[RQ] Somehow it always comes back to spiders

She'd been meaning to come and visit Danta-dearest's den of iniquity, so picking up a spare critter for Torchline's  anti-void campaign wasn't out of the way. Getting there hadn't been hard; not in Longheat and on the wings of gore crows, at least, given the lack of convenient skyport that Torchline had failed to rebuild yet. She'd been pleasantly surprised at how fast the cub was coming along, in fact, as he donned feathers of his own to join her for the flight.

Sauntering into the bar, she had let her eyes wander appreciatively over everything on display. From the drinks to the food to the flesh, the Maverick had done rather well for himself in this little backwater region so far from the Climb. "I think I'll have you later," she purred at one of the scantily-clad women on her way past, earning a giggle and a flirtatiously murmured agreement.

But apparently the best place to find winespiders was in a cellar with booze, according to the locals, and Zefira waltzed her way over to the door leading (further) down like she owned the place, gesturing for Edmund to go first. "After you, kitten," she invited with a wicked grin. "Got the box?"

It had to be something small enough for her to fly all the way back to Torchline with, after all, dangling from her talons the whole way. The box had been the first thing she'd scrounged after they arrived. They'd just have to make sure they found a voidcritter small enough that it could be jammed into it!  

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Voidweaver Spiders (Common): The once-useful Wine Spiders have become Voidweavers, their once-drunk demeanor replaced with a malevolent hunger. They spin webs of void energy, ensnaring anything that comes too close. Their venom induces nightmares, trapping victims in a perpetual state of terror.

Perhaps it was the blood on his hands or the fire that burned ever brighter in his veins, but Edmund was far less intimidated by Zefira now than he used to be. He'd grown as an Ancient and it was possibly just that. Kin recognizing kin. The flight had been silent, which he appreciated. His goodbyes had been...painful. Hadama especially as the King had been previously unaware that Edmund was even considering leaving Torchline. The rest of his family had at least known that. Yet now it was done. As soon as the spider was captured, he'd officially be a Grounder. His belongings had already been sent ahead and would arrive by the end of the season if he was lucky. Lost in thought as he was, Edmund merely observed Zefira's flirtations. Though his ears did tint pink as he walked past. Passing his fellow Ancient, he leaned into his instincts and playfully bared his fangs at her, "Why thank you." Channeling his grief into anger helped soothe the heart. Turning that anger into sibling aggression, even more so. It felt fake for the moment, but he'd fake being ok until he made it. Opening the door, held up the box with a nod, "The last time I saw a wine spider small enough to fit in this, it was going for the red wine." Scanning his surroundings, he spotted a rack of red and walked over to investigate. Edmund Reborn In Fire

As Edmund walked past, Zefira reached out to rap the top of his head with her knuckles smartly with a snort. "Aye, and keep your sass to yourself while you're at it, lad." Baring his fangs at her? Perhaps she would need to put some of the fear back in him before she left after all. But first things first: they had a spider to catch.

How hard could it be?

She followed him down, leaving the door open to let some light into the shadowed darkness. The room was dry, with a faint odor of grape must and dust and undertones of woody oak. There were racks of higher-quality bottled vintages, but the path along the stone floor that showed the most traffic headed for the casks of cheaper wine. Zef prowled behind Edmund curiously, amber eyes noting several bottles she'd like to get to know better before the night was over.

So it was that Edmund would be the first to notice the shine reflecting from the little black eyes of a young arachnid as it stumbled into the shadows at their approach, hiccuping adorably as it tried its drunken best to squeeze its little brown body beneath two large casks of red wine to hide.

Edmund blinked when Zef tapped his head, barely resisting the impulse to stick his tongue out at her. Where had this urge to be an annoying little sibling suddenly come from? He'd have to reflect on that that later. For now, his attention was quickly claimed by the odd little spider that practically tumbled out from where it had been hiding. Despite its concerning appearance compared to normal wine spiders, the young Ancient's lips twitched. It was still adorable. He took a cautious step towards the void-infected creature, pausing when it flashed sharp fangs with sudden aggression. The small creature practically squared up before suddenly rushing the two Ancients. Incredulous at the amount of bloodlust contained in something the size of his finger, Edmund jumped to the side to avoid the creature. As it skittered past him, easily switching to target Zefira, Edmund quickly unscrewed the lid of the container and slammed it on top of the spider to trap it. The small creature let out a surprisingly loud hiss of displeasure and proceeded to repeatedly ram its face into the glass to get to the Ancients. Edmund let out a low huff of laughter, "Oh dear." He looked up from where he was on one knee, hand on the jar, to address Zefira. "I don't suppose you have a piece of paper or other material to slide under this? If we do, we can flip the jar and quickly seal the lid." Edmund Reborn In Fire

Okay, points to the damn beastie for being cute as fuck and packing ten pounds of fearless angry into a ten ounce bag. Zef could respect cojones like that on any creature, no matter how small. Sure, maybe it was completely crazy, but it had fire, and she grinned wide and sharp as it headed towards her. "C'mere, cutie," he purred at it, raising one bare foot in preparation for granting its adorable death wish--

But Edmund got to it first, and Zef lowered her foot with a quiet huff of pique as his common sense and focus on their goal got on the way of her fun. She crossed her arms over her chest to look down at the kneeling Edmund and his wee prisoner and let out an un-ladylike snort at his question.

"Tiger, does it look like I've got pockets?" she scoffed, amusement glinting in her golden eyes. The question was functionally rhetorical; not only was it Longheat, but it was Zefira that Edmund was talking to. Her leather pants might well have been painted on her, and only the chest wrap around her modest breasts prevented the shredded halter top she wore from scandalizing the populace outside the Last Whisper. "Hang on, though. I think there's just the thing..." She tapped a nail against her hip thoughtfully, then turned and prowled up the stairs.

She returned a few minutes later with a cocktail in one hand and a cardboard coaster in the other that she waggled triumphantly. "Here we go. Catch!" She tossed the stiffened square at her fellow Ancient and moved to crouch beside him, scooping up the lid as she grinned evilly down at the spider that hissed and chittered malevolently back up at her. "Flip the little bastard on three and I'll cap 'im." Taking a sip of her drink - dark red, thick, and with a slender stick of green canting out of the glass at a jaunty angle - she poised to follow through on her promise.

Probably.

Edmund was relieved that he'd gotten to the spider first. Zefira's murderous intentions were apparent, and he almost reminded her that they needed the creature alive. Almost. He sighed, "If you want, we can go kill something after we get the spider secured. I'm sure there are more aggressive void creatures around that could benefit from population control."   His fellow Ancient left before he could respond to her rhetorical question, returning with a possible solution. Edmund nodded as he just barely caught the coaster, "On three." Taking a breath, he braced himself, "One...two...three!" He flipped the spider, watching as it was tumbled in the jar with a reverberating screech. He distantly hoped that Zefira would be successful. His main focus was on avoiding a void-filled bite. Edmund Reborn In Fire

"Mmm. I'll be needin' an appetizer before tonight's main course anyways." The Ancient woman grinned and waved over her shoulder as she headed up the stairs at a leisurely pace. She didn't make Edmund wait very long for her return, at least - just long enough for the bartender to make her drink, and she was very persuasive in putting herself at the front of the line, which was thankfully short so early in the day.

Whether she might have hesitated in capping the jar, just to see what would happen if a void beastie bit an Ancient, Edmund would thankfully never know. She moved like lightning, slapping the lid down on the jar as the spider scrambled to gain purchase on the slick glass sides and then twisted it adroitly shut. Small holes in the top would let their prey breathe during its captivity, but fuck if she was going to try and feed it. Spiders could go a long time between meals, right?

"Not bad, tiger," she admitted, pushing herself to her feet in a sinuous movement and then reaching down to give Edmund's hair a congratulatory tussle. "I'll head out in the morning ta get this wee beastie back to Torchline. After a good meal, some drinks, and a night in a proper bed with someone ta warm it!"

Edmund let out a slow breath when Zefira didn't attempt to assassinate him via arachnid and instead secured the spider. Perhaps he was growing on her. She reached down and he second-guessed himself only to blink at her borderline affectionate action, "Thank you." Smiling softly, he stood up and meticulously dusted off his clothes while listening to Zefira. "Enjoy yourself, and safe travels." Clothes tended to, Edmund rolled his shoulders, the anxiety of what he was about to truly do hitting him. If he didn't follow the older Ancient, that'd be it. He'd be a Grounder, not a Torcher. This was his last opportunity. Edmund forced himself to turn on his heel with a wave, "I'll see you around." He began the walk out of the bar and onto the street, thoughts racing with each step. He'd become an Ancient to protect his family and Torchline. That had been his goal. To be a source of strength when Safrin inevitably failed again. And she had failed, and Torchline had been struck by tragedy soon after. He should go home. He should go help and fulfill his initial goal. The young Ancient snarled, his fangs bared at seemingly nothing. No. Mother wanted him to help his siblings adjust. Mother had given him the power to fulfill his goals and the permission to make those goals whatever he wished. The Ancients were his family now and the majority of them were in the Hollowed Grounds. Edmund could still go and help Torchline recover, he just didn't need to be a Torcher to do it. He could visit. Yes. Edmund could do this. He would do this. He'd be a Grounder and his priority would be the Ancients. He would visit Torchline and help them recover, ensuring that the rest of his family and birthplace were safe. He could do both. He already was doing both, just switching his priorities. It was that final perspective that settled it for him. Edmund grinned, tail flicking with excitement. Yes, he was a Grounder now. -{FIN} Edmund Reborn In Fire