AVP: The Intruder

Chapter 8

The next few weeks went by slowly with nothing much to do. I was a little bored. Patrols, however, started coming back with reports of increased human activity near the border. The structure was now almost half built. Mother had decieded that we would wait until the work was over and we could see what the building was for. If a threat, all would die. If not, we would keep a close eye on it and patrol warily. I yawned as I sat in the main tunnel of the Hive watching as drones and runners scurried around me. My lips peeled back in a grin. Mother had allowed me a day of rest whilst my siblings had to work. I think it was because I had been patrolling so carefully. I purred and headed to my den. As I passed Mothers chamber, I noticed her speaking to another runner. I paused, anything my closer kin had to do was my business as well. Much to my surprise, Mother was talking to Shaftin.

"Yes, Mother, I do very much." Shaftin was saying as I slid closer. Mother nodded.

"And you believe that I can trust you to do this." Mother hissed. Shaftin nodded, looking so excited she might burst. I tilted my head. What on earth could they be talking about?

"I will work hard." Shaftin promised. Mother bared her teeth.

"Then I expect you to bring home as much prey as the others." she growled. I barely managed to stifle my surprised gasp. Shaftin, the clumsiest, weirdest Xenomorph, was going hunting! I nearly fell over, the idea was just too laughable. I spun around and ran to Six's den.

"And, so Shaftin was like, yea I'll work hard!" I gasped. Six and me were cracking up over the idea of Shaftin hunting.

"I can only imagine what she'll bring back, here Mother, caught you a bush!" Six snickered. I howled with laughter, imaging Shaftin stumbling along, tripping on rocks and branches.

"I bet she doesn't even know how to attack something, she got her tail handed to her on a plate against Ale'con!" I hissed. Six was on his back, legs and tail lashing in amusement. I was quite amused by this, I wasn't sure why, but I was.

Later that day, to my astonishment, Shaftin and the patrol came home with several pieces of prey. Shaftin had caught a rabbit and a squirrel. I snorted and privately remarked to Six that it probably took her forever to catch it. He snickered. Despite her small prey, Shaftin looked immensely pleased with herself. She deposited it in Mothers chamber, purring. I yawned and sauntered over to the pile. Sniffing the pile, I turned to Mother. She was speaking with Shaftin. I sighed and wandered around the Hive, until I heard screaming howls coming from a tunnel. Spinning around, I called a couple of drones together and a warrior to see what was wrong. Two drones were clawing at each other, acidic green blood flying. One of the drones bit the other drones tail, while the other clawed his side. We sprang forward to separate them hissing. I called Mother and she told me to escort them to her. She was furious, I could feel her fury simmering in her mind. I sent the warrior and one of the drones to go with them, while me and the second searched out any more commotions. And boy, did we find one. One that would send the entire Hive, into turmoil.