Treason

Skitter’s legs plinked in the silence of the crystal forest as he hurriedly walked away from the glade. He clicked worriedly to himself before quickening his pace; things had taken a turn for the unpleasant and he was the only one who could do something about it.

Skitter had already been in a bad mood when he had awakened in his personal nest in the leftmost edge of the clearing, a simple burrow he had created by layering silken threads on a small but sturdy crystalline growth.

The construction was definitely nowhere near as fancy as the one created for the twolegs by Ozren the Weaver but he had been nonetheless elated to be able to establish himself so close to the Birth— to Mother.

I am no longer just kin. I am a Thinker and I have the right to call her Mother. I am the First Son.

He proudly reminded himself as he turned around in the burrow. Still, he was the first member of the brood to be allowed to live in the clearing, so close to her resting place. Such an honor had almost left him silkless.

So why do I not have a name yet? He angrily asked himself, stabbing into a wall of his nest and ripping a small hole in the pearlescent silk.

The damned A-lis had taken the Nest like a swarm of centipedes took to a new expanse, quickly obtaining the interest of the Queen and of much of the Thinker caste with her knowledge and information.

He had been happy when he was tasked to aid the glowing creature with its settling but all he had done so far was keep her stupid head away from danger and sometimes translate some of her words for her.

And what had he received in exchange? A fake-name from it—her. He hissed in impotent annoyance at the memory of her gender.

Not a surprise. Females are always more important he thought sullenly as he prepared to go out into the clearing where he could already hear the A-lis and the Queen talking.

I will prove that I am better than the stupid twolegs. I just need a good chance. Then the Queen will be forced to give me the best of names, one so great none will ever forget it.

He made to step out into the open when he heard the voice of the A-lis grow higher in pitch and volume which, he had learned, was a sign of rage or annoyance.

Skitter amusedly thought back on the spectacle he had witnessed a couple of slumbers before, that of the Queen punishing the glowing human as she stood there, incapable of moving.

Serves her right. He thought, ignoring the tiny part of his mind telling him he was wrong.

He strained his earholes to catch a glimpse of the conversation, eagerly preparing for the unpleasant truths Mother was surely dropping on the ignorant twolegs.

“…You need them! I don’t have enough energy to control the glimmers and heal you!” here came the voice of that annoying creature, so shrill and unpleasant. What was the point of being so loud when you were so small? She was only asking to get caught and eaten.

He was so busy thinking about the terrible design choices of A-lis’ species that he missed the first part of his Queen’s reply; chastising himself, he stood still and listened with bated breath at her reply.

“…. I’m dying and my daughters’ and my kindred’s lives aren’t worthy of sacrifice for a mere chance of survival…”

He stilled. That seemed wrong. What was Mother talking about? She was the Queen! She had created his species and brought it forward until it had become one of the great powers of the system. None were as important as her!

He kept listening, hoping for a ‘but’, for a sudden change that would surprise him and A-lis herself who, to his surprise, was trying to convince his ruler to keep fighting, even if it was for her own goals.

He stood there, paralyzed as the Queen finally stood silent, her orders clear and set as if in metal.

A sudden thought, one he would have never believed possible, appeared in his mind.

She is wrong.

I need to do something.

He silently moved out of the nest and, after carefully inching his way into the forest, broke into a skittering rush towards the massive stone staircase leading out of the large cavern.

Alice was right but useless. He needed help to get whatever those cores were and he knew where he would find it.

When Skitter found Chillushrith, she was busy inspecting some of the guardians of the Nest, the heavily armored males and females that would offer their lives in case of an attack; she had been doing so ever since she had listened to the Queen’s tale of the Anathema.

The painful chronicle had motivated every Thinker that had been in the clearing to listen, both those who had witnessed it first-leg and those who had only heard of it in passing.

He ignored the now lower ranked guards and simply butted in the conversation, loudly clicking his fangs and pedipalps to gain the gleaming Thinker’s attention.

Chillushrith slowly turned to face him, her massive size dwarfing his and making him feel like a hatchling; he steeled himself and spoke.

I must talk to you. I have important information. He clicked anxiously, staring at the other spiders watching him curiously from behind Chillushrith’s massive abdomen.

The surly Thinker, however, scoffed with a hiss before icily dismissing his request. I am busy little one. Go bother someone else. And made to turn back to her conversation.

He hissed back in annoyance, why did she have to always be so waspy?

It is matter of life and death. He prodded, trying to catch the annoying female’s attention. Of treason. He finally hissed and, this time, each one of the spiders stirred at the word, forcing her to face him once more.

I wish to talk to you alone. He finally told her, ignoring the confused questions of the remaining guards.

Let us go then Little One.

The Thinker turned without another word, moving down the smooth road that had been carved into the stone of the cave, until she reached her personal resting spot, a large bubble filled with silk and leftover prey.

He squeezed himself in after her.

So, what is this treason you are talking about? Chillushrith finally asked once she had settled down onto the ground in a comfortable position.

Skitter hesitated for a moment. What he was doing wouldn’t go over well if Mother were to learn of it, his actions could be seen as going against her own words… he would not only led years of work to waste, but also lose his only chance of a true name.

Mother would die.

But you would have your name. You would still be the First Son… A little clicking voice whispered in his brain.

So? Are you wasting my time? Prodded the large female, her clicking turning into anger.

Mother is committing treason. He finally blurted out.

Silence lingered in the cave before a hissing titter escaped a surprised Chillushrith fangs, her gleaming body shaken by laughter that soon became scorn.

You really are a male, Little One. I thought you could at least understand that nothing Mother could say would be trea—

She wants to die. He interrupted her, his revelation forcing a choking sound into the Thinker’s thorax.

What? She hissed out, now completely serious, her body moving deceptively fast until she was a mere fang-length away from his face. I will kill you if you lie to me. I don’t care about the consequences. I want to know everything.

He immediately started telling her of what he heard.

The two spiders stared at each other in silence a few minutes later, their anxiously twitching fangs dripping a small trickle of venom on the ground.

This is bad. Chillushrith finally exhaled in a weak hiss, her body slumped on the ground as she stared out of her burrow and into the massive bubble that was the Nest itself.

If we listen to her, Mother will be dead. Alice told her. Skitter tentatively clicked, receiving an angered hiss in reply.

If we don’t we will be going against her will! Chillushrith answer was angry and unsure at the same time, The much smaller male knew the way she felt.

We will stop being Thinkers. She might shun us. Skitter replied, trying to convince her and himself at the same time.

But she will die. she clicked.

Yes.

We can’t allow it.

Yes.

They rose at the same time, quickly rushing out of the small burrow, a single destination in their mind.

If we are gonna defy Mother’s orders to save her we are gonna need to be sure it’s worth it. We need Eisor and all the others. proclaimed the gleaming Thinker as they walked towards the massive square opening that had been carefully carved out by Khemi over the course of three entire molts.

They found Eisor inspecting the main tunnel of the nest, making sure the food delivery was being done quickly and safely and sometimes reprimanding the more rambunctious hatchlings with a sonorous slap on their abdomen.

It didn’t take long for them to obtain her attention and lead her in an empty pantry where the Overseer looked at them expectantly.

I believe you wanted to talk to me about a problem? It is strange indeed to see you two together without arguing she clicked in amusement.

We have important— started Chillushrith.

Hello, I want to listen too. What are you two doing in her— oh Hi Skitter. Ricee spindly legs creaked as she sidestepped into the now quite full chamber, her eight eyes now focused on the already squirming Skitter while she clicked in displeasure.

Is this some kind of new breeding session? I sure didn’t hear anything about it and I definitely want to participate in that case. She started.

Chillushrith hissed in annoyance at the interruption while Skitter started calculating his odds of escaping unscathed from the silvery widow looming in front of the entrance.

Thankfully, Eisor seemed more able to control the strange female than the other two; a single click obtained her attention and silence.

It is a serious issue apparently. Do be silent Ricee.

Fine. She sullenly replied, her legs twisting intricately as she lowered herself down onto the ground and started gently polishing her exoskeleton.

Mother doesn’t want to send us to obtain cores for her cure. She has ordered the twolegs to start preparing one without them. Chillushrith briefly explained, with Skitter clicking in assent behind her.

Ricee and Eisor seemed unfazed by the news, the first busy cleaning her striped pedipalps and the other clicking in confusion.

I don’t see the issue. Mother’s decisions have been obscure sometimes but they have never been wrong. We just have to do so. The Overseer stated briefly as she took a single step towards the exit.

Alice seems to think she will die without those cores. The larger female continued, making Eisor stop on her tracks.

Then she must be mistaken. Mother is not wrong. She curtly replied before attempting to leave the small cavern once more.

It was then that Skitter finally lost his patience, quickly weaving a small clump of silk that he launched towards the Overseer, hitting her on one of her legs with a wet splat of unformed silk.

This time Eisor turned, her carapace shivering as it started turning into a mess of razor-sharp ridges, an almost inaudible hiss of warning escaping her mouth.

What is the meaning of— she asked menacingly, her eight eyes glued on Skitter’s who, instead of retreating or showing repentance, pushed forward and angrily hissed in her face.

Mother knows she will die! She doesn’t want to lose her brood for nothing she says. She is wrong. He exclaimed.

Eisor finally stood silent, her carapace smoothing its edges as she thought, her pedipalps moving frenetically in front of her gleaming fangs.

Mother has never been wrong. She said uncertainly.

Chillushrith now stirred, her own exoskeleton growing thicker as a deep and long hiss washed over the hollow.

Do you think we would be better losing her? Are you so keen on obtaining her powers? Do you believe one of us could rule better than she has done for countless molts?

Eisor didn’t flinch in front of her enraged sister, instead waiting until she had calmed down before replying.

No. But maybe she does. We should trust Mother, what you are thinking of doing is wrong.

She once again made to move out of the cave when a single, long and perfectly polished striated leg appeared in front of her eyes, blocking her passage.

The now fairly annoyed spider turned to face Ricee who, instead, seemed completely focused on inspecting a tiny discoloration on her third left leg.

Then, the most peculiar Thinker of the colony finally spoke.

Mother has always been very understanding of my research. She started, her pedipalps now polishing the unseemly spot.

She never told me to desist despite us not always seeing eyes to eyes. If she were to die, that situation might change and it would be very annoying. Thusly, we will save Mother. She stated with utmost certainty, ignoring her sister’s attempt to butt in.

Eisor if you don’t help us and say anything to her, know that I’ll start one of my more… experimental breeding sessions in your personal cave… and in the middle of the Nest… and in the hatchlings’ chambers. You know I will do it.

The Overseer thought over the pros and cons of the endeavor, of the possible punishment and what would happen if they failed. Then she thought of Ricee.

We will need more help. And Alice herself. she stated, ignoring the relieved clicks from the other three spiders who immediately started to plan out what was basically an act of treason.

Who can we ask for? asked Chillushrith, her legs creaking as she moved around in agitation. Olush is always inside her chambers with her damned mushrooms so she is definitely out and so is Qhevi, she has to control the pantries and we can’t spare her in the organization.

Eisor seemed to reflect about it for a second before replying.

Of all the Elder Thinkers that leaves Ozren and Khemi which, however, I haven’t seen for a while. That chitterbox is always up to something new and the silent one always behind her. She commented with an annoyed click.

Ricee rose on her feet and started moving out of the hollow.

They took a swarm a couple of days ago and headed towards the path of the lake, saying something about a golden door or something that the twolegs told them about. She informed them, eliciting a hiss of annoyance out of the hulking Chillushrith and a click of resignation from the Overseer.

We will get them as we go then.

We will start preparing. Mother’s molt will happen in roughly eighteen slumbers. We will have to be ready within seven to have enough time to get them and return.

Who will talk to Alice? We might need her expertise and I’m slightly worried of what Mother will do once she discovers our plan. She has always been stubborn.

Chillushrith and Skitter watched themselves before clicking in assent.

We will do it she said. We know what she wants.

They started preparing.

In the meanwhile, in a large tunnel leading far away from the Main Nest, a small swarm of Spear Spiders plinked its way towards the massive underground lake that cut through the expansive maze of caves and passages.

The cluster, composed of no more than thirty, extremely specialized arachnids, was led by the ever-chittering Ozren, the smaller sized female continuously rushing back and forth, sometimes taking an impromptu scouting role and some other circling around the only other Thinker in the group, constantly trying to motivate her slow and struggling sister.

Khemi was slowly but continuously moving forward, her body not really suited for long distance travel.

However, in this particular case, the discomfort was worth it, her mind already focused on the massive endeavor she would undertake.

The last few days had been a combination of awe-inspiring discovery of new ideas and eye-opening realization of her own shortcomings. The Gate to the Nest? The perfect opening she had worked on for three entire molts by slowly compressing the stone, sculpting its shape and then polishing its surface? Something barely even worth mentioning in the strange human world she had been described.

Ozren had been similarly astonished when Alice had described the great structures she had seen, the way they could rise to the tallest ceiling of the greatest cavern, supported by their own construction. She too had wanted to elevate her own craft to those levels.

Thusly, when the human had told them of the crumbling dam she had traversed, they had both decided they would catch two beetles with one line of silk. They would create a safer and faster way of traversing the dark and deadly ocean under their feet and create the greatest structure the caves had ever seen. Everyone would remember their names.

Finally, after almost two entire days of unending travel, the clutter found itself staring at the exit of the tunnel.

They stepped out onto the flat stone outcropping that connected the massive stone dam to that side of the cave system, their eyes taking in the horrible death-filled waters below.

Oh yes. This is gonna be absolutely great! Khemi, just think of what Mother will say when she’ll finally walk on it. It will be absolutely beautiful. I can already see it. I want to start now!

Ozren kept clicking excitedly as she zoomed around the ledge, easily forming a small temporary nest with the help of her Silk Weavers, the carefully selected males with the best silk of the entire colony. Each of them could outproduce almost every other spider, forming massive webs in the time it would take some of them to finish a meal.

Oh yes. The construction of the Ozren Gate Bridge will now commence! She exclaimed eliciting a number of silent stares from both the males and Khemi herself.

What? No? Okay. Khozren? You can have a bit of the name!

They kept staring.

Still no? Damn.

We’ll think about it as we work. She elected as she rushed onto the weakened pathway, a small line of silk already being extruded from her spinnerets.

Khemi watched her disappear in the darkness, waiting until the sound of her chittering had faded to produce a single amused click, her power already at work on the stone below her feet.

The Silken Bridge would be her great gift to the Nest.

*****

This chapter is officially sponsored by Kemizle! Thank you for your support!