• The New World
    A “War of Words” story by Raymond Carson(Sel_Kaui)


    Kaui blinked her eyes slowly, the dust of the arid landscape billowed around her. She raised one of her wings to shield the sand against her body. The rough chitin covering her figure made a slight rustling sound as the airborne sand blew against it. She could remember the day her yellow eyes saw this world, she was young back then. The whispers of her kin echoed in her mind, and her vision was split into millions of different views. Back then she never had to worry about the whispers, or even all the views, for she was not what she is now. Her memories flooded back to her, filling her vision with their vivid scenery, and her ears with the echoing sounds.


    Kaui could remember swimming, always swimming. She was quiet and peaceful. The expanse of her egg seemed so large as she was curled into a fetal position, suspended in the fluid within. She could feel the subtle movements of the egg as the Hive soared through space, towards a new planet, a new home for their kind. Even though she was still young, she knew why they had been searching for a new home. She could recall the day her egg was put aboard the Hive, the comforting clicking of her caregiver and the informative gurgles of he Hive itself. It told her that their world was dying, dried and crusted. They had exhausted every resource available and could no longer sustain their race on the desolate world. They had to seek out a new world, one with water, flora and fauna.

    That was all long ago, and it had been years since the hive left their home-world. She occasionally heard some of her kin chattering about this world, some called it Earth. They talked about how one of their recon selves infiltrated the planet, masquerading as one of the common fauna found there and about how it looked like their world long before they stripped it’s resources. She could feel the entire hive’s excitement.

    It was not long before each of her kin’s excitement faded. Upon reaching earth, she felt pain. Something was hurting the hive, and they where still in space. She remembered screams from her older kin as they vanished in space, exterminated. It was not long before the hive, and she, realized that it was the common Fauna attacking them. She felt confusion. Why had they been attacking them? Did they fear them? The feeling soon faded as a massive vibration shook the hive. They had landed on Earth. She heard the eggs of her kin around her pop open, and the angry cries from their newly formed mouths. Pain seared through her as her kin fell, she was still inside the egg.

    She soon felt the comforting touch of the Lord’s claws against her egg, and her body grew. The sound of gunfire and explosions rang through her ears and she burst from her egg, her body quickly grew in size. Three sharp claws burst from her forming hands, and armored plates sprouted along her curved body. A hunger filled her, and she looked into the Lord’s eyes. He seemed to command her, telling her to hunt and kill. A feeling of bloodlust welled inside her, causing her to instinctively throw her head back and let out a guttural roar. Her powerful legs thrust her into the battle. She leapt out of the hive and into the fray.

    She remembered tearing the Humans apart with her claws, coating them with their blood. It was not long before the Lord told them their job was finished. She returned to the hive to rest. Over the next few years she remembered fighting, securing land and taking it’s resources. It was then her life changed forever.

    She remembered the final battle to claim the rich planet, and she would never forget it. The battle was the fiercest she had experienced, her kin fell beside her and screeched in pain as they died. She would have fallen if it was not for her Lord’s refreshing aura of healing. The humans where advancing on them, her kin tried desperately to stop them, but fell to a constant hail of bullets. The bullets tore into her chitin, cracking it and causing her to roar in pain. She lunched at one of the humans, cleanly cutting him with her sharp claws. The other humans ignored her, she was confused for a moment, but then a grave though flashed into her mind. Her Lord. The humans where chasing him, firing at him constantly with their chain guns. She could hear him screaming in pain as the bullets tore through his tough body while attempting to flee. She desperately tried to save her Lord, but the humans had dazed her with a grenade. The screams soon fell silent, and she could no longer hear his constant whispers.

    A few seconds passed and they turned on her. Filled with rage, she charged at them and impaled one, lifting him high in the air and roaring. The others began firing at her chest, cracking the chitin. She threw the dead human at them, toppling one and dazing the other. With a quick motion, she delivered a death strike to the dazed human. Stomping on the toppled human, she stabbed though his armor and into his chest. She could hear the loud roar of the Human’s ships fleeing into space. Then it came, the whisper that would change her life.

    “Take new form…and lead your kin to their fortune…” It whispered in her mind. She could suddenly hear the voices of her kin, mixed with emotions. Some screamed as they died, and others roared as they charged at a human. She could feel her form changing, becoming smaller and slender. The large claws on her hands receded and instead five fleshy appendages burst from her palm. Her head and neck became smaller and more fleshy, the chitin on her back cracked and two taloned wings burst from the fissures. Two lumps formed on her chest and the chitin re-arranged on her entire body. Hair burst from the back of her rounded head and formed a long mat. Finally, two tails burst from above her rounded rear, forming into what looked like armored scorpion stings.

    She remembered that moment well. Every change made her feel more powerful, and she could communicate with everyone of her kin. She remembered being able to see through their eyes, each and every one of them. Thousands. It was the best moment of her life, she remembered fully destroying the remaining humans left on the planet.

    The wind soon died down, and the sand settled. She could see a bright light in the sky as a human ship landed, six of the creatures poured out. She began to laugh. Did they honestly think they would have a chance? She filled the mind of each hives with the urge to fight, and grow. Soon after, thousands of her kin poured from the hives. Her laugh echoed through the desolate landscape, and the humans knew just how futile it was.

    The End