319 Eight-Legged Stranger

Vy went back to investigating the rest of the abandoned campsite. She wanted to find more information on the previous inhabitants of the location. What caused them to abandon their campsite? 

Unfortunately, she could not find any more information regarding its previous inhabitants. After half a day of searching, she finally gave up. Vy returned to the wall. She continued to follow the length of the wall, making sure to take note of anything that was out of the ordinary. 

The task was mundane, to say the least, and Vy began to hum to herself as she walked. After some time, she came across an unfamiliar image painted on the wall. It was similar in size to the rabbit symbol she had found some time ago. 

"Is that…" Vy wondered as she looked at the symbol. 

She took a few steps back to see it from afar. It was the symbol of a mouse. The wall had similar ridges to where she had found the symbol of the rabbit. When Vy placed her ear close to the wall, she realised that it was also hollow. 

But what could the symbol represent? 

Just then, Vy could hear the rustling of leaves coming from behind. Swiftly, she unsheathed her sword, ready to attack. She had to be prepared for anything and everything. 

Within a matter of seconds, a spider beast burst through the cover of the Jungle. Vy did not hesitate, she charged forward and swiftly decapitated the spider beast. The spider beast was caught off guard, it never knew what hit it. 

But there was more than one. Three more spider beasts emerged. Their fangs moved as they communicated and expressed emotions to see their comrade was dead. 

Vy had her sword in her right hand and her dagger in her left. The spider beasts did not attack her head-on, they seemed to be waiting for something. From the cover of the bushes, another spider beast emerged. 

This one was different from the rest. The elder spider beast that emerged was almost twice the size of the others. Instead of the head of an arachnid, it had a human-shaped head. It had three pairs of red bead-like eyes, and spider fangs in its mouth. 

Unlike the rest of the regular spider beasts that were all black or brown in colour, the elder spider beast had red tattoos covering its entire body. 

Vy did not know how to respond. But she was not about to let her guard down either. The elder spider beast looked directly at Vy, its eyes were unblinking. 

"This one smells different."

Vy's eyes widened in shock. She could understand what it was saying. 

"Did… did you just talk?" Vy asked out loud in disbelief. 

She cautiously took a step back, refusing to lower her weapons as the elder spider beast got uncomfortably close. 

"You understand me, human?" The elder spider beast asked. 

Vy nodded. 

Trying her best to remain as calm as she could, Vy tried to shift her focus in an effort to calm her nerves. 

She introduced herself, "My name is Vyrena, what's yours?"

The other spider beasts were confused by the exchange. One of them tried to attack Vy but the elder spider beast pushed it back, hissing at it. With the elder spider beast's warning, the rest backed off. 

They took a few steps back. 

"My name is Red Silk. The Queen needs to see you," the elder spider beast declared. 

It turned back around and disseminated a set of information to it's minions. One of the spider beasts headed back into the Jungle immediately. Another picked up the corpse of its fallen comrade. 

Only one remained by Red Silk's side. 

"Meet… the Queen? What are you talking about?" Vy asked in confusion. 

She had let her guard down too easily. Before she knew it, Red Silk tied Vy up in a bundle of red spider silk web. She was wrapped up as if she was a tightly wound spool of string.

Red Silk carried Vy on its shoulder and headed back into the forest. Despite Vy's protests, Red Silk paid her no mind. 

"Let me go!" She demanded as she struggled. 

Vy used her dagger and sword to cut at the red spider silk but it was tougher than it looked. 

Red Silk was annoyed by her constant struggling, "Stop wriggling around, human! Try and escape and I will tear you limb from limb!"

Vy knew Red Silk was not lying. Just based on observation, he was a lot stronger compared to the regular spider beasts she had encountered so far. But she was not afraid of him either. 

After some time, she successfully cut herself free from Red Silk's grasp. She landed on her two feet some distance away from him. Red Silk turned around, annoyed. 

"Wait!" Vy shouted at him, to get his attention. 

"WHAT?!" Red Silk screamed at her. 

The spider beast that followed him tried to intervene but he forced it back. 

"Where are you taking me to?" She asked him. 

"To meet the Queen," he repeated again. 

"Why?"

"There hasn't been a human who can understand us in a long time. She would want to meet you, alive. Before we kill you." He mused. 

Vy bit her lip. Escaping now would have made a lot more sense. After all, going with Red Silk seemed more like a suicide mission. However, her curiosity and gut got the better of her. 

If this spider beast could understand her, the Queen would likely be able to do so as well.

"I will go with you, willingly. You don't have to tie me up," Vy replied. 

"Fine. Suit yourself," Red Silk replied before turning back to continue on their journey. 

The spider beasts were much larger and they moved at a much quicker pace. Vy found it hard to keep up at times but she never stopped trying. They travelled through a large area of the Jungle before entering the lair of the spider beasts. 

Vy noticed the change in the atmosphere, the smell and the increase in spider webs all around. There was also a fog that surrounded the area. This allowed the surrounding area to be hidden from the rest. 

Although she could not see any, Vy could feel her skin crawl as she knew there were many spider beasts surrounding her. All of them were carefully hidden with the cover of the fog. 

Red Silk led the way so she made sure to keep up with him as much as she could. It was unsettling to feel as if countless eyes were watching her every move. She could feel a shiver down her spine. 

Red Silk could see the human was uncomfortable. Who wouldn't be in a situation like this? It would have been easier if she had been bundled up in his silk web. It would be easier for him to take her directly to the Queen as well. 

Just then, a shadow emerged from the fog. A spider beast launched itself at Vy. On instinct, Vy drew her sword. She dodged the attack. It was a close shave. 

Too close. 

Just as she was about to launch herself at the attacking spider beast, Red Silk stopped her. He screeched and chided the spider beast causing it to cower and back away into the fog. 

Red Silk shouted a bunch of orders into the fog. Once he did so, Vy could feel as if there were lesser eyes on her. 

"Thank you, Red Silk," she thanked him for his help. 

"You're no good dead before you meet the Queen," he replied coldly.