Part 15
How does this look? Not a lot of xeno conversation, but they are working on settling more comfortably on the farm. In the next part (most likely last part), you'll see some new editions ;D
It wasn't very long until the xenos began to act quite strangely. Hemsing thought it was about time they had begun to instinctively dig just a few yards behind the barn.
While Henrietta had yet to notice, her uncle had stumbled, quite literally, across it. He knew from the research that had been conducted that the creatures would make elaborate tunnel systems underground and on the sides of mountains. It gave them plenty of space to safely roam, play, grow, and eat. It also was designed to easily defend their queen, but Henrietta lived above ground and in a home, that wasn't designed to house space hogging xenos.
Henrietta had been cleaning the barn when she couldn't find a specific brush. One that had fallen off the shelf, hit the open window sill and landed just behind the barn. What were the odds?
As she rounded the "chicken" coup, she failed to spot the new addition just behind the barn and went stumbling down the hole. The ride down wasn't as smooth as one would think, instead, it was lined with jagged rock and loose dirt.
"Ow," she whimpered as she finally rested on the bottom of the pit, her arm squished between her ribs and the ground.
A hiss came from above her and a wave of panic came over her. But, the large form nuzzled the top of her head as its body curled around hers. Three more hisses came from the top of the hole, one sounding more like a growl.
Once back on top, Hemsing inspected her arm, figuring she must have broken something.
"Why don't I get you to the hospital for an x-ray and I'll see if we can disguise the hole so no one can see it." He shooed the xenos out of the way as Prince helped to get her in the truck. "While we're gone, Prince, if you would keep an eye on the animals. If we're not back in a few hours, try to herd them back into their pins and give the little guys some freshwater."
With that, Hemsing took off down the road and towards the city.
Perhaps we should move the entrance? Sheelia came to sit by him in the garage, the automatic door closed.
No, we need it close to the house. Uncle Hemsing probably has an idea as to how to disguise it and hopefully, no one else stumbles straight in.
Hey! Comet! Don't let him get out of the pin!
At Rogue's shout, Sheelia and Prince bolted back into the house and out the back door. They came just in time to see the disappearing goat as it ran straight into the woods. Rogue had managed to keep the others safely inside the fencing while Comet dangled upside down from the barn's roof.
I didn't let him out! He was going to hurt himself!
Then, next time grab him and put him in the pin. Not outside of it!
Their displeased hisses turned into angry growls as they turned on each other.
Enough! Comet guard the back fence. Sheelia keep watch on the roof and make sure your brothers don't kill one another. Rogue, keep an out on the barn's roof and keep the animals in the pin and safe. I'll grab the runaway.
Sheelia grumbled, much preferring to follow her elder brother and help, but did as she was told and took her spot just above Henrietta's window. Comet hissed once more at his brother but quickly took to the back of the yard at Prince's growl. Something much deeper in volume and terrifying combined with his massive size.
He sprinted for the forest, knowing the neighbors were just a few miles away. If they caught sight of him, there would be trouble.
The little creature hadn't ventured as far as he expected, but it wasn't alone. Hunter dogs had surrounded it, but their handler was nowhere in sight. Perhaps they had been let loose for fun or had managed to get out, but either way, they were terrorizing the goat.
Pouncing, Prince landed just above the goat, who he came to recognize as Carla, and growled viciously at the punier predators. He could smell the fear coming from her, but thankful she didn't move.
Swiping his claw, he scratched the ground just before their paws, forcing them back. Then, he swooped Carla up in his palm and sprinted back to the barn where Comet and Rogue were already back to fighting.
Is this the teenage stage Hemsing had warned me about?
Sheelia continued to push them back while making sure none of the animals got too close to the fighting. Which was difficult since the male goats wanted to join.
Prince climbed through the opening in the barn where he placed Carla on the large pile of fresh stringwood. While hay would be ideal for the Earthly creatures, it was more expensive than stringwood which was a decent substitute and the goats didn't seem to mind it.
He purred at her, rubbing his head against the side of her body in means to ease her anxiety. It worked for the most part. When he left, he made sure to close the gate and bolt it, ensuring she would stay safely inside.
Prince herded in Miss Bear next, ordering his sister to grab the remaining goats and place them back inside the barn. He hoped letting his brothers duke it out would solve the issue.
Miss Bear jogged to her stall for safety, the fighting distressing her. He kept himself between her and his brothers and once she was settled in her stall, he bolted it.
Sheelia, annoyed at both the fussing goats and the idiots she called brothers, came walking in on her hind legs, a goat tucked under each arm. She placed them next to Carla.
Prince checked on the lafhwaz who had taken cover in their coup, their eggs safely underground. He then headed back to his brothers who circled each other like knights before a dramatic battle.
Stepping in between, he gave a low hiss. He could hear their salty remarks to each other, but they didn't rush, not with him standing in between them.
Sheelia remained in the barn, giving freshwater to the goats and trying to alleviate their stress with calming purrs.
"What in the two hells is going on here?!" At his cuss, Henrietta paled beside him, her arm in a sling.
The two fighting males became stock still, Rogue not daring to look over his shoulder. Prince stepped back, bounding his way to uncle Hemsing's side. He nudged Henrietta, sniffing at the medical device.
"I'm okay." She patted his head before heading to the barn.
Henrietta noticed how Sheelia was running from one side of the barn to the other in hopes to calm the animals. She also noted how freshwater had been placed in each stall, even the empty one that Hemsing refused to tell her about.
"Why don't we play some music, hmm?" She turned on the speakers and selected Khiang-Cwhoo, a genre filled with mostly instrumental songs. It had been one of the many mixes between Earthly and alien culture.
The goats always looked to enjoy the music and Miss Bear never made any objections so long as it wasn't loud.
Outside, Hemsing set the two misfits to work on fixing the torn-up ground (mainly by flattening the ground with the flat side of their tails and getting rid of any large clumps or rocks) and the knocked over slide. Prince looked on, noticing the lagwaz returning to their guarding spots. The male remained close to the coup, choosing not to get near the females lest he be pecked at.
"Henrietta, get inside. You still need some rest. I'll call the school tomorrow." Hemsing waited until she had done as he asked before sending one last glare to the xenos. "Why don't you come on inside with me, Sheelia? The animals will be fine. I'm sure Rogue and Comet will attend to them." He motioned her to follow him inside.
Prince waited a moment, sending one last command to them before heading inside himself.
That night, Sheelia took Rogue's napping spot next to uncle Hemsing in his room. Prince kept Henrietta company until she was fast asleep where he took his position on the roof, over watching the backyard. Eventually, he'd sleep there, making sure to close the window when he felt the nightly chill descend into the valley.
Comet heeded Prince's last orders. He took his perch on the high end of the barn's roof while Rogue slept for a few hours next to Miss Bear. Then, they switched places, only Comet joined the goats as their nightly nap buddy.
When the sun came rising, Sheelia and Prince returned to the pit, forming the tunnels deep underneath the property and making a proper space for them to sleep and eat.
Hemsing came out as he usually did to check up on the animals and release them into the yard. Comet and Rogue were allowed to do as they pleased once more and took to the trees for more sleep. This time, cuddled together.
This day, Henrietta didn't come to do her normal chores and remained inside for the better part. Prince often kept her company, but when he was busy constructing their hideaway, Rogue came to sit by her side and watch television.
By the end of the week, Hemsing had ordered new supplies which were delivered right next to the house. The xenos took cover in the tunnels instead of the trees to avoid the people.
It took several weeks to finish the new project. The entrance to the tunnels would be surrounded by a shed that housed some more farm equipment and a trap door laid just over their entranceway, easy for them to open and close. It was big enough for one xeno to move in or out without disrupting the rest of the space.
If anyone asked, it was no big deal, just a cellar under the barn. Though, the truth was far from it. That "cellar" expanded under the entire property and reached up to the road and about as back as a mile into the woods. The xenos could sense the animals and their human family members above the ground, even following them when they moved across the lot.
One xenomorph could be resting at the farthest point underground and still feel the connection with the others and the emotions of those on the farm.
To keep their meals private, another entrance had been built in the woods where they could drag their kills down into the tunnels.
However, despite the room given, most of the time they preferred to sleep directly under the house or barn where they were closest to their family and should they be needed, the exit was extremely close by. Just as Prince had wanted it.