Got everyone worked up again. Good boys, *Feeds Plot Bunnies Carrot Cake* So here we go once again….

Chapter 26--Spider Swarm

The spiders immediately surrounded him and closed in. Drizzt was ready for them. He killed two swiftly and the other two backed off a bit. Drizzt lunged forward and ran one through before it could get to far away. The final one leaped at him. It was a bad idea on its part. It only managed to impale itself on Twinkle. Spiders dead, Drizzt looked for the chanter. He finally spotted her at the edge of the trees and started towards her.

The woman smiled at him then began to gesture and chant. The minute she did Drizzt charged. The enchanted bracers gave him speed and he saw her eyes widen as she realized he would reach her before she finished the spell.

Suddenly something tangled his ankles and Drizzt fell sprawling on his face. He looked to see what it was and saw webbing tangled around his feet and three more giant spiders scuttling towards him.

The woman laughed and began her spell again.

Drizzt managed to roll onto his back and slashed at the webbing. It was awkward though and they were on him in moments. He winced as sharp fangs stabbed into his leg, another bite on his ankle. Pain swirled through him. A Drow had a strong resistance to spider venom. That was true, but to many bites could still overwhelm them.

One spat more webbing, pinning Drizzt's left wrist helplessly to the ground. He fought, but the webbing refused to give.

The woman finished her spell and Drizzt groaned when he saw five more giant spiders scuttling over to join the fight. Two more bite though he cleaved one of the spider's skull as it bit him.

Drizzt yanked his trapped wrist with all his might and it tore free, but then one of the new spiders bit his wrist, injecting more venom. Legs bound, Drizzt was in a bad position for a fight and the spiders seemed to know it. After four more painful bites the venom was too much and Drizzt collapsed on his side, no longer able to move then everything went black.

Laughing in triumph, the woman dismissed the summoned spiders and ordered the ones she had used a spell on to go. She studied the Drow with the clinical interest of a surgeon. Laying a hand on his shoulder, she chanted another spell and they both disappeared.

They appeared in a large room with tables and dozens of books scattered everywhere. "Uric! Uric!" the woman yelled. "Come in here quickly and help me!" she shouted.

A man entered the room. "Coming, Glenna, what's the rush?" he asked then he saw Drizzt. "You caught a Drow?!" he exclaimed.

"Yes, but it wasn't easy either. Help me get rid off his weapons then get him onto the table and strap him down. He did and soon the captive was firmly bound. "I have to give him something to dilute the venom just in case." Glenna rummaged through the vials and potions on the tables. "Ahh, here it is. Help me," she said.

Together they got the Drow to drink the potion. "He's perfect," Uric said. "It was good fortune that you found him."

"Indeed, he'll make an interesting subject. First we have to wait for him to regain consciousness then perhaps we can get started," Glenna said. "Let's go have a drink and we can discuss how to start."

Uric gestured to the gear they'd removed from the Drow. "What do you want me to do with this stuff?" he asked.

"Leave it for now. I'll want to study it as well later," Glenna said. She glanced over at the still unconscious Drow. "I'm looking forward to working on this one."

They left the room, closing and locking the door behind them.

Drizzt slowly regained his senses and wished he hadn't. He felt awful and his entire body ached. He tried to move and found he was tied down. That brought him fully aware and he looked around. Vials and books were everywhere and several cauldrons bubbled. There were a variety of smells, some pleasant, some not. Drizzt didn't like it. It reminded him of a wizard's laboratory. He doubted that he would want to be here and that whoever had him knew that, so he'd been bound to prevent resistance or escape. He heard two sets of footsteps coming towards the door……

Mean author, mean plot bunnies! I'm back to cliffhangers again! R/R please!