Alone in the dark

Wylan’s honesty is a gift, laid at Spider’s feet for them to cup cautiously between splayed palms. fragile, delicate. Spider sifts through it, parsing every fragment with careful scrutiny. a younger version of them would want to take Wylan’s pain away completely - but today’s version knows it’s not that simple. it’s never that simple. so Spider listens, eyes searching and a sad little smile twitching along their mouth. despite living in the same pack, the pair have had significantly different upbringings; for one thing, Spider has never had siblings, and any friends they’d initially made - aside from Wylan himself - had been outside the Armada. this, alongside Bas and Hazel’s more…free-range parenting style means they grew up relatively independent, social creature though they can be.

that doesn’t mean they can’t sympathise with their friend, however. Wylan is hurting, and his world is shrinking. Spider certainly knows what that’s like. “well then,” they say finally, “that’s an easy fix.” they drop Wylan’s chin and slump down beside him, wiggling closer until the pair are curled up together. “i’ll just have to stay close.”

"Araneae Fatalis"