Drought had came and they had to flee their village. They have been wandering for weeks now, most of there sheep were gone now. Food was low. Every day they walked past mile after miles on desiccated landscape, their was no game left.
"I hope that the next ritual finally puts us back in the favour of the goddess. Else-wise the next ritual you do will probably be a funeral," confided the chief of the tribe who had become almost skeletonized with hunger, as he insisted upon always having the smallest share.
"I should work it is the most potent ritual I know. We haven't needed it since the great cold ten generations ago. Every family leader has given greatly for his." He said as they both showed they were missing the ring fingers on their left hand.
...
Night fell and the ritual began. After some somewhat subdued ritual dances the shaman begins. "Great goddess of the earth, who grants us all things and for which we are always most grateful hear us please. Whatever wrong we did we are most sorry. Please return to us the botony that you used to give. As you gave us your lives we now return some of it to you."
The shaman then revealed what he had been working on with a flourish. It was spider with the eight legs made of the fingers giving my the leaders of each of the families whilst the rest of it was also made of things extracted from their own bodies. The shaman then kept all their attentions focused on it as with secret shaman powers he transferred just a bit of each of their life force to the spider figure.
With a jerky motion the the spider began to move.
"Go symbol of our devolution find the goddess and tell her of our faith," entreated the shaman as the spider figure then went off into the night.
...
Cragic of the sky spider city of Gor looked down upon the surface world miles below. It was touch times down there. Most especially he was moved by the plight of the humans. Unlike most of his society he did not believe that they were mere beasts. He had been watching them from above for many years. He had grown to know them and to care for them. He wanted to help them but he would need the help of other to do so. So he need the help of thoses to do so. The movement of the tribe far below, far later then usual had got his attention. Descending in secret he watched the ritual. He saw the spider figure was made and then how then animated it, something even they had only figured out recently. That was what he needed to make this point. Swinging from the sky city he quickly caught the thing and then gently wrapped it up.
...
He brought it before the council of weavers who were as usual feasting mixed selection of the finest bugs, and even a couple of birds too.
"Oh those the weave our fate I have the proof you asked for." He showed them the item. "This clearly shows that the the humans have original thoughts of their own and are not driven wholly by instinct."
"Yes this is interesting, if it is truly made by them they warrant further studies," spoke the most senior and thus fattest member of the group. "However how do we whole they made it, you you not have made it to advance your pet project."
"Now look what it is made of, all the bit of it could only have been got by hurting humans, something you know I would never do and could not do safety even if i did," Cragic Argued
The council discussed amongst themselves.
"We have agreed that 5 journeymen between the 7th and 12th maltings shall be assigned to you. You may begin training them he 4 days time."
"I do not believe the humans will be around long enough for me to train them to study them. They must be moved to a new area before they starve, if we do not he shall those our own chance to study them and will have let a community die."
"There continued existence may well be of some value to us. He move one of their groups and one alone, you this their can be on change. Know this also if there damage our city it shall me your brood which will pay the blood price." the most senior weave proclaims.
"Thank you, those that weave our fates. I shall return to tall you want I need." says Cragic as he scuttles away.
...
Cragic decided to introduce himself to the humans before the lift. Obviously the group he chose in the one that made the spider. He decides to take to the shaman as he both the smartest and most peaceful of the group. He approaches at night were the shaman, who is unable to hunt or gather as he prone to fits of revelation had the energy to stay up later and was blessing there new campsite. Cragic descends on a silken thread.
"Trug, hello" says Cragic.
The shaman looks up and sees Cragic. The mostly full moon shines though his largely see through body giving him a slightly angelic appearance.
"Greetings spirit of the goddess, how may I serve you" say Cragic who having seen far stranger things in his visions is completely nonplussed
"Your cries were heard, my people will aid you. I will visit your people at noon tomorrow." says Cragic
"What shall I do to prepare us, spirit." ask Trug
"Have everyone gathered and ensue they are not afraid, Also give this to those that need it. I will send more soon"
With that Cragic drops a packaged wrapped in spider silk. With in are the the bodies of several birds which they often ate back when they ate things and several hundred locusts. In all there would be enough to feed the group for 3 days.
Cragic ascends.
...
When Trug awakens he is surprised to find the package he received in what he decided was a dream was real. The bounty is quickly shared amongst the tribe, with those nearest death getting double portions. The chief again has only a small amount, although his hunger was great.
Trug explains where food came from and soon many of the tribe as giving thanks to their new spider guardian. Cragic who is watching from far far above feels a surge of satisfaction at what he was done. He also noticed that the many treads that make up the city yield ever so slightly more when he walks over them. Seeing the starvation below much have made him eat more he thought.
...
Noon comes. By then everyone is excited about meeting their new spider guardian. He descends right into the middle of the village. He hovers a few feet above it. He measure 4 feet across.
"Hello humans" greets Cragic "I am Cragic, I come from the city of Gor, its straight up there." He said pointing with a back leg.
"We welcome Cragic and our most thankful for your gift," says the chief.
"No, don't, I should have acted a whole lot sooner" say Cragic Regretfully
"Oh, spirit, your judgement is surely beyond doubt" said Trug
"I should clear this up before there are problems, I am not spirit I'm made of of flesh like you it just that's it in the different shape and I have by bones on the outside whilst you have yours on the inside. I'll show you." explained Cragic
Cragic lowers himself all the way to the ground and then walks across it. They all quickly notice that he leaves footprints. He moves up to Trug and offer him a pedipalps which he him and pretty much arms and end he 3 small finger like things. They shake hands. Cragic they moves on the rest on the group. After this they are far your comfortable speaking with him, not thinking him semi divine any more.
Cragic has many questions for the humans, as many of things he saw them do didn't make much sense at all. The humans have even more questions for Cragic as they know nothing of him, this species, his home or even why he turned up. They walk into the evening when Cragic decides to return to Gor.
They would continue to meet for several more weeks whilst the lift is planned and prepared. Whilst his was happening...
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
More by this author