Spiders.
I hate them. Foul eight legged creatures that are better hiding in their caves than out in the light. I found myself in the north of the Trollshaws when I stumbled into a nest of them. Skittering on the valley floor, I watched them keep their nests clean of bones and debris from their last unsavory meals. Chittering amongst themselves assaulted my ears to the point they could bleed. Of course that did not stop me, but this was one of those days that came close to.
The day began normally. I had set out for the northern passes bordering the river that sectioned Imladris from the Lone Lands. I left Galindriel to the company of the elves while I went out on the bounty. He never enjoyed the northern shaws as did I.. but someone had to bring the reward back. With spring coming and fur trade in short demand, I had to return to the sport of bounty hunting to meet my income. This reward of a a dozen or so gold pieces inspired me to do this bounty, even if it meant spiders. That still did not change my affections to the blighted existence of these foes. I could handle goblins, and orcs, and giants, and drakes and even the onslaught of trolls; but of all the beasts I have come to disdain, it would be the one and only creature that I had to hunt today.
I followed the river up past the ruins, where the rotting undead had begun to rise from the hidden stonework and reclaimed keep of the northern shaws. Only moving so far up, did I notice the sun dimmed along the treeline, the canopy gradually darkening above me until it appear night in the forest, save for the breaking of light between trees and the glittering of natural stars through the leaves ahead. A dead silence hushed my breathing. Stilling my hand, and ready to knock arrow to my bow; I crouched and took shelter against the hollow of roots when I saw the first one.
Sickly forest green. A mockery of its surroundings; this insidious spider dripped venom from its fangs as I watched it consume its fresh kill. A wild boar had strayed somehow past the undead to the south, and was caught within this one's territory. I debated, whether to let this creature have its meal and sneak past or to slay it fast while it was distracted with food. I glanced from my hiding place to see if the bundle of webbing would move. It did nothing as the spider crept down to it. Such a shame, to be so young and caught in the web of darkness like that. Two arrows in each of its belly and chest. I had missed its heart somehow as it screeched at the pain. It didn't take me to knock another arrow since the spider was already skittering my direction. It was too enclosed by forest to set it ablaze with my oil, but the trusty elvish spear would suffice. I fired between its glistening eyes when it was near enough, and the thing lost its balance; tumbling on two of its legs, it flipped over and slid until it crashed against a tree behind me. For a moment it flinched, then ceased to move. If you can't hit the heart, hit the head.
I continued my way north, now following the trail of discarded bodies and webbing, until the forest became an apparition to my mind. The twisted white woods set my mind on edge as I came closer to the heart. Finally a break through the web covered forests, and pale daylight ignited the way out to the small valley. A corridor of stone greeted me as I came out to yet more webbing. How I disgust this substance, knowing the ingredients' origins. Just as I exited the woods, my footing trembled slightly on the webs, and I paused; wondering if I had just set off an ambush. To my surprise, nothing. Though in the next moment, I should have realized something was wrong when I stopped moving. A stinging sensation washed me from my neck, as it dawned that I had just stepped past a lurking spider hiding in the ground. At least I know what the venom is used for....
Which brings me to my current situation. Hanging upside down in a casket of webs. Naturally, waking up in webs would not disturb me as much; at least until I saw that the spiders in front of me, were having a large feast of ensnared animals. I was slow to regain my movements, the numbing pains of the venom slowly wearing off, as I reached down for my knife. Why these things allowed me to keep my weapons, I will never know and honestly I thanked them afterwards. Just as I began cutting my freedom, I heard a small cry. A stifled cry from below made my heart race, as I looked down to see a small boy, whimpering from his prison. Something shiny from his neck immediately sent me to cut faster. My bounty laid before me and was about to become spider luncheon. I wouldn't be these fearful of someone who had foolishly strayed this far up to their deaths, but the reward was tripled if alive... that; and I did not like the idea of watching a child be digested by these things.
The snapping of webs from me, is what attracted them next, as I neared my freedom. All that was left were my boots, but it seemed the spiders did not like that idea. The nest was rustled after all as at least a dozen of those jaded venom spewers charged at me, but already I sheathed my dagger on the webbing of my boots and drew bow and arrow on three of them.. before my hammer wanted a piece of a fourth. After slamming one of their heads against the grain of rock wall, I resumed felling as many of them as I could.. but as they advanced, I could see this nest was much grander than anyone speculated. Who could blame them? I decided it would be best to give these things a reason to skitter than just me and it began with a spark and a flame....
Straight into the hole they poured from, I lit one of the many spiders on fire. The sight was hilarious as that one spider became a fiery messanger of my disdain, while it skittered towards me, it started to ignite the webbing. A flame erupted to a wildfire as spider after spider caught and spread to their nests. At last I could act, cutting the last strand off my boot and grabbing the encased boy. Screeching, flaming spiders around me, I bolted as fast as I could, padding the underside of my boots as I went, allowing me to refuse the fresh web beneath me and getting stuck.
It was several hours before I came back down with the child in arms that I came to the camp once more. My bounty's contractor was greatly pleased and thankful for the return of the boy, to which I was a little pleased. They asked of the smoke. I simply replied the spiders would need to rebuild their nests for a time. Relieved, they gave me the payment and at once I started back to Imladris for some tea and a warm and less webbed bed.
I hate Spiders.
