Resting for a moment just beyond its gothic arch, he felt a sullen anger
rise within him. Though not a vindictive creature, the thought of an
enormous land spider keeping him from the rest and shelter of his lair
sent waves of liquid anger pulsing sharply through his veined and
veinless body. He did not try to stem the feeling, knowing that in
certain measure it gave him strength. He simply allowed the bitterness
to occur inside him, strong and distasteful, then waited for the long
wisdom of his mind to diffuse it. He did not bemoan his fate, nor think
to question the will of the Nameless. He knew what he was, and what he
must do. Summoning a courage born of countless similar encounters, he
drew in his foreclaws and entered the cave.
Surprised and alarmed, the spider reacted in the only way it
knew. Feeling trapped, it rushed directly at him. The Mantis
methodically yielded his ground, leading it out onto the ledge.
Once out in the open the spider slowed, and the two adversaries squared
off, each in its own way trying to assess the relative size and strength
of the other. To the Mantis it was just another battle, dueling a foe
it had fought many times in the past. But to the spider, still young,
it was an entirely new and utterly terrifying experience.
Pages:
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46