Author's note: I'm bumping the rating up to "Teen" because I think the violence gets a little over "K+" level; and later chapters may have some darker concepts.
Escaping Ishrae's dungeons did not mean the group was out of danger. They walked unhindered for around an hour, before they were seen by a massive spider, who was lurking in the shadows above them. It descended silently from its web, landing with a hungry hiss in front of the group.
A collective cry of surprise went up from the escaping prisoners as it surged forward.
The adventurers raised their weapons, and moved to attack, as the villagers backed away. Liana's arrow glanced off the creature's exoskeleton, but it was momentarily blinded by an explosion from a fireball the wizard hurled in it's face. Taking the advantage presented to them, the melee fighters lunged forward, slashing and stabbing at the spider's legs.
One swing from the dragonborn paladin's mace crippled the arachnid greatly, and it shrieked in pain and rage, knocking aside the adventurers nearest to it with a great sweep if one of its legs. As they lay sprawling, it stabbed at them with it's pointed feet, successfully spearing the less fortunate, or slower to evade; throwing the limp bodies across the cavern.
Those that avoided such a gruesome fate, were thrown into disarray though as their frantic dodging drew them further from their companions. Makareth had rolled away from the glossy black leg that had attempted to take his life, but his dodge put him directly in front of the spider's face. Unable to avoid the massive mandibles, he was caught in between the beast's jaws, and thrown to the ground half a furlong from where the spider stood, losing consciousness as his mask splintering into a thousand pieces by the impact.
Liana shot five arrows in quick succession into the spider's eyes, while the wizard launched a magic missile through a joint in the beast's leg; severing the appendage. The remaining adventurers leapt back into the fray, and together they felled the giant arachnid.
Stepping away from the spider sprawled on the ground, they all took a few calming breaths as the cleric and paladin moved from one combatant to the next, checking for injuries.
As soon as the beast fell, Liana had dropped her bow, and ran to where Makareth lay on his side among the splinters of shattered bone; his twin jumping spiders standing beside him with concern. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw his chest rising and falling with ragged breaths. Before moving him, she ran her hands over his body, checking to make sure nothing was broken. Confirming that all his bones were still intact, she slid her hands beneath his shoulders and knees, carefully gathering the smaller elf into her arms to bring him to the healers. The two jumping spiders followed behind her.
As she carried him closer to the others, the high elf wizard stiffened, and the rest of the adventurers took a step back. The villagers as well backed away a pace warily at the sight of the dark elf.
"You said he wasn't a drow." The wizard stated icily when Liana came within ten steps of the group.
"I said he wasn't one of them." The wood elf corrected, tightening her grip on Makareth protectively, "He is a drow. But he is also a decent person; different from the rest of his kind. If it weren't for him, we'd all still be in that slave pen. I think that counts for more that his blood."
The wizard continued to glare, but relented enough to let her bring the unconscious rogue to the healers. They confirmed that he was uninjured, and should wake up soon; but backed away as soon as possible, leaving Liana alone with him and his spiders.
Not to long after that, the small dark elf shifted slightly with a groan, his violet eyes flickering open and blinking back the last dregs of unconsciousness. Then he sat up, looking around the cavern, until his gaze passed over the corpse of the giant spider.
"We need to get out of here!" He exclaimed jumping to his feet, and putting his pack back on, "Before any other spiders show up!"
"What?" Liana asked.
Makareth looked up at the ceiling.
"The commotion from the fight with the giant spider will draw the scavengers-"
He didn't even get to finish his statement, as one of the adventurers shouted a warning, and a villager screamed in terror.
Ten more of the vile creatures surrounded the group, dropping down from their webs suspended near the ceiling, and rushing forward to catch their prey.
Chaos broke out as the still exhausted adventurers struggled to ready their weapons, at the same time trying to avoid the spiders' attempts at snaring them. The group was soon swept apart as the arachnids wreaked havoc among them, drawing out, and or pursuing two or three away at a time.
Liana had managed to stick with both Makareth, and the wizard, even as they were driven across the cavern, and away from their companions.
The spider pursued them hungrily, hissing in anger as they avoided its webs and claws. Its red eyes flashed with rage every time they jumped clear. The beast was quick enough, that they had to put all their effort into dodging, and never got a chance to attack. None of them were suited for close quarters fighting against a foe of this magnitude, and they couldn't put enough distance between it and themselves to use their long-range weapons, or properly aim a spell.
The cavern floor was covered in uneven rocks and loose gravel, so as their legs tired out, they stumbled more often, and eventually fell. Ironically, the rogue was the first to lose his footing.
It all happened so fast, that the short series of events didn't register in Liana's brain, until a stabbing pain erupted in her shoulder.
As the trio of elves ran across the uneven ground, whilst avoiding the spider's persistent attempts to catch them; Makareth's foot caught on a stone protruding from the cavern floor, and it sent him sprawling. The spider shrieked in triumph as it bore down on him, its prey paralyzed with fear.
Her body moving seemingly of its own accord, Liana leapt between the spider and drow; taking the venomous bite meant for the smaller elf.
Time seemed to pause for a moment as she stared into the ruby red eyes of the spider. Then she heard a scream in her own voice, followed by a lance of agony burning through her body. Her vision darkened even as a flash of fire lit the arachnid's visage, and she fell to the ground hearing what she thought was someone calling her name.
She tried to turn her head to see the speaker, but the spider's venom took over, and she fell into darkness.
0*0*0*0*0
Makareth closed his eyes as the arachnid's fangs descended towards him, expecting to feel the venomous teeth pierce his body.
But nothing happened.
No stabbing pain.
No burning agony as the poison entered his system.
Nothing.
His eyes flew open to see Liana standing over him with the spider's sharp teeth embedded in her shoulder. She screamed in pain as the arachnid held her, its venom beginning to take effect.
The small drow could only stare dumbly in confusion and disbelief for a few seconds, before shaking off the rest of his fear as a flaming bolt of energy slammed into the spider's face, and it dropped the wood elf emitting a pained shriek.
As the beast staggered, shaking its head, Makareth leapt to his feet with his blades drawn; stabbing each into one of the spider's primary eyes. The creature reared back in agony, ripping the weapons from the drow's grasp as black blood oozed from the wounds.
Makareth glanced around to see the wizard standing a few meters away. The high elf's hand was still glowing from the magic he had just used as he stared calculatingly at his foe.
The spider continued to thrash its head back and forth, hissing and shrieking as it retreated, discovering that the daggers would not be coming out of its eyes.
Before the creature was fully out of sight, Makareth came to kneel beside the fallen ranger, rearranging her limbs so she lay in a more natural position.
"Why would you take a hit like that for me?" He asked quietly, grimacing at the ugly wound on her shoulder. Brushing the wood elf's brown hair away from her forehead, he could already feel a fever beginning on her pale brow, "Liana!" He called, "Liana, can you hear me?"
Of course, she didn't respond.
The small drow dug around in his pack, cursing inwardly when he discovered that he was out of spider venom antidotes.
Making a decision, he took a moment to collect himself, then gathered Liana's larger form into his arms, and started walking.
"Where do you think you're going?" The wizard inquired.
Makareth turned to look at him.
"I'm assuming you don't have any antidotes or healing spells?" He asked. When the wizard shook his head, the young drow continued, "I'm not just going to leave her out in the middle of a cavern inhabited by elf-eating spiders. I'm taking her someplace safe, so she won't get eaten while I go get a potion for her. I suppose, if you want to come, you can."
Not waiting for an answer, he resumed walking. The soft crunching of boots on the gravel floor behind him said that the wizard was following along. Silence hung between them for some time, the only sounds reaching their ears being that of their own footfalls; until the wizard eventually spoke.
"What makes you care about this ranger?" He asked, "There is naught but hatred between the elves of the Underdark, and their surface-dwelling cousins. So why are you concerned for her health?" The high elf's voice held only curiosity, but Makareth cringed as if the comment had been hostile.
Why did he care? He had asked pretty much the same question to Liana when he had woken up in the cave off the slaver trail, and her answer had been, "Because you needed it."
In the short time that he had known her, Liana seemed to be a naturally caring person; displaying genuine concern for his well being when Makareth first got injured, and then throwing herself in the way of spider bite meant for him. He cared, because she had helped him, and was the closest thing he'd ever had to a friend. He wanted to be able to repay her.
"Because she cared about me when I got hurt, and I feel I should return the favor." He said, not entirely sure how to put his thoughts into words.
The wizard gave a satisfied hum; then silence settled over the group again until they reached Makareth's destination.
"A spider's nest?" The wizard asked warily, halting a ways from the web shrouded cave entrance, "I thought you wanted to avoid encountering more of the beasts!"
"There aren't any spiders in here that are going to hurt anyone." Makareth said, carefully stepping past the webs at the entrance, "The only ones you'll find, are..." His voice trailed off as a realization struck him like a physical blow. His two jumping spiders wouldn't be in there at all. He had unthinkingly left them behind in the chaos of the spider attack.
He looked over at the corner of the cave where their web stretched across the wall, his shoulders slumping in frustration. Tearing his gaze away from the web, he turned to lay Liana on the floor on top of an extra soft pile of silk.
The high elf gingerly followed him into the little cavern, blinking in surprise at how cozy it was inside, with it's silk covered walls, and calming earthy scent. He looked over as Makareth lay the wood elf down, wrapping her tightly in her cloak.
"There is a stream with clean water a little ways down the tunnel, to the right of the cave entrance." the small drow said, standing up, and looking at the wizard, "Please do what you can to keep her fever down."
"Where are you going?" The high elf asked, as Makareth moved to exit the cave.
"Into town to get an antidote." the drow responded, pulling up his hood, and stepping out into the tunnel.