Chapter 1: Naked and Afraid

In one corner of a distant galaxy, many dimly-lit objects perform a slow-motion ballet around their respective star.

Upon one particular orbital body, there is a shift. Localized time-compression, as only The Universe itself can achieve.

Minuscule and oblong, two organic objects rapidly shift into curious, yet shapely forms from which six legs and two antennae unfurl. The tiny creatures harden and two unwitting souls are injected.

Time flows upon the planet once more as two tiny alien beings take their first uncertain, bewildered steps upon an unfamiliar world.

One strand of Her vast consciousness watches them with interest.

A thick bush quivered slightly.

There was a bright flash; the immediate surroundings erupted into brilliant points of light orbiting a central, pitch-black location just beyond the beautiful silken pendants filling the majority of the bush’s interior.

For a brief moment, the lights swirled and danced together before vanishing.

Their vision was extremely rudimentary and poor, but it was clear to all residents within the bush that something had happened. The creatures tensed, uncertain whether they faced predator or prey.

At the center of the disturbance, a teeny creature not of this world turned to gaze upon an unexpected scene.

First, it looked at its own limbs in surprise. Surprise became wonder, and wonder was soon tainted by an undercurrent of horror and confusion.

The resident hunters huddled deeper into their silken hides, instinctively avoiding the unfamiliar. The possibility of danger gave their simple minds pause, and so they defaulted to waiting patiently for prey to touch their traps.

Rihelah’s head felt strange as her consciousness returned.

The memory of what had happened came rushing back to her all at once and she screamed. At least, she tried to. Her voice refused to work.

She reached up with her oddly-structured right arm, and recoiled when she felt the alien sensation of contact between antenna and foreleg.

What in the world?! Oh thank fucking God! It’s all just a dream!

I was so scared! I thought… I’d lost everything!

Why am I dreaming that I’m a mantis, and how is everything upside-down?

This dream’s really weird.

She looked around with wonder, marveling at the blue glow illuminating the strange, inverted forest around her.

Then she went to take a step, and felt gravity tugging in the opposite direction from what she expected.

Whoa! What the hell?

She clung fiercely to the underside of what she believed to be an odd tree branch, and carefully moved herself around it until she stood upright.

She focused on her vision and what she experienced blew her mind.

Wow. I did not see this twist coming. Compound eyes are both amazing and confusing! So many threads of information! It’s incredible the human mind can conjure up something like this! It’s almost too vivid…

Rihelah winced as a wave of discomfort washed over her head.

Why do I feel like I have the stinkiest, most earthy migraine of my entire life, while lacking physical pain?

Well, at least this dream is a lot better than that first one... Coming across Michael's...

Rihelah shuddered at that thought and tried to push it out of her mind by focusing upon the strange migraine.

She soon came to the realization that the strange discomfort she felt was actually her sense of smell. It focused at two points atop her head, rather than within her nose where it ought to be.

The sensations were pungent, unpleasant, unfamiliar, and slightly unbalanced. One side or the other seemed stronger for each scent she picked up.

It wasn't technically painful, but it was certainly not pleasant for someone used to keeping herself as clean as possible.

Her new eyes caught the glint of something not far from her face. She reached out with one of her arms, but froze just short of touching the gleaming silken strand.

She looked up at the glowing patches of blue, and shuddered in abject terror.

Th-that is just not okay… Why am I dreaming about being a mantis in a strange forest where the ceiling is covered in giant, carnivorous cave worms?!

Granted, it’s better than my first dream. Anything is better than… That.

Distant bird songs caught her attention, along with the comings and goings of insect wings.

The fact that she was hearing from a location between her hind legs joined with her other strange sensory inputs, and the combination of it all made her head spin.

How is this possible? Everything is so weird, but also lifelike!

She excitedly clenched her forelegs, then marveled at the power they contained.

Wow. I’m really strong! Michael used to keep native mantids when we were children.

Running through the old memory made Rihelah smile inside.

He used to get so upset whenever they were injured or killed during feeding time! Hmm. But it always irked us both when they sometimes grabbed the wrong end of something dangerous and got bitten by their prey...

But that was really Michael's fault for offering them small spiders and centipedes before he learned what they should actually be eating…

Ugh. I hope I don’t experience that in this dream! Flies are still gross, even if those are probably the best thing you can feed a mantis!

Well, since I'm having this dream, I might as well have a look around! Carefully…

She backed herself away from the silken traps that had once again caught her eyes. The smell impacted her antennae again, and this time it was strong enough to make her nauseous.

That’s really fucking horrid!

The blue lights above shifted position as the predatory worms relaxed as one.

Whoa… that was creepy.

Rihelah carefully climbed back to the underside of the huge tree branch and hung perfectly still while taking everything in.

Still, it’s fun being able to see in so many directions at once!

That said, how is my brain managing to keep up with all of this so easily, despite how unnatural it should feel?

Nearby, clusters of spiky leaves were nestled alongside spear-like thorns. To her left, a shimmer allowed her to notice a dangling thread, tipped with a bulbous globule of-

Glue? Is that a spider web?! Please tell me that’s not what I was about to touch?? Fuck! I do not want this dream to end in death as well!

Stay still, Rihelah. Look around. Think before you act. Same as you do with science! Remain calm. You’re still alive in this dream, and you can stay that way if don’t freak out. One nightmare was traumatic enough!

Michael will still be alive when you awaken, and it's unlikely he actually has such a creepy, goblin-like roommate. Yeah, that pretty much proves it was a nightmare. I never liked the character Gollum, and that guy was the spitting image!

Don't let yourself overthink! Just process the data. The first dream was… Only a dream!

I’m fine, and I’ll wake from all of this soon enough! First, find your way out of here without getting stuck!

Rihelah stood motionless for a while, allowing the worms’ own glow and the meager shafts of sunlight that penetrated the dense canopy above to reveal the locations of numerous silken glue-traps surrounding her.

The scale of it all was shocking to her.

Holy crap! What the hell is this place?

Thousands of long strands hung from thick clumps of leaves above, each extremely difficult to notice in the dimly-lit space beneath the bush except when the blue glow from above made them shimmer in an enticing way.

Flying insects buzzed about outside the bush, but rarely ducked within. When she did witness one that had flown inside, it stuck to multiple strands. Within seconds the glowing worms in that area abseiled from above, congregating around the struggling insect and smothering it.

Right. Look but don’t touch. I need to get out of here!

She heard the faint rustle of leaves in the trees above, and her antennae continued picking up those awful smells that shocked her with their potency. The depth and scope of both her dreams astounded Rihelah. As did the fact that both of them seemed to have horror and trauma as their theme.

I don't think I have ever dreamt so deeply or vividly before. Both of these dreams are so vibrant, so detailed, they're almost like real life! I'd better be patient and continue observing, just in case. Besides, I'll eventually wake up and then I can visit Michael for real!

Rihelah waited patiently a little longer, hoping the fickle blue lights from above might reveal more of her surroundings in greater detail.

Something finally clicked in her vision. To her left and just outside the strange, dark forested area filled with stick traps, a large mound of dirt lay steaming.

Well that’s… odd. Piles of dirt don’t usually give off steam like that, do they?

Her brain put two and two together.

Are you shitting me? Why is my brain dreaming about a mound of feces the size of a small hill?!

At least I know where the smell is coming from... Figures! Those vapors must be headed straight toward my face.

Damn you Murphy, and damn your stupid law! I need to get away from this fucked up death-trap and Mount Crapmore! Both of which have become my torment! So gross!

Bucking up her courage a little, she began backing slowly away from the veritable forest of dangling silken lines. She moved deliberately, finding that her body naturally tended to sway erratically, as if she were a shaking leaf. Before long, she came to the edge of the dark forest and her mandibles fell open at the sprawling, otherworldly scene before her.

Ambrosia flooded its mouth, taste-sensitive palps quivering with joy as it chewed its feebly-struggling food, trying to finish quickly, so as not to be noticed in its exposed location.

It knew it was small and vulnerable. Being unseen was always best. Claws from one of its victim's flailing limbs raked against the side of its head, encouraging it to bite down harder. The food soon stopped moving, and it ate.

It turned rapidly in place to gaze with caution toward a sea of lights tightly orbiting one another in a colossal, vertical spiral centered upon the other end of its perch. Blackness deep enough to shame the darkest night filled the void within, until a single reptilian eye bearing a chromatic iris blinked into existence. Its own eyes were enthralled, and for a moment it stood frozen alongside the entire forest. Every living thing was as still as death.

The vision instantly ceased as it if had never been. The memory faded from its mind, and an alien shape now stood in the vision's place.

It observed this newcomer while still chewing, its antennae quivering and seeking chemical information. Oblong black spots upon its carapace began to glow ever so slightly as it charged its weapon – just in case, while taking in the sight of the new arrival through enormous eyes.

It felt surprised that a strange creature had arrived upon the same fallen branch, and that made it nervous. The nearest foliage was rather far away, fueling its anxiety.

It experienced an ever so slight desire to drop its food, attack, and feed upon the much smaller new arrival, but the food still in its jaws kept that impulse to a minimum.

The odd interloper looked around wildly with a strangely mobile head for a few seconds, watched it eat for a moment, then swiftly moved on. Contented, it continued its meal.

Michael gazed about in wonder.

What... the heck is going on?

I passed out, and now I'm some giant-assed praying mantis, casually passing by an even larger, magical tiger beetle just chilling on a fallen tree while it munched on... what the hell even was that thing? Weirdest dream ever...

Well, I guess it beats the one where I saw that sick fuck kissing my girl and then got murdered. This damned pandemic... it's really fucking with my head lately!

This forest is gorgeous, though… I’ll take a dream like this any day of the week!

Michael tried humming a tune like he usually would when he got a little nervous. He failed miserably. Huh. Makes sense, I guess. Mantids don’t exactly have lungs or vocal cords.

Mentally shrugging to himself, he kept walking, marveling at the feel of the strange, yet somehow natural locomotion of his dreamworld body.

I guess it makes sense that a mantis wouldn't be able to talk since they take in oxygen through spiracles opening to those little tubes within their abdomen.

This one’s pretty fascinating, but I don't think I wanna remember that first dream when I wake up.

My mind's idea of how a mantid's senses function is pretty goddamn impressive! That said, it’s a little awkward breathing through my backside.

Michael's left-front walking leg caught on something and refused to budge. His head swiveled down, and then he lost his mind.

No. Nooo. NO NO NO... NOPE!! NOT A SPIDER WEB... BURN THE WHOLE DREAM DOWN AND WAKE THE FUCK UP, MICHAEL!!!!

A tangled, sheet-type web extended for what seemed like 40 meters over the beautiful, enormous plants and rocks toward his left. A massive funnel in the web led underground about 10 meters away...

He backed away toward his right. Rather, he tried to.

The claws on his foot had tangled in the strands of the web, and remained rooted to the spot.

Sudden movement came from his left. Michael froze in place, while his head snapped to face the threat, which ceased moving as he did. The web's owner sported a jet-black carapace, with light-blue bands on its legs, and glowing, similarly-blue chelicerae hanging from its face.

Oh shit! How the fuck is that spider so huge?! Why can’t I dream about a beautiful girl like Rihelah, or... something? Anything! I need to wake up! Now!!

Adrenaline flooded his system as his antennae swept backward like the ears of a terrified housecat.

Michael tensed up and leaped powerfully away from the giant predator with all his might.

At least, he tried to. His leg refused to come free from the tough webbing that held fast to the tiny claws upon his foot.

The spider lunged toward the source of vibration, holding its front legs up and away from its intended prey while seizing the mantis's left-middle walking leg near its clawed foot.

Pedipalps worked like feelers to pinpoint his limb as it closed in, while impossibly sharp, hypodermic fangs swung open from the spider's stout chelicerae.

The fangs stabbed toward one another, sinking with terrifying precision into the softer, flexible chitin near his foot. They held fast within Michael's furiously-struggling limb as venom was pumped into him under high pressure.

-2HP. Tesla Spiderling Venom: -9HP/30sec. for 2 hours.

Words of warning flashed across Michael’s vision as searing pain began traveling up the stricken leg, toward his body.

His panic flew into overdrive as Michael’s attempts at escape devolved into a total frenzy.

Blinding pain abruptly shot through his entire body when his leg pulled free near its base, allowing him to scurry awkwardly away across the rocky ground.

-6HP. Tesla Spiderling Venom removed.

Ichor oozed from the joint where his missing leg should be, the surface tension holding it together in a small globe of greenish fluid.

Sensing its victim had escaped, the spider swiftly hauled a delicious mantis-leg consolation prize down to its lair within the sandy soil.

What the hell?! This can't be happening! So much pain! It's no dream... This is fucking real!! Fuck!

Did I actually die?! Please don’t tell me…

No! I need to focus! Fuck my life!

It took a few minutes for Michael's panic to recede far enough for his mind to regain control. His entire body still ached from that terrible blast of agony.

After having hobbled along like a maniac for what seemed like miles, a thought struck Michael and he abruptly froze in place.

Shit... If I run around in a blind panic, I could stumble into another web! Or attract the attention of something bigger...

He looked around and above himself with dread.

All he saw was verdant, deciduous forest on a titanic scale. It resembled the mountains of Appalachia in late Spring, and surrounded the huge path he had scurried upon.

Other insects buzzed about high above, paying him no mind. Various unfamiliar bird songs echoed in the distance, and the trees rustled cheerfully in a light breeze in stark contrast to the searing pain of his missing leg.

Michael waited while motionless for a time, taking it all in and trying to determine where he should go to hide.

He crept between a group of gigantic, grass-like plants, then headed for a tree the size of a skyscraper that resembled a black walnut. He reached its trunk and began his ascent slowly, eyes and antennae on high alert and scanning for danger.

Michael took special care to watch for the slightest glint of silk. A shudder ran through him at the thought.

His ascent seemed to take an eternity, but he arrived on the underside of a leaf far above the forest floor without incident.

He noted his new hiding spot was camouflaged on nearly all sides by multiple layers of leaves, and Michael allowed himself to relax, just a little.

Okay. I need to take a moment and figure this out. At least the venom is gone.

All of this is way too realistic to be a dream. Have I actually died?

He looked wistfully toward where his missing leg ought to be. There was still an odd sort of phantom pain which he found somewhat similar to the sensation one has when a human limb is totally asleep. But this was a bit more nebulous and ethereal than pins and needles.

At least I’m not bleeding. I guess ichor behaves differently from blood?

Fuck, I just arrived here! Wherever “here” is, and I didn't even have a chance to get used to my new body before something tried to eat me!

How the hell will I even know what my leg’s status is or if I can regrow-?

Michael practically jumped out of his own exoskeleton when words popped up again within his vision.

STATUS:

Michael

Level 1 Lesser Sapient Mantid

Unique, Male

HP: 17/20 (+1HP/min.)

STR 5

AGI 9

INT 21

Special Qualities:

Minor Regeneration Rank 1. Effects: +1HP/min. May re-grow lost limbs.

Level up bonus: +2HP

Ohh-kay… What the actual fuck is going on here?