AVP: The Intruder

Chapter11

We all sat in astonishment. Leave our home? I was stunned that Ale'con would suggest that.

"We don't have a home anymore." said Six. I bared my teeth.

"We have a territory. We have food, we can hunt." I said. Ale'con shook his head.

"No, there is too much risk from the humans. We cant risk anyone else. We need to leave." he replied. I sighed. Sharphand and Jaken nodded sadly. I felt like my world was crumbling down around me. This morning I had woken up in my den, happy and with a home. Now, that home was destroyed, my family was dead, and we were leaving. I shook my head and turned away, lashing my tail. Everything was going wrong. I looked at Ale'con.

"Well, where the hell are we supposed to go? To space?" I asked cheekily. Ale'con bared his teeth. He turned away, pacing the clearing.

"I remember Mother told me that to the north, there was a lush forest, full of prey and no humans. We will head there." he told us. I curled my lip.

"Oh, so we're going to a little fairy tale place, that perfect and happy and warm and no problems? Are we going to find a new Hive, and Mother?" I sneered. Ale'con stiffened growling. He lashed his tail, and abruptly, I froze. I had forgotten who I was talking to. This predalien was the highest ranking Xenomorph in the Hive. He was treated with respect by all. I whimpered and crouched down, lowering my pudding.(Best friend had me write this.) lolololol supposed to b tail.

"Forgive me Ale'con. This runner spoke out of turn. I let my anger get the better of me." I hissed. Ale'con lowered his tail and relaxed slightly.

"It's been a long day, we should get some sleep." said Jaken, trying to distract from the argument. I nodded and turned away, heading over to a low spreading bush among tree roots. Ale'con curled up over by a pile of boulders. Jaken and Sharphand headed into the higher branches of a tree and Six surled up by the roots of a dead tree. Quickly, everyone fell asleep. Except me, who was unable to sleep. I tossed and turned, growling softly. At last, I couldn't take it and clambered out of the hollow. I slipped out of the clearing, taking care to press my feet down hard so the others knew where I had gone. I headed through the forest I had once called home. It seemed so unfamiliar and unwelcoming now. I emerged by the flattened Hive, and sat on a pile of rubble. I stared down at the rubble. That pile consisted of my brothers and sisters, Mother and all those who I loved dearly. I felt bile rise in my throat, but forced it back down. I couldn't stay here. Turning tail I ran, trying to outrun the carnage, the pain, the home, the ones who I loved. The memories rose and slapped me in the dome as I ran past certain landmarks; my first kill, first battle, first patrol, first everything. The first prey I caught, all the fun patrols and hunts I had been on. Gone, just like that, with one big boom. Eventually, my legs crumpled under me, and my shoulders heaved, silently crying in my mind. Xenomorphs cant physically cry since we don't have eyes, but we can clearly express our grief. I was broken, done, defeated like a piece of prey. A hand fell on my shoulder, vaguely in the back of my mind, I heard someone call my name, but I was too wrapped in grief to care who or what it was, friend or foe, Xenomorph or Yautjia, I just didn't care and let myself be swept away in grief.

The next morning, I found myself back in my nest in the roots of the tree. I awoke, heart racing. Fresh grief welled inside me, but that was passed. I had to be strong now, for my few fellow Xenomorphs I had left. I stiffly clambered out of the roots and stretched, feeling the sun warm my cold limbs.

"Morning." said Jaken. I nodded and padded over to him.

"Where is everyone?" I asked, seeing that the entire clearing was empty.