Chapter Text
I was making my annual visit to deepnest, wandering the caverns. Even if I knew she wasn’t going to wake up, I liked to visit every once in a while. She was my mother after all- it would be rude not to. As I danced between the silken lines strung across the place, I found myself growing bored. I had already visited her resting place (of course met with hostility by infected weavers) and now I was just walking around.
Eventually I grew tired of the constant movement and sat on one of the ledges just looking around. Suddenly I heard movement, and perk up looking around. Normally the other weavers stayed closer to her resting place, and it didn’t sound like the clicking of their claws. Eventually gaining the sense to look down, I see a small light. A lantern light? It was near the doorway to the tramway, so I suppose it was possible an outsider had come in from there. Stepping back onto the silk lines I made a fairly slow ascent, following the light as it moved until I was close enough to see what was holding it. A fairly small bug- probably half my height? Maybe a bit more- calmly navigating the dark. Well. This was certainly new. I’d never known someone to willingly wander into deepnest before..
I decided to watch for a bit longer as the bug wandered the cavern, inspecting his movements. Moving along the lines of silk I felt my claw get caught. Fuck not again. As I was frantically trying to get my claw free, I heard the line I was balancing on snap. Barely registering the sound I reached out for another line with my other arms and just barely missed. I soon however felt my body slam against the hard floor and forgot that frustration. Well now whoever this was definitely knew of my presence. As I was trying to stand, I heard a voice a few feet away.
“Why that was quite the fall! Are you alright friend?”
Well that was…new. Normally when others saw my figure they deemed me a danger. But as my eyes adjusted I realized the reason for the bugs kindness- his lantern had broken. He couldn’t see me yet. I waved off the lumaflies (much too bright for my eyes) and leaned one upper hand against the wall.
“I am fine. I do however see your lantern has broken in my…unconventional fall. I do apologize.”
“Well that’s quite alright. Lanterns can be replaced of course.” Not if the rest of my kin got to him first. He really shouldn’t be in here in the first place. “Say, would you have a spare the both of us could use to get out of here? I would continue my venture but it’s likely best I replace my light source first.”
“I do. Just a moment.”
I reached into my cloak for my own lantern, much more dimly lit for protection of my eyes. As much as I enjoyed our small interaction I knew it would soon be over when he saw me. I shook the lumaflies awake and watched them buzz to life, illuminating the cavern we were standing in. Standing silently, I watched for his reaction. But it wasn’t the reaction I typically got. I watched as he sheathed his nail at his side, taking a few steps towards me and further into the light.
“Ah. I assumed you were a weaver by the way you took that fall.” Oh. That’s why he wasn’t surprised- he already knew what I was. Still, I’m bigger than most. “Well…yes. Not many others are known to inhabit deepnest with its rather harsh architecture.”
“Oh I know! Still, such a surprise to see a living, non-infected bug these days yes?” I suppose he was right about that. Many had either succumb to the infection or lost their minds. “Yes, I suppose you’re correct about that.” Now I needed to get us both out of here without dying. Getting myself out was already a challenge, and with the life of another bug on my hands? It would certainly be difficult.
“Come. This way.” I began walking in the way of a tunnel I knew. I had used it to explore the outside as a child. The peak into the world I got from it was what made me decide to leave permanently- until I got the news of my mother’s state. She had always been kind to me, and I knew I couldn’t not visit. I soon snapped back to reality and realized his footsteps sounded..distant. I paused in my steps, waiting a moment for him to catch up. I heard him stop next to me followed by heavy breathing and looked down holding back a small laugh. He looked absolutely exhausted, standing next to me and trying to catch his breath.
“Are you alright..?” I wasn’t really sure what to do. Had I been walking that quickly? “I’m fine, but I can’t exactly hold your pace for that long friend.” Ah, I’d zoned out for longer than I thought. I looked around for any indicator of where we were, and quickly found what I had been looking for. A hole carved through the wall leading out to the fungal wastes.
“Over here.” I quickly made my way to the tunnel crouching by it and peering in. It seemed much smaller now that I was grown, but I could probably still fit.
“Are we going through that hole?”
“If you want to get out of here then yes.”
I didn’t hesitate to shove myself through the tunnel. I’d done it countless times as a juvenile and I’d do it again as an adult. It was dusty, the sharp rock digging into the crevices of my shell as I made an awkward army crawl through. It felt slightly suffocating- like the walls were closing in and I dug my claws into the dirt as I saw the exit, pulling myself out. I scrambled up, dusting myself off and trying my best to calm down. After a moment I began picking small rocks out of my chitin. The crevices from markings on my arms always made it easier for things to get stuck in my shell. After another minute or two I realized the other bug still hadn’t emerged. Strange- but I supposed worst case scenario was that some other bug hadn’t eaten him and he would be off my hands now.
I crouched in front of the tunnel, squinting as I peered in looking for any signs of movement. My sight wasn’t the best with the brightness of the wastes but as far as I could tell he wasn’t there. I stood again, and set my lantern back into the small bag I had in my cloak. I suppose something had gotten to him. A shame really, he did seem sweet. Well it was probably best I head back to my own dwellings, I was quite tired now. I wasn’t used to interacting with other bugs and to say the least even the little small talk we had drained me.