Tau

Template:QuoteBoxTemplate:Charbox Tau is a female SilkWing who made her debut in The Hive Queen. She is a member of The Chrysalis and works as the chief steward for Lady Jewel. She is currently in an illegal relationship with Treehopper.

Appearance

Tau has yellow scales that were described to be a mix of pale yellow and pale brown, like "bananas and cashews mashed together." She has pale yellow antennae, dark amber eyes, and golden stripes painted on her claws. One of Tau's back wings is smaller than the others, but the rest are long and narrow.

Biography

The Hive Queen

Tau first appeared arguing in Jewel Hive's library with Morpho and Cinnabar. She appeared to agree with Cinnabar that not all HiveWings were awful when Cricket introduced herself. When Sundew proposes war on the HiveWings, Tau steps up with tears in her eyes, saying she thought all the LeafWings were dead. Sundew awkwardly accepts the compliment, and Tau is revealed to have one small wing, likely a deformity. When Queen Wasp begins trying keys, Tau is shown to lack the ability to fly. After the soldiers get desperate, her and Cinnabar reveal themselves to allow the others to escape, claiming that they snuck into the library to read. They deny Wasp's accusation of Blue, and then they are lead away.

Later, when Cricket is attempting to escape from Lady Jewel's prison, Tau is shown to be one of the SilkWings to assist her escape. As the chief steward, she seems to have respect from several other SilkWings as she and Cinnabar told them to help but pretend nothing was seen. She also claims to Cricket that whenever Wasp orders their punishment, Jewel always gives them a medal. As the three of them leave, Tau runs into Treehopper, her crush. The two chat for a while, and Cinnabar tells Cricket that they are so obvious. Treehopper is then mind controlled by Wasp, and then he shakes it off awkwardly after she leaves. Cricket says that she needs to go.

Tau is later seen when Cricket comes out of the nest and Blue leads her to the stall they were in. Tau tells Cricket that the SilkWing fixing a crack with Swordtail is part of the Chrysalis. As the group gathers their things, Cricket explains to Tau what she saw in the nest.

Quotes

"Maybe he wants to join us. Do you dream of a better world, friend?" - Tau to Swordtail^{The Hive Queen, page 139}

Trivia

• Tau is named after the tau emperor moth, which is a large yellow-brown moth.

• Tau is the first known SilkWing to have a deformity.

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