A/N: I'm introducing a few new characters. Locust characters. Hope it's all good.
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We are the children you reject and discard… You threw us away like broken toys; never to pay any attention to us again.
But every day we prove our love to you, Mother. All of us know what you had to do just to keep the family strong.
We do hope you come to the surface one day. Things are beautiful up here on the surface…just like Julia…
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Magnus sat on a tree stump, touching the wounds on his back. He whimpered at the stings of the embedded projectiles; earlier received from the human.
Sitting on another stump, across from him, was his older brother, Brute. He pushed off from his seat and quickly made his way to Magnus.
"That's w'at ya get, ya lil' child!" he spat and raised a clenched fist.
Magnus shut his eyes and instinctively shielded himself from Brute's rage.
Brute scowled at Magnus for making that child-like face when terrified, and lowered his threatening fist. Magnus peaked through the spaces between his fingers and saw his bother lowering his arm. And immediately returned to his childish self.
Magnus may be the youngest in the family, but he surely wasn't the smallest; he was tall and built as a mountain; standing roughly seven feet and had muscles as solid as boulders. But beneath all this unpredictable power was only a child.
The sound of snapping twigs alerted the two. They turned to see a hooded figure approaching and quickly searched for their weapons but stood to attention when the new arrival pulled back the cloak. Both Brute and Magnus eased to the sight of their oldest brother, Trio.
"Where's Solemn?" he asked, referring to their fourth brother.
The two looked to each other and shrugged.
"You know Solemn," Brute remarked, "He loves huntin' on his own."
A brown sack dangled at Trio's belt. He cut it from his belt and pulled out its content. In his hand was the head of a human. He then tossed it at his bothers' feet.
"There're intruders in our home." Trio said. "Get the family ready. It's time for hunting."
With a wicked grin, Brute howled to the sky and ran off into the forest.
Magnus was ready to follow but was stopped.
"Magnus!" Trio shouted. "Mother has other plans for us."
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Loko had been summoned to the throne room. Never before in his life had he thought of being in the presence of Queen Myrrah.
As he approached the entrance a pair of Theron Sentinel halted him. They were flanking the double metal doors and both were armed with Torque bows. They asked for his purpose and he told them the Queen had summoned him. They looked to one another, then nodded with acceptance.
The hinges on the doors creaked and popped. Loko walked into the massive chamber. Each of his footsteps echoed off the walls, only to return back to him.
He walked close to one of the support columns and took pride at the stories etched in the stone. The hieroglyphics told of the endless war on the other tribes and clans for the right of the palace those many thousands of years ago.
Loko's head slowly turned to the head of the chamber. He saw the amusing eyes of Queen Myrrah staring back at him. Loko quickly approached the Queen and fell on a knee.
"You've done us all pride, Loko, by demoralizing the human forces." She said.
The Calvary leader nodded, but kept his gaze to the floor. He knew full well that his eyes were not worthy of such beauty.
"But there is another task I ask of you."
"Anything, Your Hyenas," Loko stated.
"We have a Locust sympathizer in the human army. He has been reporting in useful information and his current location. I want you to give him our reward for his service." Myrrah informed. "He is implanted with one of our trackers. Retrieve the tracker and bring it back it me. And gather only your best. Do not fail me… Loko."
He straighten his posture and slammed his fist against his chest.
"If the Queen wishes it, so it shall be done." He turned and departed from the chamber.