Humans have an instinctual fear of darkness. Inexplicable in its complete hold over us, we seek to evade it as much as possible and seek the shelter of sweet light. Perhaps it's a remnant of when man wasn't atop the food chain, when our anscestors we mearly scraping by near the bottom? It could also be that we as a species are so dependent on our sight, so much in fact that we fail to realize we have five sense and not just two or three. Mayhaps a combination of both and perhaps other elements were at play with humanity and its phobia. Whatever be the case Eian was certainly extremely fearful of the cave passage he was now descending, despite it not being completely dark. Sarah's breathing advice didn't seem to work as well now as they had lost the luxury of fire and his palms were begining to feel sticky with sweat. He was fearful of trying to distract himself of it by thinking of other happier memories in fear he might miss something and be swamped by monsters. He paid close attention to his ears in hopes of even the slightest heads up warning, then he heard something.

"Guys? Does anyone else hear that sound? I think....I think it might be running water." Eian closed his eyes to focus.

He noted how thirsty and sticky he actually was now, he swallowed dryly.

"Hey.........Oh lord please be water I'm dying here." Jessica licked her lips and her enthusiastic voice bespoke of luxary.

A brief little while later Sarah broke the silence.

"Not to be the bearer of bad news here, but water is something living things need. That means animals might be nearby as well as other things." Sarah took a deep breathe and spoke as the pragmatic one.

Everyone stopped walking and looked at her with varying degree's of fear.

"Try to at least be a bit optimistic Sarah, it doesn't hurt, also there's no guarantee monsters exist. Big spiders are one thing, but who knows we might only encounter some measly bats." Alex lifted his head and attempted to cheer everyone up.

Sarah snorted loudly.

"We have to be ready for anything Alex. Your hurt and we can't let Eian or anyone else get hurt or we could die. Deaths not some joke we can take lightly." Sarah shook her head decisively.

"I agree with Sarah, sorry Alex, but I'm not looking to get bit or worse here. Best be ready for anything." Eian nodded to Sarah in agreement, Alex cast his eyes to the floor, then frowned at his injured leg.

The group descended into morbid silence for a while, untill they fell in line and once more began moving slowly to mute the sound of their footsteps. They were all feeling some mental exhaustion by now, while both thirst and hygenie dictated the needed that water. Soon they realized the ground evened out, while the cavern began expanding slowly they could hear the sound of trickling water clearly. Apprehension gripped at Eians gut a mixture of fear, desperation and hope. Soon from a even from a good distance away they saw what awaited them four giant spiders, one of them was a definate alpha sized critter, taunt and ready to defend themselves from their would be invaders and protect the nest. Webs hung everywhere and clearly you could see a few eggs nearby.

"Of all the bloody luck we could have! Why must there be four!?" Eian clentched his teeth and glared, feeling extremly out of his depth.

"No helping it man. We have to kill those things. Girls, I'm sorry for saying this but I don't think we can afford to have you both sit this one out." Alex sighed tiredly and tried not to look at them, ashamed.

"You can't mean that Alex! You expect me to fight those things?! They'll eat me! Definately!" Jessica whispered low as she could while trembling with complete disbelief and fear.

"Jessica, as much as I'd like to agree with you, Eian can't fight those things alone. Alex might be able to kill one, but with his leg .......he might be the first to get eaten." Sarah weakly tightened her fists and a shudder ran down her.

"Here Jessica use this. It'll be safer for you that way." Alex smiled.

Alex handed his torch to her, then rubbed his hands together feeling slightly nervous at the idea of fighting one bare-handed.

"Hey...Ummm guys, I guess I'll try to take out the big one. Each of you try to hold one off till I can help you. Sorry Sarah I'd give you my torch, but I don't think I can kill the big one without it." Eian's breathing quickened, feeling considerably shaky at the thought even with the damn stick.

"It's okay, I'll just try to hold it off till you come help me. Please don't take too long." Sarah smiled at Eian, trying to portray confidence, but it was ruined a second later as she bit her lip.

Jessica mumbled something under her breath, trembling while holding the stick close, extremely opposed to the idea, but aware they had a point, Alex patted her shoulder gave her a smile and nodded encouragement.

As they approched the spiders visibly grew more agitated chittering to themselves. As they passed some invisible line the creatures attacked as one horde. Jessica let loose a terrified scream as Eian waited for the opportune time, gripping his weapon so hard it hurt, in preparation for a massive swing with all his might. Alex balanced himself on his good leg with his arm outstreched ready to tackle one, while Sarah did something similar while measuring her breath.

As the vanguard of the horde neared Eian let loose his swing as it bound towards him in a single leap, the swing threw it slightly off course and Eian felt as if it weighed as much as a half sack of potatoes. Another leapt at him and he had no choice but to nearly toss himself to the side to evade, though it still partially collided unto him throwing them both off balance. Alex jumped and tackled the injured aracnid to prevent it from attacking his friends. Jessica fearful of what to do was frozen, with the second aracnid so close after the collision Sarah had no choice but to try to hold in down with her weight.

"Jessica help Eian! Theres still another small one kill it! Eian'll fight the big one!" Sarah screamed with all her lungs.

Eian quickly recovered as the third smallest aracnid leapt at him, he rolled on instinct and then scrambled up to charge towards the fearsome alpha. Jessica swung the makeshift armament in a weak attempt to injure the third smaller aracnid, however the beast shrugged the attack off and leapt at her. She screamed once more and hastily tried to get the torch between them holding it with both hands, but ultimatly fell to the ground from its weight. Eian engaged the large aracnid swinging for dear life while it weaved and then suddenly it reared back in preparation for a leap.

Alex managed to wrestle his spider unto its back and pounded his fist on its softer chitin till it cracked and finally caved in. He proceeded to dig his hand into the beast and tear the beasts disgusting squishy organs apart. With great inspiration Eian braced the thicker end of his weapon against his chest and let the aracnids weight impale itself upon the thinner end. The beast screeched at the injury and attempted to rear back, while Eian grunted from the pain on his ribs he pushed the assault impaling it further until it shuddered and went slack.

Jessica sported a few lacerations on her arms along with several scrapes and bruises from her fall as she kept retreating while crying from the spiders assault. Sarah was still desperatly wrestling her beast, though neither could get the upper hand. Alex being the first to win scrambled up unto his good foot and went to aid Jessica as she was obviously on the losing end of her scuffle. He did a few desperate one legged jumps untill he could grapple Jessica's spider. Eian after his win pulled out the sticky torch from the dead aracnid and proceeded to swing at the legs of Sarah's spider. The spider Sarah was fighting went stiff for a moment before disengaging from her while Eian handed the torch to Sarah for protection.

"I'll try to hold it down. You kill it. Its safer for you that way." Eian nodded to Sarah, but his breathing was quickening.

"Yes thanks. I dont want to touch it anymore than I need to." Sarah trembled from her traumatic ordeal, but steadied herself quickly.

On their side Alex managed to convince Jessica to cave in the head area of the beast while he held it down with his body. Jessica took a few tries but succeeded after a long and thorough session of spearing it. Eian was cornering the injured beast as it slowly backed away and seeing its family dead launched itself at Eian in desperation. He braced himself and caught its legs and pressed it unto the ground for Sarah beat it to death.

"Well.... that certainly couldn't have gone much better." Eian gave Sarah a thumbs up, feeling slightly euphoric at being alive.

"Yes... well Jessica could have done a better job at not getting so injured." Sarah rolled her eyes, then curled her lip at Jessica.

She pointed towards the sniviling mess of a girl, while Alex consoled her, without touching her of course since he was filthy.

"Hey calm down Sarah, she's not used to these things. She's scared enough as is." Alex frowned at Sarah and defended the poor girl as she was sobbing unconsolably.

"I'm not angry at her, but she had a weapon and I didn't. And she still got hurt worse than me. Also none of us are used to these kinds of things Alex." Sarah emptied her face of emotion, feeling a little miffed at the light scolding.

"Hey, hey, look lets all just calm down okay? We're all obviously tired and angry at this shitty situation, but we're alive and thats really all that matters." Eian raised his palms trying to placate everyone.

"Eian's right, and I for one want to get all this crap off." Alex sighed obviously vexed, but eager to clean himself.

Both Sarah and Jessica soon discovered they had developed the strange tattoo marks upon their dominant forearms. Jessica had a Body of one, a mind of three and a spirit of zero. Everyone was surprised to discover Sarah had a Body of one the same as Jessica, but a Mind of four, while spirit was still zero. Jessica managed to calm down enough for them to move on. Eian quickly crushed the three aracnid eggs with his stick as they neared the nest. Sarah motioned for them to stop near some spider silk and grabbing some.

"Rub that on your injuries, after you clean the wounded area, it will help clot your blood." Sarah pointed as she took some, then moved towards the small stream, which waspassing through some cracks on the wall.

"How do you even know that?" Eian cocked his head at her, as he too grabbed some and went to clean the scraps he accumilated from his fall.

Jessica visibly crinkled her face, now that she had recovered enough to feel disgust.

"I for one am happy I can treat this damn leg. Hopefully I'll be able to walk better by tomorrow." Alex smiled at Jessica's face, and he hobbled towards the stream to clean the filth from his body.

They all took some time to rest and lick their wounds, as well as sate their thirst. The girls insisted the men head a bit foward. The other girl observed them to prevent any preverse thoughts they may harbor whilst one of them bathed. Eian and Alex rubbed water on their bodies, after asking for some privacy from the girls not really caring if they looked. Eian had however noticed something curious upon his forearm tattoo as he had cleaned up.