Chapter 2
The next morning, Spider felt like he hadn’t gotten any sleep at all, yet he knew he did. Again he yawned as he watched the trio chase each other about in the village center.
Sure could use some of their energy ‘bout now… Spider thought as he struggled to stay awake. He blinked a couple of times, shook himself back awake, and did a quick head count.
Let’s see: There’s Bas and Rik. Now where’s Ner? he looked around trying to find the sliglet. He didn’t see him anywhere and he was starting to panic. He noticed Hak walking across the center and was about to ask him if he had seen Ner when he saw Ner right under him!
“HAK DON’T MOVE!” Spider shouted as he ran up to him.
Hak froze in place, bit startled and somewhat puzzled as Spider reached under him. Ner, seeing this as a game, kept moving just out of Spider’s reach. “What’s goin’ on?” he asked.
“Got a bratty sliglet under yer….Why me…?” Spider grumbled as he kept having to circle around Hak, trying to grab the mischievous sliglet.
“Is it safe ter move yet?” Hak asked.
“Not yet…get over here yer little…Frag now where did he go?” Once again Spider lost sight of him. This whole scenario was stressing him out (if he had hair he would be pulling it out right now). Suddenly he felt someone tap him on the shoulder. He looked up to see Hak holding Ner in one of his massive hands.
“Is this what yer were lookin’ fer?” Hak said with a smile.
“Yes…” Spider said with a sigh of relief, “Thanks Hak.”
“Don’ mention it.” Hak said as Spider gently picked up Ner in his jaws, “Kids can be a handful can’t they?” Hak said with a knowing smile.
Spider groaned as if to say: Yer telling me?. He nodded another thanks to Hak and walked back over to where the other two sliglets were playing.
That night, there was a vicious thunderstorm. Lightning was flashing everywhere, thunder constantly cracking through the air. All three of Spider’s brood had jumped into his bed and were huddled together under his neck. Spider didn’t mind this time, as he knew they were frightened of the storm. Beside he was too tired to bother with moving them. He rumbled reassuringly to them and fell into a state of deep sleep not long after….
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