Chronicals

[Sl'askia]

This is a collection of stories that take place, before, between, and after my fics. Here is the first one.

Dragadon Vs. Insane Moon Child (takes place in 1016)

Dragadon was dozing on a rock outcropping overlooking a small valley. She was awaked by the sounds of laughter below. She looked down to see a small party of mudokons below her. There were about 10 of them, most were fairly young.
Must be a hunting lesson. she thought will a slight chuckle as the youngsters pushed and shoved at each other playfully. Their antics were testing the patience of some of the older ones, a couple of them just shook their heads with a smile, as if wishing they were that young and carefree again. As they wandered out of her line of sight, Dragadon went back to dozing.
She was awakened again a short time later, by a scream. Curious, she got up and went to investigate. She heard more screams and, her curiosity turning to concern, she picked up the pace. She arrived at a scene of carnage. The bodies of the mudokon group she had just seen were littered all over the valley floor.
What happened? How could this have happened so quickly? she thought as she heard the sounds of a fight nearby. Running toward it, she came upon a Moon Guardian that was just finishing off another mudokon. What!? I thought Moon Guardians were the non-violent types. She saw movement out of the corner of her eye, and saw one of the young muds bolting. The Moon Guardian saw him and gave chase. You should have stayed hidden little one she thought as she charged the Moon Guardian, knocking it off his feet. The Moon Guardian righted itself and glowered at her.
*You interfere.* it said, a tone of anger in its mind voice.
It said 'you' instead of 'thee'! It can't be the chosen Moon Child of this century! she thought.
*Why do you interfere? They are infior to my people, the Moon Children. They have refused to bow to us, therefore they do not deserve to live.*
"I don't believe your people think the same way as you do." she growled.
*They will soon enough, once I prove our kinds superiority over all others.*
"You are mad. I will not let you go through with this!"
*Then you will die.*
They engaged in a brutal fight then. Both dealing each other serious wounds. Dragadon was able to land a mortal blow to the crazed Moon Child, and he ran off and disappeared in to the forest. She collapsed, exhausted and badly injured. The young mud who had watched the fight from behind a pile of rocks, walked up to her.
"I'll get help, stay put." he said as he ran off.
"Like I have much of a choice." she said weakly.

After a while, the young mud returned with two healers, who gawked at the size of their patient.
"Why did a Moon Child attack us? I thought they were a peaceful race." the young mud asked as the healers tended to Dragadon's wounds.
"Something, must have driven this one to insanity. Other Moon Children are not like him. I pray his actions won't cause ill will toward the good Moon Children."
"I hope not either. I have friends who are Moon Children."
Dragadon didn't hear him, for she had blacked out...

[Sl'askia]

Zig Pt 1/2 (Year 1055)

The young slig looked around him at the edge of the Great Forest. No one is watching he thought as he took off his pants and climbed up the nearest tree. It took him little effort to reach the top and he sighed in content at the view he was getting. He could see the forest spreading out before him for miles. He snorted in disgust at the smoke stacks he could see sticking out of the canopy here and there. All everyone else thinks about is profits and promotions he thought glumly, they just don't see how beautiful this all is.
"Zig!" someone called to him from below, "Get yer fraken tail down here and put yer pants back on!"
"Frak." Zig said as he made his way back down. He saw Tek scowling at him with his arms crossed.
"Just what is up with yer and trees anyway?" Tek asked.
"Don't know, always liked climbing them." Zig said as he put his pants back on, "I have always felt that was where I truly belonged."
Tek honked with laughter, "Yer really feel that way? Yer got a screw loose somewhere then. We sligs belong on the ground and nowhere else."
"Well I don't believe that." Zig said.
"The boss don't care what you believe." Tek scowled, "Come on, we got patrol duty today." Tek shoves a gun into Zig's hands. Zig snorts with disgust. "Yah patrol isn't my favorite job either. but live with it." Tek said as he started to walk down the patrol path. Zig sighed and hurried after him.

A bit later they were deep in the forest., Tek looked eager for some action.
"Place is too quiet today." he grumbled.
"I like the quiet, you can here the wind blowing through the trees. Very soothing." Zig said.
"Blah, what's up with yer anyway?" Tek said, wrinkling his snort with disgust.
"I don't know. I have always been this way." Zig shrugs.
"Bah you seem like a softy to me."
"I am not soft!"
Just then something ran into Tek, knocking him over. Zig couldn't help but honk with laughter.
"Shuddup!" Tek roared as he knocked off whatever it was that had knocked him down. It was a young mudokon, a grayish-blue one. The mud stared at Tek, a look of terror on his face.
"I've never seen a mud that color before." Zig muttered.
"Who cares what color he is! He knocked me down! So he is going to die!"
"Aw come on Tek, he's just a youngen. He didn't mean to run into yer."
"You are a softy."
"I am not!"
"Then prove it. Kill him." Tek pulls the mud over, next to Zig's feet. The mud curled up into a ball, fearing for his life. Zig looked down at him, a sad look on his face.
"No"
"What did you say?"
"I said no. I am not going to kill some kid." Zig said defiantly.
"Very well then. I will kill him and you will end up in Skillya's den!" Tek roared as he pointed his gun at the mud.
Suddenly Tek was lifted off his feet. Zig stood in shock as a large purple and blue creature appeared out of nowhere with Tek in its jaws. Tek was howling in pain and crying for help as the creature shook him violently. Finally Tek lay quiet and still and the creature dropped his lifeless body and turned its attention to Zig. Zig backed away, dropping his gun as the creature approached him with its head lowered and teeth bared.
"No no please no." Zig begged, "I wasn't..."
He didn't get to finish his sentence, for the creature swiped at him with one of its fore claws, slamming him against a tree, knocking him out....

Dragadon was about to deliver the final blow when Omi stopped her.
"No wait! That one tried to keep the other one from killing me!" Omi cried.
"You sure?" Dragadon snarled.
"Yes I am sure."
"Very well then, lets head back to the village." Dragadon turned and started to walk away.
"We can't just leave him here." Omi said.
"If we walk fast enough we can."
Omi shook his head and walked over to the unconscious slig. He tried to lift him but he was too heavy. He took off the sligs metal pants and tried again, but he was still too heavy. Dragadon sighed and walked back over to him.
"You are impossible." Dragadon said shaking her head, "Put him on my back, I'll carry him."
"Thank you Dragadon." Omi said relieved as he put the slig on her back.
"Don't mention it. But YOU are the one who is going to explain this to your father."
"Understood." Omi said as they started back for the village.

[Sl'askia]

Zig Pt 2/2

It took a lot of convincing (and some help from his mother) to get Abe to allow the slig to stay in the village while he recovered. Cili took him into the their hut (much to Abe's disgust) to tend to his wounds.
"Hmmm" Cili muttered as she detremained the sligs injuries, "a couple of broken ribs, some gashes, and a concusion. This poor guy is lucky."
"Should have been left for dead." Abe snorted.
"Abe! He did try to help our son. Give him a chance will ya."
"Ok, but if he makes one wrong move...."
"Fair enough." Cili turned her attention back to tending the slig.
"I'm heading to bed." Abe said as he walked off.
"Be joining you in a few." She continued tending the slig. When she was done she put him on a spare bed, yawned and headed to bed herself. Abe was already asleep and she undressed and snuggled up close to him. Abe was awakened by her getting in bed.
"Cili..?" he said tiredly.
"I'm sorry love, I didn't mean to wake you." Cili said with a yawn.
"I know. I just...wanted to apologize for overreacting to the slig."
"Abe, there's no need to do that. You were just acting on your intinicts to not trust sligs."
"It isn't just that love, its that Omi is well...our only child. I would be devesated if something happened to him."
"I know love. I don't know why I wasn't able to concieve another."
"Nor do I. I guess we are only meant to have one kid."
"I guess so." Cili yawned again, snuggling up closer to him, Abe wrapped his arms around her and they both entered the dreamworld.

Zig woke up in a completely alien surrounding. He looked around causiously, noting that he was in a wooden hut on a bed of furs. His wounds were bandaged up and he was without his pants, which he didn't mind.
"You're awake, thats good." a voice said, startling him. He looked up to see the same mud he saw before he was knocked out. The young mud was sitting on the edge of the bed, looking over his bandages. "Sorry 'bout what Dragadon did to you, she was just protecting me."
"Where am I? And who is this Dragwhatchamacallit?" Zig asked.
"Dragadon? She's kind of the family guardian. And you're in my fathers village."
"I thought muds didn't have fathers..." Zig said confused.
"Well....it's kind of hard to explain. My name's Omi by the way. You?"
"Zig. So, why did you help me? I mean, after all of what us sligs did ter yer."
"Well me and my mother tend to be a bit more open minded. It took both of us to get Abe to let you stay here."
"Abe? The Abe? The Abe in the wanted posters in the factories?"
"Yeah that's him, my father."
"Abe's yer Dad!" Zig said, shocked, "How he do that, I mean he's sterile right?"
"Not anymore, um can't really explain that either."
"So what will yer do with me now?"
"Well I guess you can stay here, with us."
"I doubt I would fit in, considering..."
"Don't be so negitive, you just need to be given a chance."
"Really?"
"Yeah."

Several weeks have past, and Zig was now fully healed. Though Omi and Cili treated him as an equal, Abe was down right cold to him. No matter what he did, he couldn't get Abe to accept him.
"Why can't yer dad accept me?" Zig asked Omi one day as they took a walk.
"I don't know." Omi sighed, "I guess it's because of the bad treatment he got before he started freeing fellow mudokons.
"Well I can understand that..." Zig said glumly. Zig suddenly looked up, look of terror on his face.
"What is it?" Omi asked.
"A flying slig, I hear a flying slig."
"How close?"
"Can't tell, us sligs aren't known for their hearing abilities."
"We better go tell father that there's other sligs close to the village."
Just as they reached the village outskirts something grabbed Omi and lifted him up into the air.
"No!" Zig cried as he saw the flying slig start to carry Omi away. He tried to grab on but the slig was too fast.
"What's going on?" Abe said running out toward him, "Omi...No!" Abe started to chant but Cili stopped him.
"No Abe! If you try to possess him hell drop Omi by reflex!"
Zig knew he had to do something, he noticed the flying slig was stay close to a tree, taunting Abe and the others. Getting an idea, he quickly scampered up that tree, the flying slig ignoring him completely. He made his way to a branch that was on the same level as Omi.
"Omi" he whispered to him as he reached out to him, "grab on."
Omi stretched his arm out, but he was just barely out of reach. "I can't reach."
"Frack." Zig hang upside down by his tail and started swinging himself until he was able to grab on to Omi.
"Abe now!" Cili said. Abe didn't hesitate, he chanted and blew up the flying slig. Omi swung down and fell safely from Zig's postion. Abe and Cili run up and embraced Omi, thankful he was alright. Zig climbed back down, Abe smiled at him, thankfully. Zig smiled back. Abe approached him and pulled his mask off.
"You won't be needing that anymore." he said, "you can stay as long as you wish. I won't bother me anymore."
Zig couldn't believe how much his senses impoved without the mask on. "Thanks Abe."
"Don't mention it. Zig."
Zig beamed with pride....

[Sl'askia]

Dragadon and the Vykker Ship (year 1003)

"Look at the beautiful specimen down there." Hanisan said.
"Yes, we should catch it. It is such a fasinating creature." Kullitan said.
"I will go out and see to it." Hanisan said as he left the bridge toward the hanger which held the capture ships.

Dragadon was snoozing in her shrunken form when she was awakened by a net being thrown on top of her. She looked up to see a Vykker in a capture ship reeling her in.
"This is a joke right?" she sighed as she started to cut her way loose...

"It's trying to break free! Shocking it!" Hanisan said as he pressed the button. To his horror the shock had no effect on the creature.
"You idiot, electricity is part of my element!" the creature roared and it broke completely loose from the net.
"It's free!" Hanisan said.
"Well try netting it again!" Kullitan said through the comm link.
"Um that's no longer an option..." Hanisan said frightened as the creature suddenly grew to 10 times its original size, and grabbed his ship by one of his foreclaws. "HELP!"

Dragadon looked at the tiny Vykker shaking in his little ship.
"You know," she said with a mischievous grin, "I feel like playing frisbee." she looked up at the mother ship, "hmm I wonder if I can hit that with this?"
"No no no!" the Vykker inside said.
She brought her arm back, took aim, and threw it up at the mothership. It hit right smack in the middle of the lower hull, exploding on impact.
"Yippie! Score!" Dragadon cheered, then she frowned, "I never did like Vykkers, guess I'll get rid of the big one too." She spread her wings and flew up toward the mothership. She ripped a hole in one side with her claws, then she flipped it upside down. Finally as a finishing move, she flew high up above it and then dropped straight down.
"CANNONBALL!" Her weight smashing down on the bottom of the ship sent it crashing to the ground, effectively wrecking it. Happy with her work, she curled up and dozed on the remains of the ship. She never noticed the white mudokon that jumped out sometime later...

[Sl'askia]

ever wonder why Abe is so deticated to his cause? Well heres my take on it.

The second chance.. (takes place after Abe's death, so theres no date)

Abe was floating in nothingness. He couldn't see anything but blackness.
"Where am I?" he said.
"You are in the place where we spirits await our next life." someone said.
"Who!?" Abe said startled.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. I am a fellow spirit, waiting like yourself."
Abe saw a white mudokon appear in front of him.
"You're a Moon Child?"
"In my last life I was. I am glad I am finally able to speak to you directly Abe"
"How do you know me? Or rather who I once was?"
"I know you because I was with you your whole life."
"I don't understand, I have never seen you before."
"Let me explain. I was once the Moon Child named Zel. But you maybe only have heard of me as the insane Moon Child that had killed many of your kind."
"Ack! Then why in the world..." Abe said, taken back by what he just heard.
"Please let me continue..."
"Ok, go ahead." Abe said, still apprehensive.
"I was a sane mudokon once, one that tried to get my people to help your kind in their plight with the Glukkons. But that was before I was captured and experamented on by the Vykkers. For four long years I was in their grasp before I was finally able to escape. By then my mind was losing its grip on sanity. Only my desperation and thoughts of being with my mate again, kept me sane. After a year of being lost, I was finally reunited with my mate. But alas, things had changed. Thinking I was dead, she had taken a new mate and had a child which we were unable to have ourselves."
"Ouch."
"Needless to say, I lost whatever shred of sanity I had left. Due to my insanity, I blamed your people for my misfortune, and went on a killing spree. After seven years, I was finally stopped, by a dragon."
"Dragon? That had to be Dragadon. She never told us about this."
"I'm sure she had her reasons not to."
"Well anyway, how does this involve me? This all happened before I was even born."
"You see, the gods knew that I wasn't at fault for my actions and that their was nothing I could have done to prevent me from becoming insane. Therefore, after I had died, they told me they will give me a second chance. But on one condiction."
"And that was?"
"Before I could live a true life again, I had to aid someone in saving as many muds as I had killed. The someone was you."
"I still don't understand, I never even saw you."
"That's because I was within you, acting as your motivation behind your drive to save your people. I was the one that keep you going when times looked grim."
"So you where...controlling me?"
"No, I was not allowed to have such control. I could only motivate you, and nothing more."
"I understand now. So did you earn your chance?"
"Yes, that is why I am speaking to you now. I am now waiting for my next life to start as you are. Though neither of us will remember this conversation in our next life, we can both take comfort that we helped each other, accomplish our goals. You. Ending the rain of the Matog Cartel and saving the Mudokon Nation. Me. Redieming myself through you, to earn my second chance."
"I am glad I could help you, even though I never knew it until now. I hope your next life is a much better one."
"As do I. I hope you too will have a good next life. I must go now, fair thee well."
Zel disappear then, leaving Abe alone with his thoughts.

[Sl'askia]

You will notice that me and Teal are starting to make connections between our fics. Credit to Teal for filling in the sections dealing with her character (Taik)

Trap (1060 a few mouths before Mark of a Killer)

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Cili asked Abe as he prepared to leave.
"Of course." Abe said, slightly annoyed, "I have done hundreds of raids, love. Why are you so worried about this one?"
"I don't know, I just have a bad feeling about this one."
"Honey," he said as he embraced her, "everything will be alright. Maybe you just miss going with me on these raids."
Cili sighed, she did miss doing raids with him, but an illness she had been suffering for the pass couple of months had rendered her unable to.
"I do miss it, but it’s not that. I really do have a bad feeling."
"If you really feel that way, I'll ask Dragadon to come with me this time, ok?"
"Ok; please be careful."
"I will." Abe said as he kissed her gently, "I promise."
Cili watched as Abe walked off and she shuddered. Despite precautions, she could not shake the feeling that something was going to go very wrong...

So far the raid went without a problem. Dragadon's presence seemed to frighten away many of the sligs, making easier for Abe to get to the slaves and free them.
I guess Cili's fears were unfounded Abe thought as he ran toward the switch that would cause the place to self-destruct. Dragadon was running a little bit behind him, swatting at any sligs and such at got bold enough to attack.
There's is something odd though, he thought as he reached the switch, There weren't as many slaves as there normally would be. Abe started turning the value, Dragadon was stopped just outside the room dealing with some Big Bros. An alarm went off and the lights turned red, which he expected. What he didn't expect was all the doors suddenly closing and locking, separating him from Dragadon.
"Oh no, it’s a-"
"Trap…?" a soft, cynical voice suggested from somewhere behind him.
Abe turned around to see a slig pointing a gun at him. By reflex he started chanting, but was zapped by a chant suppressor nearby.
“Fer the saviour of yer people, yer not too smart, are yer…?” the slig said, dryly. “The bosses ain’t stupid, y’know. This,” he gestured idly. “Were planned ages ago.”
Abe started backing away, looking for another way out. He could hear Dragadon pounding furiously on the door behind them.
"I'm prob’ly goin’ ter get a huge promotion fer killin’ yer," the slig went on, in that lazy, self-assured way, aiming the outsized weapon. “But that won’t be a pinch on the satisfaction, o’ killin’ the mud saviour…” he grinned a terrifying slig grin, and paced forward, lazily…
Then narrowed his eyes and pulled the trigger, Abe tried to dodge but he wasn't quite fast enough. He screeched in pain as the bullet tore through his leg. He collapsed clutching it as the slig came closer to him, and pointed his gun right at his head.
"Looks like yer age got the better of yer, old one…" the slig said, with a malicious grin, advancing lazily. "And… Just ter let yer know, my name is Taik. Not that it’ll do yer much good…"
Abe closed his eyes, knowing it was the end. Suddenly there was a loud crash behind Taik and a loud roar of fury.
Dragadon, Abe thought thankfully.
Taik glanced back, with a wild thought of what the frack…?!, just as Dragadon slashed at him with her claws. She caught him in the back, sending him flying to one side of the room and leaving three nasty wounds on his back. Taik gave a stilted howl of pain as he was flying, then he struck the far wall with a sickening force, the back of his skull connecting with the unyielding surface, and slumped unconscious to the ground.
"Abe," Dragadon said, still shaking with fury, "Are you alright?"
"Yeah," Abe said wincing, "He just shot my leg."
"That looks pretty bad, I'll taking you home now."
"But we still need to blow this place…" Abe protested as Dragadon gently picked him up and placed him on her back.
"You are in no condition to do anything right now. So we are going home now." Dragadon told him, sternly, then turned around and started making her way out...

Dull slitted red eyes watched them leave. Good job they’d been too worried about getting out to check whether he was dead or not…
Ooh, he’d get them for this… he’d get them goood… But first… Dear Odd, his shoulder felt like it was on fire… He sat up, and gingerly raised a hand to the savage wound, then winced as he touched ragged flesh opened to the bone… damn it hurt…! He crushed his eyes closed, determined not to let his body get the better of him and pass out again…
In a convulsive lurch he staggered to his feet, wounded arm trailing blood, and staggered off to see if he could find anyone left alive in this Odd-forsaken hole…

"Abe!" Cili cried as she saw his condition when Dragadon flew in, "What happened?"
"You were right." Abe said as he was helped down from Dragadon's back, "It was a trap, and they nearly got me. Thank you for convincing me to ask Dragadon to come along. I won't doubt your instincts again."
"It's ok love, you're alive. And that’s all the matters." Cili said as she embraced him tightly, "Let’s get you patched up."
Abe nodded as he was carried to the healers hut...

Taik curled up in the cool darkness of the hole under the ledge. He’d roamed the factory, what was left of it, hoping to find at least one medic left alive, but no, they’d all either fled or got caught in crossfire…
Damned cowards… he though, bitterly, his arm still aflame in spite of all the painkillers he’d shot himself full of. He’d found a case of hypodermics in his wanderings, and had remembered just enough of that rudimentary medical training he’d been given at combat school to get the needle into his arm in the right place to get the drug into a vein…
He’d lost a lot of blood, though, and it was bitter cold here now the air conditioning system was all to pot. Maybe he should have got a blanket… too late now. He was too weak to do anything but lay there, and hope for a miracle…

[Danny]

allow me to be the first to reply. i haven't read them, but i thought you'd be getting depressed. i will read them soon, but i've got Only Hyoo-mun and Teal's fics to get through first, or i'll just get characters confused.

[Sl'askia]

*digs topic up from the depths of the froms* Sheesh its been awhile sense I last added to this...

Secrets (4 years before 'Spider')

Spider climbed up onto the table, somewhat hesitant.
“Father..” he asked, frightened, “What yer going ter do?”
“There’s no need to be afraid Spider,” Bastek said as he stroked Spider’s neck comfortingly, “I am just going to check a couple of things on you, to make sure everything is normal.”
“Ok.” Spider said timidly as he laid down.
“I’ll need you to be on you back for this…sorry.”
Spider whined but did as he was told. He hated being on his back, as his broad shoulders kept him from righting himself easily. He jumped when Bastek’s assistant, Nerik, slipped a transparent mask over his head. It completely covered his head and had a long tube attached to one side. He started panicking with he smelled an odd scent and started feeling drowsy.
“Father!” Spider cried out, frightened.
“Its ok, its only a gas that will put you to sleep during this. You will wake up in a few hours.” Bastek said as he once again stroked Spider’s neck in a comforting way, “Just breathe normally.”
Spider calmed down and it wasn’t long before he was completely asleep…

“So what IS the purpose of this?” Nerik asked, “Somethin’ tells me yer not just ‘checking ter make sure everything is normal’”
“You are correct, Nerik. I am confirming a suspicion.” Bastek said as he made an incision near the base of Spider’s tail, “You have noticed how aggressive he’s been recently haven’t you?”
“Yer mean like when he smacked an intern clear across the room for just looking at him wrong a couple days ago? Yeah.”
“Well I have noticed in recent blood tests that levels of testosterone in his blood has gone up dramatically recently. Resulting in increased aggressiveness and territorial instincts.”
“Why der yer suppose that is?”
“It could be due to one of two reasons or a combo of both. One reason could be from the third creature he is composed of. And the other…ah looks like it’s my second guess. Take a look.”
Nerik looked and his eyes widened in shock, “That’s a…!”
“Yep it is.”
“But how? All the other crossbreeds were sterile…”
“Hmmm” Bastek thought a moment, “It may very well be a combo of the two reasons. You remember what Spider is made of right?”
“Slig, paramite and….meech?”
“First two are correct, the third is a creature that is not of this world.”
“How?”
“Let me finish stitching him up and I’ll show you.”
After Bastek was finished he turned to a monitor and pressed a button. On the screen appeared a picture of a large winged creature. It was light purple in color with two horns adorning the top of its head. It was shooting what looked very much like a bolt of lightning from its mouth. Nerik’s eyes once again widened in shock.
“Th..Th..That creature is part of Spider?” he stammered.
“Correct, not very much though. Only enough to give him his superior eyesight. Now it appears that this creatures DNA has caused two throw backs.”
“Two?”
“Yes, the first is the most obvious…the quills on his back. The second is what we just discovered, unexpected fertility.”
“Are we going ter tell him?”
“No…” Bastek said shaking his head, “It is best as few people know about this as possible. If word gets out that Spider is fertile they may have him eliminated, or worse…force him to become Skillya’s consort.”
“No no best not let anyone know.” Nerik said wincing, “That would be a hellish life…couldn’t we just sterilize him? Ter keep that possibility from happening?”
“No…you see Nerik, my friend, I intend to set Spider free…Free from this place and its tortures. I want him to life the rest of his life outside the factory walls…”
Once again Nerik’s eyes widened in shock…

[ June 17, 2001: Message edited by: Dragadon ]

[Sl'askia]

*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...

[Abe's son]

i think spider rocks!

[Sl'askia]

Kin (takes place during 'Trials of Life')

Dragadon flew along on her usual patrol route, deep in thought. The dreams had started coming back. They started about 5 years ago and could never see anything clearly in them. In them she was in a darkened room, with a heavy scent of chemicals around her. Echoing around the room were screams of pain and torment. Each time she would try to locate the source of the screams, but each time the screams stopped and the dream ended. And she would awaken gasping and wondering.
Recently, there was a new dream. She would be flying toward a Glukkon factory and it would suddenly blow up. She would tumble a bit and eventually regain control. Then she noticed something on the ground, moving away at a fast pace. As always she couldn’t make it out. She tried to follow it, but it disappeared.
Since then, ‘something’ was pulling at her, drawing her to somewhere. But everytime she would try, that feeling would disappear again. This kept happening for 2 months and it was starting to drive her crazy.
I wish my physic abilities were as strong as my other kin. she thought, but noooooo I had to be the biggest of the Sky dragon race instead! She snorted in frustration. Then she felt it again. She concentrated on it and followed it; she wasn’t about to lose it this time….

Spider peered over the cliff and howled. He watched with a laugh as birds and other creatures scattered as his howl echoed through the canyon. He was in a just plain goofy mood today and was hyper. He had already annoyed most of the village residents to the point were Bea had to ‘suggest’ he go for a walk to use up some of that excess energy.
He trotted along the canyon edge, chasing birds off their perches. He let out another happy howl; he didn’t think anything would go wrong this day, but it did. He just happened to step on the wrong part of the cliff edge, and it suddenly gave way. He tried to grab the edge but missed. He screeched in fear as he fell, by pure luck he landed on a small tree that was growing out of the side of the cliff face. Spider froze, not daring to move. He could tell that this tree was too small to hold his weight for very long. Sure enough the trunk started to break and Spider screamed for help….

The ‘feeling’ lead her to a canyon and Dragadon flew low through it, trying to pinpoint the source. Her heard jerked up with a cry for help echoed through the canyon. She flew quickly toward the source, and the feeling started getting stronger.
There! she thought when she spotted an unfortunate creature trapped on a tree high above the canyon floor. She knew she had to hurry…that tree looked like it was going to break at any second…

The tree then broke, and Spider started falling again. He screamed in terror as the canyon floor was rapidly coming up toward him. Suddenly something grabbed a hold of his tail and the canyon floor started to get more distant. This whole scenario was too much…he fainted…

Dragadon flew up to the top of the canyon with the creature firmly in her grip. She landed and gently put it down onto the ground.
Poor thing fainted… she thought, mildly concerned, Don’t blame it…after scare like that.
She studied it a moment; it wasn’t anything she had seen before. It resembled a BBS, but had spines and only 3 face tentacles. The tail was longer too. After a couple more minutes the creature stirred….

Spider opened his eyes with a slight groan. To his surprise (and relief) he found himself back on the top of the canyon. He heard something breathing behind him and he turned around.
Before him was the biggest creature he had ever seen. It was light lavender in color with light blue stripes, well over 100 feet tall, silver eyes and mowhawk running down its back, and a pair of wings along with four strong legs. It was looking at him with a kind expression on its face and he didn’t feel afraid of it at all. In fact…for some strange reason he felt he should know this creature.
“Are you alright?” it said in a distinctively female voice.
“Yes…” Spider answered, “Thank yer fer savin’ my tail…”
“Don’t mention it,” she said, “I’m happy to help those in need. By the way I am Dragadon”
“Spider.”
“Please to meet your acquaintance then Spider. Tell me , I have never seen anything like you before, what are you?”
“I’m a crossbreed, a creation of the Vykkers.”
“Vykkers eh?” Dragadon’s lips curled back into a snarl, “I see their torments never end. I’m surprised they let you wander around out here.”
“They didn’t, I escaped.” Spider said with a tone of pride in his voice.
“Ah…so you are against them eh?”
“Yes…I have suffered much under them. I will not go back without a fight.”
“I do not blame you. I must admit…I feel I should know you from somewhere…”
“I…have the same feeling ‘bout yer.”
“Then the gods must have meant for us to meet, I have felt a pull and ‘calling’ in my soul for the past 5 years.” Dragadon paused a moment to think, “Do you know what the Vykkers used to create you?”
“Um…” Spider thought a moment, “Only two of the parts I’m afraid: slig and paramite. No idea of the third.”
Dragadon lowered her head until it was level with Spider’s. She looked at him squarely in the eyes for a few moments before raising her head again.
“Bah…can’t tell for sure. My telepathic abilities are not as strong as my brethren.” She grumbled.
“Can’t tell what?” Spider asked, curious.
“What the third part is. I have a suspicion but I can’t confirm, therefore I will not say in case I am wrong.”
“Darn…”
“Perhaps I can figure it out later. Right now I’m afraid I must go. We will see each other again.” Dragadon then spread her wings and, with a powerful leap, took to the air, “Farewell my kin, and watch those cliff edges eh?”
“I will! Bye!” Spider called after her as she flew away. It took him a moment to realize what she just called him.
Kin? he thought, What did she mean by that?

He did indeed see Dragadon again, many times in fact over that year. Each time she called him ‘kin’ and he could never remember to ask her what that meant. It wasn’t until Nerik told him on his deathbed that he found out why they were drawn to each other. It was a bit of a shock…to learn that a dragon is your half sister….

[ August 05, 2001: Message edited by: Dragadon ]

[Lantra]

great stories.