Chapter Ninety-Seven
I let the Trio enjoy their loot and look back at Aranya and the others. Theyre still waiting, with Yvonne giving a bit of a play-by-play of the shifting hierarchy among the scythemaws.
Most seem to be more or less settled into their spots, but theres one that seems a prime candidate for them to draw out. Its a bit skinnier than the others around, but a whole lot meaner. Id probably try for one of the others, but from how Yvonne talks about that ones position, its going to be their best bet.
A larger one has been wandering around, and Yvonne thinks its waiting for someone to make better progress on a nest before simply muscling them out. Itll probably get a few cuts from the fight, but theres little doubt itd be able to oust the smaller one, and it seems to be the best one for it to go after, too. The others are big enough they might be able to break something, so the skinnier one would be the clear choice.
Its taking a while, though. Long enough for my attention to wander back to my spiderkin and their new enclave. Im kinda surprised the scythemaws are mostly treating the cave like the enclave isnt even there, considering how much they seem to hate spiders.
In fact, the first couple days they were in there, they were always stomping around, growling, and generally trying to get the spiderkin to come down and fight. The spiderkin, of course, have no intention of going down there at least as long as they finish up relatively quickly. The cave lobster ponds are safe, but they dont know how long the things will live without any help from the village.
The wranglers are fully confident that two weeks will be no problem, and are pretty sure they should be fine for a month or so. After that, opinions start differing, but theyre happy to leave the concern mostly for the future. The male maws have started showing up and strutting their stuff for the ladies, but no business has been conducted just yet. If theyre happy to lay fairly quickly and leave, the enclave can easily just wait. If they stick around to try to protect the eggs we might have a problem.
Its a pretty outside chance, though, so theyre content to wait. While its possible the mother scythemaws will starve themselves protecting their eggs, Yvoinne gives it pretty long odds.
And speaking of my favorite birb (sorry Poe), she speaks up from Violets doors, where she and Teemo are keeping a careful watch.The inaugural upload of this chapter took place via N0v3l-B1n.
The big ones back. I think its time. With the males mingling now, she needs a nest if she wants a mate. Everyone remember their parts? she asks, and everyone nods their heads. Then get ready to open the doors all the way.
I watch through Teemo as the scythemaw swaggers through the area outside. She sniffs at a few nests, but the ones there growl and convince her itll be too much hassle. She could probably take most of the scythemaws in the area, but they might get in some good licks. Yvonne calling that shed bully the smaller one is right on the money, as she puffs herself up larger as she comes closer to the nest of the smaller one.
The outsider growls as she approaches, and the smaller roars, leaving the larger one unimpressed. She roars again as the other steps a foot into her area, but doesnt yet attack. She knows this isnt a fight she can win, but she also doesnt want to give up her hard work.
A second leg intrudes on her domain, and its time to put up or shut up. She dashes forward, mandibles wide open, and her foe meets her. They lock maws, and it becomes a lot like a sumo match: first pushed out loses. Of course, with the difference in size, the smaller one never stood a chance. If she had managed to avoid locking mandibles together, she might have been able to use her speed, but she didnt, and is pushed out without too much fuss.
Weavers Tangle! shouts Aranya as she finishes another spell, this time doing something to the scythemaw. The others seem to take it as a signal, and prepare attacks.
Hol th Line! bellows Ragnar, red spittle flying as he stares down the enraged scythemaw.
True Shot! follows Yvonne, her arrow glowing slightly as she waits for the perfect moment to let it fly.
Stalactite Call! finishes Aelara, pulling a large spear of rock from the ceiling, directly overhead of the scythemaw.
The monster charges Ragnar, ready to meet and overcome his challenge or die trying, before a twist of Fate seals its doom. Bold Gambit! shout all four, their efforts combining. The orange glow nudges its leading foot just a little before winking out, causing it to fall into the gap left from when the maw sent Ragnar into the air. It stumbles with a surprised grunt, and Yvonne releases her arrow into its throat. The beast rears back in pain, before the plummeting stalactite catches it right at the base of the skull and drives it to the floor with an echoing boom.
The party watches for a few moments to make sure the maw is dead, but the body doesnt even twitch. Nobody wants to be the first to declare victory, but Ragnar soon grunts and takes a rough seat on the floor. Urg m gonna feel this tomorra, he groans, tracing the long dent on his chest armor.
That seems to pop the tension, and Aelara walks over to heal him with a smile and shake of her head. I was worried when that thing grabbed you, Ragnar.
Aye, how dye ken I felt? he jokes, before looking over at Aranya. What was that prayer y cast? I could feel it fightin tha bite.
Aranya looks a bit embarrassed before she answers. Its inspired by the ratkin, actually. They remember working in the forges when they were still denizens, smelting ore and making crude gear. They like to ask to be tempered to never shatter, only to bend under great force. A bent sword can be straightened, or reforged much easier than a broken one.
Weavers Tangle is inspired by the spiderkin, then? asks Aelara, and my High Priestess nods.
They like to focus on his Fate aspect, saying he weaves small starts into glorious finales.
Id certainly call that a pretty glorious finale, says Yvonne as she examines the dead scythemaw, and the others all nod. Ragnar stands, seeming to be feeling much better after being healed, but his face falls as he looks at the dead beast.
Howre we gonna get it outa here?
