[This was a bit of a spontaneous chapter. My grandfather has just passed and I wanted to do something for him. Something that only I could do. He was such an influence in my life that I will never forget him. He taught me and my brother the importance of getting outside and exploring nature. And not the local park, but true nature where human influence has never touched. He truly was a Man of the Mountain. RIP Grandpa Keith]

Chapter 11.5

Proud, it was the only way he could describe it. All he felt was proud as he looked over his family and his Queen. Each and everyone of his daughters had given his a sense of fulfillment that he never thought he would have in this crazy new life. Thankfully, he had been wrong and he had found his slice of heaven. Amun turned and quietly exited the cave they all called home and entered into the blackness of the night. Although he could see perfectly in the dark, the cool temperature told him that it was rather late. He let out a soft sigh of happiness before he took off in an instant.

Faster and faster he ran. Dodging trees and boulders that had blocked his path. He ran, letting the cool air sweep over every inch of his body. Tickling him in some places, but he did not mind. He was happy, and nothing could take that away from him right now. He ran and ran without getting tired. He then came shooting out of the trees and into a clearing that was at the base of a near by mountain that he and Abby love to play on. The field was somewhere around two hundred yards across and Amun covered that distance in a mere seven seconds!

His speed was only hindered slightly as he came to the base of the mountain and started up its steep face. He had to get down on all fours to use his claws to help propel him up the rocky giant. It mattered not, he would conquer this titan like he had done with so many others before. It's trees, cliffs and loose rocks were no match for him at that moment.

When he came to the highest peek upon that rock he stopped and in that instant the world froze. The vast sky above him frozen in the heavens. The valley below nothing more than a whisper in his ears. That was if he even had ears, he had never really understood how that worked. That was a question for a different time for Amun was stranded in this very moment. One of pure happiness and bliss. Amun let out a long sigh and rested upon his mountain.

It was not until some time later that something had caught his attention. A rather strange colour that was on the mountain to his right. It was small what ever it was, but seemed to be staying in one spot. Amun's first instance was to head towards it to investigate but he stopped and thought of his family. Would he put them in danger by doing so? He pondered on this for a moment before slowly making his way towards this new event. He would take a quick look to make sure it posed no threat to his family and be done with it.

As he moved through the trees, he attempted to keep track of the colour through the branches. It got easier as he got closer. Something was very odd about this. The colour was not moving like a living creature, and it was nothing he recognized. It was a mixture of brown and yellow, one that was not very pleasant to look at. He kept moving.

A short while later Amun was down on all fours, looking at what he knew was a cabin in the woods. His fear was high as he looked for who ever was within. The colour that he had seen from afar had been the smoke that was now rising from its chimney, which maybe explained its colour. The three story alien stayed perfectly still as he watched with curiosity. How long had this been here and how had he never seen it before. A thousand questions ran through his mind as he stared at the small building.

"What you looking at there big fella?" The sudden voice made the alien king jump in fear. Once all four of his limbs were back on the ground, he turned to find the source. He was surprised to see a single man standing in the open in front of him. Confusion over took Amun as he looked down at the small figure. The man was in his later years of life, but still stood strong and tall. He was surrounded by a calming mist of light blue. Except for something in his hands. He was holding what looked like a mug of something that smelt delightful. Was that...no...coffee?! His thoughts were cut short.

"Don't talk much, do yea?" The man asked as he took another sip from his mug. Amun was beyond surprised that he was so calm with a giant alien in front of him. And how was it that he had snuck up on him so well. His own daughters could not even do that. Amun shook his head. He reached down and began to write in the dirt.

"WHO ARE YOU?" Amun watched as the man looked at the ground for a moment and then back to the alien king.

"I'm sorry big fella, but my eyes are what they use to be. Come, there is a light at the house." And with that, the man turned and began to make his way to the small cabin that Amun had been watching only moments ago. Something was telling Amun not to trust the man, he was to calm. At the same time, something seemed to tell him that everything was alright. He decided to keep his guard up, but wanted to know more about the man. He made his way towards the little house where the elderly man had just disappeared into.

He watched, expecting the man to return with a gun, but was happily disappointed when he returned with something that looked like a lantern. The small human looked up at Amun for a short time before it dawned on the xenomorph what he was waiting for. Amun reached towards the ground once again and repeated his question.

"WHO ARE YOU?" This time, armed with his lantern, the man could easily see the question.

"Keith, pleasure is mine. And who would you be? Or do I keep calling you big fella?" He asked as he walked to the side of the cabin, grabbing a chair to bring back.

"AMUN." Was all he wrote in response.

"Well then, Amun...what yea doing on my mountain?" The comment made him laugh. His mountain? Did this man know what was now sitting in front of him?

"YOURS?"

"Yes mine. I've lived on this rock coming on thirty years now. I know ever stone and tree that call it home. And you, my friend, are new here. So...what are you doing on my mountain?" The man's words were not rude in the slightest, but more 'matter of fact' in their tone. Amun mentally smiled.

"HIDDING."

"O...now that is interesting. Something your size would not be hiding from a lot of things. So tell me, Amun, what has you hiding here?"

"SCIENTISTS."

"I see. Would those be the same ones that had your friend trapped in the lab?" Amun's head snapped back. How had he known that?! His reaction had not gone unnoticed and the old man let out a laugh. 'I was visiting my grand children when you made your appearance in the city all that while ago. I could tell that you were a good fella after that. Just never thought you would be out my back door." Amun calmed down a bit as Keith gave his explanation.

"THATS WHY YOU ARE CALM." Amun asked.

"Yup. You are hard to forget. Besides, my grandson told me what a Xen...xeno..A hell, whatever you were. Something from a movie that the kid keeps ranting about. Nothing else quite like you." He talked as he sipped from his mug.

Amun sat down in front of the man as he talked, something was rather calming about his voice that he enjoyed. It was almost as if he knew him from somewhere. Amun asked his own question.

"WHY OUT HERE?" He read the question and chuckled.

"You mean why the hell in the middle of no where? That's easy, I've always been a mountain man. I grew up out here, I worked out here and I will die out here." Keith looked up to Amun who tilted his head to the side. "It's calm out here big fella. No traffic, no people making noise, no one to tell me what I can or cannot do. It's peace and quiet, pure and simple." He explained. Amun could understand that. He himself had come to love the mountains and its silence. Well that was when his twenty eight daughters gave him time to rest.

"HOW LONG HERE?" Amun asked, rather curious if he had been here since him and Emilia had arrived.

"Ooo...I would have to pin it at thirty years. Give or take a few." Amun was a bit shocked, not surprised, but just impressed that this man had lived out here for that long. It was a good days run for Amun to the nearest town. He wondered how he survived.

"HOW SURVIVED?"

'O that's easy. Big garden in the front and I am allow to hunt for what meat I need. Nature has everything I could need. I travel to see my family whenever I can and that's about the only time I leave. They tend to visit less and less now a days, but it is a bit of a trip." He said with a laugh. It seemed that the old man did not mind. Amun could see the appeal in that. He did love his daughters, but some peace would be nice every now and then.

Amun sat in silence for a few hours as Keith told story after story to him. About how his family had moved to this land over two hundred years ago with the first settlers. How his father ha taught him everything he knew about how to live in the wild. How he worked as a surveyor in the rough terrain for larger companies who needed someone who knew the land. As he talked, his soothing voice out Amun at ease and made everything else melt away. It was not until later that Keith started asking more question of Amun.

"So big fella, did you finally get you lady friend?"

"YES. SHE IS NEARBY."

"O good, glad to hear. I can only imagine what a bunch of science geeks would do to someone like you two. What have you two been up to? I have not seen yea around."

"MAKING FAMILY." When Keith read his response, his head snapped up to look at the towering alien in front of him.

"A family you say. So there are more of you running around my backyard?" Amun mentally smiled, there was a bit of concern in his voice.

"SMALLER. ABOUT THIRTY."

"Lord thunderin! Thirty of yea! I thought my three were bad but thirty! No wonder you wondered off in the middle of the night!" He had nearly dropped his drink as he talked.

"THEY ARE GOOD KIDS." Amun explained.

"Well with a father your size, I would behave myself ha ha!" Amun smiled at the joke. It was then that he realized something a bit more serious. Amun had been seen. His families survival depended on staying hidden to the rest of the world and it was something that he would not jeopardize.

"I ASK FAVOR?" Amun wrote when he had the chance.

"Of coarse."

"TELL NO ONE. FAMILY NEEDS TO STAY SAFE." As Keith read the message, he smiled and looked up at the three story tall alien in front of him.

"No need to worry about that. I can tell you are a good man Amun. You may have a different body, but your soul is that of a kind and caring person if I ever knew one. And I know the importance of family as well as any father would. You secret is safe with me." Amun watched as his pheromones stayed a soft blue colour, telling Amun that he was not lying. Amun bowed his head to the man in thanks and then stood and stretched. He had been away from the hive for the entire night and should get back to greet his waking daughters. He wrote one last message to the mountain man.

"STAY SAFE. VISIT SOON."

"Looking forward to it. Take care." Amun then turned and made his way home, back to his family.

After the long walk back the large rocks that made up the entrance of the cave were in view. He was relived to see that none of his daughters had woken yet. So he sat quietly in front of the entrance and waited to see his beautiful daughters. It was not too long before he felt them all began to mentally awake and greet the day.

He watched as each one began to emerge from their home and came to greet him. Sara and Julie took off as quick as they could to the river, probably to get covered in mud again. Thea and Abby came to curl up once again at his feet. Finally Emilia emerged from their home and stretched each of her limbs in a very enjoyable stretch.

"Good morning my King." She said as she stretched her arms behind her neck.

"Good morning my Queen. Did you sleep well?"

"Indeed. But Abby woke me when she crawled onto my crown. Sara was figiting in her sleep again. I did notice that you were not there though, where did you get off too?" She asked as she picked up Abby from the ground and nuzzled her.

" I have someone to tell you about. A new friend that we are sharing these mountains with." Emilia froze and sent him some soft feelings of concern. "Do not worry my love, let me tell you and our daughters of the Man of the Mountain." His daughters slowly gathered around their father and listened to the story of their new neighbour and of the man who lived along side a hive of Xenomorphs.