Chapter 8- Earth Realm- Kane.

I felt rejected the moment we returned home. Jeff too. He was worried about Matt. Taker and Dave went their on way, but I remained with the young Hardy. It wasn't like Kratos at all to kick us out like that, I had a horrible feeling about this.

Just then, Randy Orton approached us. "Kane! I got something to show you!" he sounded desperate.

"Not now Randy, my brother is missing!"

Orton nodded as he looked to me with a look… this WAS concerning Matt. "I… think I know where he is" Orton muttered. "But don't get too excited"

Any idea or news on Matt was good news. Jeff joined me in the horrible feeling soon enough when Orton warned him not to get too excited to the concept of knowing where Matt is. We followed Orton down the hall into an enclosed locker room. It was stocked with ancient book as they lay up against the wall and all about the floor. I recognized some of the titles from Nether Realm. Some though didn't even belong to me! "Orton…"

Before my question could escape me, he said Cryme Tyme and Cena went to check on Princess Kitana to see if she was back home yet. So no one was, they 'borrowed' a few books of interested.

I got to get their library card!

Orton began to sift through the books and pulled out ones with marked pages. He used sticky notes all about the book. He opened one and began to read a little of the Shokan dragons that died out, except for the rare birth every 1,000 years. He brought up an interesting fact. The birth of a Shokan dragon occurs in the same year as the royal jelly from Kitana's realm.

That couldn't be a coincidence. Randy went on to another book and explained. "Ever since the thousand year birth of a Shokan Dragon came to be. Many not only died of broke hearts. But there were other complications involving reproduction." He went through each scenario with details. One died by freezing to death. Another starved, the third was both causes, all happened after they mated successfully. The fourth example he came was no compatible nests….

"What does that mean?" Jeff asked.

Randy went to another book, elder Shokans and that of Kitana's people from the mast kept record of the deaths of the Shokan dragons. Explaining what killed them and how it remedies. Before Orton explained he pulled out a book from Kitana's realm. "Shokan female dragons are fragile when they are with child. They are unable to keep in body heat and eat solid food. Therefore they seek one with an internal source. A nest of living flesh and blood, warm blooded and soft to the touch. Large enough to hold her and thick enough to keep her warm." His eyes gazed at Jeff. "Sound like anyone we know?"

"Matt" he whispered. "But how? How do they make a nest out of him? They don't kill him do they?"

"No. Females have an odd ability. They can contort the flesh to their will. The manipulation is over that of dragon scales and soft tissue. She burrows her body in through the naval cavity to enter the host's stomach…" he explained.

"Unbelievable" I whispered, but we have seen stranger right? Orton said there's a shock pain to it, but nothing serious.

"It's how many of the females died. The source cannot be directly linked to their bloodlines, or that of the children. It's never explains why. But when those things were plentiful, contests were held to gain such a privilege of becoming the nest!"

"They sure knew how to have a good time back then," muttered Jeff.

Randy continued. The contest was who could grow the largest. "Due to the honor seen in this. Males close to the female, friends as such would grow fat to impress the pregnant female. The act is considered to be very bonding. The more I heard of this the more it fit the bill as to what the hell was going on around here. "Males would drink royal jelly to gain and maintain their mass. It cannot be digested and passed through so it remains inside of them to keep them thick and warm to the female… an edible blanket sort of speak. The Female chooses the day of need. She forces herself in and settles into the male as he gorges one final time on an overly robust meal."

"Why doesn't the female ask?" I questioned.

Randy pulled out another book. Shokan law. The expecting female cannot ask or choose ahead of time her nesting option, it avoids competition and as well the surprise of being selected is part of the honor.

Randy put the law book to the side as he read ahead in the other book. He stopped reading as his face went pale. "So we find Eva and we find my brother?" Jeff asked.

"Jeff, the nest males and pregnant females don't stay out in the open" Randy paused as he wondered how to phrase his next few words. "The father to be, protects both when they have prepared themselves. Putting them in a safe place that is as close to him as possible"

I didn't like where this was going. "Where Orton? Their pouch?" I asked.

Randy shook his head no. "Males don't have pouches. They instant they swallowed their mates and nesters whole… they keep them in their stomach"

Jeff didn't blink as he fell into the corner of the room. Tears streamed down his face. "We walked in on that… Kratos… wasn't finishing a meal… Oh God! He was gulping down Matt!"

"At least he wasn't eating him. There is a difference." Orton said in trying to comfort Jeff. But he failed horribly on that. "Look, Matt is safe, he is fully protected in Kratos until Eva is ready for the birth"

"But why him! It could have been anyone of us!" Jeff demanded.

I knew why. "He was most appealing. When we went to the dinner. She couldn't keep her eyes off of Matt. He returned from a realm job remember? He was full. Everyone was too lean and thin for her to use," I explained. Damn it, I shouldn't have made him go!

Jeff went from terrified to pissed off. "We go back and get him the hell out!"

Orton shook his head no once more. "You can't. When swallowed, he's done there for good until the time comes. The moment he hit the stomach walls, he was trapped. He needs to stay down for at least three months"

"THREE MONTHS!" Jeff screamed.

"Unless something happens to Eva and the children she is carrying. If Matt gets removed, they are goners. That's why the male swallows them, so no harm could come to them"

I didn't want that to happen, I don't want to see a friend suffer. But I don't want to lose my grandchildren. Randy closed up the book. He walked out without uttering another word. Jeff however turned his anger to me. "You knew… didn't you!" he demanded of me.

"I knew nothing of this Jeff! I'm sorry it happened, but there is nothing we can do about it now. I'll take you back to confront Kratos about it. I am just as upset as you are…"

"Take me back to the Shokan Realm" Jeff snapped at me. I promised him I would in a moment, but we're not going alone…