Post by Inval on Aug 31, 2016 23:02:19 GMT
The parasites are a tight group. They look out for each other and protect their hostless comrades. Despite everything, their one goal and ambitions focus is to serve their queen.
Early Life
To reproduce, a pregnant female will take an uninfected host and incapacitate it; usually paralyzing it by breaking its back. She rips a large wound in the host and position her own so that its nose will face the wound. Quickly, she moves into the nasal cavity to lay her eggs before returning to her position in her own host's brain to trigger a sneeze to implant the eggs. She will stay by this incapacitated host until her babies emerge. While many eggs are released at once, only a few will survive to exit their host. This is also one of the only things a parasite will do something to a host knowing that it will result in the host's death.
The eggs will incubate in the host until they hatch. The hatchlings will travel via bloodstream and implant themselves in the brain. While they're far too young to control the host, in the brain, they learn and grow until they reach partial maturity. When ready, they leave through their incubator's eyes, nose, and mouth as they are too weak to dig through normal skin. With the damage to their cranial organs, brain, and eyes and without the infant bugs, the host dies.
Once free, the mother takes her infants to the royals' den. It offers the safest and most comfortable environment, and allows the new bugs to bond with the queen. The mother allowed to live with their children in the royals' den for most of her children's childhoods, but will be kicked out of the den before her children; though she is welcome to visit. The children will be allowed to exit and socialize with other members at a certain age, but will continue to live with the queen until they reach an age comparable to a teen. Then, they will move to live with their mother until they are old enough to take their own hosts.
Personality
As previously stated, the parasites are very protective over one another, especially over the royal class. However, they can be aggressive towards one another if need be; though usually only for dominance or discipline towards those violating the codes. As for creatures of other species, their behavior towards the creature will depend on how useful they see it as. They will take animals as slaves to be used for study, food, or spare hosts incase a parasite loses theirs; however the slaves will never leave the hive once inside. If a parasite doesn't see an animal as useful nor a threat to themselves or the hive, they will usually just ignore it. This rule however, is different for humans; seeing the humans as a large threat, they will show extreme aggression to any humans in their way or within a certain distance of the hive or its members.
Tastes
Requirements: The parasites do not require oxygen, made obvious by the fact that they spend up to a week in the stomachs of animals. But, like any animal, the parasites must eat and drink. They are omnivores, and will eat practically any biological material, even if it has rotted a bit. Their favorites however, are eggs of Earthly animals; not even they know why.
Likes: The parasites enjoy darkness, when hostless their eyes are sensitive to bright light, and they can get to feeling on edge if they cannot use their sight. They also enjoy tight cramped spaces, dampness, and especially heat. Even at the most extreme temperatures, the parasite will enjoy themselves; they could be in the middle of a huge fire, or be under a blow torch and be in complete bliss; their exoskeletons ensure protection from direct heat.
Dislikes: The parasites number one pet peeve is the human race. As stated, they see them as a large threat and their biggest obstacle to the expansion of the hive. They also dislike extreme cold; though it will not harm them, it will make them uncomfortable(they're from space, they wouldn't be here if the cold killed them). Despite their love for heat and darkness, they dislike dry air and black smoke; while they do not need oxygen, the smoke can still enter their bodies and irritate them; and the darkness of the smoke can defeat their night vision.
