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It was dark out, the night sky sprinkled in stars with that broken moon. If you can even call it that. Whatever the thing is that broke and landed in the ocean not far off. Within the silence of the night was Webber, alone, sitting at Miss Wickerbottom's bookcase and carefully reading pages from a book. This was an activity the spider half of Webber preferred to do, he was more inclined to learn more than the child half.
The book was on spiders. It was something he wanted to know, since the child always talked about how that shadow guy apparently doesn't know what he's talking about and the 'spider' he is isn't actually like a real spider at all. Apparently, spiders from the outside aren't mostly digestive system, and stick to mainly bugs, not whatever they can sink their teeth in. And they don't live in colonies like he did. They didn't have queens, just themselves.
The spider's curiosity was quickly killed off when he heard a pair of footsteps. It wasn't that of a spider sibling, only two feet and more 'clack clack' than the soft pitter patter that his kind have. He quickly closed the book, and looked to where the sound came from.
"Oh Webber, I didn't think you'd be interested in reading on your own! You usually just play with the others." It was the kind and gentle voice of Miss Wickerbottom herself. She doesn't sleep! How could he forget. Should have just taken the book back to the tent, stupid, stupid, stupid.
Webber gave an awkward wave and an even more awkward smile. The child half of him handled these types of things. But he was asleep, and it would be rude to wake him up.
"What are you reading about, deary?" She asked. She looked over his shoulder and saw the closed book with the giant spider on the front. It was too obvious. He just pointed to himself.
"Oh! Of course you'd read about spiders. A lot to learn about yourself." Wickerbottom stated. Webber didn't know how to really continue this conversation, he just nodded.
"What's wrong deary? You normally are very talkative. Are you tired? You should be going to sleep anyway. It's very late."
Um. Ummm. How would he even describe what the body is doing. He sleeps during the day, the child half sleeps during the night. The body usually stays awake unless it was recovering. He struggled to come up with an answer, and sat in silence for what felt like a few minutes.
He couldn't keep silent any longer, he HAD to say something. He couldn't mess up either, this human is one of the child's friends. He can't ruin that for him.
"He... Is.." oh come on. A spider is a huge predator in this place! How can he not say something so simple.
"Asleep." There he goes.
"Oh?" She was a bit confused. How to explain...
"Child half is.. resting. Not here right now."
"Ah, I see. Two different minds. So am I talking to the spider?"
He nodded, he already hated talking. One wrong word or wrong tone and he can be seen as an enemy.
"I never expected you to be one for reading. But a curious mind is always a good one." She smiled at him, and opened the book he left in front of himself.
"Spiders here are.. different than out there, he says." Webber confessed. It felt.. weird. To say that. That he isn't a 'real' spider.
"Correct, dear. A lot smaller, less aggressive, more reclusive."
He had no idea what those two last words meant. But okay. Maybe the child will tell him later.
"I mainly had this book for Wolfgang, poor man has a phobia of nearly everything. I thought maybe him reading about spiders would ease up his fear around you. He won't even touch the book, unfortunately."
That's nice of her. Very nice.
"When you were in my world for a time, did you get to see any 'real' spiders?" Miss Wickerbottom asked. She began to skim the book, using her finger as a guide for where she was in the text.
"No. Not living. In his father's place there were.. lots of dead things. Pinned to boards. One in there maybe."
"I suppose they can be a bit harder to find." She chuckled softly.
Webber nodded in agreement again. He was trying to keep up with the pace of Miss Wickerbottom. He couldn't upset her.
"If I may ask: when did you get into reading? Can the other spiders read like you?" Now that was a hard question. He's been in this death loop for.. a very long time. He stopped reading from the book, and stared directly forward into the bookshelf, no longer using his eyes to try and focus on remembering.
"Before.. meeting him. Spiders don't read much. More focused on eating and telling stories. When I ate him.." His head-arms curled up as he remembered being able to actually think for the first time. Think isn't the right word, but he didn't know the right one. "Lots of. New things. Thoughts. Being able to really see. Read. Listen to.." oh what were the things on that one spinny thingy called. The shadow man hated them. "Vine.. el..? Spiders don't really care for those. It kind of hurt.. all at once. But is.. fun I think he'd say. A lot to learn.." He nodded slightly to himself, content with what he said. Even if it isn't perfect to Miss Wickerbottom's standards, it was his best.
"I see, dear." She smiled gently at Webber.
"Well, if you want more books to read, please do let me know. Nothing makes me happier than seeing a young kid enjoying literature."
Ah, literature. That is a word. He doesn't remember what it means. But he can get a vague idea of it.
"I.. like it. Yes. Do you have any.. liter.. ahh.. chure, of other things from.. where the child comes from?" He started using his eyes again, and looked at Miss Wickerbottom.
"Well, I have books on bees and fish." At the mention of bees, Webber remembered the taste of them in his mouth, so delicious and crunchy- if you can avoid the stinger.
"And there is that Everything Encyclopedia. That has general knowledge of a lot of things." He didn't like that book so much. Big and heavy. And good for squishing bugs and other creatures underneath it.
"Bees.. yes.. how. Like are these ones to the other ones?"
"Oh you mean similar, dear. They are a bit similar, not as big and aggressive. Well most aren't."
He nodded as he accepted this information, not as big, not as yummy, not as crunchy. Oh well.
Webber shifted his posture, less curious about the outside world and more curious about the woman in front of him. The others sleep. She doesn't.
"What do you do. When um. You can't sleep." He was curious now, with himself, the child and the spider take turns sleeping, leaving the body to not really rest unless needed.
Miss Wickerbottom was a bit surprised to have a question asked about her. Webber just stared at her curiously, he meant no harm, he just didn't know much about humans.
"I can't sleep because of my insomnia, dear. That's why I typically am the one doing night watch." She gave Webber a reassuring smile, something he needed.
"So often at night I prefer reading and writing. It appears the books made in here have special properties. At least with those who are knowledgable about it."
"You know, deary, if you wanted, we could read together at night, if you aren't busy. I can teach you more words. Would be lovely to teach someone who is very eager." She ruffled Webber's hair, which startled him. He didn't expect her touch, but he welcomed it. He gave Miss Wicker a big smile, maybe a bit too big, showing off all his fangs.
"Yes, please. Would be fun."
