"They didn't look like it. Don't know where they would carry them." A pair of long arms, crackling with black electricity, begin to reach down and out of the hole where the Strugel's face should be. They are completely black and red, and don't reflect light in the normal way. The shadows on them are like vantablack, and colors from surrounding objects don't reflect on the bare, dripping muscle.
He impales his paw on one of the spikes, oozing black liquid that crackles with black lightning. "Elder evils? What are those?"
Adeline takes a single step back upon seeing the emerging horror, equal parts curious and wondering if she should be running away. "I see... I know a hunter who uses saws often, and was wondering if you'd seen him."
"Powerful aberrations- often villainous ones, as the title would suggest. I wouldn't consider myself evil, and I'm certainly far too young for 'elder' to fit, but I couldn't find a more fitting title." It explains, watching the black blood drip from his impaled paw with curiosity.
"That little one?" An entire, massively elongated torso lowers town, twisting all the way around, flipping its very humanoid head right-side-up to face her as the Strugel body struggles. The head of the entity looks almost skull-like, with no lips or eyes. It places a hand on the little Saint's shoulder, pushing itself out a bit more before resting an elbow on the ground and propping its chin up on its fist. "He's doing fine. Better than ever, really." It slowly reaches out a long-nailed hand to her. "Cold, isn't it?"
He nods. "I wonder if the Starving Dark is one of those." The black blood is thick, and rich with energy. So hungry it is that it absorbs light instead of emitting it.
"Yes, very cold. I hate the cold." She pauses for a second, internally debating something, before she takes its hand with both of her own gloved hands, helping it crawl its way out of the Saint's open face.
"It's entirely possible." It muses, shaking some of the blood off of its roots- it already has one source of eternal hunger to worry about, and isn't willing to risk gaining a second. "If I may ask, how exactly did it end up attaching itself to you? I haven't seen many aberrations with living hosts."
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Former Spider Queen of the Spider Guild, and friendly neighborhood scheming creature.
"Made by spiders, for spiders, of spiders."
My pronouns are she/her.
Web Weaver of Everlasting Narrative! (title bestowed by Drummer)
"That little one?" An entire, massively elongated torso lowers town, twisting all the way around, flipping its very humanoid head right-side-up to face her as the Strugel body struggles. The head of the entity looks almost skull-like, with no lips or eyes. It places a hand on the little Saint's shoulder, pushing itself out a bit more before resting an elbow on the ground and propping its chin up on its fist. "He's doing fine. Better than ever, really." It slowly reaches out a long-nailed hand to her. "Cold, isn't it?"
He nods. "I wonder if the Starving Dark is one of those." The black blood is thick, and rich with energy. So hungry it is that it absorbs light instead of emitting it.
"Yes, very cold. I hate the cold." She pauses for a second, internally debating something, before she takes its hand with both of her own gloved hands, helping it crawl its way out of the Saint's open face.
"It's entirely possible." It muses, shaking some of the blood off of its roots- it already has one source of eternal hunger to worry about, and isn't willing to risk gaining a second. "If I may ask, how exactly did it end up attaching itself to you? I haven't seen many aberrations with living hosts."
It grips her hands and crawls out. It's at least 11 feet tall, meaning it is completely impossible that this thing was actually inside the Saint. It crouches down and places a hand on her shoulder. "I do too. I was frozen alive once." It squeezes with enough force to hurt. She feels a jolt of electricity jam through her. "Cold and hungry and alone... for centuries, hiding inside the corpse of a traveler. I think they named him... Otzi." She feels the shock fill her body with warmth, waves of heat radiating from her stomach as everything she's eaten recently is ionized. "I held onto his last meal all that time before... eheheheh..."
"I'm not sure. The commune bred and trained me for the role of carrying it." He takes his paw off. "Oh, sorry."
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Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
May each word that I speak be backed by each of my teeth.
"That little one?" An entire, massively elongated torso lowers town, twisting all the way around, flipping its very humanoid head right-side-up to face her as the Strugel body struggles. The head of the entity looks almost skull-like, with no lips or eyes. It places a hand on the little Saint's shoulder, pushing itself out a bit more before resting an elbow on the ground and propping its chin up on its fist. "He's doing fine. Better than ever, really." It slowly reaches out a long-nailed hand to her. "Cold, isn't it?"
He nods. "I wonder if the Starving Dark is one of those." The black blood is thick, and rich with energy. So hungry it is that it absorbs light instead of emitting it.
"Yes, very cold. I hate the cold." She pauses for a second, internally debating something, before she takes its hand with both of her own gloved hands, helping it crawl its way out of the Saint's open face.
"It's entirely possible." It muses, shaking some of the blood off of its roots- it already has one source of eternal hunger to worry about, and isn't willing to risk gaining a second. "If I may ask, how exactly did it end up attaching itself to you? I haven't seen many aberrations with living hosts."
It grips her hands and crawls out. It's at least 11 feet tall, meaning it is completely impossible that this thing was actually inside the Saint. It crouches down and places a hand on her shoulder. "I do too. I was frozen alive once." It squeezes with enough force to hurt. She feels a jolt of electricity jam through her. "Cold and hungry and alone... for centuries, hiding inside the corpse of a traveler. I think they named him... Otzi." She feels the shock fill her body with warmth, waves of heat radiating from her stomach as everything she's eaten recently is ionized. "I held onto his last meal all that time before... eheheheh..."
"I'm not sure. The commune bred and trained me for the role of carrying it." He takes his paw off. "Oh, sorry."
She shivers at the shock, and seems surprised at the result and the feeling of warmth that follows. After a few seconds, that shock gives way to curiosity. "What... what was that you just did? And why am I suddenly hungry?"
"Fascinating... I assume they revered it, if they were so intent on finding it a vessel?" After he pulls his paw away, its flames burn brighter and hotter, searing away the lingering ichor clinging to its roots.
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Former Spider Queen of the Spider Guild, and friendly neighborhood scheming creature.
"Made by spiders, for spiders, of spiders."
My pronouns are she/her.
Web Weaver of Everlasting Narrative! (title bestowed by Drummer)
It grips her hands and crawls out. It's at least 11 feet tall, meaning it is completely impossible that this thing was actually inside the Saint. It crouches down and places a hand on her shoulder. "I do too. I was frozen alive once." It squeezes with enough force to hurt. She feels a jolt of electricity jam through her. "Cold and hungry and alone... for centuries, hiding inside the corpse of a traveler. I think they named him... Otzi." She feels the shock fill her body with warmth, waves of heat radiating from her stomach as everything she's eaten recently is ionized. "I held onto his last meal all that time before... eheheheh..."
"I'm not sure. The commune bred and trained me for the role of carrying it." He takes his paw off. "Oh, sorry."
She shivers at the shock, and seems surprised at the result and the feeling of warmth that follows. After a few seconds, that shock gives way to curiosity. "What... what was that you just did? And why am I suddenly hungry?"
"Fascinating... I assume they revered it, if they were so intent on finding it a vessel?" After he pulls his paw away, its flames burn brighter and hotter, searing away the lingering ichor clinging to its roots.
"I gave you a little spark. Should last you a minute or two." He reaches up and unties the Saint, who falls to the snow. "It's my lifeblood, and it allows me to be a lot less physical than you folks." He does a sweeping, spinning bow. "You're a sweet girl, Adeline." There is a hint of sadness in his voice.
"Yup. I was supposed to harness it and be their god-king. I didn't like them. They weren't a good family." His wound closes with a crackle of static.
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Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
May each word that I speak be backed by each of my teeth.
It grips her hands and crawls out. It's at least 11 feet tall, meaning it is completely impossible that this thing was actually inside the Saint. It crouches down and places a hand on her shoulder. "I do too. I was frozen alive once." It squeezes with enough force to hurt. She feels a jolt of electricity jam through her. "Cold and hungry and alone... for centuries, hiding inside the corpse of a traveler. I think they named him... Otzi." She feels the shock fill her body with warmth, waves of heat radiating from her stomach as everything she's eaten recently is ionized. "I held onto his last meal all that time before... eheheheh..."
"I'm not sure. The commune bred and trained me for the role of carrying it." He takes his paw off. "Oh, sorry."
She shivers at the shock, and seems surprised at the result and the feeling of warmth that follows. After a few seconds, that shock gives way to curiosity. "What... what was that you just did? And why am I suddenly hungry?"
"Fascinating... I assume they revered it, if they were so intent on finding it a vessel?" After he pulls his paw away, its flames burn brighter and hotter, searing away the lingering ichor clinging to its roots.
"I gave you a little spark. Should last you a minute or two." He reaches up and unties the Saint, who falls to the snow. "It's my lifeblood, and it allows me to be a lot less physical than you folks." He does a sweeping, spinning bow. "You're a sweet girl, Adeline." There is a hint of sadness in his voice.
"Yup. I was supposed to harness it and be their god-king. I didn't like them. They weren't a good family." His wound closes with a crackle of static.
"I see. Thank you." She responds, before she notices that hint of sadness in his voice. "...Is something wrong?"
"Well, it's a good thing you're in a better environment now." It seems intrigued by how the strange magic closed his wound so quickly, but doesn't comment on it.
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Former Spider Queen of the Spider Guild, and friendly neighborhood scheming creature.
"Made by spiders, for spiders, of spiders."
My pronouns are she/her.
Web Weaver of Everlasting Narrative! (title bestowed by Drummer)
"I gave you a little spark. Should last you a minute or two." He reaches up and unties the Saint, who falls to the snow. "It's my lifeblood, and it allows me to be a lot less physical than you folks." He does a sweeping, spinning bow. "You're a sweet girl, Adeline." There is a hint of sadness in his voice.
"Yup. I was supposed to harness it and be their god-king. I didn't like them. They weren't a good family." His wound closes with a crackle of static.
"I see. Thank you." She responds, before she notices that hint of sadness in his voice. "...Is something wrong?"
"Well, it's a good thing you're in a better environment now." It seems intrigued by how the strange magic closed his wound so quickly, but doesn't comment on it.
He picks up the Saint's face and body, one in each hand, and chuckles, a chattering, warbling sound. "It's just unfortunate that you might not want to see me again."
He nods. "Yeah. Shame about the commune though. The Starving Dark didn't really like them the same way, and we took it up on ourselves to burn the place down. Started a forest fire. Three dead civilians, fourteen dead officials. Seven injured. Five acres destroyed. Three-point-eight thousand in property damage."
"I gave you a little spark. Should last you a minute or two." He reaches up and unties the Saint, who falls to the snow. "It's my lifeblood, and it allows me to be a lot less physical than you folks." He does a sweeping, spinning bow. "You're a sweet girl, Adeline." There is a hint of sadness in his voice.
"Yup. I was supposed to harness it and be their god-king. I didn't like them. They weren't a good family." His wound closes with a crackle of static.
"I see. Thank you." She responds, before she notices that hint of sadness in his voice. "...Is something wrong?"
"Well, it's a good thing you're in a better environment now." It seems intrigued by how the strange magic closed his wound so quickly, but doesn't comment on it.
He picks up the Saint's face and body, one in each hand, and chuckles, a chattering, warbling sound. "It's just unfortunate that you might not want to see me again."
He nods. "Yeah. Shame about the commune though. The Starving Dark didn't really like them the same way, and we took it up on ourselves to burn the place down. Started a forest fire. Three dead civilians, fourteen dead officials. Seven injured. Five acres destroyed. Three-point-eight thousand in property damage."
"Why wouldn't I want to see you again?" She asks, not quite understanding.
"Yes, that is a shame- it would likely take years for the forest to start growing where the flames spread." It agrees, though it seems more concerned by the property damage than the actual casualties. "At least they won't be trying to create more vessels for it."
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Former Spider Queen of the Spider Guild, and friendly neighborhood scheming creature.
"Made by spiders, for spiders, of spiders."
My pronouns are she/her.
Web Weaver of Everlasting Narrative! (title bestowed by Drummer)
He picks up the Saint's face and body, one in each hand, and chuckles, a chattering, warbling sound. "It's just unfortunate that you might not want to see me again."
He nods. "Yeah. Shame about the commune though. The Starving Dark didn't really like them the same way, and we took it up on ourselves to burn the place down. Started a forest fire. Three dead civilians, fourteen dead officials. Seven injured. Five acres destroyed. Three-point-eight thousand in property damage."
"Why wouldn't I want to see you again?" She asks, not quite understanding.
"Yes, that is a shame- it would likely take years for the forest to start growing where the flames spread." It agrees, though it seems more concerned by the property damage than the actual casualties. "At least they won't be trying to create more vessels for it."
"Just something I have to do..." He begins walking off, not looking back at her.
"Yeah. Oh, I have a question, if you're up to answering. You can ask me a question too, if you'd like." He sits down.
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Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
May each word that I speak be backed by each of my teeth.
He picks up the Saint's face and body, one in each hand, and chuckles, a chattering, warbling sound. "It's just unfortunate that you might not want to see me again."
He nods. "Yeah. Shame about the commune though. The Starving Dark didn't really like them the same way, and we took it up on ourselves to burn the place down. Started a forest fire. Three dead civilians, fourteen dead officials. Seven injured. Five acres destroyed. Three-point-eight thousand in property damage."
"Why wouldn't I want to see you again?" She asks, not quite understanding.
"Yes, that is a shame- it would likely take years for the forest to start growing where the flames spread." It agrees, though it seems more concerned by the property damage than the actual casualties. "At least they won't be trying to create more vessels for it."
"Just something I have to do..." He begins walking off, not looking back at her.
"Yeah. Oh, I have a question, if you're up to answering. You can ask me a question too, if you'd like." He sits down.
She starts following him for a moment as if to ask another question, but stops. She sits under the tree, her quilted shawl held tightly around her to preserve as much heat from the Starving Dark's gift as she can.
"I'd be up to answer a question, yes." It roots itself into the frostbitten soil, the snow melting around it.
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Former Spider Queen of the Spider Guild, and friendly neighborhood scheming creature.
"Made by spiders, for spiders, of spiders."
My pronouns are she/her.
Web Weaver of Everlasting Narrative! (title bestowed by Drummer)
"Just something I have to do..." He begins walking off, not looking back at her.
"Yeah. Oh, I have a question, if you're up to answering. You can ask me a question too, if you'd like." He sits down.
She starts following him for a moment as if to ask another question, but stops. She sits under the tree, her quilted shawl held tightly around her to preserve as much heat from the Starving Dark's gift as she can.
"I'd be up to answer a question, yes." It roots itself into the frostbitten soil, the snow melting around it.
"How did you become so... nonchalant? Nothing seems to bother you. You're like, detached from emotion, but still have some level of understanding."
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Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
May each word that I speak be backed by each of my teeth.
"Just something I have to do..." He begins walking off, not looking back at her.
"Yeah. Oh, I have a question, if you're up to answering. You can ask me a question too, if you'd like." He sits down.
She starts following him for a moment as if to ask another question, but stops. She sits under the tree, her quilted shawl held tightly around her to preserve as much heat from the Starving Dark's gift as she can.
"I'd be up to answer a question, yes." It roots itself into the frostbitten soil, the snow melting around it.
"How did you become so... nonchalant? Nothing seems to bother you. You're like, detached from emotion, but still have some level of understanding."
"...Well, that question has a complicated answer. I've been struggling with an eternal hunger from the first moment I came into being, and have been trying to mend it for as long as I have lived. When one has a constant drain on their energy, one that siphons their very life force when it gets hungry enough, every bit of spent energy becomes that much more of a luxury. So to ward the hunger away as much as possible, I trimmed away energy-spending behaviors that I could go without. Inefficiencies. Emotions are a luxury when every action and feeling costs so finite a resource, but they're one I can afford every now and then."
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Former Spider Queen of the Spider Guild, and friendly neighborhood scheming creature.
"Made by spiders, for spiders, of spiders."
My pronouns are she/her.
Web Weaver of Everlasting Narrative! (title bestowed by Drummer)
"How did you become so... nonchalant? Nothing seems to bother you. You're like, detached from emotion, but still have some level of understanding."
"...Well, that question has a complicated answer. I've been struggling with an eternal hunger from the first moment I came into being, and have been trying to mend it for as long as I have lived. When one has a constant drain on their energy, one that siphons their very life force when it gets hungry enough, every bit of spent energy becomes that much more of a luxury. So to ward the hunger away as much as possible, I trimmed away energy-spending behaviors that I could go without. Inefficiencies. Emotions are a luxury when every action and feeling costs so finite a resource, but they're one I can afford every now and then."
"So you chose survival over- wait, sorry, it's not my turn." He shakes his head, his face nearly falling off again.
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Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
May each word that I speak be backed by each of my teeth.
"How did you become so... nonchalant? Nothing seems to bother you. You're like, detached from emotion, but still have some level of understanding."
"...Well, that question has a complicated answer. I've been struggling with an eternal hunger from the first moment I came into being, and have been trying to mend it for as long as I have lived. When one has a constant drain on their energy, one that siphons their very life force when it gets hungry enough, every bit of spent energy becomes that much more of a luxury. So to ward the hunger away as much as possible, I trimmed away energy-spending behaviors that I could go without. Inefficiencies. Emotions are a luxury when every action and feeling costs so finite a resource, but they're one I can afford every now and then."
"So you chose survival over- wait, sorry, it's not my turn." He shakes his head, his face nearly falling off again.
"Yes- reducing the risk of the hunger turning inward as much as possible. I devote as much energy as I can afford to either placating the hunger, or finding a way to eradicate it- though on the rare occasion, I have enough energy to spare." It answers. "Now, for my question... hmmm... Do you ever plan on finding a way to separate the Starving Dark from yourself?"
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Former Spider Queen of the Spider Guild, and friendly neighborhood scheming creature.
"Made by spiders, for spiders, of spiders."
My pronouns are she/her.
Web Weaver of Everlasting Narrative! (title bestowed by Drummer)
"So you chose survival over- wait, sorry, it's not my turn." He shakes his head, his face nearly falling off again.
"Yes- reducing the risk of the hunger turning inward as much as possible. I devote as much energy as I can afford to either placating the hunger, or finding a way to eradicate it- though on the rare occasion, I have enough energy to spare." It answers. "Now, for my question... hmmm... Do you ever plan on finding a way to separate the Starving Dark from yourself?"
"No... well, I never thought about it. Maybe one day. I don't see a reason to worry about it right now." He thinks for a second. "Why is life worth living? I mean, why do you think it is?"
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Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
May each word that I speak be backed by each of my teeth.
"So you chose survival over- wait, sorry, it's not my turn." He shakes his head, his face nearly falling off again.
"Yes- reducing the risk of the hunger turning inward as much as possible. I devote as much energy as I can afford to either placating the hunger, or finding a way to eradicate it- though on the rare occasion, I have enough energy to spare." It answers. "Now, for my question... hmmm... Do you ever plan on finding a way to separate the Starving Dark from yourself?"
"No... well, I never thought about it. Maybe one day. I don't see a reason to worry about it right now." He thinks for a second. "Why is life worth living? I mean, why do you think it is?"
It is silent for a long while, as if it hadn't really thought of that before. "I... er, that's... that's a tricky question. I think... I think it's up to each person to find that answer for themselves, that it's something where the answer differs depending on innumerable factors. For me, though... I'm not entirely sure yet."
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Former Spider Queen of the Spider Guild, and friendly neighborhood scheming creature.
"Made by spiders, for spiders, of spiders."
My pronouns are she/her.
Web Weaver of Everlasting Narrative! (title bestowed by Drummer)
"No... well, I never thought about it. Maybe one day. I don't see a reason to worry about it right now." He thinks for a second. "Why is life worth living? I mean, why do you think it is?"
It is silent for a long while, as if it hadn't really thought of that before. "I... er, that's... that's a tricky question. I think... I think it's up to each person to find that answer for themselves, that it's something where the answer differs depending on innumerable factors. For me, though... I'm not entirely sure yet."
He frowns. "So you're just eating and killing and fighting because you want to survive, and you don't have a reason to survive, you just want to keep going. You're perpetuating violence for the sake of perpetuating even more violence. Very interesting." His face begins to droop and bleed. "Your turn."
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Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
May each word that I speak be backed by each of my teeth.
"No... well, I never thought about it. Maybe one day. I don't see a reason to worry about it right now." He thinks for a second. "Why is life worth living? I mean, why do you think it is?"
It is silent for a long while, as if it hadn't really thought of that before. "I... er, that's... that's a tricky question. I think... I think it's up to each person to find that answer for themselves, that it's something where the answer differs depending on innumerable factors. For me, though... I'm not entirely sure yet."
He frowns. "So you're just eating and killing and fighting because you want to survive, and you don't have a reason to survive, you just want to keep going. You're perpetuating violence for the sake of perpetuating even more violence. Very interesting." His face begins to droop and bleed. "Your turn."
"Is that not what any living being with a survival instinct does? Consume and overpower and fight tooth and nail to stay alive another day, even if it doesn't understand why?" It responds. "...Does that count as my question? If not, I'll think of another."
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Former Spider Queen of the Spider Guild, and friendly neighborhood scheming creature.
"Made by spiders, for spiders, of spiders."
My pronouns are she/her.
Web Weaver of Everlasting Narrative! (title bestowed by Drummer)
"Is that not what any living being with a survival instinct does? Consume and overpower and fight tooth and nail to stay alive another day, even if it doesn't understand why?" It responds. "...Does that count as my question? If not, I'll think of another."
"It's what animals do. Intelligence comes with responsibilities, and you shirk those without even thinking about it. You don't expect the same things of a dog and a human, do you?"
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Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
May each word that I speak be backed by each of my teeth.
"Is that not what any living being with a survival instinct does? Consume and overpower and fight tooth and nail to stay alive another day, even if it doesn't understand why?" It responds. "...Does that count as my question? If not, I'll think of another."
"It's what animals do. Intelligence comes with responsibilities, and you shirk those without even thinking about it. You don't expect the same things of a dog and a human, do you?"
"I expect that both will attempt to stay alive in the face of danger, as I do." It answers. "And what with the curse, I am always at risk. Why do you think I hunted gods and stars and angels- to stay alive. Some species of sharks must keep swimming to survive, and drown if they ever can't. My hunt is similar, in that stagnation risks death. Does that explanation suffice?"
"Yes, very cold. I hate the cold." She pauses for a second, internally debating something, before she takes its hand with both of her own gloved hands, helping it crawl its way out of the Saint's open face.
"It's entirely possible." It muses, shaking some of the blood off of its roots- it already has one source of eternal hunger to worry about, and isn't willing to risk gaining a second. "If I may ask, how exactly did it end up attaching itself to you? I haven't seen many aberrations with living hosts."
Former Spider Queen of the Spider Guild, and friendly neighborhood scheming creature.
"Made by spiders, for spiders, of spiders."
My pronouns are she/her.
Web Weaver of Everlasting Narrative! (title bestowed by Drummer)
It grips her hands and crawls out. It's at least 11 feet tall, meaning it is completely impossible that this thing was actually inside the Saint. It crouches down and places a hand on her shoulder. "I do too. I was frozen alive once." It squeezes with enough force to hurt. She feels a jolt of electricity jam through her. "Cold and hungry and alone... for centuries, hiding inside the corpse of a traveler. I think they named him... Otzi." She feels the shock fill her body with warmth, waves of heat radiating from her stomach as everything she's eaten recently is ionized. "I held onto his last meal all that time before... eheheheh..."
"I'm not sure. The commune bred and trained me for the role of carrying it." He takes his paw off. "Oh, sorry."
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
May each word that I speak be backed by each of my teeth.
She shivers at the shock, and seems surprised at the result and the feeling of warmth that follows. After a few seconds, that shock gives way to curiosity. "What... what was that you just did? And why am I suddenly hungry?"
"Fascinating... I assume they revered it, if they were so intent on finding it a vessel?" After he pulls his paw away, its flames burn brighter and hotter, searing away the lingering ichor clinging to its roots.
Former Spider Queen of the Spider Guild, and friendly neighborhood scheming creature.
"Made by spiders, for spiders, of spiders."
My pronouns are she/her.
Web Weaver of Everlasting Narrative! (title bestowed by Drummer)
"I gave you a little spark. Should last you a minute or two." He reaches up and unties the Saint, who falls to the snow. "It's my lifeblood, and it allows me to be a lot less physical than you folks." He does a sweeping, spinning bow. "You're a sweet girl, Adeline." There is a hint of sadness in his voice.
"Yup. I was supposed to harness it and be their god-king. I didn't like them. They weren't a good family." His wound closes with a crackle of static.
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
May each word that I speak be backed by each of my teeth.
"I see. Thank you." She responds, before she notices that hint of sadness in his voice. "...Is something wrong?"
"Well, it's a good thing you're in a better environment now." It seems intrigued by how the strange magic closed his wound so quickly, but doesn't comment on it.
Former Spider Queen of the Spider Guild, and friendly neighborhood scheming creature.
"Made by spiders, for spiders, of spiders."
My pronouns are she/her.
Web Weaver of Everlasting Narrative! (title bestowed by Drummer)
He picks up the Saint's face and body, one in each hand, and chuckles, a chattering, warbling sound. "It's just unfortunate that you might not want to see me again."
He nods. "Yeah. Shame about the commune though. The Starving Dark didn't really like them the same way, and we took it up on ourselves to burn the place down. Started a forest fire. Three dead civilians, fourteen dead officials. Seven injured. Five acres destroyed. Three-point-eight thousand in property damage."
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
May each word that I speak be backed by each of my teeth.
"Why wouldn't I want to see you again?" She asks, not quite understanding.
"Yes, that is a shame- it would likely take years for the forest to start growing where the flames spread." It agrees, though it seems more concerned by the property damage than the actual casualties. "At least they won't be trying to create more vessels for it."
Former Spider Queen of the Spider Guild, and friendly neighborhood scheming creature.
"Made by spiders, for spiders, of spiders."
My pronouns are she/her.
Web Weaver of Everlasting Narrative! (title bestowed by Drummer)
"Just something I have to do..." He begins walking off, not looking back at her.
"Yeah. Oh, I have a question, if you're up to answering. You can ask me a question too, if you'd like." He sits down.
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
May each word that I speak be backed by each of my teeth.
She starts following him for a moment as if to ask another question, but stops. She sits under the tree, her quilted shawl held tightly around her to preserve as much heat from the Starving Dark's gift as she can.
"I'd be up to answer a question, yes." It roots itself into the frostbitten soil, the snow melting around it.
Former Spider Queen of the Spider Guild, and friendly neighborhood scheming creature.
"Made by spiders, for spiders, of spiders."
My pronouns are she/her.
Web Weaver of Everlasting Narrative! (title bestowed by Drummer)
"How did you become so... nonchalant? Nothing seems to bother you. You're like, detached from emotion, but still have some level of understanding."
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
May each word that I speak be backed by each of my teeth.
"...Well, that question has a complicated answer. I've been struggling with an eternal hunger from the first moment I came into being, and have been trying to mend it for as long as I have lived. When one has a constant drain on their energy, one that siphons their very life force when it gets hungry enough, every bit of spent energy becomes that much more of a luxury. So to ward the hunger away as much as possible, I trimmed away energy-spending behaviors that I could go without. Inefficiencies. Emotions are a luxury when every action and feeling costs so finite a resource, but they're one I can afford every now and then."
Former Spider Queen of the Spider Guild, and friendly neighborhood scheming creature.
"Made by spiders, for spiders, of spiders."
My pronouns are she/her.
Web Weaver of Everlasting Narrative! (title bestowed by Drummer)
"So you chose survival over- wait, sorry, it's not my turn." He shakes his head, his face nearly falling off again.
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
May each word that I speak be backed by each of my teeth.
"Yes- reducing the risk of the hunger turning inward as much as possible. I devote as much energy as I can afford to either placating the hunger, or finding a way to eradicate it- though on the rare occasion, I have enough energy to spare." It answers. "Now, for my question... hmmm... Do you ever plan on finding a way to separate the Starving Dark from yourself?"
Former Spider Queen of the Spider Guild, and friendly neighborhood scheming creature.
"Made by spiders, for spiders, of spiders."
My pronouns are she/her.
Web Weaver of Everlasting Narrative! (title bestowed by Drummer)
"No... well, I never thought about it. Maybe one day. I don't see a reason to worry about it right now." He thinks for a second. "Why is life worth living? I mean, why do you think it is?"
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
May each word that I speak be backed by each of my teeth.
It is silent for a long while, as if it hadn't really thought of that before. "I... er, that's... that's a tricky question. I think... I think it's up to each person to find that answer for themselves, that it's something where the answer differs depending on innumerable factors. For me, though... I'm not entirely sure yet."
Former Spider Queen of the Spider Guild, and friendly neighborhood scheming creature.
"Made by spiders, for spiders, of spiders."
My pronouns are she/her.
Web Weaver of Everlasting Narrative! (title bestowed by Drummer)
He frowns. "So you're just eating and killing and fighting because you want to survive, and you don't have a reason to survive, you just want to keep going. You're perpetuating violence for the sake of perpetuating even more violence. Very interesting." His face begins to droop and bleed. "Your turn."
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
May each word that I speak be backed by each of my teeth.
"Is that not what any living being with a survival instinct does? Consume and overpower and fight tooth and nail to stay alive another day, even if it doesn't understand why?" It responds. "...Does that count as my question? If not, I'll think of another."
Former Spider Queen of the Spider Guild, and friendly neighborhood scheming creature.
"Made by spiders, for spiders, of spiders."
My pronouns are she/her.
Web Weaver of Everlasting Narrative! (title bestowed by Drummer)
"It's what animals do. Intelligence comes with responsibilities, and you shirk those without even thinking about it. You don't expect the same things of a dog and a human, do you?"
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
May each word that I speak be backed by each of my teeth.
"I expect that both will attempt to stay alive in the face of danger, as I do." It answers. "And what with the curse, I am always at risk. Why do you think I hunted gods and stars and angels- to stay alive. Some species of sharks must keep swimming to survive, and drown if they ever can't. My hunt is similar, in that stagnation risks death. Does that explanation suffice?"
Former Spider Queen of the Spider Guild, and friendly neighborhood scheming creature.
"Made by spiders, for spiders, of spiders."
My pronouns are she/her.
Web Weaver of Everlasting Narrative! (title bestowed by Drummer)
*gtg, I love you!*
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
May each word that I speak be backed by each of my teeth.