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Legends of the Silk Meadow Sanctuary: Chapter 5

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    Once again, Silver found himself with a fist in his face and his face on the floor. Ace, the tiger wolf spider hybrid had swiped Silver from Spinner’s web had freed him of the skintight silk wrappings and observed him secretly. Downhearted and angered, Silver unknowingly almost injured Ace. Trying to walk away without the slightest gratitude or apology, Silver had angered his liberator and donned his hand wraps once again. However, the wolf bat’s heart wasn’t in the fight where he felt most at home, he fought only with rage, needless to say this merely served against him.

    Ace had defeated the Welsh wolf bat, and taking advantage of his weakened state, began to cocoon him. Ace spread his silk over Silver’s lips, eyes and body and firmly encased them in his silk. But Ace was not satisfied with merely keeping Silver immobile. On the contrary, his spinnerets were merciless as he thickly layered the wolf bat without the slightest leniency, save for the wolf bat’s nose. Connecting strong, wide strips of spider silk to the wolf bat, he formed a thick, large, octagonal web between to trees, leaving Silver without the freedom to even writhe about.

“Let this be a lesson to you.” Ace said. “Things may not be going your way, but you shouldn’t take it out on others.”

    Silver tried with what little strength he had to protest, he had learned from his mistake, but the twenty five layers over his mouth allowed not even the slightest sound through. The silk enveloping him and the strong web lines holding him suspended on all sides did not nudge the slightest inch as he tried to move. He felt as though he had sunk to the bottom of a wet cement lake and did not get out in time. This experience resulted in his regret of trying to help the spider hybrids. Those he wanted to help had held him captive at first, but it seemed that this imprisonment would be eternal.

“I really do hope someone comes and frees you, but that will be hard when they cannot hear you.” Ace said walking away.

    Silver’s heart stopped at the sound of these words, his only hope of escape rested on the inhabitants of this region, if there were any at all. He did not know these woods or how often one may come by here, nor how hidden or noticeable he was. It seemed that his freedom was rested with fate. He had hoped that the wolger was merciful enough to put him where he could easily be found in an area where someone was bound to notice him. He hoped that Coyder, Slim, or Crimson would find him. The thought of Spinner or another dominating creature finding him made his blood freeze.

    The poor wolf bat hung in the web helpless and alone, regretting his anger. He could not even tell if he had drifted into sleep or not. It indeed felt like a slumber, for he could not hear anything of the outside world nor feel the slightest sense of his body. He did in fact doze off multiple times, but he could not even make out when he was asleep or awake. He could not even feel time passing by. Without being able to see the sun or moon, he was left oblivious to how much time was passing by. With the number of time he fell asleep, he could have remained there for days for all he knew.

    Jun found the dark woods in which her cousin’s soul was beckoning from, calling and begging to be saved. She followed the trail to find a wolf shaped cocoon acting as the core of a giant web. She sensed no one else around and began to cut each swathe, putting her lightning, her fire, and all of her might into every slash until the cocoon dropped to the ground and remained dead still. Jun placed her hands upon the chest of her encased relative and channeled both fire and lightning into the strands until they all broke loose, revealing a terrified Silver laying in a pile of scorched silk.

    Jun shrieked with horror at the sight of her relative in such a state, his eyes were horribly bloodshot and his pupils were abnormally large. His wings were tightly folded around his torso, stiff and unmoving. The dryness in his mouth left his tongue hanging out with a pale hue. Once his eyes opened enough to reveal consciousness, he sat up hastily and breathed harshly. Jun was frightened to find her cousin in such trauma; he looked around and began to shiver, slowly regaining feeling..

“Who are you?” he asked.

“It’s me, Jun.” She answered.

“Jun?” he looked in the direction of her voice. “I can’t see you.”

“Where are your glasses?”

“They’re broken. What happened to me?”

“Don’t talk.” She said taking out her flask and giving it to him. “We need to find you a safe place to rest.”

    Silver’s hand took a while to find and grasp the canteen. Without his glasses and with his eyes being blindfolded for who knows how long, he truly was as blind as a bat. Fortunately his sight would come back, or at least part of it. He gulped the water too fast and coughed violently, hacking some of it back up. All of the trauma of feeling absolutely nothing for a long time had taken a grave toll as Silver tried to regain his senses. Jun was appalled and heartbroken to watch her cousin suffer from the aftershock of his encasement.

“How long have you been there, Silver?” Jun asked.

“I wish I knew. I honestly cannot even take a guess.” Silver answered.

“Who did this to you?”

“It doesn’t matter. I got myself into this. Argh! My wings.” He said as he pried his leather wings loose from around his body and forced them to stretch behind him.

“You’re not going to able to use them for a while.” Jun said helping Silver up. “I’ll get you out of this place and somewhere safe.”

    Jun flung Silver’s arm over her shoulder and helped him walk. She kept thinking of what kind of monster would do this deed unto a benevolent vigilante like Silver. She accepted the responsibility of invading the Silk Meadow Sanctuary, which she hoped would end the conflict, but discovering that Silver was kidnapped by a spider hybrid only prolonged it. The only difference was that this time she had a reason to continue the battle. Silver was so weary and in shock that he would not even tell Jun his side of the story, for he believed his imprisonment was his own doing.

    After a good four miles, it became dark and the two Langren half-breeds were forced to put their journeying to a halt for the night. Silver pulled his arm from Jun, assuring he would be fine walking on his own from here on. He was unable to support that notion when he took a large step and rammed his body into a plank of wood. Although his natural, unaided sight had come back, it was useless in such darkness. Jun summoned a small flame in her hand serving as a torch. It revealed the board to be a sign.

“It’s in English. What does it does it say, Silver?” Jun asked.

“It says…” he squinted and leaned his head close to the sign. “The Harrowing Way.”

“Harrowing? Doesn’t that mean- OWW!!!” Jun walked closer to eye the sign but hit her knee into what felt like stone and fell onto her side, breaking her concentration on the fire. “…painful?” she winced summoning the flame back.

“I believe so.” Silver answered helping her up. “You alright, luv?”

“I’m fine… what did I…” she stopped.

    She eyed the stone she had tripped on, but it was not just a stone. Beneath it lay a patch of dirt that seemed to have been unnatural moved there. She sensed a phenomenon in her soul. It was her sense of soul that she was feeling, as though many souls were gathered around her, yet at the same time, none at all, save for her Welsh relative. Jun felt as if she were digging into the past with her soul sense, feeling very few souls coming through here, yet none lay in their range. Silver at the same time felt this experience.

“A tombstone?” Jun said eyeing the scarlet flower upon the grave.

“Poor soul.” Silver said crossing his heart. “What has this one done to get here? At the very least, I hope he died as painless as possible.”

“Rest in peace.” Jun said cupping her right fist in her left palm.

“Wait…” Silver suddenly sniffed the grave, stone, and flower. “Foxxan… he was here.”

“Foxxan? SLIM Foxxan?”

“You have met him?”

“Yes. And let me say he was just a delight.” Jun remarked sarcastically. “Hey, did you know his favorite way to greet people is biting and envenoming them? Whose to say he didn’t do the same to the inhabitant of this grave?”

“Jun! Enough!” Silver scolded. He took a deep breath trying to keep his cool. “Although our first meeting did not involve venom, I do know how unpleasant it is be on the wrong end of Slim’s web. But he and Crimson have suffered more anguish than either of us can fathom.”

“I suppose. That idea would help their actions make more sense. I remembered that they spoke of a brother, so to speak.”

“Silvian?”

“I think, yeah. Could this be him?”

“Unlikely. From what I’ve heard, he was murdered by assassins raiding their camp. I doubt they would have the time to return for his body. I believe that this grave serves as a hunter’s.”

“Maybe… Ugh… argh!” Jun groaned covering her ears.

“Jun? What’s wrong.” Silver asked

“Gah! Don’t you hear it?” She said.

    Her soul sense was traveling back again, only now it was transferred to her ears. She heard the sound of Slim’s black latex silk forming and his voice speaking. She heard others as well, though their voices were dampened and sounded hostile toward Slim’s. She was sure it was some sort of argument, but before she could think about it, a snap was heard, though it sounded like a gunshot to her, followed by a heart stopping scream that faded into silence. She heard this a second time, followed by a frightened and regretful voice that was soon silenced, then another loud snap.

“Jun! Snap out of it!” Silver’s voice brought her back to reality.

“I heard it, I heard what happened here.” Jun said shivering.

    Silver brought her close and embraced her with his arms and wrapped Jun in his large leather wings to circulate some warmth to the quivering kit. Jun had heard the past. It was Slim, executing a trio of hunter’s out of anger and revenge. The first two were bitter and resistant to the end, but the third regretted his help in hunting down the spider hybrids and begged Slim for mercy. Slim injected his venom to kill the hunter quick and painlessly. That hunter, who saw the light too late, laid before Jun and Silver beneath the Earth, marked by a red wild flower.

“How could he do that?” Jun asked angrily. “That hunter admitted his faults. How could Slim justify a murder by how quick and painless it was? No matter how you do it, the taking of a life will be judged like all the others.”

“You still don’t understand.” Silver said. “Slim is not a killer. He did not start this war between his kind and normal creatures. But he wishes to end it. Sometimes to take a life is the only option.”

“We’ve never had to employ such drastic measures.”

“No we haven’t. But the Father Above blessed the Langren with the power of lightning to fight to protect life, not to end it. Our powers are ideal for ending conflicts without murder. Many are not as lucky as us.”

“I suppose you’re right. I guess the only real bad blood I have against them is just because they hurt my pride.” Jun said. “I learned of that Silk Meadow Sanctuary after we got separated. I know that some of those hybrids find pleasure in capturing unlucky creatures. I thought you might be unlucky enough to be taken to the meadow. But I got caught, myself. And now I find out that all my fighting was pointless.”

“You believed I was captured? Well, in a way, you are correct. When we were separated, I hid in that misty meadow, which was vacant at the time. But as I looked up at the mountain southeast of it, I saw a poor coyote being chased downhill toward me. I stood between him and his pursuers. However, when the battle appeared to be over, the most stubborn of the group arose again and pinned and choked me, that coyote spun a line of silk to my would-be killer’s back and yanked him off. They were chasing a spider hybrid. I have him to thank for my life.”

“Coyder.”

“Yes. Although, his attackers didn’t know what he was, it seemed. For after he used his silk to save my life, they drew knives. We took them down and drove them away. Apparently, they tried to rob Coyder and they chased him out of town. He didn’t use his web spinning because many in that town hated spider hybrids. All I know about their kind I learned from Coyder, he informed me that there were more hybrids out there who suffered such discrimination. Since that meadow served as a safe place for me, I asked Coyder to wait there while I invited more spider hybrids to stay, to claim sanctuary.”

“You’ve done well. I just wished I could have experienced such a saintly feat in a more comfortable and free position.”

“I see. So you were captured trying to find me. I thank the Great Father Above every night for a friend and relative as compassionate and devoted as you, Jun. I beg that you forgive me for whatever grief you have experienced trying to find me.”

“There’s nothing to forgive.” Jun said. “For once, I do not care about the journey, but only what I seek. I’ve found you, and I would go through worse to find you again if I had to.”

“Thank you, my dear cousin.” Silver said. “Please, tell me what happened.”

    The debate at the sanctuary had finally settled, with a passionate argument from Coyder, they decided not to punish Jun. Although her actions were rash and uncouth, none of them would do any different if it meant saving those they held dear. Coyder exposed the fact that they all would do the same for Silver, the founder of this safe haven. With all well and mercy used appropriately, Coyder returned to hear what the neutral party had to say. He was also quite bewildered of Spinner’s position, siding with him. Her wide grinning made him nervous and curious of her motives.

    Slim and Crimson lounged in an angled octagonal web of their forging between two trees. Audeia was tucking her cubs Filieras and Zida in a tightly woven web structured somewhat like a net as she lied back with one cub in each arm. Bly lied down in the grass and used his aura power to spin web sheet beneath him. Using a thick branch as a pulley, he formed four web lines over the limb and used his tentacles to pull the lines downward and hoist him up, forming a blue glowing silk hammock. Spinner sat calmly in a swinging chair like structure of her silk, smiling more than usual.

“Well, are you guys okay with this?” Coyder asked.

“I guess.” Slim said. “I mean she was just confused and worried.”

“Yeah. I’d do the same for Slim.” Crimson added.

“The swords were a bit extreme.” Bly noted. “But, to each his own.”

“I wanted to side with you, Coyder.” Audeia confessed “But I‘m not much for politics. Heh heh.”

“Glad to hear we are all of one mind.” Coyder said.

“As am I.” Spinner said.

“Which reminds me, Spinner, you wanted to go after Kitt, why did you choose not to go after Jun as well?”

“I just don’t think I could live with myself if I did. I’m sure beneath that battle hardened, fiery tempered vixen shell you speak of is a sweet and gentle cub.”

“You do realize that you won’t be able to go after Kitt, right?” Audeia asked.

“Oh, if I had only you told me sooner.” Spinner grinned as she elbowed the tree from which her swinging silk chair hung.

“…mmmMMMPPPHHH!” a muffled voice began fading in from above.

    Someone was falling from a high branch. Luckily, the line suspending him stopped the fall. Wrapped from neck to paw pad in Spinner’s silk, struggling ever so hard to break out, was a pale blue canine with long erect ears. Across his lips were layers of wide silk swathes, hushing his protests. Coyder looked at this poor creature in shock then to Spinner, seeing the resemblance. Slim tried hard to stifle his laughter, seeing a familiar creature helplessly struggling. Not just any creature, a spidox. Not just any spidox, Kitt Spidox.

“Spinner!” Coyder said aggravated.

“Oh, does this upset you?” Spinner said.

“With extreme prejudice. We said we would not do anything to Jun or her friends.”

“Oh, I beg to differ, Coyder. Jun asked that if she were to be punished, to do it on her alone. Well, since she doesn’t have to worry about facing justice, I’d say that makes her friends fair game. But don’t worry; I’m finished with my hunt. Kitt is all mine again and I don’t need anything else.”

“But that is still punishment, to hurt her friends is a worse punishment than hurting her.”

“Hurt? Remind again, when did I ever say that word? I don’t want to hurt Kitt. If anything, I’m making sure that no one here hurts him.”

“Why would anyone do that? He is one of us.”

“So sure, are you? Even after he helped her escape?”

“It was a misunderstanding, he was protecting that dragon guinea pig. I’m not going to stand for this, tormenting one of our own.” Coyder said reaching to claw Kitt free.

“Ah ah ah ah.” Spinner said slapping his hand rather hard. “He is mine, this was our agreement, remember?”

“Well, the situation has changed.” Coyder said resisting the urge to rub the sting of his hand.

“So this is how you want it, Coyder? Tearing our little community apart from the inside, making us fight one another?”

“I’d say you’re the one doing that. Why would you capture one of your own race? Your own flesh and blood!”

“Heh.” Spinner chuckled and thought. “I used to ask that a lot, but a brave wolf bat helped me realize that it wasn’t just for laughs, but it was challenging, too. Of course, what made me come here was the thought of more spider hybrids, more challenges. And you, Coyder, have a lot of fight in you, so much better for a new challenge. I dare you to make a move.”

    Coyder looked at her, remembering the feeling of being helpless before such a huntress, even with his body free. He eyed Kitt who looked at him worriedly and shook his head frantically at the notion of standing up against Spinner. He then thought of what Silver would do in the face of such an opponent. Most likely he would try to talk his way out of it, but he’d fail trying that with Spinner. What would Jun do? With a sudden swiftness, Coyder swiped Kitt from the line suspending him, earning many ohh’s, ahh’s, and gasps from the other spider hybrids.

“Checkmate.” Coyder smirked.

“Well, you surprised me.” Spinner said.

“What can I say? I’m full of surprises.” Coyder remarked clawing the silk off of Kitt’s mouth.

“Gah… huff… huff… are you crazy?” Kitt panted. “She’ll make you into a silk ornament.”

“That is, if she can get past me.” Audeia said leaping from her web and standing protectively in front of Coyder and Kitt.

“She’ll have to go through me before that.” Bly said walking between Spinner and Audeia.

    Slim and Crimson nodded to each other and joined the defense of the poor Kitt Spidox. Being siblings, all knew that their hunter and prey relationship had gone on for a while. But this sanctuary was made for the sole purpose of helping spider hybrids gain a sense of safety and belonging, away from being hunted. They weren’t about to let another hunt start, for such an occurrence had happened thanks to Jun and they weren’t about to let another happen from the inside. Spinner merely chuckled and began to walk away.

“You are quite the conquering hero, Coyder.” She grinned “I find that your best quality of all. But the second that wrapping up Kitt ceases to be entertaining, you will become my next prey.”

“Well, ain’t I lucky.” He smirked. “Here’s a warning for you. You always catch Kitt because you know him so well. But you don’t have the slightest idea what I am capable of. So if you come after me, don’t be surprised if I turn the tables on you.”

“So determined. If I do fall to your mercy, I won’t consider it a surprise, merely survival of the fittest. I look forward to either outcome.” She said beginning to exit the meadow.

“Where are you going?” Coyder asked.

“To see an old friend.” She answered before disappearing into the cover of the trees.

    All five of the spider hybrids pitched in and helped slice the silk from Kitt’s body. He was in awe of how for the first time in as long as he knew her, Spinner did not subdue those who stood up against her. To call it fear would be out of the question. Did she know when she was outmatched, or was she just waiting for the right moment? Either way, she was sure to come back, and in a whole community of spider hybrids like her, catching and wrapping Kitt was bound to become old news.

“Look guys, I have to go. Maybe if I’m lucky enough, I can lure Spinner away from here.” Kitt said. “Creatures as brave as you don’t need to have her dominating over you.”

“Nonsense, Kitt. There is strength in numbers, we can protect you.” Coyder said.

“I appreciate the offer, but I got a mate, and she is not a spider hybrid like me. I don’t know how comfortable you guys would be about having her here.”

“We would love it. We want you to stay Kitt, and if you bring your mate, so much the better. This meadow wasn’t made to separate people, only to bring them together. You go get your fair love and well give you guys a nice welcome and keep Spinner’s silk far from you. That’s a promise.” Coyder said.

“You guys are the best. I’ll go find her.” Kitt said rushing off.

“What about Silver?” Audeia asked.

“My very next stop.” Coyder said. “Jun shouldn’t have to look for him alone. He saved my life once and I owe him that much. Bly?”

“Yes, Coyder.” The aura wolf said.

“You are the ideal caretaker of this meadow to take my place until I get back.” Coyder said.

“I’ll guard it with my life, nothing to worry about here.” Bly assured.

    Coyder nodded and smiled as he walked to gather some provisions. The coyote spider made a net of silk in which he laid small bags berries, eatable plants, meat from the wildlife outside the meadow, and a few full canteens. He pulled the ends of the net up and weaved them together in a net to serve as a bag. He threw the web of rations over his shoulder and walked out of the meadow. Little did he know of a canine feline mix heading for the sanctuary via the booby-trapped entrance, the one who Coyder secretly wished to face… the kidnapper of his wolf bat friend.
   Realizing that her unsuccessful infiltration of the Silk Meadow Sanctuary had brought her no closer to her goal, Lang Jun, a teenage kitsune wolf from Henan Province, China, visits the haven again. She immediately finds trouble when she refuses to cooperate with the meadow’s concierge, Coyder. She learned the magnitude of her mistake and bravely accepted the consequences alone and set out to find Silver, who is revealed to be her relative. Unaware to the young canine half-breed, she left her friends vulnerable to a great danger lingering over her head.

deviantArt Character Owners:
Silver Tongue Langston, Audeia, Filieras, and Zida Klaidonis, Lang Jun (c) :iconone-eyedwolf:
Kitt Spidox (c) :iconbritfur:

FurAffinity Character Owners:

Slim Foxxan (c) slimfox45
Crimson Read (c) crimsonreadwolf 
Spinner Spidox (c) shirik
Bly (c) blytheaurawolf
Jake Windfang © lyk
Coyder © wolfganghm
Shirik © shirik
Alva © alvaria
Ace Wolfen 
© JacenDKM

This chapter makes a reference to a pair of works titled The Harrowing Way and Spidox Tales, written by FurAffinity's own LordSilvian. This references are a salute to him, my friend and one of fellow authors I admire greatly. His works are what inspired this series of stories and acts as a third book/crossover for the two stories. If any reading this have an FA account, pay LordSilvian's page and gallery a visit and read the prequels to this story.
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