The new hive
The new hive
Chapter 1
By Greavous
AUDIO LOG 12665.34.7
Location: Zendikar IV
Orbit: 243rdday
Local time: 14:23 hours
My names christen I'm 19, I live here with my 5 friends in the forest in our cabin. But there probably not the kind of friends you're thinking of there a little... different.
It's been like this for the past 2 years, it started when I was on my way to Dokar's rest with my mother and father when an ork mob ambushed our transports, I ran out into the woods and hid. I was the only one and only thing left after the orks attacked they took everything. I walked the forest for days looking for any sign of people when I was attacked by a bear. But suddenly its head flew off in a splatter of blood and I saw a lictor stood there glaring at me, my head was filled with hisses and growls which I could tell came from the lictor. Then the others came out from the bushes, they didn't attack me they just stood there staring at me as if waiting for me to say something. I just turned around and walked away slowly, they followed me for a week or more always staying within 20 metres off me. Every day the lictor would bring me a dead animal then retreat back with the others, I didn't complain I cooked the food on fires I made I offered them some but they never moved for it they simply stood there... staring. After a few days the hisses started to turn into words which slowly started to make sense 'what shall we do' 'direct us tyrant' I made orders to them such as 'fetch me a rabbit' which they quickly returned with. I began to realize they didn't want to hurt me they wanted to obey me, after multiple times of communicating and teaching them new phrases I built up a friendship with them and we built our small cabin out in the woods. They explained to me about the hive and the psychic link they all have and somehow I had it as well. There were barriers we had to overcome like telling them why I cook meat instead of just eating it or why I wear clothes. The hardest thing to get over was that there is more to life than just feeding and killing, I still think they don't quite get it but they understand that I enjoy it and as long as I'm happy their happy.
First there's Carl he's a tyrant guard from what we humans have named them he's about 5 foot tall, has 2 hind legs with hooves, 2 front arms that he walks on like a gorilla and 2 scythe like claw arms coming out above his shoulders... he doesn't like to mention his weight *snicker* he likes to stay close to me, he says its makes him happy to know he's keeping me safe.
Then there's the 3 little guys Sid, Larry and Shawn there rippers, they stand about a foot tall have little tiny claw arms and big mouths, they'll eat almost anything which really helps out when cleaning leftovers. They get annoying sometimes when they run around all over the place or start eating random items and also they can't talk as well as Carl but they're good guys.
Lastly there's Bruce, we don't see him much in the day he prefers to go hunting and usually comes back with a deer or something for supper. He's a lictor and he says it's what he was made to do, so he spends his days out in the forest hunting, stalking and scaring and humans he finds out hunting from the local town he's 8ft tall not including his huge claws from his shoulders so he's quite intimidating.
So yea not your average friends but we have a nice little family in our cabin, it's in the middle of a huge forest about 20 miles from the nearest town called Dokars rest. We rarely see any humans around but they come hunting now and then but have never been near the house, Bruce makes sure of that.
Life is calm out here we spend our time walking the forest or at the lake, sometimes we play games like hide and seek. Bruce always wins, damn his camouflage I'm sure that's cheating. I rarely venture to the local town only to pick up spices and other minor ingredients, they don't really like having to wait in the forest but the guards wouldn't take too kindly to 5 known man eating beasts walking into the area. I've been asked sometimes where I come from out of the forest, I tell them I live with my 5 friends out in a cabin. They don't take too much notice as I spend the little money we find amongst the trees and from the fur I sell off the animals. The guards routinely tell me to watch out for tyranids and orks in the forest, I just smile and say I can defend myself.
It's always been like this, until the other day....
*sigh* i said as i sat on Carl's back returning to the cabin from the lake.
"Something wrong?" asked Carl curiously.
"No, i just can't wait to get home and cook that stag Bruce got us".
"Food, food, food" screamed the rippers.
I chuckled to myself "ok, ok since you guys have been good today I'm going to use the special spice you guys like".
"YAAAAAAY" they shout running around Carl's legs manically.
"Hey come on now i can't get back with you guys running around all..."
"QUIET!" shouted Bruce "something's here"
We all went silent as Bruce began to scan the surrounding trees for signs of movement.
"Hmmm" he said "I was sure, DUCK!".
Was the last thing i heard as a ear pounding sound came from the side of Carl's head and shards of red scale and green blood shot into the air and he came toppling down onto his side, throwing me into a tree where i fell unconscious.
Sometime later...
"If he's dead can we eat him?".
"NO he's not dead how many times must i tell you".
I slowly opened my eyes and began to sit up "OUCH!" i said grabbing my head.
"Whoa whoa whoa slow down there you took a big knock the head back there try and rest".
"Wha... what happened" i asked as my vision returned.
"A hunter shot me in the head with his rifle" replied Carl, and then i noticed his head. There was a hole about 2 inches across and half an inch deep into one of his head plates.
"Oh my god, Carl are you ok that's a big hole" i said moving over to him to have a closer look.
"Ye I'll be fine it'll regenerate in about a day or two, it's you that I'm worried about".
I smiled at his concern for me and not himself. Looking around i noticed Bruce wasn't in the cabin.
"Where's Bruce?" i asked.
"He outside with nasty shooty man" said Sid as he wandered over to the back door.
"What you brought him back?".
"Yes, we thought you might want to talk to him or kill him" Carl stated.
I walked towards the back door followed by the others to see this man, it was dark outside now and the only light outside was from the fire and the door light.
"BACK, BACK YOU BEAST! ARE YOU GOING TO KILL ME OR JUST HOLD ME HERE TILL I STARVE!"
The man was yelling at Bruce, who had his huge shoulder claws sat on either side of the man keeping him enclosed beside the cabin so he could not escape. I stared at the man until he noticed me.
"Quickly boy, get me a weapon to kill the beast and I'll take you to safety"
"Firstly I'm not a boy, secondly why would i give you a weapon to kill me friend?"
"WHAT!" the man shouted "your friend?" the man said puzzled yet frightened. That was when he noticed the others stood behind me. His face turned to terror yet with a slight sign of relief.
"You... you control these beasts?"
"No" i replied as Shawn climbed my body and sat on my shoulder "But they do as they like. But they do follow my instructions" i replied stroking Shawn.
"Then can you 'ASK' this one to get off me" he said cringing as Bruce gave him a snarl.
"Not until you tell me why you're out here and why you shot my friend" i said giving him a scowl.
"I was out hunting and thought id venture further to see what other game lies out here that was when I spotted you riding your 'friend' as it were. I thought they had captured you for some unknown reason and so i shot the guard so you could run. But instead your buddy here came after me, broke my rifle and herded me back here" the man exclaimed.
"Still can't believe the beast took a full on head shot from my executioner 442, it can shoot through 5 inch steel" the man said pondering to himself.
"Well i think my friend deserves an apology from you Mr Uhhh".
"David, me names David and you want me to apologise to that thing?".
"He isn't a thing his name is Carl and he told me that shot to the head stung abit" i said to David with a look of anger.
"Ok ok sorry Carl, i won't do it again can i go now" ask David looking a bit sad.
"Fine" i said as i walked over to Bruce "Ok Bruce let him go"
"Are you sure?" Bruce asked with a look of rage in his eyes.
"Yes I'm sure, he won't trouble us anymore"
"Very well" said Bruce as he moved his claws away from David and brought them to rest on his shoulders. David stood up and looked at me puzzled.
"You can understand them?".
"Yes they communicate to me telepathically".
"Amazing, i be the inquisition would love to meet you" he said with a cheesy smile on his face.
"NO!" i shouted "you mustn't tell anyone of this, please. They'll come and kill them and take me away to some psykers who will try and experiment on me".
Hmmm i could make money off this he though to himself, turn him in for money or even holy weaponry. But what if he has something i could use "Muhahaha what's it worth" David said with a devious look.
"I have nothing we live here with the little we have" i said pleading to David.
"well if theres nothing you have thats worth the trade i guess I'll be leaving" said David turning around to walk away.
"Your life maybe?" said Bruce as he rose to his full height and loomed over David blocking his path holding his chest out ready to fire his spike tendrils.
"WHOA WHOA WHOA OK OK i can take a hint, no telling people of here i get it noooo problem".
"Thanks" i said with a smile holding out my hand "I'm Christen by the way".
"Well nice to meet you lad" he said shaking my hand "i wouldn't expect you to have any money living all the way out here, you got any weapons i could use to kill some deer for cash. Since your friend here smashed my expensive rifle"
I pondered, we don't have any weapons here Bruce brings all our food and i don't think a little knife would help him. Then it hit me "I know! Wait here" i said rushing back into the cabin. They all sat there staring at the door with looks of confusion then i came out carrying a bag.
"We don't have any weapons but you can have this" i said offering the bag to David "It's not much but I've heard people in the town saying it's worth something. David opened the bag and rummaged around inside.
"By the emperor!" he said eyes as wide as dinner plates gawping at the fur "Is this a Black stag pelt"
"Ye i kept it to make a shirt of something but you can have it, Bruce brings one back every few months. I used the last pelt to make some underwear" i said chuckling.
"This will by me an even better rifle AND a new truck, thank you lad how can i make up for this".
"Just don't tell anyone of this place" i said giving him a serious look.
"You got it buddy, right I'll be off then" David said walking away in the town's direction "Cya lad and if you find any more of these be sure to look me up, i can get you a good deal".
"Bye, Ye I'll look for you next time I'm in town" i shouted as he walked into the darkness.
I walked back towards the door i turned to see if he was gone.
"Bruce" i whispered.
"Yes Christen?".
"Be sure he gets out of the woods ok and doesn't tell any other hunters that are out hunting"
"Will do" he said changing his skin into dark colours to match the forest and leaped off into the darkness. I shut the door and looked around the cabin. The rippers were curled up by the fire Carl was busy making the bed and brushing the floor.
"Right let's get that stag cooked" i said donning my apron and walking over the Stove.
The End... for now.