Chapter 12
It was late afternoon when Spider and Shriek finally emerged from the council building; Spider looked as if he was given the third degree and Shriek looked almost equally worn. By then the rest of the clan had helped rebuild several huts and were resting in the village center. Bas and a couple of others were tending to the multiple minor bumps and scratches the clan had received from all the lifting and pushing they did. They all were utterly exhausted, even Goliath...who was fast asleep.
"What the heck were you guys doin' all afternoon?" Spider asked, tiredly.
"Helping rebuild huts..." Kilk replied, flat on this back and not even bothering to look up at him, "And boy am I ssoooorrrreeee."
"All of us are..." Juk mumbled, half asleep from exhaustion.
Spider managed a smile, happy that his clan was able to make themselves useful while he wasn't with them. He and Shriek carefully picked their way into the middle of the group and laid down side by side.
"So what did they want you for?" Charr asked curiously, "It was about Goliath right?"
"Not jus' 'bout Goliath..." Spider said with a yawn, "They wanted ta know every thing I did while I was away...and 'bout you lot. Like where you came from and such..."
"Humph...talk about getting personal...." Delta mumbled.
"Sounds like they were paranoid about something.." Hoth mused, "I wonder what about."
"They got reports of mysterious killings from other villages a few months back," Spider explained, "and the prints they found near the victims remains looked like Drakkic paws."
The whole clan suddenly looked up and over at him when he said that. Bas and the other locals who were still tending to the clan looked over as well, somewhat shocked.
"It couldn't have been one of us..." Kilk said worriedly, casting quick glances at the rest of the clan, "could it?"
"No...I asked for details about it...and the description of how the victims were killed matched someone we dealt with before...that red freak." Spider's face grew dark with anger, "Malice..."
"So what did you tell them?" Bas asked, a bit nervous.
"I told them I sent that freak of a cliff over two months ago and it is not likely he still lives." Spider said with a grin; he still relished that memory of watching that red crossbreed fall down the cliff. Then he frowned when he remembered something about that fight, "That bastard nearly killed me as well."
"Wha..." Bas looked shocked, then he shook it off, "So...this 'Malice' was the one that gave you all those scars..."
Spider nodded and Bas visibly shuddered.
"Don' worry...like I said...he is mostly dead now...so you wouldn't be meetin' him." Spider yawned again and rested his head on his paws; Shriek was already snuggled up to him, asleep.
"I'll let you rest Spide," Bas said with a respectful nod, "You all look like you need it."
"Thanks Bas." Spider was able to say before drifting off....
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