The Web

The dense foliage of the Irelivian jungle enveloped us as we cautiously ventured back into the heart of the untamed wilderness. Our strategy had proven effective in the scrappers' daily competitions, allowing us to explore the jungle and gather information while avoiding the constant danger of being sent out to hunt with minimal supplies. We had scouted a clearing on our last expedition that held what appeared to be a network of caves, we believed a beast must reside there. We had yet to run into any, so we made sure to get second today for a chance at finding what mysteries those caves held.

The sun cast long shadows through the thick canopy as we approached the peculiar clearing. The last time we were here was right before dusk fell and it was difficult to see, now in the daylight the clearing seems to be... glittering.

"Anyone else notice the fact that this whole clearing seems to be glittering?"

Keel takes another look around and with a grim expression turns back to me, "I was just about to ask the same thing. Gen any idea what we might be in for here?"

"I'd wager it's a beast's work, but I don't know which one yet. Many beasts use their surroundings to create traps for their prey though, so let's be careful."

Gen had the most knowledge on beasts in our group since he grew up with the village elder, who back in his day fought in many wars while chosen were still used. Back before the fall beasts were much more common so his grandfather had many stories to share about all he had seen. 

As we all looked closer at our surroundings one thing became rapidly apparent. We were surrounded by webs. Intricate web-like structures adorned the trees, and the ground was pockmarked with cave entrances, revealing a hidden network within the jungle. All the entrances were covered by the web, and it looked almost as if houses of web were in the trees. We exchanged glances, curiosity mingling with a hint of trepidation. The one thing we all knew, was that we were not alone in this clearing.

"Stay alert," Keel whispered, his hand resting on the hilt of his cutlass. We moved cautiously through the clearing, our senses heightened by the eerie stillness that surrounded us. We needed to get eyes on whatever was stalking us.

Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the air, sending shivers down our spines. A massive creature emerged from the shadows in the trees— a monstrous fusion of a spider and a mountain lion. Its imposing form had the strength and jaws of a lion, while its numerous legs and web shooter belonged to a spider. All eight of its eyes stared straight at us. The creature's hairy body, a grotesque amalgamation of both beasts, loomed before them.

"An Irelivian Twelve Leg," uttered Gen, "whatever you do don't make any sudden noise, they may have many eyes but their hearing is how they navigate their surroundings."

Frozen in the creature's gaze, the gravity of our situation hit, and we were face to face with the first true danger of our hunt. Panic set in. I can't hide the fear in my voice as I try and urge the group to leave, "Let's get out of here, I don't think we're ready for this one- that thing is on a whole other level." The others nod in agreement, desperate to not make a sound. As we back out the way we came, I feel something sticky behind me... oh fuck. Keel looks at me in horror as realization spreads across Gen's face and he shoots us a look, "It knew we were here all along." Behind us the web-like structures had closed us in, forming an impenetrable barrier. Trapped, we had to face the primal fury of the Irelivian Twelve Leg.

...

The creature leaped down from its perch in the trees and began to crawl across the jungle floor toward us. In an instant, the creature lunged forward, claws extended and fangs bared. Gen, stepped forward to meet the threat head-on with his mighty broadsword. His weapon clashed with the creature's powerful limbs keeping its jaws from his face, but the force of the impact sent him sprawling backward.

"Gen!" I shouted, fear gripping my heart as the strongest of our group was thrown aside like a ragdoll.

Keel shook out of his daze and took charge, "Gen is this thing sentient? We need to know if we can communicate out loud!"

"Ugh... no it can't understand us- what do we do L?"

Good freya this is all happening so fast, usually I have time to plan out what our team is going to do before leaping into a fight. I don't even know this thing's full set of abilities. Hopefully, all our days spent amongst the scrappers and our morning fights will come in handy in an actual life-or-death situation. 

"Avoid for now let me think! Try and learn all you can!"

The battle raged on as we desperately tried to outmaneuver the Twelve Leg's relentless assault. The creature's agility and ferocity were unmatched, and with every passing moment, the odds of survival grew slimmer. Our stamina was wearing thin, while this beast seemed to have the energy to fight on for days at a time. What can we do?

Amidst the chaos, Keel shot a look at me, eyes wide with understanding, "L, it can't look in multiple directions at once! It's body is too big!"

How did I miss it? When one of us avoids its grasp it won't focus on them but charge the next closest of us in its view. The beast is faster than us though so how do we have any hope of catching it off guard? Our weapons are too loud it will hear us moving them... we need to even the playing field. "Keel it's too fast! We are gonna take out its speed! Gen keep it distracted, stay in front of it!" I see a nod from Gen as he charges straight at the monstrosity we are up against. Monster on monster, how fitting. With Gen distracting it, I ran back towards the entrance to the clearing and began cutting away at the web by pouring water from my canteen over it and then slashing away. Keel saw what I was up to and immediately copied me grabbing a web of his own in the same way. Web like this can only be cut once wet, we used to constantly have spider's nest in the forge and this was the only way Pa could get the web out and he would dry it back out to make a perfect unbreakable rope. Working in tandem, we cut enough web in a strand so it could be used as rope- then we ran back towards Gen and the beast. While he distracted the creature, we threw down our weapons and then ran under and around the beast's legs- making sure to remain hidden and quiet. By the time the beast realized what we were doing it was too late, it tried to reposition with its speed, but Gen threw himself on the beast to keep it in place. Suddenly Gen's scream echoed through the air, "AHHHHHH HURRY UP IT GOT MY ARM!" Quickly we finished tying up its legs so it couldn't move. I turned back to Gen, "All done! Get out of there!" Gen tried to get off but the beats had him locked in its jaws. Refusing to give up. Me and Keel ran back to the head and tried to beat the jaws off of Gen, finally, it relented and writhed back- releasing Gen. 

Exhausted but determined, we pressed on, exploiting the creature's new vulnerability. As we stabbed at the beast it reared and freed a few of its legs, some of the webs hadn't become sturdy yet, shit. The beast was robbed of most of its speed, but it did not own this domain for no reason. As we fought with everything we had, the beast leaped back and... vanished. "The damn thing can go invisible," Gen muttered as he braced himself on a nearby tree, "Haha damn it, gramps, you never told me about that one." 

"Look!" Keel exclaimed, sprinting off along the ground, following a trail of blood. The blood led back into one of the caves. We had already made it this far, and with a collective look, we all took off into the caves after the beast.

...