Pratik stared at it with wide eyes, then, slowly, urged the horse to walk slowly forward, away from the spider. He couldn't breathe.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
Rickard was very, very still as they rode away. The spider watched them go, one impossibly long and many-jointed leg extending as if to beckon them back. Beneath it, the deer slowly stopped struggling.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Pratik kept his eyes fixed intently upon the spider, still not properly breathing, as he urged the horse forward slightly faster, but hopefully not fast enough to earn a chase. Slow and steady. Let the spider feast on its venison. And not him.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
It sank its mandibles into the deer and busied itself with the feast, drawing backward into higher branches. Rickard let out a small exhale, followed by a larger one as the spider moved out of sight.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Pratik almost coughed as he could finally release his pent breath. He cautiously kept the horse walking, then once he thought they were a safe distance, he urged it into a trot. He kept his eyes back on where the spider had disappeared; heart racing.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
Ada had noticed they'd fallen behind and was waiting for them. "What happened?" she asked.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
"Spider. Go. Now," Pratik snapped, deciding they were far away to run now. He kicked his horse back into a gallop.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
Ada followed suit quickly. "On our tail?" she asked, trying to stay calm. Rickard held tightly to Pratik, staring back over his shoulder.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
“I think it’s satisfied with the deer,” Pratik answered gruffly. “For now. But I’m not gonna wait around to find out.”
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"That's smart." Ada shuddered. "There's a reason they tell stories about those things."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
“I know.” Pratik kept casting glances over his shoulder. It seemed to be safe. But he was still unsettled.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"Where there's one there are others," Rickard murmured. "Usually." "Best not to think too hard about that." Ada glanced into the trees.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
“We’re almost there,” Pratik said firmly. He hoped he was right. Gods only knew what they’d do if they had a spider between them and proper provisions. “I can smell smoke from the chimneys in town.”
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
Rickard looked up, peering over Pratik's shoulder. "Thank God for that! I was starting to wonder if we'd taken a wrong turn."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Pratik only grunted in return, keeping his gaze flicking back and forth from straight ahead to watching behind them — but it seemed that they’d avoided that spider. Gods only knew what else was watching them, even now.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
