Finally got another chap of this one written! *really really hates writers block*
Chapter 4
Spider and the clan where resting by a large lake, trying to go to sleep for the night, but Spider was restless and kept shifting.
"For Odd's sake Spider will you lay still!?" Delta growled, clearly agitated.
"There's something familiar about this lake..." Spider mumbled, "I can't quite place it. It's been naggin' at me ever since we arrived. That and I am still worried 'bout Goliath...."
"Ok the lake thing I can understand...but Goliath..." Delta voice turned slightly sad, "It's not likely he is still alive...."
Spider snorted, stood up, and started walking around, sniffing the ground.
"Spider please..." Shriek said as she stood up and nuzzled him, "Just let it go...its been two weeks..." Her voice cracked slightly. "It would be a miracle if he lived this long on his own."
"I am not givin' up on him!" Spider growled as he continued to sniff around. He suddenly stopped some distance away from the rest of the clan, sniffing at the ground eagerly.
"Spider?" Shriek asked, cocking her head, "What did you find?"
"He's been here...I can smell him..." Spider said excitedly. Shriek sniffed the ground and caught Goliath's faint scent.
"Spider this is several days old..." Shriek said with a sigh.
"So!?" Spider snapped, "Its the first sign we had since he disappeared!"
Spider then lowered his head and made the summoning call, Shriek just sighed and shook her head.
Why must he be so stubborn sometimes? Shriek thought as Spider repeated the call and waited....
Mean while in Khufa, the large crossbreed was running amuck; Crashing into buildings and causing the local populous to scramble to get out of it's way as it ran about in a blind panic. There where several attempts to remove the bag from its head, but all failed. They couldn't shoot it for there where too many bystanders.
Suddenly it just stopped in its tracks and just stood there, head raised and facing in the direction of the lake.
"What is it doing?" a mud asked.
"I don' know..." Rik replied as he crept toward it, "But I think now's the best chance ter get that bag off..."
"Be careful Rik.." someone said.
Rik nodded as he gently touched the giant 'breed; it flinched but didn't do anything else. Rik then got out of his pants and carefully climbed onto the crossbreeds back, using its spines as hand holds and making his way to its head. Once there he started working on freeing the bag.
Everyone watched anxiously as Rik worked the bag off one of the crossbreeds head horns. The 'breed was still just standing there, so Rik reached to start working on the other side. As he worked on the other horn the freed side of the bag slipped down, uncovering one of the 'breeds silver eyes.
A faint whine was Rik's only warning before the giant crossbreed suddenly reared up, balancing on its tail and letting out a loud bellowing howl.
"Whoa!" Rik cried as he tried desperately to hang on, but he lost his grip and fell when the 'breed slammed back down onto his handfeet. Rik landed with a thud just in front of the breed's massive handfeet and just laid there...dazed.
"Rik!" Skan cried as he rushed forward, reaching Rik as the crossbreed reared again and howled. Skan was just barely able to grab Rik and roll out of the way before the crossbreed slammed down again.
It was then that the crossbreed bolted, heading in the direction of the lake and bellowing on the way. The bag that was still struck to one head horn waved like an ugly flag, briefly, before it flew off.
"Are yer ok Rik?" Skan asked as he watched the crossbreed disappear into the night.
"Yeah...ow..." Rik groaned, "Anyone get the number of that truck that hit me?"
"Ha funny."
"Heh...der yer think it will come back?" Rik asked as he got back into his pants.
"I don' know..." Skan said, "Fer now lets see 'bout repairin' the damage it caused."
"Spider will you give it up and go to sleep!" Delta growled as they watched Spider put out yet another summoning call. "He is not coming! In fact he is most likely DEAD! Get it through your thick skull!"
"I am not giving up on him!" Spider growled fiercely, "He is alive! I know he is!"
"You are asking for a miracle!" Delta said, putting his snout up against Spider's, "What are you expecting? Goliath suddenly crashing through those trees toward us!?"
As if on cue there was a loud crash and Goliath came bursting through the trees and skidded to a halt in front of them. Delta and the others gapped in shock as Goliath adopted a submissive posture and leaned up against Spider's chest, who hugged him.
"Good guess Delta..." Spider said with a smile, "It's good to have yer back Goliath."
By then the others had recovered and trotted up to welcome Goliath back as well. Together they all started grooming Goliath, removing two weeks worth of parasites from his hide. It was then that Spider caught a scent on Goliath's skin that wasn't his own...one that was very familiar.
Rik? He thought as he jerked his head up, looked at the lake, then in the direction Goliath came from.
"Now I know why this place is so familiar to me..." Spider mumbled.
"Why is that Spider?" Hoth asked, looking up at him.
"I used ter live here..." Spider said simply, staring in the direction of the village.
Hoth cocked his head as he studied Spider's expression. It was a mixture of joy, sadness and...was that...fear?
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