(Blog 15) A Time for Rest
…Spyder, Calisto, and Lima were right on schedule for Opening Day for Wing Tails Sticker Studio when they received an unexpected visit from the compliance department that caused a delay. Deciding to move forward with a meet-and-greet housewarming before the official opening causes Spyder to visit the Websters where he is reunited with an old friend and triggered by the past. A casual flight brings him back to the place where, nearly 20 years earlier, he and Pip found little Belle, the child dragon that was lost, and later passed away after they found her in a cave. He is forced to handle a rush of suppressed emotions and feels like at that moment fresh purpose and perspective is woven into the story of Wing Tails Sticker Studio…
(Continued from our last post…)
PRESENT DAY - 7:00 PM the next evening: Spyder sat in his study as the soft glow of a reading lamp cast warm light over the pages of his book. He breathed a quick flame at the fireplace across from his chair to warm the room from the evening chill. It was the first real moment of stillness he’d allowed himself in a long time, and it was much needed.
The last week had been... a lot. After yesterday’s run-in with Hecubum and returning to the cave, his mind was still trying to process what it all meant. He felt a restless desire to honor Belle’s life and turn her tragedy into something meaningful. Pip had lived in the shadows of what happened that day, and in a sense, Spyder was realizing that he had as well.
“Hello… Spyder?” Lena had carefully cracked open the door and was now peaking her head in the room as though she was trying to be small and not startle him.
Pleasantly surprised, Spyder looked up from his book and motioned her to come in.
“You might regret giving me that key, huh?” She teased as she walked inside.
“I honestly forgot that I had.” He said, setting his book aside.” You’re always welcome here, Lena.”
In her usual soft and calming voice, Lena continued, “Lima was worried about you. She said you left work early. You never do that. What’s going on?”
Spyder exhaled through his nose, rubbing his temples. “Yeah, just… had some stuff on my mind.”
Lena gave him a long look and arched one brow. “Lima’s going to need a better report than that.” she said after a moment. “She’s super intuitive. She picks up on things most people miss.”
Spyder smirked. “Yeah, she’s really sharp. I’m really enjoying her addition to the studio. I plan to talk to her and Calisto over the next few days. I just need some time to reflect and put my thoughts into words.”
Lena grinned. “You’re not leaving the studio, are you? She’ll be devastated.”
“Not at all.” Spyder reassured her.“ Actually, I’ve never felt more motivated to press forward than I do now.” He continued in a playful tone, “I just need to develop a strategy for what comes next, which is what I was doing before a certain dragon made herself at home.”
They sat in a comfortable silence for a moment.
“Well,” Lena said, stretching her wings, “I just wanted to check in. I gotta get going. I’m meeting up with Danz.”
Spyder’s face reflexed into a deadpan stare. “Oh. Him.”
Lena narrowed her eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Please, Lena. Danz? That’s not even a name. “You deserve so much better.”
“Anyway,” she said, deliberately ignoring him, “Lima found a pile of eggs on the way home from work. I’m sure she’ll tell you about it in the morning. Says she wants to hatch them and raise baby chickens.”
Spyder blinked. “Chickens?”
“Yup.”
Lena snorted. “I told her to leave them for the lizards, but she was insistent to save them.”
Spyder chuckled. “Good for her. I hope for her sake and yours, she’s able to.”
They laughed, the tension from before melting away.
“Well,” Lena said, standing up, “I’ll let you get back to your book.”
Spyder nodded. “Thanks for checking in. Don’t lose that key.”
She hesitated for a second, then gave him a small smile. “Yeah. Anytime.”
With that, she slipped out.
Spyder watched her go, feeling the absence she left behind almost immediately. He’d spent years justifying why he never spoke of his feelings for her, why he could never let them surface. But maybe it was the weight of the past few days, or the warm glow of the fire on a cool night that made him wish she’d stayed just a little longer.
His world just felt right when she was there.
Join Spyder’s adventure!
Submit your dragon idea for a chance to see your character come to life in the story!
To be continued… New posts each Friday. Subscribe below to follow the dragons. Read the beginning of it all at Blog 1: New Adventure Awaits.
