sorry for the long delay, but it was necessary..
Chapter 4
“C’mon, c’mon, I ain’t got all day!! We need these supplies now, yer lazy buggers! Get a bloody move on, I don’ want ter be out after it gets dark!!”
Hak shook his head, tiredly, and raised one massive hand to rub his temples, try to massage away the vestigal headache that the NS had given him. Although it was gone, the damage hadn't completely healed, and he still got the occasional headache from it. Xar was being his usual noisy self, his foghorn-like voice carrying like a siren across the usually quiet woods.
“That’s right, Foggy, jus’ tell ev’ryone where we are…” he rumbled, with a grin, cuffing the smaller slig round the arm.
Xar gave a disgruntled hoot. “Well, you tell me how ter get these lads ter work a bit more sharpish, then I’ll shurrup.”
Hak laughed like a thundercloud. “Aw, give ‘em a break, they can’t work much harder, y’know… You medics are all the same, too much energy fer yer own good…”
Xar made a dismissive noise, and glared.
Hak shook his head, and strode off to see if anyone needed anything carrying…
Faint on the breeze, he caught an unfamiliar scent. He sniffed, thoughtfully; vaguely slig, but with undertones of other species. [i[What the frack is it?[/i] he wondered, taking a single step closer, cautiously. “Hel-lo…?”
He wasn’t sure whether it was faint because the wind had shredded it or because it was quiet to start with, but a faint cry reached his ears. A frown crimped his muzzle. “Hey, Xar!” He called, back over his shoulder. “C’mere…!”
Spider regained consciousness, but only partway. He weakly opened his uninjured eye, but his vision was hazy. He thought he could see a large shape looming over him, couldn't make out what it was.
He tried to speak but was too weak, all he could do was watch it. A couple more painful coughs escaped his throat, and he whined in pain.
"What you want now, Hak, can't you see I'm bloody busy, I wanna get this done before nightfall, I can't be doin' wi' yer askin' me to 'come see this' ev'ry three minutes, y'know..." he heard a rather loud voice say, sounding annoyed.
"Look, Foggy... Jus' quit bletherin' fer a while and come see," another voice replied, this one deep, more of a bass rumble. He guessed it was this 'Hak' the other was refering to.
Sligs? he thought, But why are they here? Have they come to take me back to that hell hole? He managed a weak whine.
"Huh, yer always causin' me bloody headaches, I wish you'd- Mmph!" the loud voice cut off, sharply, mid-rant - apparently muzzled, or stunned, or something...
"Take a look an' shut up," 'Hak' rumbled, tiredly.
Spider, fearing they were from the labs, tried desparately to get up. He managed to prop himself up on his unbroken arm, but was unbalanced, teetered precariously and fell over, onto his broken one, and gave a scream of pain.
"Get off, you great lump...!" 'Foggy' blared, angrily. Spider heard someone approaching.
Spider tensed No, I don't want to go back..I would rather die. Tears streamed down his face.
"Now look what yer done, I tol' yer yer were too big... " the loud voice said, sharply. Next second, and a smaller shape stepped up closer to him, frowning thoughtfully, "Looks like he's been through the wars, y'know... Mebbe we better get him back, patch 'im up..."
"Yeah, an' I know who'd be roped inter carryin'..." he heard 'Hak' comment, dryly.
"No...not back ter labs..." Spider whined weakly.
"You got th'faintest idea what he's goin' on about?" 'Foggy' asked.
"Not a clue," 'Hak' said, shaking his heavy head in an almost ponderous manner.
"Maybe concussed..." 'Foggy' gave the injured hybrid a critical look, "I'd get closer to have a looksee, but... " he looked cautious. "Hm..."
"No more...tests...no more...I'm free...will die that way.." Spider whined as he tried to move away.
"You want ter see if he'll stop movin'fer you, Hak?" 'Foggy' sighed, still trying to get closer to him, "Sit STILL, yer stupid creature, I want ter see if yer hurt bad..."
Spider, noticing the coat 'Foggy' was wearing, whined, faintly; "Yer are...from Vykkers...no...stay away from me....I won't go back.."
"Dammit, he's delirious. Gimme a hand, Hak..."
Spider bared his teeth as he shouted, " STAY AWAY!" then went into a violent coughing fit.
'Foggy', startled, fell backward into a patch of mud on the riverside, "Gah! NOW look!" he said, annoyed.
"Good t'know y'kept the great bedside manner, Foggy..." 'Hak' said, dryly, lumbering nearer.
Still coughing and in great pain, Spider collapsed. "Frag it....don't want ter...die..." he managed to say before blacking out once again.
"Well, least that's one problem sorted out... Gimme a hand here, Hak..." Foggy said, peeling himself out of the mud...
[ June 01, 2001: Message edited by: Dragadon ]
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