I didn't know how to describe it, but seeing that giant hunk of metal and explosives made me salivate. I wanted to eat it for some odd reason, but that cold wait. The tank has noticed me now and it has come to a full stop. The soldiers on either side of it were starting to sink back behind the tank. And I wondered whether I should shoot it now or wherever I should see how powerful this thing can be and how strong I am.

I lifted my frills into a giant circle around my head and waited. The tank's turret turned my way and there was a large boom and I was suddenly blasted backwards. I went through the tree behind me and lay there for a second to clear my head a little.

Ow. Why did I think it would be a good idea to do that? That could've seriously injured me. I groaned and stood up again the soldiers seemed to be cheering and coming out from behind the tank but when I stood up again they went silent. I was never taking a tank shot on purpose again, that's for sure.

I raised my shield once again, let my head turret come out, and got on all fours. Then I grinned and even though that couldn't see me I think they knew what was coming somehow. The tank fired just as I fired and my shield vibrated sending out a shockwave. There was an explosion from the tank and another in the air as my shockwave flattened the tank shell flying towards me and caused it to explode in the air before sending the fragments back where they'd come. There were several more explosions and series of screaming.

Xaez shot out from behind me as I stood and let my turret and shield retreat. Xaez stopped just in front of me and looked back with a grin.

Good job, now stay here and rest we'll take care of the others Xaez then turned and tackled a soldier to the ground, immediately stabbing them with his tail and moving to the next. I saw the tall Xeno making his way through the back and the others flanked the sides, I didn't know when the two had split up but they seemed to be doing good on their own. I wasn't tired so I didn't know why he was telling me to rest, but I also didn't want to join in with the killing. I already did my part when I took out their tank and disabled the cars. I didn't want to kill any more than I already have.

The screaming stopped pretty soon afterwards and I made my way over, my tail up  and ready to stab or shoot anything that made a move on me. I noticed that one of the soldiers was still alive, but there were no injuries on him and he had blood all over him. I went over and grabbed him and I dragged him along being me as I looked for the others.

Suddenly I saw a human get up and start yelling, and I looked over to see Xaez in the path of his gun. I immediately dropped the human that I was carrying and shot at the human's legs. He cried out in pain as two holes appeared through both of his knees and then he collapsed sideways. His gun falling out of his hand as he clenched his fists with pain.

I grabbed the human that had appearently passed out a little while ago and dragged him over while Xaez looked at me with shock.

You know that he wouldn't have been able to kill me with that. He said and I nodded

But it still would've injured you and I don't want my best friend to get hurt. I said and he seemed to sigh before looking around me at the one I was dragging.

Where was that one? He asked and I pointed backwards with my tail, grabbing him with my hands instead and bringing him forwards in front of us.

He was hiding under one of the cars going to get away, but I saw him before he could get out and figured that a survivor even if he hid instead of fought was still something that the Queen would like. I looked at the one I had shot, I think that he would be a good one too, a warrior till the end, but I want to see if I can ask him a few questions first.

Like what? Xaez said and the other Xenos came into view their faces stained and slick with blood. I picked up the man and brought him over to a tree, but I wouldn't have enough time to ask all of the questions I wanted to.

I went over to a car and ripped out two of the doors. Then I went back over and set them down in front of the human, my claws screeched as I wrote on the metal and we all cringed at the sound. I decided to stick to the things I wanted to know the most:

Human Base. Where.
Roman, Human. Alive?

The guy seemed more shocked that I could write in English than he was that I wasn't going to injure him further.

"Wha—How can you?" I growled at him and pointed at the doors with my tail. "I'm not telling you anything." I stabbed him in the shoulder and kept my tail there. He groaned from pain and I pointed to the second line to see if he knew where my brother was. His eyes seemed to widen and he shook his head and stepped his eyes.

"I'm not—" I shot him in the shoulder and then hit his head with my tail before he could scream in pain.

Why would you do that? Xaez asked and I looked at him.

I wanted to know if my human brother was alive and if there were any human bases left I turned away and looked at the others, and then I remembered what I wanted to do. I wanted to tell The Queen what I could do now and what the humans couldn't do to me.

The two strong ones grabbed the still living humans and the tall one lead the way back to the nest. I followed anxious to see the Queen, and when I knew where we were I shot ahead of the others causing them to hiss in surprise. And I rushed through the nest towards the Queens chambers.

I stopped just before the cave and walked in calmly, I didn't want to startle the Praetorians and get myself killed. Though they might recognize me as a future Queen and not do anything, but I didn't want to take any chances anyways.

All four of the Praetorians immediately looked at me and then realizing who I was they looked around once more. Huh maybe I was right about them recognizing me as a future Queen.

You are close to molting for your first time. The Queen suddenly said and I jumped, I didn't think that she was awake honestly and I didn't want to wake her up, but I also didn't want to leave either and have to come back either.

What do you mean? I asked and The Queen lifted her head and looked at me.

Look how your exterior is changing, it's getting browner and some of it looks to be falling away already. I looked down and saw that she was right, I was starting to look like a rusting statue when it was left in the seasons without care. Now you are a different caste than the rest of my children and I do not know what to expect of your molting cycles, but I do believe that you are growing close and I am interested in seeing what you will become.

But what do I do? I asked, and at that moment the others and Xaez came in with the two human offerings. They came up and bowed low to The Queen and then presented the humans. Both still unconscious.

How about you choose one of them to serve as your final meal and your needed energy for your first molt, and then go to a secluded chamber and stay there for a while. I looked at The Queen in wonder.

Why do I need to stay there for a while? Won't I need food and it's going to be so boring. I whined and The Queen looked at me with her teeth slightly separated. Was that her smile?

I know little one, and I promise that when three days pass I will have Xaez come and get you, and you'll have plenty of food waiting and a mission all to yourself afterwards. I growled in frustration, three days, what if I was done in one, or two?! I was going to have to wait two days until I got out of the room again.

I want you to stay there because I don't want anything damaging your process, the first molt is the most important, and the others that come afterwards will not need to be so cautious with, but with you being so different than the rest. I do not want anything interrupting your process and potentially hurting the future Queen. The Queen made sure to say the last part louder and I could swear that all of the others, even the Praetorians shuddered due to it.

Fiiiine I growled and immediately grabbed the injured one, at least I could have a little bit of fun with one of them before I started. I grabbed his injured legs and started to drag him off to one of the caverns in the sides of The Queens Chambers.

Ah. Ah. Ah. The Queen's voice echoed throughout my head and I stopped and looked at her hopefully. You must eat that human here, before you go into the chamber. I don't want you to molt before you eat it and it cause you injury.

But— I tried and The Queen just shook her head. I huffed and dropped the man's legs harshly causing him to cry out in pain and wake up. Then he looked around, and passed out again. I shrugged and stabbed his chest with my claws, and then I remembered that I wanted to question him first. I smacked my clawed hand against my head and growled at myself. That was stupid, I just wanted to get this over with so that I could go out again, and I let that distract me.

I looked at the now dead human, my claws still in his chest and I growled again. It can't be helped now, I smelled his blood and the next second I was looking at a pool of red, Human blood on the ground where he was. I was a little glad that I never remembered when I ate, but I was starting to get irritated with it as well. I wanted to enjoy my kills...where was this coming from?!

I shook my head and focused on my new task, I looked back at The Queen and stuck my second mouth out at her.

Happy now I growled and The Queen hummed with amusement and ushered me in with a claw. I went over to one of the holes and entered it without hesitation. I didn't see the opening close behind me because I was surprised at how big the room was on the inside, and also because my body was then seized by a sudden pain that I couldn't hold back my scream.

——————————————

The Queen looked at the cell that her soon to be successor was now enclosed in and smiled as her first scream went up through the Hive. Xaez rushed over to the closed opening and was about to break through when he was dragged back by The Queens long tail.

I know that you care for her deeply but there is nothing that you can do and you mustn't interfere. The Queen said and he growled but stayed where he was as another scream tore through the space. I imagine that you now want to get out of this room, so I will give you the assignment of finding the human base of where her human brother is at and making sure that it doesn't move or get attacked. I am sure that my Heiress will want to kill many things when she is done.

I will my Queen. Xaez said and backed out of the room, but as soon as he heard the third scream, though quieter this time. He still broke out into a full out run and didn't stop even as he left the entrance into the Hive's caves. He flew through the city and followed his memory to the place that his own was at last when she was still in her human form.