AVP: The Intruder

Chapter 12

The next morning, I woke tired and muscles aching. Last night, we had stumbled upon a den of wolves. While we hunted wolfs sometimes in the Hive, it was only when they were on their own, never in a pack. This pack was 15 strong and while we had killed 5 of them, we were run out of their territory and then some. And we hadn't gotten away unscathed either. Six had a large scratch on his thigh and calf. He was limping. We had done our best to stem the flow of blood with moss and leaves, but we were stupid because the acid burned right through them. It was obvious this morning he was still in a lot of pain. Sharphand and Ale'con had gone hunting. Me and Jaken were staying to look after Six. He wasn't happy with that.

"I can take care of myself plenty well even with this! I've suffered much worse!" he had hissed furiously at Ale'con this morning. Ale'con had just snorted and left with Sharphand. Six was now sitting, grumbling to himself in the ravine we had sheltered in last night. He sat on a rock cleaning his wound. Jaken was keeping watch over the camp on a large boulder at the top. I was sitting next to the stream watching the water flow past and dipping my tail in. I sighed as I saw my reflection. What was it about us that humans and Yautja hated so much? Why were we the ones to suffer? We were simply trying to survive and have a place to live and expand in numbers. Six paused in his cleaning as he heard my pondering.

"They're just jealous of how gorgeous we are." he quirked. I snorted and flicked my tail.

"The only gorgeous one here is me!" called Jaken. I reared up snorting again and Six laughed.

"If you were as half as gorgeous as me, you could be the next Queen!" I called up to him. Jaken just laughed and rolled over. I leaped up to join him, taking in the view. We were at the edge of a forest that opened into scrubland, with not a lot of cover. In the distance, we could faintly hear a roar of triumph, telling us breakfast had been caught. I yawned and leaned against Jaken for a moment. He purred and nudged me.

"We'll get there eventually." he purred. I sighed, it felt like forever sometimes. Yawning, I stretched and leaped back down the rock. Six sniffed the air, purring as he smelled deer. Ale'con and Sharphand slipped out of the bushes with a deer clamped in between them. Six slid carefully off the rock and helped them divide it among us. Me and Jaken paced hungrily, saliva pooling in my jaws. I was absolutely starving.

"Hurry up, I'm hungry!" complained Jaken. Ale'con snorted and tossed him a leg, which he grabbed and gnawed on hungrily. I got a haunch and quickly gulped it down and Ale'con and the others finished off the rest. I stretched as Ale'con beckoned us and moved off. Sighing, I set off after him for another long day of walking. I trotted up to Ale'cons side. We were heading out over the plains and I didn't like the idea. We were totally exposed. Even more so than in the field. By the way, that reminded me of something.

"Ale'con, why did you kind of freak out in the field yesterday?" I asked. Ale'cons tail stiffened and he sighed.

"A long time ago, before you were born, me and several other Xenomorphs were hunting in the place before the humans started to build. It used to be a large open field. We were hunting, and we separated to find food. I was out pretty deep, but once I had caught my prey, I realized I had lost the rest of the patrol. I was scared. I was still young and being alone in such a place where enimies can leap out of you is really unnerving. Ever since, I have been scared of fields because you don't know what is out there." Ale'cons voice was realived as he finished, I guess that sharing your fears can take a lot of courage. I nodded and dropped back to the others.

"Wow, I didn't know that happened and I had arrived when that happened." said Six. I shrugged and flicked my tail as I leaped over a small bush. Grunting, I landed heavily and continued on. Six was limping heavily now and was starting to lag; I paused and slowed down next to him.

"Go on all fours, it will be easier and have less strain on your leg." I suggested. Six sighed dramatically but lowered himself and walked a bit more easily. I flicked my tail. Jaken bounded over a rock and then shrieked in pain, an eargrating scream of pain. I stumbled and collapsed, ears ringing. Ale'con raced over to Jaken and crouched next to him. The Xenomorph was spazing on the ground, frothing at the mouth.

"Calm down." hissed Ale'con. He rolled him over and leaped back snarling. I ran up and looked at the ground. There, tail upright and claws at the ready, an enourmas scorpion crouched. I hissed and jumped out of the way. Jaken moaned and curled into the fetal position, tail wrapping around him. I crouched next to him, a small whine catching in my throat. Jaken and I had been best friends since birth. Jaken started shaking, tail lashing, a snarl bubbling in his throat. He managed to raise his head and look at me.

"A-avv-en-nge tt-he Hi-ive.." he rasped shakily. I shook my head violently.

"No, Jaken,...no, you cant!" I whined. Jaken shook his head rasping breaths in his throat. Six nuzzled him and Ale'con crouched and held his hand. Jaken's appreciation drifted faintly off him. A abrupt painful cough started and Jaken shook one last time, and stiffened, and lay still. I nudged him frantically.

"Jaken? Jaken?!" I yelped. Ale'con put his arm on my shoulder and led me away from my dead best friend.

"No, I need to stay!" I screeched, struggling in the Predaliens arms. Six picked up Jaken and laid him in the shelter of a log, away from the elements. Normally, Xenomorphs burn their dead, but out here, there was no time. I wailed in outrage, twisting and thrashing. Finally, Ale'con grabbed my head and smashed our brows together. Stars exploded in my head and I knew no more.