Spider's cave (open to one)

[Arcanafang]

Wren slept in her room. It wasn’t much of a room as most novice mages live in simple rooms but at least for her it wasn’t with Coro her master. One thing that was the girl’s blessing was that she still lived with her mother and it meant that the great magus couldn’t breathe down her neck. This also probably meant her room was a bit more messy than most novice spell casters. The book strewn over her desk and even on the foot of her bed would be a sight that would give reason for Coro to take a switch to her.

But she was home and she was safe.

“Wren!” Dyn called out as she opened the door and causing her daughter to awake with perked ears. Wren was not human even though her parents were and she had a tail that was now puffed up when she saw her mother’s stern look that made the woman’s pretty eyes seem like gems of an evil amulet. “Coro said you’ve been lax in your studies. He even said that you’ve not even done one enchantment. You said you would have done a few by last month.”

The wolfgirl yawned before her human mother. “I know, but it’s just not that easy. I stayed late researching last night and I haven’t found anything that would be easy to get the materials.”

Dyn sat down next to the girl and smiled. She had a plan that would light a fire under her daughter. “I know it’s tough, but Coro’s a friend and he’s decided to help you. But you have to work hard as he does if this is to work out. So why don’t you do this one?” She pointed at the formula for a magic robe that needed only one ingredient: Spider silk from a crystal spider. “Those spiders are found near here. I don’t think it’d be any easier.”

Wren shivered on her bed as she thought about spiders. Crystal spiders were as big as a cat and with potent venom to boot, just the thought about the spiders and how they would eat her made the girl’s belly turn. “Um Um Um . . . They’re spiders. I don’t want anything to do with spiders.”

“Don’t worry, they’re weak spiders and all you have to do is to gather their webbing. Oh why not get an adventurer friend to help.”

Wren paused for a moment as she brought up the courage to ask. “Mom can you help me?” She asked and got Dyn’s hand to sit softly on her shoulder.

“Wren, you need to adventure for yourself. I could do it but then I would be doing it for you. You’ll appreciate the robe better. Why don’t you check out the village tavern for help? There’re always adventurers there and it’ll be a good way to make some friends. I’ll put up a poster to help you get some help.”

***

Later that day Wren sat at the Spider’s Eye Pub. The place was having average business being that there were a few people there but it wasn’t overcrowded as it would be in the summer season. Most of the people were local lumberjacks drinking away the pains of the day. Occasionally the wolfgirl would look around for an adventurer but just wasn’t sure if she would ask. She really wished that she didn’t let her mother make the poster.

It said: Adventurer’s wanted! I need help to find the silk of the crystal spiders in the eastern cave. You can find me at the Spider’s Eye; I’m the cute girl with the fuzzy ears and a fluffy tail. Thanks. XOXO.

(thread claimed)

[How I Loathe Thee]

Daith rubbed his arm slowly, the pain shot through the muscles and along his skin. Fresh wounds still healing from his previous encounters since he had come to this place, it was a forest, he knew that much but where in the world was he? Though more to the point, where did the seemingly endless line of trees stop? Since that bizarre accident in his apartment nothing seemed to make sense.

“Was that only days ago?”

He reminded himself mentally not to speak with himself, though it was not as if anyone else would notice him doing it.

Nothing really seemed real anymore, least of all his dreams. From the moment he fell asleep to the hazy mornings he started awake all the man could dream is of a shadow clawing at him from every possible angle, even from inside of him it clawed, like a splinter festering to escape. This was a far cry from everything he remembered before, he could remember normal dreams, waking up in class naked, dreams of work, dreams of friends, those that usually consisted of him flying or winning the lottery. There was never a dream that felt this painful...

Can something like this really hurt me?

He pushed the thoughts aside, and took in the forest surrounding him.

The terrain here was far from flat, hills and tree roots offered constant hazards. Another mental note sparked, do not trip on tree roots, very bad things can, will, and have happened because of them, they are not to be trusted. The man continued on through the sea of trees, carefully picking his way up one of the larger ridges before stopping midway on a plateau of stone to catch his breath. Sucking in air deeply Daith could smell the forest.

“It’s so clean here, this is nothing like city smog at all...”

The words drifted out into the empty forest.

“If I can’t smell smog I must be a long way away from the city, ahhh.”

Letting out a sigh he ran his fingers through his dark hair, and took another deep breath.

“Ahhh...”

His breath and the taste of fresh air interrupted as he started to choke, an acrid smell had entered the air, something like the sudden smell of boiling vinegar. As he coughed and looked around, the strange winds changed pushing out the choking scent.

Daith looked in every direction, had someone poured out a batch of pickles? No it smelled like something worse, but he could not tell in which direction it had come. Climbing up over the crest of the hill, one hand grasping a tree trunk the other a solidly imbedded stone the sight of a road and in the distance a town greeted him, just as a slight trickle of rain started to fall on his head.

...

A young boy ran through the hard packed dirt streets of the town, wooden planks groaned as his boots hit the steps leading to the Spider’s Eye Pub. Pushing open the door he did not wait for anyone to take notice of his entrance.

“Someone come quick, a man just came out of the forest and walked right by the entrance to the spider cave, he must have been seeking shelter from the rain.”

[Arcanafang]

Things weren’t going well for the wolf mage. The time passes slowly and there were no adventurers coming to her for hire. Wren’s spirits were dashed as she mumbled about the sign. She knew it would only embarrass her and she was sure that the usual patrons were giggling at her in their minds.

Why was the Tavern void of heroes willing to help a pretty magus improve her skill? Wasn’t there supposed to be handsome warriors willing to help a cute girl for a kiss? Perhaps it was Wren’s wolf tail that made them turn away. The sorceress shook her head and spoke to herself. “Now you’re being silly.” She said and looked at the men drinking.

None would suit her. There was nothing but the usual Lumberjacks.

Wren felt herself become tired through disappointment but then her ears perked at the door opening in a rush. A young man several years younger than the mage girl was begging for help. Some men raised willing to help but then they quickly sat back down when they heard about the spiders cave. One man with a long black mustache said plainly: “He’s probably already dead. I for one don’t want to be eaten by spiders.”

Wren felt herself rise to her feet and the barkeep looked at her and smiled through his brown beard. His name was Vark and he knew Wren since she was a pup. “So you’re going alone?”

Wren nodded and looked to the boy. “I’ll help.” She said and the men in the tavern laughed but the boy smiled widely.

Vark winked to Wren and pulled out a vial from behind the counter. “Be careful.” He said and tossed the vial to the wolf girl. Wren tried to catch it but she fumbled and dropped the container and thankfully it didn’t break. “Drink a sip of this if a spider should bite you. Good luck Wren.”

Wren Bowed and thanked the barkeep before exiting somewhat gracefully.

***

This was a bad day to adventure in the forest. The night was not only cloudy and dark but it was raining as well. Wren had trouble seeing the trees in the forest but she could hear them as the rain hit the leaves and she could feel the mud of the road cake her sandaled feet. It was a rather dire night for anything. Thankfully for Wren she was able to chant a spell that would make the falling water averse to her so she was only wet below her shins.

Wren would have stayed away but now there was a man’s life in her hands. “Hello!” She cried out as she was near the cave. Wren hoped to find the man. She also hoped for silk but that was not likely going to come this night. The girl bit her lip and hoped he didn’t go deep into the cave. The larger spiders dwelled deeper in the cave.

[How I Loathe Thee]

The rain had started to become torrents by the time that Daith managed to climb into the cave. His vision obscured by the curtains of rain and clusters of trees, everything in his way blocked the view of the town he had seen from the hill top earlier. The damp showers outside echoed the cold damp air inside, rivulets of water ran in, flowing ever deeper into the cave. Not five feet from the entrance a strongly flickering glow of a single brazier shifted its flame back and forth in the winds that funnelled inward from the rocky mouth.

Daith turned his back towards the light and looked outwards towards the rain and darkening skies. No breaks in the clouds appeared, and as he looked on lightning crashed down in the distance.

Flicker, a bolt split the sky, its white blue light illuminated the air.
1...2...3...4...
A loud crack shook the cave walls.

Flicker, flicker, this time two bolts, the second forked as it fell to earth.
1...2...

The crack came this time closer to them, immediately followed up by another loud boom. Light flooded the cave illuminating only deeper dark pathways that spiraled off of the main cavern. Something else caught his eye as he turned back around to the entrance, laying in a pile beside the still burning brazier were crude sticks rapped at one end with cloth. As Daith bent towards them he could smell the scent of oil, mixed with something like vinegar,

“Torches?! But does oil turn rancid?”

He picked one up and held it to the flame to see if it would light. The moment the
cloth rapped stick touched the fire it ignited in a burst just as lightning struck outside and ominously the wind shifted blowing deeper into the empty main chamber.

As his heart rate returned to normal Daith bent again and grabbed two more torches from the pile.

“Looks like it won’t stop today.” He shook his head, there was no one to talk to here.

The man turned and walked into the darkness, taking the left path from the main chamber and holding the burning torch out in front of him.

[Arcanafang]

Wren waited a few moments out in the rain. It was wet and miserable, the rain was so hard that her tail felt like led and her clothing was soaked. The wolf girl flattened her ears from the pounding sound. The cave would be a break from the mess but she didn’t want to go in just yet. She knew it was where the spiders were.

“Hello? Are you there?” The girl called out again but somehow the rain was drowning her out and the kid had gone into the cave. She shivered in place having trouble moving her feet. But if she didn’t do something, the kid would die and she would not get her silk. Wren steeled herself as she slowly walked into the cave.

The hole was pitch dark and only would light up when lightning crashed nearby. Wren normally liked the rain and lightning but not when it was this much or this close, the thunder was so loud it made her jump every time.

“This won’t do.” She said as she fished a rock on the ground, her ears perked up at any sound. The spiders could be anywhere but thankfully they seemed to be deeper in the cave. Then Wren noticed the smell in the air. The acidic tang was not pleasant. It must have been the smell of the spiders. Wren made more haste as she picked up a round stone and held it in the air, chanting. “Oh mother earth, Giver of life, please grant me your wisdom to see within your bowels.” The girl’s tail wagged slightly as the magic flowed around the girl and the rock gave off a slight glow.

The cave was plain with only a few stalactites lining the cave with rotten cobwebs. The light led Wren to the shadows and a green glint in the distance. Wren went to the glint edged on by curiosity before she screamed. It was a spider as big as a large dog, on it’s back and legs curled unmoving. It was dead. Wren took a deep breath as she looked deeper into the cave, seeing another light.

“Umm hello, are you there?”