Author's Notes: This is something of a new genre for me - I've never written any thing of this sort, so any feedback would be adored. Please review!
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Rise
From The Ash
By Kaetien
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~1/Kaeleer~
The dappled morning sunlight caught on the delicate strands, silver spider-silk stretched taught in a tangled web. Woven between the same boulder and a nearby tree as Witch's web had been two years ago, the Queen of Arachna could almost taste the memory lingering on the still air. She could still recall with clarity all that she had seen in the previous web, etched into her mind by the cold realization that the path recklessly taken could have been deadly.
But this web was different somehow. Different to the one Witch had previously spun, yet both were alike. Both foreboding. The veiled visions and dreams leaked their oppressive weight into the crisp air.
*You speak your troubles?* the spider asked softly.
From where she stood, leaning against the side of the tree, Jaenelle's sapphire gaze flickered uncertainly between the spider's and the fragile web. Jaenelle did not reply. She inhaled slowly, eyes clouding with doubt. Biting her lip slightly and staring unblinkingly at her tangled web, Jaenelle tensed as if to speak, but remained silent. Fear. The spider could sense the suppressed emotion flavouring the air, and shifted from her perch atop the boulder.
The Arachnian Queen would not normally open her mind to the dreams and visions within the web without Jaenelle's permission, out of respect. But there was little that could affect Witch thus, and a vision that left Jaenelle so unsettled could only be a sign of ill things to come. Even Jaenelle, with her strong Craft, could not keep her feelings leashed; could not hide the fear from her Sister Queen. The spider issued a low buzz with her own Craft.
*What you see in web?*
A pause.
"I'm not sure," Jaenelle whispered. "This web carries uncertainty in its threads." Crouching, she brushed a sun-kissed strand with her fingertips. "Kaeleer Terreille" Her fingers brushed another. "And Hell." As she touched the last, a strange expression frosted her ancient sapphire eyes. They glazed slightly as a vision flooded her mind. Jaenelle shook her head and rose to her feet. "This web" she trailed off slowly.
*You doubt yourself. You doubt your strength.*
Jaenelle's eyes narrowed. "This web is missing something, but I'm not sure what it is." A frustrated smile tugged at her lips. "It reveals half-visions. Half-dreams. I cannot see the entire truth through the fog."
*But is bad?*
"Yes, Sister Queen," Jaenelle answered quietly. "It is bad."
*Like before?*
"No. It will be different."
*What you see?* the spider asked again.
"I don't know. But what will come is inevitable. It will be years yet, but when it does, we must face it." She glanced at the Queen of Arachna. "This is an event that we cannot prevent. Many will die, and the knowledge will only instil fear throughout the Realms. No others can know of this." Sweeping her fingers lightly through the threads, Jaenelle destroyed the tangled web.
*Sacrifices have been made in the past,* the spider reasoned. *Surely there is prevention. A measure we can take.*
"It will not be enough. I will do all that I can, but we have no time to garner the strength that will be required of us. The Blood will be tested again."
*Soon?*
She hesitated. "After my lifetime."
The spider thought for a moment, watching the golden-haired woman intently. So many dreamers had given life to the special web that had become Witch. Dreams made flesh. *Witch not stand with Blood?* the Arachnian Queen asked, already knowing the answer.
"No." Jaenelle replied, her voice soft. She stood to leave. "The dreams have little time in this flesh."
To Be Continued