So, it's been a very long time since I've given much thought to this series. I've actually been working a lot more on things such as alien fanfiction or original works than Predator stuff. If anybody's been keeping up on my Substitute Queen series, I finished that probably... say it was completely done earlier this year... January, at some point, or February. I've been writing a lot, despite the fact that I have not been writing as many fanfictions as I was hoping but the inspiration for me to do anything like that just left me.

I'm actually thinking about AVP again and my series with that and I have come to the conclusion that I've done a lot of things that I wasn't proud of doing with the series. Don't get me wrong, I liked the flow and the direction I was heading. I just don't think I ever reached my intended goal.

To begin Lex's story was good for the most part, in my opinion. I lacked a lot of explanation behind the way she was thinking in terms of this big change of being in one world and now being in the next. I could and should go more into depth with that and show her character more.

With that thought, it leads me into something else. Someone mentioned in the comments that Lex seems to be a bit out of character. I have to disagree cause - granted, I've only seen the movie so I don't know if she is part of anything else that would count as source material for her - for the most part, we see her in a cool and professional manner because she's you know doing her job and then she gets thrown into a survival situation. Those are very different scenarios to see her in. I don't see her relaxing in her home or hanging out with friends or family. I see her doing her job and trying to survive.

There is one more thing I haven't mentioned yet and its when we first meet her. She's mountain climbing, by herself. Obviously, it is something she enjoys doing and has found a way to make money from it. It shows her as a very active and outdoors type of person. Clearly fit, mentally sound, intelligent, plenty of perseverance, and endurance. This is something that we see throughout the movie, but to be honest, mentally sound after Antarctica might be a stretch. Who'd be mentally sound after that?

My point to all that is Lex is a character we don't particularly get a lot to work with. I've struggled with her quite a bit actually because of it. She has traits about her, bits of her personality set in stone by her creator. I want to preserve that because one, I think that if I'm taking someone's character, I should respect how she came to be (personal opinion - I like to see that in my writing and in what I read).

Secondly, I'm, for the most part, ignoring those parts that we know, because there is so much we don't know and fanfiction is more about exploring the what ifs - the unknown about a character than exploring what we already know. To make it sensible, we should see the known parts and know that this clearly is the character and when we look at the unknown, it should make sense because it fits with what we know about the character.

7/26/19: After rereading, I still hold this opinion and would like to add that I did not mean to offend anyone (no one said anything of the sort, just adding it in). I believe Lex to be a serious character by nature but can still hang out and chill with those she's close to. I tried to change her dialogue to reflect that more.

I've really come to rant a bit.

I'm struggling to keep up with the excessive load of writing I've taken on, but I don't want to cut back. I want to be constantly writing but it's getting harder to keep up. I have stories flooding my head constantly and I write them all down, some I'm ready to write and others need to sit on the back burner.

However, I have too many not sitting on the back burner. So, I'm stuck with five stories (I think), that I'm desperate to write, but at the same time can't find the time or motivation. In all of that, I'm looking back at this story and I want to finish it, but it continues to sit on the back burner because I just don't know exactly what I need to do to continue it. I have a fanfiction month coming up where it'll be nothing but fanfiction (one predator, one alien, and maybe, finishing this one).

So, in part, I've come to rant and share my struggle with writing and with finishing this story. However, I didn't come to say that this may never be completed or I have too much work to bother focusing on this. No, I do have good news.

I know how I'm going to end this story. And when I finish it, I will return several months to maybe a year later to edit it (hint: never edit right after writing. Horrible decision. The worst).

Lex's adventure is about settling. It's moving into a world more accepting of alien races, of settling down and just enjoying life. For Lex, hunting isn't a job or a sport, but an activity to do with friends and family, something she's been missing for quite a while. It's like when people retire and they have their little hobby they get into or maybe a part-time job they enjoy. That's what this is. It's living with being in a different world that might not have been at the top of the to-do list. Its adjusting and finding your own place. That's her story.

In part, I have accomplished that. But, otherwise, I lack the development of such a telling and that is something I will work on during the editing process. First, I have to finish Miana's story.

Remember when I explained the culture, the ranking, ect? Miana's story follows this. You see, she is quite younger than Lex. She's exploring a new civilization, a new religion, a new government, political system, a new everything. Lex is tired of exploring, especially since it landed her in Antarctica. Miana has only just begun. She's quite resilient that way.

When I come back and I assure you, I will be coming back, there are two things you'll see happen. One is the changes to Lex's part of the adventure. Those will probably be done very last. Two is the map I've paved for Miana. A road trip that I think you'd enjoy.

Thank you for reading. It's filled with grammatical errors and a few run-on sentences, I'm sure. I felt the need to share this with you because, in part, I needed to share it and who better than the audience waiting for me to get off my ass and finish the thing.

Anyway, keep a lookout for This is… (7/26/19: I haven't finished it yet - hit a major roadblock, I'll try shortly T.T) a new series involving a human - Yautja hybrid (which, may I add here for any curious if Lex and Scar will have a baby - no, they will not. Having a healthy offspring is like winning the lottery five times in a row while even just being lucky to have an offspring would be like winning the lottery. Little chance. There is the question if they want children which both are on the fence about (if I can speak for them here). It's not in the near future by a long shot.)

Also, keep a lookout for a new alien fanfiction. I have no official title just yet, but it involves the bond between a xeno and its host that happens to be a young boy. (7/26/19: I… haven't started on this yet…)

Have a great summer guys and I hope to see you this winter!

On another side note, which feel free to stop here and be like "I'm done reading this author's note woman!", but can we talk about the movie a bit? Why the hell did they take out that scene where he scares Lex?! I found it important for his character because he is seen as an intelligent hunter and very skilled, but with this scene, it backs what Sebastian said about Scar being a teenager. He's someone who is young, kind of laid back, a bit of a prankster, and overall, just a chill dude.

At the same time, he's a hunter. He knows when to be serious and when he can relax. Ugh! It was such an important scene and so funny! And, something I reference constantly along with other great scenes of the movie. It's so frustrating because it was so good T.T. Kind of like that deleted scene between Merlin and Arthur (BBC's Merlin) where they talk about their dads… It kills me every time.

Granted, my personal opinion of the movie isn't so great. The characters though, provide a lot to work with and have fun with and there are several great scenes in the movie that I love (just not a great overall movie - entertaining, but not oscar awarding or anything).