(Kai and Reyna head east towards the forbidden woods where Kai will face his greatest fear even greater than his fear of heights he must face spiders.)
Reyna: Kai there has been something I've been meaning to ask you.
Kai: Look if it's about Mia yes I think she's cute and I like the colour of her tail so beautiful and long.
Reyna: STOP right there that's way too much info.
Kai: So why'd you take so long to stop me from going on like an idiot?
Reyna: Long enough, I wanted to ask where you learned to fight like you did back there the way you moved was calculated and you knew how to disappear and blend in to your surroundings.
Kai: Oh that's easy my dad and grandpa taught me, they were both rangers.
Reyna: What humans being rangers it's mostly elves that are rangers.
Kai: Yeah but you see my grandma was an elf.
Reyna: (Shocked) uhh so you're a quarter elf and taught by two rangers no wonder you move without being seen.
Kai: I've never thought of it in such detail now that you mention it. My dad taught me to always stand up for people no matter their race to fight and protect the weak.
Reyna: Hold on where is your grandmother? Elves live for more than a thousand years.
Kai: She passed away shortly after my grandfather.
Reyna: Wow she must have truly loved him to pass from longing I suppose?
Kai: Yes, she was the best she would always care for me and protect me she was truly a great person and peaceful in the end.
Reyna: I'm sorry to have pried into your personal life.
Kai: No need no apologize it's fine, let's continue our journey.
(On their way Kai and Reyna come across a wagon with two elderly people stuck the wheel had come lose and where in need of assistance.)
Kai: Excuse me sir? Can I offer you a hand in fixing your wagon?
Old man: Oh sorry son, sure if you would be so kind you look like a strong young man, can you perhaps lift the wagon so I can put the wheel back?
Kai: Yes sir I can do that.
(Kai lifts the wagon and to his surprise its much heavier than it looks but Kai holds it as the old man lines up the wheel and places it on the axel)
Old man: Ok set her down lad she's on now just to tight it.
Kai: Let me do that sir it's the least I can do so you can have a safe journey.
Old man: Thank you lad, you know I used to be pretty strong myself back in the day but age always wins unless you're one of those zodiac knights who don't age must be great.
Old woman: Oh stop it you're just saying that because you like to chase all the woman around you old hound.
Old man: I never did that (blushing in his face that betrays him as he does his best to hide it.)
Reyna: (Looks into the man's memories) I can see his and she speaks the truth he does love the ladies even now.
(Both the old man and woman look in shock as the see Reyna talking and coming to sit on Kai's shoulder.)
Old man: Look honey a talking lizard I've never seen a lizard talk before.
Old lady: Well I've never seen one fly before it's like a tiny dragon.
Reyna: (In an angry tone) I am a real dragon not some common lizard that you find in the wild and I can talk dragons can talk lizards can't.
Kai: (Trying to calm Reyna by covering her mouth) Ok Reyna no need to get angry they didn't mean anything bad by it I'm sure.
Old man and woman: (Speaking at the same time) Were sorry we meant no harm.
Reyna: "hmph" I'll let it go this time.
Kai: (Sweat coming from his forehead and wiping it away.) That was close you sure have a short temper you know. Beside we best get going anyway now.
Reyna: Oh fine we need to hurry I suppose.
Old woman: Where are the two of you heading?
Reyna: Were heading to the forbidden forest.
Old man: (Shocked expression on his face) You do realise what lives there nobody goes there willingly those Arachne will eat you alive especially the men.
Kai: (Now shocked and stressed) W-what Reyna you never said the eat men why are we going there then if I'm goanna die I don't have wings to fly away like you!
Reyna: Those are silly stories I'm mostly sure'
Kai: Mostly doesn't sound good to me'
Old man: (Clears his through) We are heading close to the woods you two can go with us and we'll let you off close to the woods it would save you some time than walking for another two days.
Kai: thank you sir we would appreciate it.
(Kai and Reyna gets in the back of the wagon and it's full with spice and materials from the look of it they are traveling merchants. Kai now realises why it was so heavy. As the proceed with their journey to the forbidden woods Kai and Reyna learn more about the old couple. It's revealed that they always wanted to travel but could never afford it so they became traveling merchants to fulfil their dream. The wagon slows down after a days' worth of riding)
Old man: Here we are you two the forbidden woods lie just beyond that river a few hours' worth of walk I'd say.
Kai: (In a polite tone) Thank you sir and ma'am have a safe journey.
Reyna: Yes thank you.
(The old couple leave, Kai and Reyna cross the river and walk as the begin to enter the forbidden woods Kai feels uneasy as if something or someone is watching them)
Reyna: What's the matter Kai you seem uneasy since we entered the woods? Is it your fear of spiders that has you on the edge?
Kai: Yes the spiders are one thing, but besides that I feel as if were being watched by something or someone whatever happens we must be prepared for a fight and I don't want to be eaten by their queen or some such.
Reyna: Ridicules you didn't actually believe that old man did you?
(Before Kai can answer the are attacked a arrow is shot at Kai, but he dodges and readies his sword for a fight. A Arachne jumps from the tree his lower body that of a hairy spider with eight thick strong legs and the body of a muscular man faces Kai and Reyna.)
Arachne: (In a serious tone) Who goes there human you must be looking for death.
Kai: (Fear grips him but he tries to calm himself) My name is Kai and were searching for someone whom may have passed through here, but if you're looking for a fight than we can go that way too.
(Kai prepares his weapon Reyna leaves Kai's shoulder as not to get in the way and scouts for more Arachne, the Arachne pulls his sword and stare down at Kai.)
Arachne: So lets het this started you lowly human.
(Kai and the Arachne clash swords, Kai has to be careful as the Arachne is taller and more powerful Kai uses his size to his advantage to hold of the Arachne but knows that this too is dangerous as this is their territory and he is out matched ontop off that Reyna has not yet returned is she in trouble. The arachne manages to land a hit on Kai barely scratching his arm. Kai's arm starts to lose feeling)
Arachne: Got you it's over my neurotoxin will immobilise you in a few seconds fight it if you want but it's pointless.
(Kai begins to see double and his vision blurred falls to the ground, Reyna falls from a tree and a female arachne appears.)
Male arachne: He was a tough opponent I expected him to go down easier.
Female arachne: Yes and he is with a dragon strange to see one so small, but he looks like a fine specimen for the queen she will be pleased.
Reyna: (Barley continence) Leave him alone both of you or you'll feel my dragons wrath.
(Reyna also now fades from the poison.)
(A few hours later Kai wakes up in a strange room stuck in a giant web like a fly. An arachne approaches him but this one is much bigger than the others he saw and faced it is easily 6'5 feet tall and judging by the curvaceous figure this must be the queen no man can have such a figure Kai's thought must still be hazy from the poison. As the queen approaches Kai can start to make out her face she has four eyes all red no pupils she has silver hair in a layered style and her human part is well very attractive and shapely, her spider half resembled that of a black widow black and shiny.)
Queen: (With amazement) Look at what my children have brought me I must admit I've had a hard time keeping the young ones away from you.
Kai: (In a mixed state not knowing to ask the queen on a date or run for his life) K-Keep then away? Where they trying to eat me?!?
Queen: (Shocked and amused at his answer) goodness no nothing so sinister but they did make off with your coat and shirt.
Kai: (His heart is racing and he feels cold at realizing he does not have a shirt on.) now I feel violated ya know that right.
Queen: (Blushing) sorry for that I was also curios of your physical prowess to have been able to stand against one of our warriors a human no less but I do see a tint of elven in you.
Kai: Yes I'm part elf but mostly human. Now can I get my shirt back at least and Reyna my dragon?
Queen: Oh she's fine she's playing with the children outside, we still have business to get to.
(The queen gets close to Kai her face only a few cm away from his so close if he wanted he could smell her breath which was sweet like honey she smiled at him and looked him in his eyes.)
Queen: Such beautiful dark brown eyes you don't see that here with our kind, I bet the ladies love you.
Kai: No actually they prefer blue or green eyes my eyes are the signs of a commoner.
Queen: Such a cruel thing to say about one self, are you not afraid of me?
Kai: I'm terrified I heard you well uhh how to put this e…
Queen: (Cuts off Kai's sentence) eats people? Hahaha that's not true we actually love you humans we spread those rumours ourselves so we can live in peace. (the queen now has a sad expression on her face) as of late many of our kind have gone missing without a trace and we do not know where to start looking I hate to admit it we do not know how humans think. So now I ask for your help Reyna told me how you stood up for a lamia and a fox woman.
Kai: Uhhh that dragon just can't keep her mouth shut, I'll consider it if you can just give me a shirt it can be any colour it doesn't matter I feel un comfortable.
Queen: Hmm why not walk around without a shirt a true warrior would not mind it.
Kai: Probably not but I do mind it.
Queen: (Retrieves a new dark grey shirt she cuts Kai loose from the web and hands him the shirt.) here you go now will you help us or not?
Kai: Yes I'll help you the shirt fits fine thanks.
(With Kai agreeing to help the queen is he starting to let go of his fear of spiders? Only time will tell all he knows now is that he needs to find out who or what is causing the disappearances of her people.)
End of Chapter 3