~Ch 7 Cages and Webs~

Meta and Emit had left the battle field some hours ago. Due to Emit's superior tracking the two had caught up quickly behind the chanting savages who were unaware of Meta and Emit who followed them through the woods. Eventually they came upon a defrayal. Obviously it was the natives' abode for huts and such were scattered about forming a circle around a great bonfire.

Meta's eyes searched the scene for the two captives. He soon spotted the huddled figure of Randal in a cage above him. He looked alright, he was conscious now and had rough bandages wrapped around his wounds, probably made from the abundant cloth of his cloak.

"Look there!" Emit exclaimed in a hushed voice.

Meta's anger flared again when he saw what Emit gestured towards. Athenya was sitting next to the chieftain her hands chained to his throne being forced to hold up food to his mouth. Meta was about to fly off and save her but Emit grabbed his arm and pulled him back.

"Sir that would be folly!" he warned, "We need a plan."

Meta nodded, then began searching for a way to rescue his friends. There was no way they'd be able to do it by force or without being noticed.

"Perhaps we should go back to the ship for reinforcements," Emit suggested.

"No, what if the natives decided to move away from here? Or decided to kill them?" Meta shook his head, "No we are alone in this hour."

Emit nodded solemnly.

"First thing's first," Meta began, "We must free Randal. Then we will have three to work with and one less to rescue."

"We should do it immediately while the natives are distracted by victory," Emit noted.

In agreement Meta nodded then stopped when a hindering thought struck him, "I can't fly up. They'd spot my like a cat spots a bird."

"But, you can go behind the tree and take me up with you. I can climb out on the branches and you can keep watch while I free Randal with my knife." Emit's eyes twinkled as the epiphany struck him.

They exchanged glances nodding, and then hastily set themselves to work. Moving behind the great tree, Meta hovered over Emit. Grabbing Meta Knight's wrist Emit's feet left the earth as together they climbed higher in the forest's thick air gradually growing closer to the tree branches where the cages dangled. A horrid stench nearly blew them away as they crawled onto the largest branch growing right above the branch bearing Randal.

To their dismay, the foul odor lingered from the surrounding cages all filled with the remainder of many unfortunate travelers and other carcasses. Disfigured limbs and hands swayed with the groaning chains as chimes and bells placed high in the branches sounded creating an eerie aura about the cages as they were rocked by an ominous wind breathing deeply in and out.

Emit ignored his disturbed emotions as he crept forth to the cage while Meta flew out farther to keep watch. Thankfully the tree was blessed with a great amount of leaves making it practically impossible for anyone standing at any angle outside of the tree to peer inside and spot them.

When he finally reached Randal's cage he nodded a greeting and Randal grinned in grateful relief. Emit pulled out his curved sax knife and began cutting through the thick ropes until finally he sliced the bonds apart, then did the same to the ties that held Randal's hands tightly together. Carefully, Emit helped Randal out of the cage and onto the safety of the tree branch. When they reunited with Meta he looked at them in pain and determination.

"Let's look for survivors. I saw a few when I flew up." Meta said making more of an order than a suggestion out of it but the two others did what he said anyhow.

Leaving Randal to keep watch emit and Meta began looking for any signs of life in the cages. Meta flew up to get a better view while Emit began checking the lower cages.

"Sir! Please! Come hither!" a weary voice called to him.

It came from a young man, probably in his tweens that had called to him. He was a distraught fellow but still looked strong enough to take a stand. In one hand he held a bow and a cluster of about twenty arrows sat firmly in a large quiver swung over his back. An odd pouch was buckled to his leather belt, and he smelled of black powder.

"Who are you?" Meta demanded.

"Venton, I'm a Skent from Dulria," he replied directly in a smooth voice.

Meta hesitated and looked around before beginning to work on Venton's cage.

"I owe my life to you sir," Venton laughed quietly, "What can I do for your service in saving my life?"

"I didn't come to save you." Meta muttered.

"I know, you came to save your bonnie lass."

Meta whirled around and glared at him sternly.

"How did you know that?!" he growled.

"I couldn't help but over hearing your little conversation before you came up here and I suppose since you were so undoubtedly generous to a rogue like me, it would probably be in my best interest to help you Mr. Big and this say, rescue plan."

"And what do you have that I don't?" Meta asked grimly.

"Experience mate." He replied in a lofty tone.

"Enlighten me," Meta derided. A tone of doubt and amusement clung to his voice.

"I've been studying these natives and this here planet for many years and let's just say I'd be useful to you."

"Wow you must be some guy!"

"That I am!" Venton laughed seemingly amused with his triumph.

"My party and I need a guide skillful and as cunning as you!"

"That you do!"

"Especially one who can help us get locked away in cages subject to the wind and weather; along with becoming a carcass with those who lingered here too long!"

Venton's smile faded as he realized that he had been caught red handed in his monologue.

"That's right! You won't get by with that sort of tongue around me! I'm a bit smarter than that Mr. Little!" Meta rebuked him angrily.

"Truth is, my assistants lost faith in me when the natives became angry and abandoned me here."

"Alright, fine!" Meta began reluctantly, "I say this in hesitance: You're in."


Sir David looked around, the savages had run to the north leaving the battle field. It was finally over. Ordering Sir Meta Knight's men to stay and guard the ship if the savages happened to return, Sir David led his men on the path that Emit and Meta had marked out. They arrived at the scene, Athenya was chained to the chieftain's throne and Meta Knight was in a duel with him. Pressing one finger to his lip he motioned for his men to follow behind him. They snuck behind the throne and knocked Athenya's head and broke the chain. Carrying her limp body Sir David bid Meta farewell mostly to himself as a foul smile spread proudly cross his face.


Meta looked desperately at the chieftain, "I don't want to fight, I just want her-," his voice was cut of with shock.

They both looked at where Athenya had been chained to the throne.

"Where is she?!" he demanded taunting Meta with his height.

"I-I don't know!" Meta stepped back in defense.

"You cretin!" the chief lifted his massive blade back and thrust it into Meta's stomach.

Meta fell to his knees then glanced one last time at the chief in disbelief before he was overwhelmed with the pain and collapsed, crumbling to the earth.

"Meta Knight!" Emit screamed. He blew his cover and the savages ran towards him by order of their chieftain. He quickly climbed the tree as did Venton who watched in horror as the savages began climbing after them. At the end of a spear they sat in the tree. But something stopped the natives from lunging the spears into them. Emit followed their gaze to the west and what he saw there made his heart shrivel in fear. A great spider with red eyes was charging toward the village.

"The Great Angot has been awakened!" Run away! Flee this place if you value your lives!" The Chieftain's voice bellowed out through the air.

The savages began panicking a the spider drew closer to where they came out of the tree. They ran out erratically and wildly as the spider began to grab them and fling them into the air.

Emit watched as the scene flashed before him. The savages ran for the underbrush in the trees and those who didn't make it, became a feast to the great spider. He heard Venton gasp so he began searching for what had startled him. His own breath left him when he saw the troubling truth. Meta Knight had become conscious and was now struggling to regain his feet. Emit's heart skipped a beat as he watched the spider turn noticing this new fresh flesh. Jumping from the out of the tree, claws spread, Emit flung himself onto the spider's back, sliced it then jumped between it and his wounded friend.

The spider screeched and taunted him as it came forward in a large bolt. Randal rushed from his hiding spot near the woods as it passed Emit. Slicing it's front leg Randal parried it's attacks. Angot screamed in pain stepping back as Venton shot arrows from the tree, it ran away irritated. Without a second thought the two stood their ground. They watched as it ran quickly up the nearest tree then leaped into the air dropping over the two warriors who were knocked away by the impact. Once there Angot rushed over to Meta and raised itself on it's hind legs and crashed down on it's helpless prey. Emit yelled when he saw this and bound atop the back of the spider slashing into it. He felt it lift up and he jumped off as it collapsed to the side as sword stuck through its massive abdomen. It lay there black blood dripping and mingling with it's purple venom that it had prepared for its prey but in the end it became the victim. To everyone's shock it got back up as Meta regained his feet. Meta taunted it by taking a quick lunging step forward and it screamed dragging itself away from where it had come from. The Great Spider Angot was defeated by Meta single handedly. The three warriors looked in astonishment at their friend but worry replaced it as he groaned and crumpled to the dust in blind pain.