Author Note: I do not own Aliens or Predators. Guys, I am so sorry you all had to wait this long. But I was grounded from my Kindle Fire and computer for a long time (for really no reason, too), and I was busy with school, too. But now that it's summer vacation, I'll have more time to update my stories. Not only that, but I might actually have time to get a jump on other stories I want to start as well (one will be a full story based on my one-shot "A Queen's Life", an Aliens story). However, I'm planning to go to a Reserve basic training camp for six weeks as well, and I don't know when that'll be, only that I won't be able to update during that time. Anyways, on to the story! Also, I can't make any promises, but I'll try to post pictures of the characters on my Tumblr (my name, if you don't know, is d3l1ghtful1ns4n1ty).

24: INSTINCT

EMBER spent the next few hours exploring every inch of the relatively small ship. She'd never been on any spacecraft before, and found it exciting. She was amazed that she was flying through space, a place she'd barely even heard of. Best of all, she and the Queen would be safe from harm, and she could live a life of peace, like she wanted. Ember knew Lar'ja-thwei still wanted to take her to his Clan, but she hoped nothing bad would come of that. Still, some deeply buring instinct told her she'd better watch her back around other Hunters. After all, they probably couldn't all be trusted like Lar'ja-thwei, judging from the Queen's hatred of them.

Ember was certainly confused about the Hunters. Why would they spend their lives just killing, and for no apparent reason? Perhaps they did have their reasons, but killing other species and enslaving Queens didn't seem right to Ember.

After the initial excitement wore off and she remembered the Queen's deep anger and fear, she felt a little guilty about the fact that she was in the place she hated the most: aboard a Hunter ship. Ember made her way to the nesting chamber of the ship and her guilt grew when she saw the Queen hunched defensively in a corner, tense and ready to strike. She hissed softly as Ember approached, baring her needle-like teeth.

Mother... said Ember, shifting guiltily. I'm sorry. I just want us to be safe.

The Queen growled and didn't reply. Ember sensed a difference in her, as though her strong instinctive side was taking control. She took another step forward but stopped short when she was snarled at by the Queen. Mother? she said, but her telepathy wasn't getting through to the Queen. It was as if she was being blocked out of her mind. That, more than anything (even being growled at) scared Ember. She was beginning to realize just how powerful the Queen's instincts truly were, stronger than she had anticipated. It was no wonder she took so long to convince that trusting Lar'ja-thwei could help them. Her instincts were far too deeply ingrained in her to be ignored.

The Queen surprised her by lunging forward and snapping her jaws at Ember, roaring at the top of her voice. Ember cried out and jumped back, quaking with terror. Her Hive Mother's fear and anger had overtaken her, turned her into a creature ruled by instict. And her instict was obviously telling her that Ember was a threat.

It must be my Hunter and Human side, Ember realized.

Seeing that the Queen was getting ready to strike again, Ember quickly fled from the room, the doors closing behind her. She slumped to the ground, heart hammering in her chest. Ember curled up with despair, wondering if the Queen had been pushed too far. And if the price of a life of peace would be her adoptive mother.

...

Please review. Sorry it's short but I want to get in updates for all of my stories. I'll try for a longer (and hopefully more interesting) chapter next time.

Question: Anything you want to see happen in "Ember"?

Also, I want to address my question from a while back, in which I asked for Prometheus theories. I just want to say ignore my earlier rambling about the movie. After seeing it a few more times and seeing a video on it (called Prometheus Explained-check it out because it's amazing!) on YouTube, I take back what I said before. To understand it better, just go to YouTube and look up Prometheus Explained. :)