here's another chap...any comments?
Chapter 8
It has been a couple of days since he got the call to hold off on the search and Tilic and the others were in camp waiting for new orders.
"I wonder why the Boss said ter hold off..." one of sligs said, "We were gettin' close."
"Must be up ter somethin'" Tilic mused, "What I haven't a frackin' clue."
The slig shrugged and went back to eating his rations. Tilic looked around at the others in the camp; some were eating, others sleeping, a couple more playing poker. In other words they were all bored out of their minds. Tilic knew how they felt, after all the life of a Tracker was normally a non-stop adventure, being put on stand by like this drives them out of their minds.
Tilic just happened to look up when a large figure stepped into the small clearing they were in. Tilic knew instantly who it was.
Dear Odd that's Beta! he thought. He could see Beta's expression change rapidly from confusion to fear and she looked unsure as to what to do. Get out of here before the others see yer! Tilic thought frantically his eyes meeting her's. He had a feeling the others would try to catch her, orders or no orders. The crossbreed hesitated and one of the other sligs spotted her.
"Its her!" he shouted, grabbing his gun. Instantly the others got up and grabbed theirs. The crossbreed, seeing this, let out a panicked wail and bolted.
"After her!" they shouted and started to give chase.
"No!" Tilic shouted, "Let her be! We are surpost ter be on stand by!"
"And let this opportunity slip away? Don' think so mate." one slig said as he joined the others.
"Dammit!" Tilic said as he grabbed his gun. "If she ends up gettin' hurt it'll be our hides!"
"Yer better believe it." a voice said behind him menacingly. Tilic whirled around to come face to face with Spider himself, who didn't look very happy.
"How..." was all Tilic could say.
"We made a special arrangement" Steinix said as he stepped into the camp, "I surely how your lads are only armed with tranquilizers...."
"They are." Tilic gulped, not taking his eyes off of Spider.
"Where wastin' time." Spider growled, "The longer we wait the more likely Shriek will get hurt."
It didn't take Tilic long that this 'Shriek' Spider was referring to was Beta. Tilic shook himself off and said:
"All o' the lads are on foot. We can take one o' the jeeps ter catch up."
"Then lets go." Spider said getting impatient.
Tilic jumped into one of the jeep, followed by Spider and Steinix. Tilic turned on the engine and they took off.
It wasn't long before they had to stop at a canyon.
"Damn, she had ter go in here?" Tilic groaned, "that place is a maze of small canyons.”
"Best we continue on foot." Spider said jumping out. Tilic and Steinix nodded and got out as well. They walked along until they reached a junction, Spider immediately started casting about for a scent.
"This way." he said finally and the others followed. They kept going like this until they came across a three-way junction, the rest of Tilic's pack was there, looking confused. Apparently Shriek had managed to leave her scent in all three passages.
"Which way now?" one slig asked the others.
"How am I surpost ter know?" another said, "The scent is every...." the slig stopped short and froze petrified at the sight of Spider, who just grinned at them.
"What the frack!?" another said aiming his gun at Spider.
"Shoot him and I'll pump yer so full of tranks that yer won't wake up til next year." Tilic scowled, "I told yer lot not ter go after her!"
The pack looked very guilty and sheepish. Finally one of them asked: "Why is Spider here. I thought we caught him."
"Special arrangements have been made." Spider said as he stepped into the junction, "Now back off and let me handle this."
They weren't about to argue, Tilic's pack walked back to where Steinix and Tilic waited. They watched as Spider looked at each of the passages.
How is he goin' ter get her out? Tilic thought. He saw Spider visible take a deep breath and lower his head. He then let out a sound that was so low in frequency that it was barely audible. It was like a very low-pitched purr and Tilic could have sworn he felt it as well. He saw Spider lay down and wait. He didn't have to wait long as soon a similar sound was heard, only higher pitched. It came from the passage on the right and Spider turned himself toward it and repeated the call he made earlier. Again there was a return call and Tilic could hear something approaching at a fast clip. Suddenly Shriek appeared and jumped on Spider, knocking him over. At first Tilic thought Shriek was attacking, but when he saw the tears in their eyes he realized it wasn't an attack...it was an embrace.....
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