A deep yawn made its way from my throat as I wearily staggered out of the Hive. It was dawn, and early morning mist snaked across the ground and wound around the legs of the four warriors following me. We were headed out on a patrol. I groaned.
"Why is it so earlyyyy?" I complained to no one in particular. A warrior turned his head and hissed lightly.
"because of the humans, Mother wants us to start heading out earlier. If the humans find the Hive, we need to be on maximum alert in case they come at any time. That includes early mornings and late nights and anywhere in between." the warrior answered, before picking up the pace slightly and trotting past me. I made a face at him when he passed, peeling my lips back and sticking my inner mouth out at him. In case you haven't realized that's the Xenomorph equivalent to sticking your tongue out at someone. I stood up, now towering over the other Xenomorphs. We soon reached the border. I fell back to all fours and raised a hand to stroke the bark of a tree that was a terrtorial boundary. I leaned forward. There were several uneven indentations in the tree. Narrowing my eyes, I called the others over.
"Look. The tree seems to have scratch marks. They look to be made another Xenomorph and not from our Hive. We could have a rouge." I explained. They all crowded around the tree. One of the warriors nodded.
"Yes, it is a rouge Xenomorph, more alarming, it smells like a Praetorian." one warrior commented. I groaned. Again, never a dull moment. Humans, annoying runners, and now a rouge Xenomorph, a Praetorian nonetheless. I sighed.
"Lets follow the trail and see what we can find. Hopefully, its left already." I said, lowering myself to all fours and we headed off again. We hadn't gone far when I heard a twig snap. I spun, a snarl rattling in my chest and tail hoiosted over my back. I stood, hoping to intimidate whatever was there with size. The warriors all hissed and spread out in a small semi-circle. I growled and heard a very loud growl in return. Dread filled my body and I found myself backing away as a monstrous gray shape rose from the bushes. The Praetorian stepped forward, shaking the ground slightly. It's huge crest gleamed in the early morning sunlight. It bared shining teeth. This Praetorian looked young, no doubt having been driven from its Hive to change into a Queen. I growled and stepped forward, but a warrior grabbed my tail and hauled me back with a hiss.
"Let us deal with this Sam." it warned before stepping forward. It reared up, and screeched at the Praetorian, who responded with a bone-rattling, earsplitting scream. I shrieked and curled onto the ground holding my ears as the Praetorian threw its head back, bellowing into the morning. The warriors backed up as the Praetorian lowered its head and charged. They sprang out of the way and I rolled. The Praetorian charged past and spun to make another charge, only to meet a black fist to the face and a black ball of death that flew screeing at the rival Xenomorph. The warrior crashed into the Praetorian going full speed. It stumbled back and tripped before falling with a massive crash. The warrior screeched and raked it claws down its side. I was up and lunging, kicked the Praetorian in the back as it tried to stand and sent it stumbling forward. The other warriors sprang as well and soon a massive ball of fighting exoskeleton was formed. I was about to lunge again when the Praetorian reared up with a furious scream of rage and sent the Warriors flying. I leaped back, pacing around the huge monster. It followed my movements, huge head turning as it watched.
"Il kill you and hang your skull on the wall!" I snarled. It bellowed and leaped forward. I flipped backwards and its hand crashed down where I had been standing. I roared at it, my own roar sounding very similar. we circled, each feinting to see who moved first. I struck, lashing out with a punch that would have crippled a human. as it was, the Praetorian stumbled back. It shook its head and looked up at my foot smashed into it's snout. The Praetorian shrieked in rage and fell back again, me quickly developing a rhythm. I slashed and jabbed in a dizzying pattern, forcing the large Xenomorph to cross its arms over its chest and head to protect itself. Suddenly, it swung its fist at my face and I went flying. The Praetorian screeched in triumph and stalked forward as I lay stunned on ground. The Praetorian was suddenly tackled as another Xenomorph reared behind it. It was Ripper. One of the Warriors must have called for him. i watched, mouth falling open as I watched the battling behemoths. The screeches carried through the woods. I felt that I was being dragged by a warrior across the ground out of the way as the rouge fell to Rippers clearly superior skill. Ripper pinned the Praetorians head to the ground and snarled at it. The rouge hissed and tried to stab him with its tail, but Ripper quickly stepped on it, pinning it to the ground. The Praetorian bellowed with frustration. Ripper let a out a growl.
"what are you doing on our territory?" Ripper snarled. The Praetorian just spat at him and squirmed some more. Rippers growl grew more intense and he hauled the rouge to its feet. I tilted my head, did he intend to fight answers out of it? But no, he just shoved the Praetorian through the bushes, keeping its arms pinned to its side and its tail down. He was probably going to bring it to the Hive so Mother could question it. I hissed with satisfaction. One of the warriors held out its hand to help me up. I took it gratefully and we headed to the Hive. While we walked, I wondered, what was a Praetorian here for? If it had wanted to set up a Hive to change into a Queen then it was sadly mistaken. I yawned and found myself leaning on one of the warriors as I walked. The warriors head turned slightly and kept walking. I was tired and just wanted to sleep. We entered the Hive. We headed straight for Mother and when we entered with the rouge every Praetorian and drone in the room shrieked and several made mock lunges to intimidate the rouge. The rest instantly moved in front of Mother to protect her. A sea of hisses rang around the chamber, drowned out by Mothers roar.
"Ripper, why did you bring a rouge here?" she hissed. The Alpha Praetorian shoved the rouge forward.
"Sams ptrol found this imbecile in the woods, ready to stake a claim to our territory. It confronted Sam and they fought, and then the warriors fought as well. When the Praetorian knocked Sam back, one of them called for my assistance, luckily I wasn't too far away. I engaged it and when it refused to answer my questions I brought it here so you could perhaps get some answers." Ripper explained. Mother turned her head towards the Praetorian. It was crouched as much as it could and in a submissive posture. I watched it closley. Eren and Shade scurried up behind me and sat next to me.
"Step forward." Mother commanded. The Praetorian stepped forward, Ripper still holding onto it.
"You can let it go." said Mother. Ripper looked up at her in suprise, but did as she said, remaining a close distance. The rest of the Hive shifted, as if anticipating a fight. Eren half rose, her tail lashing. I bared my teeth. The Praetorian took one more step then paused, dipping its head to Mother. Mother growled.
"Why are you in my territory." she snarled. The Praetorian shifted.
"Your Honor, I was merely seeking a place to hide until my change was comple-" before anyone could move, Mother had lashed out, decapitating the Praetorian and sending its head flying towards me. I instinctively caught it and grunted as it knocked the wind out of me. The body slumped and I realized why Mother had done what she did. Having another Queen would make things very very bad for everyone. So, she had done the only thing she could to protect herself and the Hive. She killed it. I placed the head at my feet. Mother tossed her head.
"Now that thats dealt with, take its body away. Resume your normal activities." Mother said, head retreating into her crown. I looked at the head at my feet as Eren and Shade nudged my arms, then left. I picked up the head and went to my den. I had an idea as to what i could do with it. Reaching out, I grabbed a rock in my hand, it was sharp and smooth. Perfect. I turned the head upside down before clawing at the inside of the neck. Instantly, the rock began to steam and hiss as I clawed the flesh from the bones. Eventually, the rock melted and I shoved my arm up the neck into the head. I pulled out the brains and threw them outside. Once that was done, I stood with the head in my arms and carried it outside to a river. I knelt and dunked the head into the water to clean off any excess blood and flesh. Once finished, I put it on the bank to dry in the sun and stood, crossing my arms. The head gleamed in the sun, water slipping down the Praetorians dome. It looked beautiful. I planned to hang it in my den somewhere. Turning, I heard a branch above my head rustle and I tensed. Leaping into the tree, I climbed up to where I could now see a squirrel. Halfway there, however, my foot slipped and sent bark tumbling down. Alerted the squirrel raced for shelter. I groaned in displeasure, but slowly scooted back down the tree. Going back to my trophy, I picked it up and headed back to the Hive.