This is the second of three stories I will write as 'conclusions' for my Deadly Trio. These are set in the near future, so that means that this story will not affect other writings I may do of my Deadly Trio that are set present date. This story is after Anirapio's Revelation Story. Anyway, enjoy

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"She deserted us, Nekumbra...", the stoat spoke, shaking her head, "I don't understand why she would desert us. I thought she had every desire to destroy Quad and take over this world like I did, but...", she didn't finish the sentence, letting out an angry hiss.

"Anirapio had a planet to take care of. She had her own things to do.", Nekumbra replied, though very fearful of Iugulare's anger.

And the stoat clenched her paws at the moment...but then relaxed, "No...it's no matter. Let the coward have her life. We'll do this on our own.", she spoke and then turned, wandering off.

But Nekumbra also wanted to escape. She wanted to be free of Iugulare's grasp.

I've got to find Quad., she thought, He'll know what to do.

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The fat blackbuck made his way toward the old Ruins. As he was wandering, he stopped, turning, thinking he heard something. He could faintly hear something, but where...

If he only looked up, he would have seen the spider doe dropping down toward him, slowly descending with her spider silk. And when she was within inches of him, she quickly grabbed him and bit into his neck, the venom of her fangs injecting into his bloodstream.

Quad never knew what hit him, passing out before he ever saw what had gotten him.

When he came to, he was somewhere dark, and his body was suspended cocooned in spider webbing. He struggled but his body was numb, seemingly asleep. He felt dizzy, and his eyes were still adjusting when before him he realized Nekumbra was standing over him, her face bent down close to his.

"We need to talk, Quad.", the spider doe spoke.

Quad was tense, his body still numb (though strangely comfortable in the wrappings), and he questioned, "What are you and Iugulare planning this time?"

The doe made a facial expression that caught Quad's eye. "I don't want to be associated with her any longer. I need help, I want to be normal again.", Nekumbra spoke to him.

He didn't believe his ears at first, but it slowly sinked in - she was speaking the truth. He remembered what had happened earlier with Anirapio, where after getting her away from the infectious stoat, Quad discovered that she never really intended to follow with Iugulare's plans, and more importantly, she wasn't as evil as he thought.

"Help me, Quad. Please. I want to be a mother. I want to have my own fawn to nurture and care for. I want to be able to walk up to other deer without this fear of them attacking me. I want to be able to eat grass again.", the spider-doe pleaded.

"Alright, Nekumbra. I don't know what I can do to help, but I am sure the Twin Gods would have an answer.", the blackbuck replied.

Nekumbra hesitated, then asked, "Would they accept me back, even after the things I've done?"

Quad smiled, "You are a child of theirs. We are all brothers and sisters, children of the Twin Gods. They've been waiting for you to ask for forgiveness for a long time.", he told her.

The spider-doe smiled, and bending down, she nuzzled him, "That's all I needed to hear." She cut the bindings on the cocoon and lowered him down, unraveling his body. Quad was slow to get up, and stumbled a little, the venom still affecting his muscles. Nekumbra stood by him, helping him regain his balance, and the two left her lair, walking toward the Twin Gods' hill.

A small crowd of deer had been meeting when they saw the two walking. "Is that...the fawn eater?", one of the does questioned immediately. "What is she doing with Quad?", another questioned as well. "Protect the fawns, we'll go kill her while Quad's got her captured!", the stags began, all of them leaving and moving toward the two.

When Quad saw this, he stopped her and stood before her. "I'll take care of this.", he spoke, and turned to the approaching stags.

"Out of the way, Quad. We're going to kill this fawn-eater once and for all!", one of the stags spoke to him.

Quad shook his head, "Let her pass. I'm taking her to the Twin Gods. Her fate is their decision, not yours.", he replied.

This only angered the stags, who all wanted a piece of Nekumbra at that moment. One tried to approach, but Quad's massive antlers blocked him. "Why are you protecting her? She's evil!", he questioned.

"She's not evil, she's just misunderstood! She wants to be a regular doe again!", Quad said, more irritated now.

"I want to kill her! She deserves to die!", some of the other stags spat back.

"Enough!", Quad roared. His voice for once boomed so loud that the angry mob backed off. Recollecting himself, he spoke, "If you had a normal life, and it was taken away from you...if you were turned into a beast and were rejected by your friends and family...wouldn't you ask for help too?"

The stags were quiet. None of them had an answer.

"Let us pass.", Quad said, and turned to Nekumbra, "Come on."

The two walked past the deer, none of them ever saying another word, none of them threatening Nekumbra again.

Quad and Nekumbra walked until they were out of distance from the other deer. Then the spider doe slowly said, "...thank you, Quad."

He didn't speak a reply, but simply nodded his head. They finally reached the hill, where the Twin Gods were already aware of what was going on, and were waiting for them. As they approached, Quad noticed that the spider-doe was starting to shiver, taking shorter steps. He stopped her and looked her in the eyes, "There's nothing to be afraid of. The Twin Gods are much kinder than you think. They understand that none of this was your fault, and that you had to survive.", he spoke to her.

Nekumbra looked away. "I did terrible things in the Forest...how could they ever forgive me?", she questioned him.

Quad smiled, "Nek...they already have forgiven you.", he said, and turning toward them, he said, "Come on. You've got to face your fears sometime, why not do it now while I'm by your side. You said you wanted to be normal again, right?"

The words sunk in, and Nekumbra turned her head to face Michael and Auriea. Hesitantly, she took each step up the hill.

When she arrived, Auriea was the first to speak, "It has been quite some time, hasn't it? Welcome home, Nekumbra."

The spider-doe continued to shiver, unsure what to even say to them. "I-I...", she studdered, the words not even able to come out.

"We know...and it's okay. What's done is done. You are no longer the servant of the darkness, but rather, a seeker of the light. And you made the right choice to find Quad, as even he has forgiven you.", Michael spoke to her.

"You see? There's nothing to be afraid of.", Quad assured her.

Auriea approached, and as she did, Nekumbra took a step back. The fear was still very real in her mind. The god deer met her face-to-face, and exhaling, her very breath entered into Nekumbra's lungs, altering the spider-doe's body. When it was finished, Auriea took a few steps back, and asked, "How do you feel?"

It took a moment for Nekumbra to reply...but when she did, she actually smiled, "I...have a craving for grass and mushrooms!" She was suddenly excited (and actually quite hungry too). She would never eat another fawn again, as her body returned to that of a normal doe, one who would graze and eat the plants of the earth.

Quad tilted his head, though, and asked, "She still has her spider legs?"

Michael was the one to nod his head, "She has grown accustomed to having them, and being able to produce her silk, but we removed her fangs and venom. She is quite agile and reflexive with them, and they will serve as a fine defense mechanism, should she ever need to use them.", he spoke.

Auriea continued, "We will also let the Forest know that she is our sister once again, and is no longer a threat to any of the fawns. She has nothing to fear in this Forest."

Nekumbra bowed to them, "Oh thank you, my gods! You have truly saved my life!", she said with excitement, and then turned to Quad, "And I could have never done this without you.", she said, nuzzling him immediately.

Quad nuzzled back, and said, "I knew there was good in you. You just needed the right time to see the light."

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And so, Nekumbra was once again accepted back into the society of the Endless Forest. She approached does and stags without any fear, and was able to join into their gossip and conversations. The fawns approached her curiously, and although their mothers had their doubts at first, they eventually discovered that Nekumbra was quite gentle with the little ones. She would tell them stories, tickle them with her spider legs, and even lead them to safety when they were in danger. The fawns eventually nicknamed her "Grandma Spider".

Her old den was also cleaned, and now serves as a sanctuary for fawns. There were times that does led their fawns to the grotto, dropping them off with Nekumbra so they could have the day to relax. She quite enjoyed being trusted with them, it made her feel...accepted.

Nekumbra would rarely see Iugulare, though she continued to be on her guard. She knew the day would come where the stoat would attack the Forest again, and when the time came, she had decided to stand by Quad and the Twin Gods.

The old Nekumbra, the fawn-eater, had become nothing more than a bedtime story. The fawns of this new age would never learn that "Grandma Spider" really was the monster in the tale.