Mother hissed. She stalked forward, shoving me out of the way, knocking me over with a yelp. I tumbled down, leading in a heap on the ground. Jaken nudged me to my feet, growling. Mother glared down at the female runner, who was shaking in fear, back arched, claws unsheathed. She was absolutely terrified. Mother grabbed her and she yowled.
"How dare you refuse to be part of this Hive!" she roared. The runner screeched in fear. I winced, the sound grated in my ears. Now, the entire Hive raced for vents and hole, hiding from Mothers wrath. I had never seen Mother this angry ever. Ribhead crept to my side, along with Jaken.
"What's Mother going to do?" Jaken hissed. I shrugged, but I knew one thing. If Mother attacked the newborn,(not the alien resurrection ones), she wouldn't survive. I also knew something else, and it could cost me and the Hive. If Mother attacked, every runner would attack her. She was threatening one of us. We runners are very protective of each other. I would even attack her.
"Please Mother, spare me!" she cried, now twisting in Mothers grasp. "I wish very much to be part of the Hive, please!"
"It certainly didn't seem that way to me!" screeched Mother. Then, every Xenomorph raced away from the room. No one even remembered or cared about the ceremony any more, they just wanted away from the chamber.
"Very well, then you will let me finish!" roared Mother, shoving her head to the runner, who was practically about to fall apart. A small click was heard in my mind and the others as well. The instant it was over, she spun around and pelted out of the room, up a vent, and out of sight. Mouths open, me, Jaken, and Ribhead all sat with astonishment.
"Jaken, Fastclaw, go find her." ordered Mother. We nodded and spun around, racing away from the disastrous ceremony. A small whine made all of us freeze. My heart sank like a rock. The fourth infant. We had forgotten it. Slowly, I turned to see a small disheveled bundle on the ground, covered in blood, hardly moving. Mother bent over it, nudging it. It whimpered faintly, and dropped its head onto the ground. I padded forward. It was a warrior. It hadn't gotten attention quick enough to survive. I was sure that the rage from Mother hadn't helped. Gently, I picked it up and brought it with me and Jaken to bury outside.
I laid the small body into the hole and scraped dirt over it. Thanks to the female, a wonderful warrior had been lost to us. I arched my back hissing. Jaken laid his tail across my back.
"Calm down." he murmured. I shook myself and took a deep breath. We turned and headed back inside to search out the female. I sniffed the air, growling softly.
"She went this way." I growled. We headed down the long pipe. I leaped onto the side, prowling along. I jumped down and headed down the hall. I halted in surprise, for her scent led down to where my den was. I arched my back snarling in anger. Jaken was amazed, Xenomorphs respect privacy, especially if it's your den. And her scent led straight to mine. Roaring I charged forward, launching myself into my den, claws out. Jaken was right behind me. I stumbled and almost fell on my snout at what I saw. A crumpled skin was near the wall, and resting in front was a almost full grown runner. She had molted. IN MY DEN! She tilted her head up at me. I hissed, unsheathing my claws.
"Why... Are...You...IN MY DENNNN?!" I bellowed. She flinched back.
"I...I needed a place to molt." Spitting I thrust my face into hers.
"MY DEN?" I growled. She nodded.
"Out, now!" I hissed. I shoved her roughly out of my den.
"Mother wishes to see you." I growled. Jaken pushed her towards the hall. She looked back at me.
"I'm sorry." she whispered. I arched my back spitting. She quickly turned and bounded out with Jaken. I grabbed her skin and shoved it out. Pacing my den, I thought about the nameless runner. Why, of all dens, mine? How did she know where it was? I hadn't been in here all day. My scent should have been stale. Unless, it was my memories. She had spoken to me first out of any others in the Hive, even Mother. Sighing, I curled up. Females. The most confusing organisms on the planet.