*There was something comforting about being surrounded by countless rotting corpses, their bacteria-ladden flesh slipping off the bones creating a messy soup of decaying matter and body fluids underneath them. A thin blanket of foul-smelling mist hung low to the ground, wrapping every gelainous egg gently. Humidity hung thickly in the air and clung to the glistening exoskeleton of Iseijin, resting near a corner of the smaller egg-chamber, creating clear water droplets that ran down the sides of her smooth cowl as if she were sweating but there was nothing discomforting about her home except the Predators.
*The Xenomorph had been placed there to heal her wounds and there she had remained until the putrid smell of the Hunters' musk within the Hive invaded her senses and she found herself frantically trying to get up to chase the intruders away but her wounds left her weak and sore. It was bad enough that the Predators had landed on their planet, now they wanted to destroy their home too? It seemed there was nothing that could satisfy the Hunter's bloodlust except death itself.
*Younger drones waited about nearby, some fresh out of their first molt, their soft exoskeleton glistening and as smooth as it'll ever be. They hung around the older Iseijin, some laying down with their heads resting on the ground next to her, recognizing her as their caretaker since they were but developing chestbusters inside their host's womb-like home. She knew they were still too young and vulnerable to be placed into battle yet but it would not be long before they too managed to taste their first fresh meat. The more curious ones checked out her odd-looking right arm but she did not allow anyone to get close to her healing leg, if she wanted to heal quicker she had to remain rested and her wounds must not be disturbed. Her fractured hind limb was tightly wrapped in a thick protective layer of resin with the help of another "architect" drone, as they were known, for they did not actively participated in battle but were in charge of the creation on new chambers by secreting resin from their special swollen glands and the maintenance of old ones.
*A few of the older ones hissed excitedly and grew a bit rowdy, clawing and smacking their jaws together creating loud clicking noises, their tails cutting the air with every sharp whisk. One in particular, comsumed by fervor, nipped a younger sibling that was next to Iseijin in the back of its head and the young one gave a loud yelp in pain, cowering. Iseijin growled loudly and quickly lunged her deformed, spear-like arm at the assailant, successfully creating a small gash across his lower jaw. The drone's first wound and it wasn't even in battle. The older one quickly retreated to the other side of the egg chamber, hissing lightly at Iseijin, not liking the burning feeling of the cut and blaming it on her. Were it not for the fact that her muscles were sore beyond comparison then she would have not hesitated to have chased that hot-blooded drone to the weapons of the Hunters themselves.
*Though the chamber was relatively quiet it was not long before many of the young drones began to cry out with loud hisses for the wellfare of their Great Mother. They knew she was in danger but could do little to protect her. Iseijin felt just as helpless if not quilty for she was aware that if it weren't for her reckless behavior in battle then she would have been a little more conserved than being reduced to the current state she was in. There were Predators in the Hive, too many of them, and though Daveberg and her comrades would rather die than see their Queen taken away by the Hunter's hands she hoped that none of them would lose their lives to such unworthy creatures...
*Before long, Iseijin also joined in the young drone's pitiful cries.
~ No one is taller than the last man standing ~
~ Males conquer, females rule ~