Basilisk knew that such a gift was due. It was not uncommon in the Fatalis family for a pup to receive a weapon at a young age. Perhaps not a weapon so sharp , and a wolf so young, but Basilisk did not care. Spider had proven themself, and that encounter with the bear was still fresh in his mind. He would encourage Spider to defend themselves.

It was a cool, crisp morning when he returned to the tree house. The gift that he and Hazel had been working on for some days was tucked carefully into a bag he wore around his shoulders. As he stopped outside the tree house, he raised his head. “Spider? We need to talk” and a serious talk it would be.

"Speech"

Though things had been wild lately, Hazel couldn't help but be proud of the little pup. The one that she'd found, scared and alone. The pup that was starting to come into their own already, letting more of their personality and tenacity shine through. Though Hazel was at odds with her own demons, spending time with Spider was such a bright spot. Parenting was hard, confusing, and sometimes a struggle, but moments like this made everything worth it. Parenting with her best friend... yeah, that made things a lot more doable. Bas had really stepped into his role, all while helping Hazel keep her shit together. They're not perfect, but she wouldn't have it any other way. They'd been working on something special whenever they could find a few moments. Something special and wonderful, something Hazel was really proud of. Really proud of, just like she was proud of Spider. Hazel was excited to see their reaction, excited to give them something tangible that really said you're ours. An ever-present search for belonging had colored her younger years. She'd found that belonging within the Armada, and beside Bas. Now she'd be able to help Spider find it too. Hazel hoped this would help solidify that even more, a real and tangible thing. Bas declared it done, and Hazel had checked the specifications. The balance. The weight, especially for someone significantly smaller than the behemoth of a man, was important. Yes, it was perfect. Standing beside Bas, waiting for Spider, Hazel was really starting to feel all the things that Sirius and Halo both must have felt when she was younger. "Speech"

Araneae has just been sitting in their room, intermittently slipping in and out of a nap as they gaze lazily out the window, when they hear Bas’ voice from down below. sitting up, they stick their head out the window and crane their neck to see him waiting outside with Hazel. the seriousness of his tone twists their stomach into anxious knots, but they try to calm themselves. if the bear attack has shown them anything, it’s that Bas cares about them; and what a wonderful thought. surely this ‘talk’ couldn’t be anything too bad? ”m’coming!” they call out, scrambling to their feet. they all but tumble out of the treehouse in their haste, anxiously searching the face of their guardians for a trace of anger or disappointment. what they find, however, is something altogether different. Hazel’s gaze upon them is warm and fond, like bathing in a sun patch. silently, Araneae releases a little breath of relief. then a smile stretches across their face, eager and happy as they gaze up at their two favourite people. ”hi! what’s up?” “speech”

With Hazel at his side, Basilisk felt a little like he could do anything. She had created this, her actions had brought them into a small, tight knit family. Spider had started as a burden to the titan, but they had turned into a priceless treasure that he wouldn’t give up. He and Hazel had agreed. It was time, and Spider was ready - they were adopting them officially.

As the little black wolf dove out of the treehouse, Basilisk grinned at him, and then settled down on his rump so he could bend down a little closer to the pups size. “Hazel and I have made a decision, Spider. We want to adopt you officially.” He explained, his earlier talk with Spider had already told him that the pup was amiable to the idea. He pulled the bag off his shoulder and handed it to Hazel, his eyes asking ‘do you want to do the honour?’ After all, she was the one to bring them home. He did sneak the brace that would hold the knife and tuck it under his stomach so he could show Spider how to wear it once Hazel had presented the main item.


"Speech"

It's not long before the pup comes down, looking a bit bleary. They'd probably been dragged from a nap, actually, oops. Her gaze is gentle on the pup as they look to both wolves. She smiles, hoping that Bas's tone hadn't worried them at all. It was serious, but the good kind of serious. She's relaxed and confident, standing beside Bas. Though it was a big decision, it was one that Hazel would make over and over again. Bas had posed the question, and Hazel gently took the bag. She slips the tidily wrapped dagger from the bag, feeling for the hilt before presenting it to the pup. Hilt side first, though it's wrapped in a soft scrap of deerskin. "We made this for you." Within the package, a small engraved dagger. Spider Fatalis, in Hazel's own careful scrawl. It's well sized, though Spider would grow into it some. The smallest blades were the most useful, for fighting and for crafting, in her experience. It would serve the child well. Pride rings clear on Hazel's face, and she had a hard time concealing her excitement. "Speech"

now that they know this isn’t a bad talk, Araneae is so excited they can barely sit still. they shuffle impatiently in place, eyeing Bas eagerly as he leans down to their level. they love when Hazel and Bas do that; it makes them feel valued, listened to. but his next words shock them so much that they freeze completely in place, mouth falling open to form a perfect ‘o.’ their eyes widen and grow misty, becoming steadily more wet until the water overflows, gathering into big goopy tears that stream down their face. ”r-really?” they rasp, half-convinced they’ll wake up any minute. never in a million years would they have dared hope for this. just living with Hazel and Bas had been more than they could’ve ever wished for. “you really w-want me?” they’d thought, when Ex-Mum had…they’d thought something in them was broken, wrong, like they were messed up in some way they themselves couldn’t see but that She had sensed. She knew something Araneae didn’t, and one day Bas and Hazel would know it, too. but now… they’re still sniffling their way through delighted disbelief when Hazel presents them with a wrapped parcel, pressing a…a handle into their hand. it’s smooth and cool, and Araneae’s eyes grow huge as the parcel is unwrapped to reveal a small, gleaming dagger. ”woah.” it was beautiful - the most beautiful thing they’d ever seen in their entire life. it catches the light and dances before their eyes, it’s point so sharp they can imagine how precise it is, how exact and deadly. and then, the most important detail - the words. Araneae squints, pressing closer just to be sure…but yes, there it is. their name. Spider Fatalis. something big and nameless swells in their chest, and Araneae gives a huge sob as they burst into tears, body shuddering with the force of their emotions. “mfph…i don’t normally c-cry this much,” they mumble, voice muffled as they wipe impatiently at their face. they weren’t Araneae anymore, an abandoned little pup whose own mother couldn’t stand them. they were Spider Fatalis, and they had a family. as the tears finally dry up, Spider looks up and says the only thing they’re capable of voicing. “can i call you guys Mum and Dad?” “speech”

He nodded his head as Spider asked if they meant it. They did, in this he and Hazel were unanimous. “We want you, Spider.” He agreed softly, watching as Hazel presented the dagger to them. “Be careful, it’s sharp” He warned, knowing even as he said it that Spider was going to learn that for themselves. Hopefully nothing too serious, but you have to learn some time.

He waited while Spider composed themselves, his expression gentle and patient. He felt a little like crying himself, but luckily he managed to keep it in. Basilisk was not a cryer. “You can, in fact, I’d like it if you did” even if it would take some time before it didn't stop being… weird to him. “Here, we made this bracer as well. It can hold the knife… like so, and you can wear it around your foreleg.” he explained, pulling the bracer into view and holding it out to Spider. “Should we see how it fits?”


"Speech"