'Alliances'

[Sl'askia]

wheee! heres the first chap of the latest! *hears mel and a couple of other forums memebers fainting* hey...I can't help it! I'm a fast writer!

Chapter 1

For the past few months Spider and the other Drakkics have wandered, never staying in one place for long to avoid being found by bounty hunters. The group, even with the limited knowledge Spider was able to teach them before the attack on the compound, has done remarkably well. The days they went hungry due to unsuccessful hunts were few and far between. The only real 'problem' was Delta, who kept challenging Spider for the role of Alpha and each time Spider would win. Delta would often sulk for days after he lost, snapping at and unwilling to help anyone.
They did get injured during hunts once in awhile, but so far nothing major or life threatening. But still, it caused Spider to make the decision to have the females stay back and let the males do all the hunting, something Echa didn't take too well. Spider had to fight her off him and tell her that since there are only three of them (females) it would be too risky to have them hunting and possibly get severely hurt or killed and that he did not think females were too weak to hunt at all. Echa had snorted and reluctantly accepted that explanation.
One day Shriek, Invy and Echa were sitting in a small forest clearing; Spider and the other males had gone off hunting and they were waiting patiently for them to return...well...two of them were anyway....
Echa grumbled as she started pacing, slashing at a nearby bush in frustration.
"Pacing is not going to make them come back with dinner any quicker Echa." Invy muttered, slightly annoyed.
"Oh let her vent, she's not the only one that doesn't like Spider's decision." Shriek said.
"I'm surprised you didn't try to talk him out of it...since you’re his mate an' all."
"Normally I would have...but he had a point." Shriek explained, "If the we are to restore the lost race we females need to keep ourselves in one piece. There are only three of us as you know."
"Tell us something we don't know!" Echa growled as she swiped at another bush, "Why couldn't the Master's make it equal males to females eh?"
"They wanted too..." Invy said, "and they tried..."
"and obviously failed!" Echa growled as she ripped a bush out of the ground.
Shriek sighed as she stood up and said:
"I'll be right back. Nature calls."
"Alright…don't wander off too far." Invy said.
"Heh I won't." Shriek chuckled lightly as she went into the forest.
Invy is becoming quite the motherly type. Shriek thought as wandered off a short distance away to do her 'business', When we start having pups I'm sure she'll be a great...what was that?
Shriek jerked her head up at the sound of what sounded like laughter. She finished up and followed the sound, curiosity getting the better of her. She noticed it was coming from another small clearing. When she looked in she immediately lost her appetite and her blood ran cold...for what she saw sickened her to the core...

[Danny]

ooo, suspenseful...

one tip for the future - if possible, i'd advise you to avoid synoptic sections like "For the past few months Spider and the other Drakkics have wandered, never staying in one place for long to avoid being found by bounty hunters." i find it much better to get straight into the action, and leave the readers to work things like that out for themselves...

they're gonna try and repopulate a race with 12 individuals? does anyone else forsee this getting a bit incestuous?

[Sl'askia]

Who say's the race is completely wiped out? *grins*

Nereka: Hey hey HEY! I thought you don't do spoilers!

just a teaser Nereka...

Nereka: feh...at this rate you'll burn yourself out before you get to my fic...

oy...I hope not...

[Sl'askia]

Chapter 2

The first thing she saw was a pair of discarded Big Bro pants, which that in itself almost made her high tail it back to the others to warn them about a possible bounty hunter close by. But then she noticed that there was blood on the pants and when she looked further into the clearing, the sight made her stomach churn.
Hanging from a tree limb by what looked like intestines was a Big Bro skeleton and close by was a pile of shredded flesh. Dancing and laughing around them was what looked like another Big Bro, but then she noticed a rather long red tail poke out of the end and darker red spines poking through the back, plus the skin looked a bit baggy. Shriek then realized to her horror that whoever this was...was wearing the deceased Big Bro's skin.
"Oh Odd that is sick..." she muttered before she could stop herself. The figure abruptly stopped dancing and singing, and looked in her direction. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Shriek thought as she lowered herself into a submissive posture, hoping it wouldn't head her way.
“Show yourself.” A male voice growled, "So I can see who my 'audience' is..."
Not knowing what possessed her, Shriek complied and stepped out fully into the clearing, staying in a submissive posture.
“Who are you?” she asked timidly.
"My what a pretty little thing, oh the things I could do to you..." He said as he advanced, ignoring her question.
Shriek didn’t have a good feeling about this at all and backed away a bit.
"S..stay away..." she whined.
"And what will you do if I don't?" the figure said as he continued to approach her, "There is nothing you can do to stop me..."
Too scared to bolt, Shriek did the only other thing she could do...she made the two sharp bark-like calls that was the call for help. The figure realized that she was calling for help and scowled.
"Now you did it..." it growled, "I'll have to kill you quickly now..."
It then started to charge her, but just before it reached her something rammed it and knocked it to the side. Shriek looked up gratefully at her mate, Spider, who was now standing between her and the figure in a full threat posture.
The figure stood up and seemed surprised at seeing Spider and then it surprised them both with what it said next.
"Well, well Spider...we meet at last." It said with a laugh.
"Who are yer...and how der yer know my name?" Spider growled.
The figure chuckled and ripped off the Big Bro skin, revealing something that was a shock to them both…
Standing before them was another crossbreed like them; only he was bright red in color, with orange eyes and three rows of dark red spines running from the top of his head to the tip of his tail. This ‘breed was also a bit shorter then Spider and most of the other males.
Shriek noticed Spider drop his threat posture slightly and the red ‘breed smile with a grin that sent chills down her spine.
"I am Malice..." the red ‘breed said, still grinning, "and I know of you Spider because my creator was Myron."
Spider immediately reassumed the full threat posture; if this ‘breed was Myron’s creation he can’t possibly be a good guy.
"Myron...." Spider growled, trembling with fury.
"Oh you remember him." Malice grinned.
"How could I not remember that bastard and all those things he did ter me!?!"
"Well he was only trying to get you to be a heartless killer...like you were supposed to be." Malice said and started to strut around, "but no...you never did develop that, you are a failure. But then... " Malice stopped and faced Spider directly, "Prototypes do fail more often then not..."
"What...did...yer...call...me?" Spider growled, trembling.
"A prototype...cause that's what you are." Malice answered with a sly smile, "a weak, worthless prototype."
Shriek watched helplessly as Spider once again struggled with his emotions; his head low and growling furiously. She could tell that this ‘Malice’ was just waiting for Spider to lunge at him and she prayed Spider would keep control. After what seemed like an entirety, Spider let out a loud snort, straightened up and said:
"I don' have time ter deal with pieces of trash like yer." Then as a final insult Spider turned and scuffed dirt into the rogue ‘breeds eyes, who howled furiously.
"Lets go..." Spider said quietly while Malice was trying to get the dirt out of his eyes. Shriek wasn't about to argue and they quickly left the area and rejoined the others.
"We're movin'...now!" Spider boomed to the group.
"But why?" Hoth asked, "Not all of us have eaten yet..."
"Then grab what yer can, 'cause we are not stayin' here." Spider growled as he tore off a large chunk of meat from the kill and started running in the opposite direction he just came from.
"But..."
"Just do it!" Shriek snapped as she grabbed a large piece herself and ran off after Spider.
"Well I hope he explains his reasons once we are finished moving." Delta growled as he reluctantly followed suit, the others doing the same...

[Sl'askia]

Chapter 3

"Ok Spider..." Delta snarled when they finally stopped to rest, "What's the deal? Why did we have to move so soon?"
"Were there bounties nearby?" Hoth asked.
"Not bounties..." Spider replied, panting slightly, "somethin' worse then that."
"How can there be something worse then a bounty?" Invy asked.
"Try...another one of our kind." Spider said, his eyes narrowing in remembrance.
"What!?" Echa said surprised, "There's another one like us out there?"
"Yes..but he was raised by Myron himself and is a blood thirsty killer."
"You are jumping to conclusions Spider." Delta sneered, "Just because he was raised by our Master's enemy does not mean he is a killer."
"If you saw what I saw in that clearing Delta, you wouldn't be saying that..." Shriek said, still shaking.
"Enlighten me then..." Delta said, "What did you see?"
Shriek looked over at Spider who nodded, then she described what she saw every gory detail. Delta's face...as well as most of the others...went pale.
"Ok...I take that back..." Delta said with a gulp, "the dudes a sicko..."
"Well this creep be coming after us?" Kilk said, shaking.
"Most likely...at least after me." Spider said, "He knew who I was and I wouldn't be surprised if Myron let him loose ter kill me and I seriously doubt he would jus' stop at me...he'll most likely see 'bout killin' all of yer."
"What can we do then?" Kilk whined.
Spider lowered his head, deep in thought. Finally he answered:
"I don' know how bold he is and whether or not he would take the chance of attackin' a large group. So I am goin' ter assume that he is smart enough not ter tackle more then he can chew so ter speak."
"Which would mean for us what?" Hoth asked.
"When we go hunting...three males stay behind with the girls. And no one is ter wander off fer any reason."
"Oh so now we have to have guards..." Echa growled.
"There is safety in numbers." Spider growled, "and from what I could see this 'Malice' killed that Big Bro without any difficulty. Therefore, the more of us that stay together at any givin' time the safer we will be."
"Well why don't we all go hunting then?" Echa countered, "like we did before."
"There is too big a risk you females could get hurt during a hunt and it is too dangerous now ter leave yer girls alone by yerselves. So as a precaution three of us males will be staying with yer."
"Well I still don't like it!" Echa growled put her snout up against Spider's, "makes me feel like you think us girls are too weak to take care of ourselves!"
"Echa we know it seems unfair to us." Invy said calmly, "but there are only three of us and if something happens to us the project the Master's created us for will fail. We can't afford to take unnecessary risks here."
"Alright!" Echa snapped and turned away, "I still don't like it."
"I don' like it either Echa, believe it or not." Spider said calmly, "but we have no other choice."
"Who's taking...first watch?" Lunic asked.
"First watch? What are you talking about?" Delta sneered.
"Figured...it would...be a...good idea to...have someone...on watch...while we sleep."
"Pessimist..." Delta snorted.
"Actually...its a good idea." Spider said.
"What!?"
"Yer heard me...we will take turns keeping watch at night and whoever was on watch will sleep during hunting times."
"And be one of the males that stay behind with us..." Shriek added.
"That's right, I'll take watch tonight. The rest of yer get some sleep."

[Danny]

*resists the urge, the irresistable urge, the uncontrollable urge, to constructively criticise everything...*

*fails*

hmm... i think the forums should be a lighter shade of brown...

i don't like munch only having one leg, how about three?

are you seriously going to have fuzzles as emoticons?

oh c'mon, chocolate covered pretzels? do they really think people'll go for them?

Stop it, Brain! *removes his brain and beats its criticising bit in with a hammer...*

very good, Rach. i have absolutely no criticism. really, i don't.

*Rach faints with disbelief*

[Sl'askia]

hehehe you are funny sometimes Rett.

Chapter 4

Spider had the clan moving every day, stopping only long enough to rest and eat. At night one of the males would stay awake to keep watch and sleep while some of them went hunting.
One day Spider had done the nightshift and had stayed behind with the females, Juk, and Delta while the others hunted. He was trying to get some shuteye...but Delta kept disturbing him, whining about having to on the move all the time.
"Get buggin' me!" Spider snapped at Delta, "Can't yer see I'm tryin' ter sleep?"
"Well if you weren't so damn paranoid, we wouldn't be needing to have nightshifts and having to move every odd damned day." Delta growled back. "There is a difference between paranoia and precaution." Spider growled tiredly, "These are simply precautions."
"Ha!" Delta snorted, "If you ask me you are afraid of this 'Malice' guy...yeah that's it...afraid..."
"Yes I am afraid...but of what he could der ter the clan...I am not afraid of him personally!"
"Well actually..." a familiar voice said from the trees, "I think Delta is right...you are afraid of me..."
Spider was up on his feet immediately and stared in the direction the voice came from.
"Afraid for good reason" Malice continued laughing as he jumped down from the trees and faced them, "After all...he is only a prototype...an...Unfinished model. While I am the finished product."
Malice grinned and started circling them. Spider moved to keep himself between the red crossbreed and the others not taking his eyes off of him. "I don't like this..." Invy whined, "There's going to be a fight I just know it..."
Echa just gulped, she couldn't help but feel a bit intimidated by Malice. She glanced over at Juk, who was standing tall and Delta...who actually seemed to be enjoying this as he had a smirk on his face. Shriek was just standing still, trembling slightly.
"Spider you don't think he will actually..." Shriek started but didn't get to finish, for Malice suddenly changed directions and broke into a charge. Before Spider could stop him, Malice had pounced on and bit deeply into Shriek's left elbow, knocking her to the ground in the process. Shriek screeched in pain and Malice released her and bounced away before Spider could grab him.
"Shriek!" Spider cried as he went over to his mate, Invy was already checking her wound.
"She won't be able to walk for awhile..." Invy muttered. Juk and Echa was in obvious shock from the attack and Delta was no longer smirking...
"You bastard!" Delta howled.
"Hey...blame Spider..." Malice grinned maliciously, "He was the one that wasn't fast enough."
Spider let out a howl of rage and faced Malice, head low in a threatening posture and body tease with rage.
"I'm goin' ter kill yer fer that." Spider growled fiercely.
"For what?" Malice grinned as he walked boldly up to Spider, "for proving that you are to weak to handle me hmm? For showing your...'clan' that you are not fit hmm?" Malice's snout was right up against Spider's now. "For showing what a worthless prototype you are?"
It was then Spider snapped. He lunged at Malice, too quickly for him to dodge completely. He grabbed and then ripped off Malice's left most face tentacle. Malice screamed in agony and staggered back a ways and put a handfoot up against his face. After a moment he lowered his handfoot glared at Spider, a look of pure hatred on his face.
"You...hurt me." Malice growled as Spider spat out the body part he just ripped off of him, "You may have gotten first blood...but it will be your guts that will be spilled on the ground!"
"TTTRRRYYY IIITTT!!!!!!" Spider howled and Malice charged...

[Sl'askia]

I hate doing fight scenes...

Chapter 5

Malice leapt at Spider, who was barely able to dodge in time. He spun as soon as he landed and swiped Spider across the back with his claws. Spider responded by whirling around catching Malice in the face with his claws; leaving three cuts across the right side of his face, almost taking out an eye. Malice countered with a punch to Spider's face, but Spider rolled with it, ducked down, and shot forward. He caught Malice in the chest, and quickly straightened up again; causing Malice to flip over onto his back. Spider made a lunge at Malice’s throat but the red crossbreed rolled away in time and whacked Spider in the face with his tail. Stunned, Spider staggered back a bit and Malice stood up and rammed him hard, sending him into tree. Spider recovered and ducked just in time to avoid getting his throat slashed and socked Malice in the gut, doubling him over. He raised his fist to bring it down onto Malice's head, but Malice recovered too quick and slashed Spider across the chest. He then threw dirt into Spider's eyes, blinding him. Spider howled angrily as Malice ran around and jumped onto his back and made a move for the back of his neck. Thinking quickly, Spider flipped onto his back, causing his spines to piece Malice's body. Malice screeched in pain as Spider rolled off him and made another lunge for his neck, but Malice was able to roll away just in time. Malice tried to hit Spider with his tail, but Spider grabbed it with his jaws near the tip. Spider grunted in pain as Malice took a rock and smashed it against his side, craking a rib. In response, tore off the end of Malice's tail. Malice howled in pain and bit down on the back of his neck and tore off a couple of Spider's spines. Ignoring the pain, Spider punched Malice in the side, breaking a couple of ribs. Spider realized too late that that attack left him too close and open and Malice took the opportunity to bite down on the back of Spider's neck again, only this time just behind his head. Spider could hear Malice chuckling as he tried in vain to shake him off.
Crud! Spider thought as he thought frantically of how to get out of this one. Then he realized Malice had left a certain sensitive area open…and he didn’t hesitate to take advantage. He struck Malice as hard as he could in the spot where his reproductive organs where. Malice's immediately he released Spider as he fell over doubled over in shear agony.
Spider wasn't going to let up now that he had the advantage; he grabbed Malice by his tail and swung him into a tree, breaking more of his ribs. Malice apparently having had enough, got up and ran. Not wanting for him to escape so he could terrorize his clan again, Spider pursued. He pushed his battered body to the limit as he ran, hot on the red ‘breeds tail.
The trees suddenly disappeared and there was a cliff…and Malice at the edge of it. With one final burst of speed Spider rammed into Malice, sending him over the edge and nearly himself with him. Spider regained his footing and watched Malice fall for a moment, then raised his head to the sky and howled in victory….

As he made his way back to the others, Spider started to feel the effect the fight had on him. He knew he was badly hurt and would take some time to recover. As he stepped into the clearing he saw that the hunting party had returned. He saw them all look up at him in anticipation and he smiled at them. He started to take a step toward them…but suddenly all the strength in his arms left him and he collapsed, unconscious….

[BigBroSig]

YYYAAYYY!!

It's gonna make the headlines!

"Dragadon Writes Another Winner!"
great story so far Drag. It's neato

[ October 17, 2001: Message edited by: BigBroSlig ]

[Niteowl]

I love it...
keep it up...

[Teal]

[fed-up]*sigh* Even the bits she doesn't like get replies.[/fed-up]

Heh, I know what you mean about fight scenes, though. That's why I tend to stick to having all my peeps procrastinating.

Aura: *peers over cliff and looks worried* Gah! *narrows eyes at Dragon-lady and goes to get another trout*

[Sl'askia]

Oh dear...*braces herself for an incoming trout*

anyway...long time in the coming I know (sever case of writers block...ugh), here's chap 6

Chapter 6

The fight they had just witnessed was the most vicious they had ever seen; Even the one that Spider had with Delta back when they were still in the compound paled in comparison. Both Spider and Malice were so focused on each other that they were obvious to their surroundings. They didn't even notice the hunting party when they returned, who looked at the fight before them in total shock along with the others. Neither combatant held anything back and both made attacks toward vital areas. Finally the red crossbreed had turned tail and ran, with Spider hot on his heels...
Nervously they waited for some sign as to who won. Even when they heard a howl echo through the forest they weren't sure who it was. Tense and alert they waited, until a figure stepped into clearing. They relaxed when they realized it was Spider, exhausted and bleeding from over a dozen wounds. Then to their horror Spider collapsed, the battle apparently having taken too much of a toll on him....

"Spider!" Shriek cried as she tried to run to him, but the injury Malice had dealt to her prevented her from going very far and she collapsed. Looking back up she wailed in disbelief, tears following freely, as Hoth and Invy ran up to Spider's unconscious form. The others shifted nervously, unsure as to what to do. Kilk tried to comfort Shriek, who continued to wail and sob.
"Easy Shriek..." Kilk said as he nuzzled her, "I'm sure he'll be ok..." He looked up at Invy and Hoth, who were checking Spider over, "Right?" he added, a note of uncertainty in his voice.
"He's still alive." Invy said after a long moment, "but he is badly hurt."
"What can we do?" Hoth asked, unsure.
Invy bit her lip as she thought a moment.
"We need to get him to a stream or something, so we can clean out his wounds." she said finally.
"We passed a stream on the way back from the hunt." Felth said, gesturing in the direction they had come from, "It's not that far from here."
"Ok, but how do we get him there?" Delta asked, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
"I know." Lunic piped up, "Have Goliath carry him,...since he's the strongest."
"Good idea." Hoth nodded, "Goliath come over here."
Goliath obediently ran over, whining slightly.
"Ok Goliath, lye down."
After the huge crossbreed did so, Hoth said, "Ok guys, help me get Spider onto his back."
It took a bit of effort to accomplish this task, both due to Spider and Goliath's size and the fact that they only had their handfeet to work with. But they eventually succeeded and when they had Goliath stand up again, Spider was safely 'hung' across his two shoulder horns.
"Shriek," Hoth said as he walked up to her, "do you want one of us to carry you?"
"No thanks...I think I should be able to hop my way there." Shriek replied, sniffing. Hoth nodded and with his help, Shriek managed to stand up on her good handfoot.
"Echa and I will stay by her." Invy said, "in case she needs help."
Hoth nodded again and said, "Alright everyone, lets go!"
And so they headed toward the stream, carefully making sure Spider didn't fall off Goliath's back. The mood was a solemn one as a realization hit all of them: What were they going to do if a bounty hunter found them, since Spider was unconscious and unable to lead them?

[Danny]

Smick: Shall we kill them? Come on!

Ludd: This in't our fic, let's keep out...

Smick: Aww... You sure?

Ludd: Besides, they're the good guys, it wouldn't look very good on our records if we went around killing other people's good guys, would it?

Smick: Suppose...

hehe another good chapter, rach. one tiny pointless nitpick - i wouldn't have Lunic saying "I know", i'd just skip that and just have him say "Have Goliath carry him,...since he's the strongest." i don't know why, it just doesn't sound quite right like it is...

but if i can only find one petty thing wrong with it, it's obviously a brilliant chapter...

hehe, you want to draw a picture of Shriek hopping? it sounds funny...

[Teal]

*raises finger* Um, just something I noticed... Besides, I think it's safe to say it as she's, well... vanished somewhere.

he grabbed Malice by his tail and swung him into a tree,

*grins* How, without falling flat on his face? Don't you need support to do something like that? And if your arms are your only limbs... hmm.

*runs*

[Danny]

maybe he balanced on his tail, or used one leg to throw mal while he balanced on the other... or maybe Rach just messed up, which is more likely...

[Sl'askia]

nah i didn't mess up...I left it that way so you peeps would wonder about it for the rest of your lives...MWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

*ahem* anywho...heres the next one.

Chapter 7

After a while they reached the stream. It was a gentle flowing stream and the banks were carpeted with a thick layer of moss. They laid Spider down on the moss and Invy did her best to clean out his wounds, Shriek did the same with her own. In the meantime a couple of the males went and brought back the kill they had caught earlier, though no one was really in the mood to eat anything.
“How is he?” Shriek asked, a worried look on her face.
“The bleeding has stopped.” Invy said, “But I’m worried about whether or not any vital organs and such were damaged.”
“Will he pull through?” Hoth asked.
Invy hesitated a moment before saying. “I don’t know…he’s lost a lot of blood.”
“He will pull through!” Shriek whined, “We just need to take care of him…”
“And why would we do that?” Delta said with a slight snarl.
“Because he would do the same for us!”
“Perhaps I should rephrase…Why should we take care of him?”
“Same answer!”
“But the rest of us are not Spider.” Delta countered, “We are capable of making our own choices, our own decisions. Besides…Spider himself said that we can’t afford to stay in one place very long and he is obviously too weak to travel…”
“Are you suggesting we leave Spider behind!?” Shriek growled, “To die!?”
“Well…” Delta said we a cruel grin, “He was too weak to pull through that fight with flying colors now…after all it’s the survival of the fittest out here.”
“What about the project we were all created for?” Shriek snarled, “If we lose Spider the chances of the project succeeding drop!”
“Think about it…there are only three females and the rest are male.” Delta said seriously, “If you ask me…that’s not a good ratio. We don’t even know how long pups take to mature or how long we would live for that matter. And if we only have the life span of sligs well…I seriously doubt the project would succeed anyway. So I’d say we carry on the best we can, focus on our own survival and not some weakling’s.”
“Do what you want then….” Shriek sneered, tears flowing, “but I am not leaving Spider.”
“So you would end up dieing yourself?” Delta said, raising a brow, “Sorry I am not going to let you die for the sake of a weakling.” Delta approached Shriek then and tried to pick her up. Shriek growled viciously and smacked Delta with her good hand, making him stagger back a bit in surprise.
“Spider is not weak!” Shriek howled, “He has survive more hardship then you can imagine!”
“And that was when he was younger.” Delta growled, annoyed at her stubbornness, “He is now what? Seven? Almost eight? Obviously he is past his prime.”
“He is not past his prime! He will live for many more years! We just have to help him recover!”
“Again we the ‘helping him recover’ bit.” Delta snarled, “It would be a wasted of our time, not to mention put us all at risk of being caught.”
“I’ll say it again…do want you want…but I am staying with Spider.”
Delta snorted and plopped down, he had given up…for now.

[Sl'askia]

Chapter 8

Shriek and Invy took turns watching over Spider, who started to drift into and out of consciousness. He wouldn't wake up enough to be totally aware of what was going on around him...but they were able to get him to eat a few pieces of meat before he slipped back into unconsciousness. Delta was still trying to convince Shriek that they should just leave Spider behind and Shriek still flatly refused. The others just watched them silently, almost like zombies, not knowing who to believe or to follow. Half of the males still went out to hunt and brought back fresh meat everyday and the stream provided fresh water, so no one was going hungry or thirsty....

"Spider seems to be getting stronger." Shriek said happily, "He is staying semi-awake for longer periods."
"Yes and if he keeps this up he'll be back on his feet in no time." Invy said, nodding in agreement, "How is your arm doing by the way?"
"Oh its getting better, I can stand on it for a little while now."
"Good, don't force yourself though."
"I won't."
"I still think we are wasting our time helping him." Delta grumbled from a short distance away, "We have already proved we can hunt and provide for ourselves without him!"
"Can it Delta...no one wants to hear your nonsense anymore." Shriek sneered.
Delta snorted and turned away. Shriek sighed and snuggled up close to Spider, letting herself drift to sleep...
A bit later the hunting party came back, looking a bit panicked.
"What's wrong?" Invy asked, concerned.
"Bounty Hunter...very close!" Kilk gasped.
"Oh no...what do we do?"
"Well we certain can't fight him!" Charr said, "Spider is the only one that knows how to..."
Delta looked at the panicked clan and glanced over and Spider and Shriek, who was somehow sleeping through all the racket.
When opportunity knocks...take it. he thought. He turned toward the rest of the clan with a serious look on his face (though inward he was grinning, almost evilly) and said:
"Calm down my friends...what would Spider do in a situation like this?"
"He would try to evade the Bounty...." Lunic said, his eyes wide and looking around wildly, "....if at all possible."
"He would have us move....and quickly." Felth said, trembling.
"Then lets do so eh? Before the Bounty spots us." Delta said as he started to walk off. Panicky and completely forgetting about their injured, the others followed. Delta only gave a slight parting glance at Spider and Shriek before the foliage obscured his view.
Your stubbornness made you dig your own grave Shriek... Delta thought, You could have lived...but no...you decided to stay behind and die...

A few minutes later Shriek woke up to find that the others had left.
Where did they go? Shriek thought panicking slightly, Why did they leave me and Spider behind?
"Shriek?" a weak voice said beside her and she turned around to see Spider looking up at her.
"Spider your awake." Shriek said as she nuzzled him, lovingly.
"Where is everyone?" Spider said, looking around.
"I don't know..." Shriek sobbed, "I think Delta managed to convince the others to leave us behind while I was a sleep..."
"That bastard...when I get my claws on him..." Spider growled as he tried to stand up, but was still too weak.
"No my love, you must rest. You'll only hurt yourself more."
"Yer right...but how are we goin' ter fed ourselves? Yer arm still looks ter bad ter stand on fer long."
"I don't know..." Shriek said quietly, then looked up, "I wonder how Delta convinced them to leave...."
She got her answer when a huge Big Brother stepped into the clearing they were in. He was heavily armed and covered with ammo.
"A bounty..." Spider mumbled eyes wide with fear.
"Oh no..." Shriek whined .
They must have found out about the bounty...Shriek thought, and Delta used their fear to get them to leave us behind...
"Well well well." the bounty boomed in a brass voice, "What der we have here? A couple of easy targets fer once...."
Shriek…knowing she wouldn’t be able to drive the brute off herself, made the call for help….

[Sl'askia]

one chap left...

Chapter 9

"Stay away!" Shriek growled and snapped at the Big Bro when he reached for them. The BBS hooted with laughter at her feeble attempts to drive him off.
"Ooo yer got spunk...I goin’ ter have my fun with yer before turnin' yer in."
"Yer leave her alone." Spider growled as he tried, but failed, to get up, "Der want yer want with me...but let her be."
"How touchin'..." The bounty said as he removed his ammo belts and put his gun aside, "But I'll get double the money fer bringin' both of yer in. Shriek snarled and made the call for help again, but by now it seemed the others had completely abandoned them. Tear's welled up in her eyes as she called again and again, not wanting to believe they were on there own and helpless....

Not far away the rest of the group had stopped when they heard Shriek's calls, Delta was yelling at the furiously, trying to get them to start moving again.
"Come on!" Delta growled, "We can't stay here let’s go!"
"But Spider and Shriek..." Invy protested.
"But what!?" Delta snarled, "It's the survival of the fittest here! If they can't keep up with us then they are not fit to survive! Now come on!"
Goliath whined and turned in the direction of Shriek's calls, then with a bellowing howl he took off.
"Feh fine! You go die then!" Delta yelled after the departing Goliath, "You were useless anyway!"
Useless? Hoth thought a bit shocked by what Delta had just said.
"No...Delta..." Hoth mumbled, then scowled at him, "No one is useless for everyone has a purpose! Even those as dumb as Goliath. In fact..." Hoth got right into Delta's face, "I think in this case...Goliath is smarter then all of us put together!"
"He's right!" Felth said, stepping up next to Hoth, " Spider said we are Kin!"
"And kin..." Invy joining them, "take care of each other...now matter how weak..."
"or stupid..." Lunic joined in.
"or cowardly they are." Juk finished.
Without waiting for Delta's response, they turned and ran after Goliath. Kilk and Charr looked at each other a moment and turned to follow, Kilk only pausing to say:
"You know what Delta? You are a real jerk."
That left only Echa with him and Delta looked at her, wondering what she was going to do.
"And you?" Delta asked softly, hoping she would stay with him.
"There is safety in numbers...Spider said..." Echa said quietly, then looked at him with a sneer on her face, "and do I feel safe being only with you? No I don't."
Echa then ran off after the others, leaving Delta completely alone.
"Fine then!" Delta yelled, tears in his eyes, "I don't need any of you!"
Delta laid on the ground and sobbed.

"Yer a pretty thing..." the Big Bro cooed as he effortlessly grabbed Shriek and pinned her to the ground. Shriek growled and hissed at him, trying to bite and scratch herself free from the bounty's grip. Spider was howling in protest, still trying to get the strength stand up and fight him. "Ter bad the Vykk's will most likely cut yer up." the bounty dragged his claws lightly down Shriek's side, causing her to shudder involuntarily, "If I were yer...I would enjoy this while yer can...I know I will..."
Suddenly there was a loud bellow and something large rammed into him, knocking him off of Shriek, who immediately crawled as fast as she could away from him. The BBS staggered and shook the stars out of his head before looking up at what rammed him. There...standing protectively between him and his quarry...was a very large crossbreed.
"Goliath!" Spider cried happily, "Yer came back!"
The BBS however...was not amused.
"'Nother one eh?" he growled, "well this one I think I'll jus' cap..." The bounty grabbed and pointed his gun at Goliath's head.
Before he could shoot, however, something small and white flew out of the trees and rammed into his gun, knocking it out of his heads. The BBS looked down in shock at a small white crossbreed, who was now standing over his gun and snarling furiously at him in a full threat posture. He heard other snarls and looked around to see four more 'breeds, who were shortly joined by two others and a third a moment later.
"Um..." The BBS muttered nervously as he backed away, only to find himself surrounded, "Nice...sloggies..."
"Did you hear that?" Echa growled, "he called us slogs."
"Now that wasn't very nice..." Kilk grinned, baring his teeth.
"I'd say...we rip him apart." Charr sneered.
"Yeah..." Echa agreed, "but not only for calling us slogs..."
"But for threatening our Alpha's." Invy finished.
"Um...can't we talk this over like...like...civilized peeps?" The bounty said hopefully.
"Nope...too late you're done for...it’s the slaughter house for you!." Kilk laughed insanely as they jumped him...

[ October 27, 2001: Message edited by: Dragadon ]

[One, Two, Middlesboogie]

Ooo, the ending sounded a bit grisly! I really enjoy reading your fics, Rach... you have a great writing style... concise but not simple (did that make sense? ).

[Danny]

"Der want yer want with me...but let her be" -- want=what?

"something small and white flew out of the trees and rammed into his gun, knocking it out of his heads" -- heads=hands?

apart from those small mistakes, a very good chapter, up above even your usual standard! keep going...

[Sl'askia]

LAST CHAPTER!

Chapter 10

After the bounty had been literally ripped to pieces, each Drakkic approached Spider and Shriek and bowed in respect to them. Spider smiled, happy that the clan was back together...but then frowned when he noticed someone was missing.
"Where's Delta?" he asked.
"He left..." Hoth said, sadly, "he still can't see through his own hatred of you. I don't know if he will come back...or even survive for that matter..."
Spider lowered his head and sighed.
"So be it then..." he said, "It's his choice if he wants ter leave fer good...but I pray he realizes his mistake and comes back."
"You would accept him back?" Invy said, a bit surprised, "After what he just did?"
"Yes I would." Spider replied, "A lone drakkic may be strong...but his chances of survival is greater if he is in a group of others."
"Strength in numbers." Echa said with a nod.
Spider nodded and continued, "Learnin' how ter work together is essential in a group, but learnin' ter tolerate each others differences is jus' as if not more important. That is harder fer some ter der then others..."
"Like you said...I hope he realizes his mistake before he gets killed..."
Hoth said lowering his head, the others nodding in agreement.

Delta did come back about a week later. He was thin from being unsuccessful in his hunts most of the time and had numerous minor cuts on his body. He approached the clan with his body close to the ground in a submissive posture, head low and looking at the ground. The clan had just made a large kill and were eating. Delta stayed a good distance away, like all the matter of a lone wolf, unsure if they would accept him back or not and whined hungrily.
Delta saw Spider looked up and over at him, with an unreadable expression on his face. He watched as Spider, shakily stood up and bit into the carcass, tearing off a large hunk of meat. By now the rest of the clan had noticed him and were staring at him, again with unreadable expressions.
The suspense was too much for him, Delta flattened himself on the ground and covered his head with his arms, eyes closed and his body trembling. After what felt like an eternity, someone nudged him, gently and reassuringly. He opened his eyes and looked to see Spider standing over him, holding the large piece of meat he had seen him tear off earlier. He watched dumbfounded as Spider gently placed the meat on the ground in front of him.
"Eat." Spider said gently, then turned around and started heading back to the rest of the clan. "Yer look like yer need it."
Delta looked down at the meat and back up at Spider.
"Why?" He managed through a constricted throat, "after what I have done.."
Spider stopped and turned back toward him.
"Because kin take care of their own Delta and we all make mistakes...even me." he said.
"You? Make mistakes? But you seem so..."
"Perfect? No body is perfect. Hell I am certainly not perfect. That fight with Malice is an example..."
"How so?"
Spider sighed and hung his head, "I shouldn' have fought him alone, but at the time I thought it was best because of yer and the others inexperience. I was wrong...I had forgotten that members of a clan hardly der anythin' on their own...'specially in a time of need. I didn't have faith in yer and the others abilities and as a result I nearly got myself killed."
"But afterwards...I kept trying to get the others to leave you behind...I..." Delta's voice cracked, "Hated you so much that was willing to leave Shriek behind to die as well...I don't deserve to be in the clan..."
"We all have faults...and it is how yer deal with those faults that determines how strong yer will become. I am still struggling ter deal with my own...over protectiveness, stubbornness, and lettin' what happened in the past get ter me ter much."
"And me...short fuse, stubbornness, and holding stupid grudges." Delta said softly, looking at the ground again.
"Recognizing yer faults is the first step with dealin' with them and with the clans help yer will learn how ter deal with them."
"You mean..." Delta gasped in shock, "You're letting me back in?"
Spider nodded and smiled, "Welcome back Delta."
Delta stood up, tears in his eyes. He bowed to Spider, picked the meat with his jaws, and trotted to the others, who welcomed him warmly. Spider smiled again and joined them....

"You may be strong alone...but with friends and family you are even stronger...for even the mightiest tree cannot stand without its roots..."


Next fic will be called 'Reunion', but I don't know when I'll be posting the first chap of it....

[Teal]

*has her Dan hat on and wants to pick about something - constructivelky criticise, maybe...?* ...Nah. I dunno, I'm just not sure about Spider, he seems a little too... *waves hands round* I can't think of the word I'm after. High-and-mighty, maybe... Sorry, that sounds weird. I'll try rephrase it later, but I got lectures now, so... *shrugs*

Blot. Ignore me, I'm in one-of-those-moods again, it seems.

Aura: *looks in* Nope, he ain't here... *sideways look at Drag and co, exaggerated sigh* I suppose I better just go wait to be rescued... *laughs and runs*

*shakes head* You know, I'm really starting to dislike characters who persistently butt in...

[Danny]

*sigh* i appear to have a reputation in the fan corner now...