Spider

Lynx had never been a rule follower.

His father's fist slammed against the table, splintering the carved wood around the beefy hand, “Why, Lynx?” he shouted, “You had no business reading the Leader's handbook!” spittle flew from the old man's lips, striking Lynx in the face. He wiped it off with the sleeve of his tunic, frowning.

“Why's he have to keep secrets?” the boy rubbed his sleeve against the side of the table, “Why does he get to know things we don't?”

“Because he's our HIGH LEADER!” his father bellowed.

“Wolf. . .” Lynx's mother walked into the kitchen, her brow was furrowed and wet, her damp red hair hanging in her face. She was pretty for an older lady, though it was obvious she was old. Her once ruby red hair was growing gray, and her face was lined with streaks; most of which had been caused by her rebellious son.

Wolf turned toward his wife, Lark, and shook his head. His big shoulders slumped as he closed his eyes wearily, “Why do you do it boy? Don't you realize what this means?”

“I do it because. . .” Lynx faltered, but his father didn't stop.

“You're going to be punished son. Punished, and punished severely.” Wolf raised his eyes to meet Lynx's, but the boy only raised his gaze higher. His back straightened and he stood as tall as any fourteen year old boy could.

“I'm not afraid,” he said stiffly. And he wasn't. Lynx knew that when he broke the rules, he'd be punished. It was something he prided himself on. Breaking the rules was only okay if you were willing to accept the consequences. He'd always been ready. When he'd stolen the bishop's staff, his father had been forced to hold him still while the holy man burned his hands with fire. When he mocked an elder, he'd been forced to swallow a giant grasshopper, alive. And now that he had stolen the High Leader's secret handbook, he'd have to. . .

“They're going to send you into the woods boy,” Wolf whispered harshly, “They'll send you into the woods, and this time you won't come back.”
* * *

The woods were dangerous. Gigantic leafy trees towered into the sky, blocking out nearly all sunlight, but the little that did get through only created shadows on the ground, rather than provide any illumination. In some places, the foliage was so packed together it was impossible to squeeze through the large trunks. In others, the spaces were so wide Lynx couldn't touch either tree even when he stretched out both of his hands.

Lynx had always prided himself on being able to take the punishment offered to him without flinching. He'd always said that he only did things when he was sure he could handle the punishment that would be given because of it.

He'd been wrong.

Lynx could feel his arms and legs shaking. He tried to keep them under control, but they were nearly spasming. The forest wasn't just a place for great oaks and sycamores, it was a place of magic and energy. And of great creatures that would suck out their victims brain and drink they're blood like wine. It was the only rule Lynx hadn't broken: Don't go into the forest.

He'd decided he couldn't handle the punishment that would have offered. Because it would have been death.

And now he was here.

Lynx carefully stepped over a fallen trunk. The mushy, decaying matter squished beneath his toes, and he tried not to gag against the stench. What types of horrible creatures lived here? Creatures that devoured and munched on poor unsuspecting victims. How many herds had the village lost to the Spiders alone?

The Spiders. . . Those were the creatures to fear. Lynx didn't dare close his eyes as he scanned the tree tops and the middle ground, looking for the great bulk that would reveal the monsters. Spiders were gigantic versions of the smaller kind. They could range from the size of a cow to the size of a buffalo. Even the smaller ones could kill you with just a tiny prick of one of their fangs. They were blood thirsty beasts. Just the day before, a group of hunters had gone into the forest looking for meat, and half their members had been taken and eaten by the things.

“Stop it!” Lynx shouted into the trees. He needed to stop thinking like that! If he was going to survive, he needed to. . .

What was that?!

Something moved off in the corner of the boy's vision. He spun, glancing nervously from left to right. What was that? Sweat was beginning to form in the palm of his hands. He tried to stay calm, tried to keep himself from panicking. It was nothing. There was nothing there.

But he was wrong.

A vicious clicking noise sounded from above him. Lynx slowly lifted his head, feeling his entire body begin to shake. And there it was.

It was gigantic. The size of a medium sized house if not larger. The fangs were dripping with saliva and poison. Its many red eyes glaring down at him. Lynx's legs gave out and he fell to the floor. His heart pounding and his mouth going dry. The beast and he looked at each other. Neither moved, neither made a sound.

There was no getting away from a Spider. They were vicious killers, they ate whatever they found no matter what they'd eaten before. Their stomachs were the same as bottomless pits. They had no mercy, not upon children, not upon animals, not upon men. Lynx was going to die.

The spider still didn't move.

Lynx slowly raised his shaking body to its feet. He kept his eyes locked on the Spider, and it twitched. Lynx took a few steps to the side, and the Spider followed him with its gaze. There was no way out. He was going to die. Death, the Spider was gong to suck his bones dry and lick up his fluids! No! He didn't want to die! Please!

It didn't matter. But the Spider still didn't move.

A large carcass was lying off to the side. It looked like a half eaten cow. Lynx tried not to look at the mutilated corpse, but his gaze was repeatedly drawn to it. What if. . . what if Spiders weren't crazy bottomless pit eaters? What if they actually did get full?

Lynx started to move. Slowly, very carefully, he moved with purpose and tried to hug the tight knot of trees to his back, looking for any space that would be big enough for him to squeeze through. He didn't make a sound, hardly seemed to breath as he slowly, slowly tried to sneak away.

The Spider watched him. It watched him with those beady red eyes, but still it didn't move. Lynx noticed something he hadn't before. The belly of the Spider bulged. Its eyes were half closed in contentment, even as it watched the boy move. It was. . .happy. Full.

But Spiders were monsters that never became. . . full.

Maybe there were more to these creatures than Lynx had previously thought.

He reached a niche, squeezing his body into the tiny space, and vanished from the Spider's view. He wasn't out of the woods. He wasn't anywhere safe, and yet. . .

The Spider hadn't killed him, when it so easily could have. The forest was a place of death and darkness. The creatures in it were mindless man eaters, there was no escape. . .

If the villagers had been wrong about one creature, even if it was a rare exception. . .

Well, what else were they wrong about?