*digs topic up from forum page 3* Yeah i know...but I only add to this one when I think of a short....
Anywho...since I have only the Ep to post in 'Pack of the Spider', I thought I post this...
Secrets Revealed (takes place between 'Pack of the Spider' and 'Black and White'(the next one in the series *grin*)
Spider was walking through the village center Dragadon suddenly appeared and landed right in front of him. He jumped back a bit, startled.
"Jeez Drag! Why must yer always try yer darnest ter scare the crap outta me?" Spider grumbled, annoyed. Then he noticed her serious expression and her eyes showed a hint of sadness. "What's wrong?"
"I bring sad news to you my kin. Your friend Nerik is fast approaching his final moments in life and he has requested your presence." Dragadon said, sadness in her voice.
Spider felt his mouth go dry and his heart sink, he staggered a bit when the full realization hit him.
"No.." he muttered as he tried to fight back the tears that insisted on coming.
"I will take you to the village, if you are willing..." Dragadon said gently.
"I...I'll go. He would probably haunt me fer the rest of my life if I didn't" he managed a weak laugh.
Dragadon cracked a smile and lowered herself so Spider could climb on. Once he was on and secure Dragadon took off.
"Hey Spider!" Tok cried as he saw him leave, "Where are yer going without us!?"
"Easy Tok," Bea said putting a hand on his shoulder, "I overheard what Dragadon told him and this is something he needs to do alone."
"It's Nerik isn't it?" Tok asked, the realization coming to him, "he's..."
Bea merely nodded and Tok mumbled, "We'll be here fer yer Spider when yer come back. Yer won' admit it, but yer will need help ter get through this..."
A short while later they landed, and Spider quickly slid off Dragadon's back.
"Where?" he asked. Dragadon pointed to a nearby tree house. With a sigh Spider removed his pants and scaled the tree. It was a tight fit though the door, they obviously weren't thinking about 7 foot tall crossbreeds when
they built this house. He had to duck slightly as he moved about in the house. He entered one room and saw Nerik laying in a bed covered with furs.
Zig, who was beside him, nodded politely to Spider and left the room.
Spider approached the bed, whining softly. Nerik looked up at him weakly and smiled, "Yer made it, I hope it wasn' ter hard ter get in here..." he said weakly.
"It was a tight fit, but I'm in here." Spider said as he nuzzled him gently with his snout.
"heh, I tried ter get them ter put me in a regular hut, but no they wouldn' listen ter me. Healers...gotta love 'em." Nerik said with a weak laugh, "Anyway, I'm glad yer made it. There are a couple of things yer need ter know. Things Bastek and I never told yer fer yer own protection."
"And those are?" Spider asked, curious.
"First thing...have yer ever wondered why 'o Drag calls yer 'kin'?"
"As a matter of fact...I was wondering why she keeps callin' that. Never bothered ter ask her.."
"The term 'kin' means 'one of ones own kind' or relative."
"But I don' look anything like..."
"Let me finish." Nerik interrupted, "When yer were created, we used DNA from three different creatures, two yer know about."
"Slig and paramite."
"That's right and the third is the one who brought yer ter the village a few minutes ago..."
"Yer mean...," Spider said, shocked, "That I'm part.."
"Dragon."
"So yer told her 'bout this?" Spider asked.
"No, I didn't. Somehow by instinct she knew, though only subconsciously. I don' think she even is aware that she was calling yer 'kin'."
"So why a dragon?"
"When Drag started assisting Abe with the resistance, the Cartel recognized the power she had and wanted to harvest it in some way. By pure luck they were able to get a tissue sample. We didn' know what we would get when we started mixing genes together. There were 3 failures before we made yer and we were pleased when we found out yer had inherited Drag's exceptional eyesight. But yer ended up picking up a few other things as well..."
"Like?"
"Greater strength, speed, and agility. Yer rather overprotective nature
when it comes ter yer family and friends." he paused a moment, as if not sure if he should say it, "and the most surprising of all...fertility."
Spider recoiled in shock, "yer mean that I am capable of..."
"Reproducing? Yes, provided yer can find a fertile female..."
"Why? why was that kept from me?" Spider asked, still shaking somewhat in shock.
"Fer yer protection, if Myron or anyone else fer that matter had found out..yer would have been either killed outright or turned over ter Skylla fer 'breeding' purposes. So, Bastek and I felt it was best few knew 'bout it as possible."
"I...I understand...I wouldn't have wanted ter live like that..." Spider paused a moment, "So...is there anything else?"
"That was all I knew, but..." Nerik coughed a couple of times, "due ter how much influence Drag's DNA had on yer...there may very well be more things, only not as noticeable. 'Sides, we don' know enough 'bout dragon
physiology, so it may be best ter have a chat with Drag
sometime...ugh...it's getting hard ter see now...yer still there Spide?"
"Yes..yes I am still here." Spider said as he gently put his head on Nerik's chest, tears flowing.
"Ah.." Nerik said as he touched Spider's face, "there yer are. There's one thing I want yer ter der fer me..."
"What's that?" Spider asked, whining slightly.
"Take my whip...and give it ter one of yer packmates...yer choice on who yer give it ter."
"Ok..."
"Spider...I want yer ter take care of yerself ok?" Nerik said, his voice starting to get faint, "And remember what we have taught yer."
"I will...I promise..."
"I will always be with yer Spide...and so will yer father, as long as yer remember...." Nerik closed his eye then, his breathing slowing until it stopped altogether, and his hand fell limply from Spider's face. Spider nudged him, only to get no response. Then, eyes blinded with tears, Spider raised his head and let out a mournful howl.
Outside, Dragadon raised her head and matched Spider's howl with one of her own...
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