---------Kat---------

I felt something light and warm against my body, and when I opened my eyes I saw that Xaez was laying himself over me for some reason. It was strange seeing him so close and being nearly the same size as him, and yet it wasn't. I knew I'd be changing from how The Queen was ordering me around, but I didn't think it would be this big of a change...

Actually...what happened last night? I only remember eating that person, and then stepping into the dark room The Queen was directing me towards, and then...nothing. Why couldn't I remember what happened? Was there something wrong with me? Did something go wrong in the process? Something that shouldn't have happened? 

It seemed that Xaez noticed my anxiousness subconsciously as he pulled me in closer and feeling that made me relax again. How did he know what I needed when I needed it so often? Sure he had his times where he made mistakes, but so far he hadn't not known what to do for me. I trusted him with my entire heart, and now...now I was sure that I wouldn't let anything separate us no matter what. 

I nudged him with my head, trying to wake him gently, but the more I did it the less he responded so I had to outright whack him with my tail to get a reaction. He felt the hit to his leg and immediately shot awake, looking for whatever it was that he assumed was a danger. I just chittered with laughter, sure it sounded weird now, but it also felt normal so I didn't mind in my fit of hilarity. 

We're not under attack dummy, I looked at him and he feigned annoyance to hide the embarrassment, You just wouldn't wake up, so I had to make you wake up. Sorry, not sorry. Hehe.

I'm glad your awake Mine Own, he seemed to pause after saying it and I tilted my head at him wondering why. You don't mind me calling you that?

I shook my head, going up to tap my head to his, Nope! I actually really like the sound of it. I don't know what it means, but I can tell that it's something that'll keep us together for...a long time!? 

He seemed torn for some reason, but eventually just dipped his head in agreement, Yes, it means that I'll follow you to the end of our conquest and further. Till the day I die. There was a  moment of silence and he made a strange sound between a choking sound and a sigh, The Queen will want to see you...see us, so we should be getting back to the cave now.

Yeah! I jumped up in excitement, surprising myself when I went much higher than anticipated. Wow. I thought I'd have gotten heavier being larger now, or maybe I got stronger...

The Queen should be able to answer some questions you have. Xaez said trailing behind me as I trot my way back to the cave, Though even she says she doesn't know the outcome of your future because of how...unique, you are.

That's alright. I was beaming inside, and so full of energy. Where had all this energy come from? Wait, the ground's red, grass should be green...not red. And what was that mess of metal in the distance? As I looked around I saw a giant area of red land, wrangled structures of metal sticking up here and there or seemingly wrapped around the trees and rocks surrounding the cave. 

I turned to Xaez with a confused tilt of my head,  What happened here Xaez? 

I watched his body freeze up and he looked around for a moment before looking back at me and seemingly shrugged. Somehow it looked relatively normal, even through we were both walking on all fours. After your molt you went into a Hunger Craze and there happened to be an army of humans coming to try and wipe out the Hive, so you killed them all and took a nap afterwards. 

I froze, stopping in my tracks...this was all blood? Was that why I didn't remember anything? I just switched off my mind, or maybe I didn't have a mind when I went into a craze? I held up a hand, watching the red liquid dripping off of it thickly, it wasn't something I was going to be licking off of myself, but some part of me wanted to. That part salivated at the feeling of blood in my mouth, coating my claws and body. Not once did the thought that these were once people like I'd been cross my mind...until I thought of it anyways. 

These all...these were all people? I looked at the vast sea of dried blood-stained grass in the midday sunlight and felt...hungry? Why did looking at this make me hungry? I was salivating, my second mouth was anyways. That was still a strange feeling, knowing there was a second mouth in my first, but now it felt decently normal compared to everything else. 

I looked at Xaez and saw him nod at me, and the revelation that I'd just killed all of these people, all of these humans without feeling any form of sadness, guilt, or sickness was...alien to say in the least. Then again I wasn't human anymore, and I knew that they'd all tasted just as good as those wrangled messes of metal...Why did I think metal tasted good?

Yes, these were all humans that had come to kill not only The Queen, but also you as well, Xaez spoke, but I didn't hear him in favor of going up to one of the wrangled messed: one that looked like a car, and poking my claws into a surviving panel. They easily sunk into the metal as if it were paper and there was the barest screech of metal as I dragged my hand down and out. Leaving a large gash in the metal and tasting the sweetness of...sugar cookies? 

I noticed I was holding that same hand up and licking the taste of the metal off of it, and it was sweet. Metal was sweet? Mine Own, what are you doing? I heard Xaez ask as I leant my head in to one of the metal sections sticking outwards towards me and bit down: my teeth easily sheared through the hard metal of what might've been a military truck and the taste of what was definitely sugar cookies flooded my senses. The metal seemingly melting in my mouth as the taste permeated my senses: it was like going to the store and getting those free samples with mom and my brother all over again...

Mine Own? Can you hear me Mine Own? I heard Xaez's voice slowly bringing me back to my senses and when I was able to focus again I saw that I was holding the last piece of what used to be a ten foot long wrangled piece of metal in my hand. Are you satisfied now Mine Own? 

I looked at him, then the metal in my hands, then at the spot it had been a part of, and turned back to Xaez and nodded. He looked at me, then at the spot the mess of metal had been, and turned around. His tail waving a 'follow me' motion, Lets go see The Queen now. Then you'll probably be able to go to that human 'base' you've been talking so much about. I found it yesterday, and The Queen will probable want you to remove them so the Hive can start expanding again. 

I can't wait to show her how much I've changed now! I hopped to Xaez's side, beaming, I'll for sure impress The Queen and prove to her I'm getting stronger! For some reason Xaez side-eyed me, and then chittered quietly and continued walking on. I didn't know what that was about as we were almost there. Time to see The Queen again! And this time I'm so much stronger than before, so surely she'll trust me to be able to do something on my own now!!

When we got to the lower chamber The Queen was being held there was a sort of anxious air surrounding her and her Praetorians and it was starting to make me anxious as well. We went through the motions of bowing to her with our heads against the ground, and her letting us stand, and asking me if I felt okay or if I felt anything wrong. 

I shook my head, testing out lengthening my different turrets and finding out that I had what seemed like stakes on the backs of my legs to dig into the ground when I was firing at something. No. I don't feel anything wrong. I feel amazing if anything: I'm so much stronger now I did a few laps around her to show, and faster too! It's also much nicer that I'm taller too now, because now I can actually keep up with Xaez without any problems!

After speaking, all of the tension in the air fell away and even though Xaez seemed tense still for some reason, that too went away when The Queen spoke with a chuckle. Good. I'm glad my heiress is having such a good time, and enjoying herself so thoroughly after her first molt. And that you're doing so well too. I was planning on waiting a few days or so to let you get used to yourself a bit longer, but since you're so eager I can let you go on that solo mission I'd promised. At that I literally jumped for joy, before gathering myself and bowing again. Impatient to be let outside on my own again. 

The Queen chuckled again, the chittering noise laughter sounded like to my being a somewhat normal thing now, Alight, so as you know the humans will no longer accept you, and unfortunately for them I must expand my nest if I'm to hand off a well established empire to my next heir...you...so if you're able to persuade them to leave peacefully that would be good, but I don't want the humans to be a problem here any longer. Understand? 

I nodded, asking,You want me to drive them out, so that you can take the base and expand the Hive further right? A nod. I jumped to my feet and bowed the third and last time before leaving. Don't worry I'll get them to leave. First I'll ask, and if they try to hurt me or my brother I'll make them. And with that I turned around and began heading out of the Hive's cave. 

Then I realized something, having to peek back into the room at Xaez, Where is it again? He just pointed a single direction and I nodded with a smile towards him. Got it! I'll be back soon!

Getting closer, guess I was wrong about there only being one more chapter -_^ 

I hope you enjoyed, I'll be trying to finish this book tonight or by early tomorrow so it's out of my mind XD