Take hold of your future

Spider awoke in front of Vali’s den in a blind panic. Something had happened, something terrible, but he couldn’t remember what it was. He knew he was in danger, that he had done something wrong, but his half asleep mind refused to put the pieces together. He had fled Vali’s den in a hurry and made for thicket but before he could Shaye called for him.

Cold dread filled him as the entirety of the night before flashed through his mind. She knew. Rhyme had already told her. He considered running for the hills and avoiding seeing her altogether, abandoning Abaven before he was made to answer for his crimes, but somehow that seemed far worse. He wanted to believe that Shaye would never hurt him, and that she would understand more than Rhyme would, but how could he? He barely knew her, and barely understood why she put herself in the awkward position of taking care of a wretch like him.

He walked toward the call, his head low and his eyes clearly panicked, questioning all the while what she would do to him when she saw him. Small pained whines escaped him as Shaye came into view and he stopped nearly four body lengths away from her. More than enough distance to turn and run if he needed to.

Spider speaking  You Speaking Toad's voice