of the place. With her massive pincers, she scraped the backs of the ambassadors to recover the olfactory messages that were deposited there.

The queen's nest was crowded with six-footed and flying Kitins, and the most important individuals were already all gathered. The high ceiling of the huge cavern was covered with glowworms, whose light reflected off the creatures' shells and set the whole space ablaze in a mesmerizing kaleidoscopic effect. The kinkoo moved to the front row and placed his lord next to the other kizaraks in the colony. As he was about to take his own place, a foreign smell came exciting his olfactory receptors. A kipekoo from an enemy colony darted into the nest, soon followed by other Kitins of his rank from several other kitin-nests. Instinctively, the kinkoo saw these intrusions as a frontal attack and stood up on his legs. But it only took him a split second to remember that these foreign kipekoos were actually royal ambassadors. Moreover, the queen responded to the arrival of the messengers with reassuring clicks, to calm her offspring and make them understand that everything was under control. However, a feeling of distrust pervaded the den. Under the orders of their sovereign, the kidinaks broke formation and the kipekoos passed one by one before the mistress of the place. With her massive pincers, she scraped the backs of the ambassadors to recover the olfactory messages that were deposited there.