Within the hour Kaden filled the space in the Grimoire with more of the discarded Spine-backs parts. This sure beats haling all of this around, if only I was able to carry more; our journey would certainly be much easier. I just hope this plan of hers works, I hate to admit it is better than mine.

“It will work and almost any plan that doesn’t involve you getting bitten multiple times by a deadly spider is better. Like night and day better. Seriously, what were you thinking? I would honestly like to know about the thought process that goes on in that brain of yours; if you even can call it that.” Sofia was still more than a little mad about his earlier idea.

God dam it, I was thinking out loud again… Kaden sighed. He need to actively force himself to keep his thoughts quiet and it was considerably mentally draining on him. Sighing again, “Yeah your right”.

It took him a few hours to get back to the Saint-mother’s cave. Slowly looking around to see if the arachnid wasn’t anywhere nearby he approached one of the webs ready to enact Sofia’s plan. Sofia’s plan was to use the remainder of the Phinsis toxin they had from its sting and poison the Saint-mother. Then all Kaden had to do was walk in and let Sofia absorb the spider. If all went well she could then separate the nutrient substance safely and they wouldn’t have to worry about the venom. It was simple, efficient and was relatively safe.

Kaden finished poisoning the meat with the toxin, placed it on the web and moved as quickly as he could back into his nearby hiding spot. The large spider from earlier came out almost moments later and leapt on the poisoned remains from above burying a set of sharp fangs into it. Kaden and Sofia waited almost an hour after the creature had hauled off the meal. “You think it worked?” he questioned. The both of them weren’t too sure how much time the toxin would require.

“I am not sure, do you think we should wait a little longer?” She responded

“I am sure it will be fine but another thirty minutes couldn’t hurt. If it’s dead it isn’t likely going anywhere” He tried to make his words sound playful to hide his nervousness.

Thirty minutes later he felt his heart pounding as he slowly crept towards the cave entrance. I guess it’s now or never, he thought to himself working up the nerve to take a step in. “Gi Veme St Ren Gth. Gi Vem Es Wif Tn Ess.” He chanted then flung a lit torch into the cave that he had prepared earlier.

Kaden carefully took a step in with his spear at the ready; his eyes searching for even the slightest sign of movement.

The cave was dark except for the light being reflected off the walls from the torch now laying in the center. Sofia anything, he thought out loud.

“Nothing yet”, she whispered.

There was an intense smell of rotting flesh coming from deeper within; no doubt it was the remains of whatever the Saint-mothers’ previous meals were. Kaden took carefully measured steps towards the dancing flames coming off the lit torch. He could feel all the tiny hair on his body stand up at full alert as he approached the center of the cave. “To your right”, Sofia’s voice almost startling him.

Out of the corner of his eye Kaden saw a flash of movement and quickly turned to face it; Spear at the ready. Out of the shadows a giant eight legged arachnid came towards him. He was about to strike with all his might but then stopped. The creature was stumbling left and right almost as if it was a drunk walking out of a bar after last call before finally falling down unconscious. Kaden let out a large sigh of relief, he was still alert but had noticeably relaxed.

Cautiously walking over to it with his spear still placed in the most direct path between them just as a precaution. “You think it’s dead?” He asked Sofia and prodded it with the tip of his spear.

“I am not sur… Above you” She yelled.

Kaden didn’t think as he dove to his right into a roll. He trusted his partner’s warning without question and It was a good thing he did otherwise he would have been dead; he realized while stumbling to his feet. Standing in front of Kaden was another bigger, meaner looking arachnid.

The creature propelled itself towards Kaden using all eight of its very powerful legs. Kaden barely managed to get out of its way. Kaden leapt towards the corpse of the other arachnid. “Sofia can you absorb it quickly? I don’t think I can handle this thing for very long” he called to her touching the corpse turning his head to track the other creature.

Sofia hauled the corpse into the Grimoire, “Got it, go!”

Kaden sprinted towards the entrance of the cave both spells working together enhancing his movements. “Behind you”, Sofia yelled as Kaden dove out of the way again. The spider had crossed a greater distance then he was able to in half the time. It had also managed to place itself between him and the entrance. It bore its twin fangs at him hissing.

“We will see about that buddy”, Kaden pretending he could understand the creature. “I guess we got to do this.”

The Spider launched its self at him again as Kaden responded with a quick side step. Using all of his might he stabbed the creature with the tip of his spear. The weapon connected and the creature’s mid-air direction changed only ever so slightly sending it off course. Kaden once again dashed towards the cave entrance only to be forced once again to step out of the creature’s way; it was yet again between him and freedom.

“Back to square one huh…” He raised the tip of his spear preparing for the next assault. Kaden knew he had to come up with a plan and quick; the drain from the spells on his stamina was starting to affect him.

The creature yet again pushed itself off the floor heading straight for him; dodging again he started for the entrance. As if repeating the same steps in a choreographed dance the creature was almost upon him with another leap from behind. The gap between them shrinking ever so quickly when Kaden stopped mid dash, turning around placing the end of his spear into the ground supporting it with his foot while the tip was pointing straight at the oncoming spider.

“Spider Kabab!” he yelled as the spear skewered the now struggling creature. It was still alive but clearly wasn’t going anywhere. “Sorry fella, I’d end your misery but you kind of stuck to my only weapon.” Examining the struggling creature from as close as he would let himself safely get. Kaden mouth went wide “I don’t think these are Saint-mothers.”

“What, how can they not be? They fit most of the same…” Sofia felt a slight chill as she realized just how wrong the plan went. “Mothers-bane”

Excerpt Korin’s Jungle Survival Guide: Mothers-bane are similar in visual appearance to their smaller and less powerful Saint-mother cousins; this however is where their similarity ends. The Mothers-bane spider is often described as the most brutal murder in the jungle. This well-earned reputation stems from the technique they prefer to use while devouring prey. Mothers-bane prefer to eat prey while it is still alive and does so by ripping and swallowing bite size chunks of its preys flesh.

This arachnid hunts similarly to most apex predators in the jungle. This is most likely due to its inability to produce any form of webbing. In particular they prefer leaping onto unsuspecting prey from above and piercing them with a set of venomous fangs. The venom it injected renders prey completely paralyzed and slowly kills over a matter of hours should prey manage to escape.

Mothers-bane will eat most anything but have a preference to feed on their Saint-mother cousins. This is especially true if a Saint-mother is ready to lay eggs. A Mothers-bane spider that has consumed a Saint-mother is ready to mate. The nutrients substance secreted by a Saint-mother for her young is instead consumed by the Mothers-bane and enhanced to ensure her own eggs are healthier. The Mothers-bane will also typically take over the deceased Saint-mothers home as a temporary dwelling to attract a mate and hide its eggs.

They didn’t have to wait long before the creature finally stopped struggling and died from the blood loss. Sofia absorbed both of the arachnids. “It’s done. I can extract nutrients they consumed when they ate the Saint-mother. The good news is because there are two of them we have a lot. There should be more than enough for the entire village.”

“Let’s hope Padvor can make use of this so this we didn’t just risk our lives for nothing.” Kaden was exhausted and looked forward to the comfortable bed awaiting him back at the village.