Through the Cave

Leaving Yanara was more difficult this time, knowing that it might be the last time that she ever sets foot there.

In a short amount of time the village had become familiar to her, almost like a second home. And the idea that she might never come back, that she might never see Gilya again hurt her even more than the fact she might never see her own parents again.

They walked a similar path as if heading to Nythe but this time took the path toward the Siren’s Cave where they had met Roy, Gray and Beau. It felt like so long ago yet was only a fortnight or so.

In her mind she could still see Beau sitting at the campfire, laughing and looking up lovingly at Sahaela. Pleading with her to sing another song.

It seemed that she was feeling similarly, as glancing up at her the ghostly woman wore a morose look.

“It’s hard, right?” Midori gave her a look of understanding that Sahaela returned.

“It is…I liked him a lot.” She chuckled before floating down next to Midori while they walked into the cave, “he actually reminded me of a boy I had a crush on in high school. Before I got transported here.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. He was a bright eyed optimist. Had a slightly crooked smile though, which I noticed Beau had…”

Midori put her hand over Sahaela’s ghostly one, it was intangible but with the faintest suggestion of resistance there.

They shared another small smile before Rune’s voice interrupted their conversation.

“There’s something strange up ahead.”

Walking through the tunnels there had been an increase in webbing draped from the ceilings and walls but moving up ahead made it clear that something else had moved in since Sahaela’s departure.

Thick ropes of webbing now covered parts of the wall and ceiling in one of the first larger chambers that opened up after the first batch of tunnels. They moved through two of the other tunnels that went deeper into the mountain, which was not the way they had gone when first exploring.

“Okay this is probably not a great time to mention but I absolutely hate spiders,” Midori said while doing her best to contain the cringing shivers she was feeling.

Kalia chuckled.

“Looks like you and her have the same fear Rune.”

Looking at Rune she smiled seeing the same shiver of revulsion running through Rune that ran through her. It was cute, and made her feel slightly less crazy knowing someone as strong as him still had an irrational fear.

“I just don’t like the way they skitter!” Rune shouted trying to mask another shudder of disgust.

“Well these look like the very edges of what was created, I’d wager we’re gonna run into something big…or a lot of them…or both.” Kalia rattled off possibilities completely ignorant of the growing discomfort in Rune and Midori.

They moved forward at a snails pace from then on, carefully clearing the webbing and picking a path through the tunnels. Sahaela served as their guide, picking which fork to take and which pathways led to the junction point that would take them to Kulnera.

After what felt like an eternity Midori finally asked if they could make camp for the night, her stomach shifting. She had begun feeling the pregnancy weighing on her more these past few days, and though she wanted to push herself more the first stern glance from Rune had put a stop to that thought; he had developed a habit of waking with her in the mornings during the times she was sick, and making a savoury porridge for her for breakfasts.

“Rest for now,” Kalia said once they had established their campsite. “I’ll go do a quick scan of the area, deal with any threats nearby. That way tomorrow will go smoother.”

The final few words she spoke felt strangely like an arrow aimed at Midori, she could not felt the embarrassment she felt at being the one to have to call for an early end to the day.

She tucked herself near the fire, hugging her knees while Rune built up the fire more and set up their camp fully with the tents that they had taken this trip since they were not exactly on the same type of tight schedule.

It was only after several minutes of silence that Rune settled down next to her, passing her a waterskin before asking.

“You seem upset, is everything okay?”

Looking at him and seeing that kind, golden retriever smile of his made it practically impossible for her to say what was really eating at her, the unsettling feeling of walking around with her new partner’s ex.

“I just…the pregnancy has been a lot, and I’m feeling really drained.”

It was not entirely a lie and so she didn’t feel as bad about saying it, yet by the look in Rune’s eye he could still tell she was not being completely honest. She turned her head away, unable to look into those wide, wine coloured eyes that were so kind and sweet.

“If that’s all it is…but just so you know, you can tell me anything Midori. We’re together now, I want you to know you can lean on me.”

Taking a slow breath she nodded and said softly, “I feel like…like I’m being tested by Kalia or something. And she’s said some things that made me feel just a bit uncomfortable.”

“Like what?” Rune asked sincerely.

“She…” Midori realized what she was about to say sounded insane but continued, “she said that she could “see why you liked me.” And that I had a kind heart.”

Rune stared at her and she laughed awkwardly before punching him in the arm.

“Look I know it sounds stupid! But it’s just…I don’t know it felt weird. And then now when she was talking about tomorrow going smoother I can’t help but feel she was talking about me needing to stop early.”

He chewed on the bottom of his lip, processing it before poking at the firewood to make sure the flame spread evenly.

“I think I can see what you mean, sort of at least.” He jabbed at the wood before tossing in the final piece. “I do sort of remember that kind of thing happening when I was younger, sharp, cutting barbs wrapped in sweet words meant to doubt your worth.”

“Something like that, yeah.”

Rune smile, “I suppose I’m lucky in that I never much understood that kind of underhanded conversation. I tended to say exactly what I mean, which people found unsettling.”

“Me too!” Midori and Rune shared a laugh together. “Teachers used to get mad at me for asking what they called ‘stupid questions’ during class.”

“Kalia was always better at understanding those, that’s why we got along. She could translate what they really meant, to an extent.”

“What happened between you two?”

Rune shrugged slightly, “a lot really. We grew apart as I grew and gained the unfortunate attention of Kuruk.”

“Your relationship sounds less like being partners and more like…”

“Being a subordinate?” Rune let out a sad little chuckle, “that’s kind of what it felt like after a time. It makes sense she became a general, she was always a good leader in that regard."

“Damn right I was.”

Kalia’s voice carried down a tunnel arriving just a few moments before she did, the spear in her hands dripping with a rather viscous yellow goop—the origin of which Midori prayed to never learn.

“What are you two lovebirds talking about?”

“Just some questions about our childhood together. What did you find on your search?” Rune deftly avoided the question.

“Not too much, took out some smaller ones but I don’t think they’re responsible for all the webbing.”

“You think it’s like a group of them?”

Kalia nodded at the question, which made Midori blurt out a question of her own.

“Wait, they’re working as like a collective?”

Kalia looked at her before nodding again.

“That’s odd…spiders where I’m from only form partial para-social communities. If they’re working together then they’re more like bee’s and that’s…that’s really freaky."

“Well that’s why we’re going to deal with them. Tomorrow we’ll each make torches and burn the webbing as we go, it’ll probably draw them to us eventually so we should prepare for that.”

Rune shivered and Midori gently rubbed his back with a smile.

“It’s okay, we’ll do it together.”