A/N: Well, Steff, I could be mean and say I do it "because I can" but that
isn't really true. I hate really long chapters and that seemed like a good
place to end. I'll try not to leave you hanging because I hate it when
people do it to me!
Thank you for your reviews. I can't believe we're almost at 20! Wow!
******
She snapped awake as the boat rocked under the shifting weight of something very dark and very big looming over her, its red eyes glowing evilly in the faint light of daybreak. With a cry of rage and fear, she kicked up, jamming her legs into the soft underbelly of the menacing spider. With a grunt, the spider fell back but managed to remain in the boat with her.
"'ere, my pretty!" It clicked. "Nice succulent morsel! Give us a kiss!"
Annowe's hair stood on end at the raspy voice. The thing was as big as her!
She scrambled backwards in the boat, tripping over her pack, desperately trying to put as much room between her and it as she could. The boat rocked precariously at the movement and both she and the spider clung to the small vessel to keep from falling into the fast moving river.
"Get away from me!" She screamed at the foul thing, desperately fumbling about for the staff she had picked up earlier.
Her heart had nearly stopped in her chest from fright. With mounting horror, she realized that she must have lost the staff in the river when she fell asleep and cursed her clumsiness.
The spider tentatively inched forward by grasping the sides of the boat, refusing to be denied its tidbit.
Panic-stricken, Annowe kicked and cursed at the thing, terrified beyond any capacity to think rationally. But the spider patiently crept forward until it was almost within reach of her. In a dangerous attempt to dislodge the fearsome creature, Annowe began rocking the boat. The spider growled menacingly but Annowe did not relent.
With its front two legs, the spider grabbed for her but she managed to stay just out of its reach. Desperately, she looked around for something to defend herself. Jumping into the Enchanted River was not an option she considered, as the water would send her into a deep and forgetful sleep.
The boat began to bounce and turn as it hit a shallow set of rapids. The heavier weight of the spider caused its end of the boat to sink lower and catch on some exposed rocks. The boat pitched and lurched in the stream before finally spinning around and coming to a perilous halt as the hull ground against the rocks. Both Annowe and the spider were knocked off balance by the shifting craft.
Her fighting instincts took over and Annowe snatched up her pack and swung it at the foul creature that had interrupted her blissful dream. The spider, taken off guard by the fierceness of the attack, tried to move. As the spider avoided the thrusting pack, the boat shuddered then dislodged from the rocks, teetering and spinning out of control down the river.
The rapids continued to buffet the small craft with Annowe and the spider both clinging to it helplessly.
"You're a live one, I'll say!" The spider had regained its horrible voice and taunted her.
"And you're going to be a dead one!" Annowe yelled back at it defiantly, brandishing the pack in front of her.
Gaining the confidence that comes from desperation, Annowe again swung her pack at the spider. The thing could do nothing but try to cushion the blow as it was backed up toward the end of the boat, unable to turn around and unwilling to jump into the river.
The spider was not to be parted from its prize so quickly and deftly leaped over Annowe, trying to sting her in the process.
"Damn you!" The enraged nymph cursed, swinging the pack again. She just missed getting hit by the stinger.
But now the spider could not see her so well and Annowe spun about and rushed at it, keeping the pack in front of her like a battering ram. She hit the spider in the backside full force and felt the thing lurch forward and scream but it still clung to the sides of the hull.
The boat, now unbalanced by their weight, ground to a halt on the rapids again. Seeing her chance, Annowe drew her knife and jammed it into the spiders exposed back.
It screamed and cursed as it tried to raise its stinger. Annowe used every bit of strength she had to press the pack down on the stinger so it could not be used against her. The two of them struggled in the boat as it tilted wildly, still lodged on the shallow rocks.
The spider, unable to see its prey and desperate for revenge, tried to turn around and face its tormentor. It was the opening Annowe was looking for. Caught off balance by the careening of the boat and pressed into a corner, the spider unsteadily tried to turn. As its legs lost contact with the sides, Annowe used the pack as a battering ram and pushed her entire body weight up and forward, driving the spider over the edge of the boat.
It landed in the river with a splash but was not immediately rendered senseless. Instead, the infuriated arachnid struggled to regain its footing on the slippery rocks.
Annowe knew she had to get as far away from it as she possibly could and quickly! Throwing caution to the wind, she jumped out of the boat and pushed it as she ran along side it over the shallow rapids, the enchanted water swirling about her ankles.
The enraged spider gathered its senses and chased after its juicy treat. Annowe did not look back but she could hear it splashing through the water behind her. Giving the boat a good shove, she jumped into the small craft and turned to face her attacker. The boat, freed from the rapids and the added weight of the spider, picked up speed. Not to be denied, the spider made one last desperate attempt to regain the boat by leaping at it but was met square in the face by Annowe's pack. Spider and pack landed in the river with a splat. The spider thankfully did not get back up.
Weak from fright and relief, Annowe collapsed in the boat and sobbed uncontrollably. She could feel her feet and legs growing numb from the enchanted waters and would soon succumb to the sleep. Removing her belt, she placed the circlet of her birth on her head to identify herself should she be found and waited for the darkness of enchantment to overtake her.
*****
Thank you for your reviews. I can't believe we're almost at 20! Wow!
******
She snapped awake as the boat rocked under the shifting weight of something very dark and very big looming over her, its red eyes glowing evilly in the faint light of daybreak. With a cry of rage and fear, she kicked up, jamming her legs into the soft underbelly of the menacing spider. With a grunt, the spider fell back but managed to remain in the boat with her.
"'ere, my pretty!" It clicked. "Nice succulent morsel! Give us a kiss!"
Annowe's hair stood on end at the raspy voice. The thing was as big as her!
She scrambled backwards in the boat, tripping over her pack, desperately trying to put as much room between her and it as she could. The boat rocked precariously at the movement and both she and the spider clung to the small vessel to keep from falling into the fast moving river.
"Get away from me!" She screamed at the foul thing, desperately fumbling about for the staff she had picked up earlier.
Her heart had nearly stopped in her chest from fright. With mounting horror, she realized that she must have lost the staff in the river when she fell asleep and cursed her clumsiness.
The spider tentatively inched forward by grasping the sides of the boat, refusing to be denied its tidbit.
Panic-stricken, Annowe kicked and cursed at the thing, terrified beyond any capacity to think rationally. But the spider patiently crept forward until it was almost within reach of her. In a dangerous attempt to dislodge the fearsome creature, Annowe began rocking the boat. The spider growled menacingly but Annowe did not relent.
With its front two legs, the spider grabbed for her but she managed to stay just out of its reach. Desperately, she looked around for something to defend herself. Jumping into the Enchanted River was not an option she considered, as the water would send her into a deep and forgetful sleep.
The boat began to bounce and turn as it hit a shallow set of rapids. The heavier weight of the spider caused its end of the boat to sink lower and catch on some exposed rocks. The boat pitched and lurched in the stream before finally spinning around and coming to a perilous halt as the hull ground against the rocks. Both Annowe and the spider were knocked off balance by the shifting craft.
Her fighting instincts took over and Annowe snatched up her pack and swung it at the foul creature that had interrupted her blissful dream. The spider, taken off guard by the fierceness of the attack, tried to move. As the spider avoided the thrusting pack, the boat shuddered then dislodged from the rocks, teetering and spinning out of control down the river.
The rapids continued to buffet the small craft with Annowe and the spider both clinging to it helplessly.
"You're a live one, I'll say!" The spider had regained its horrible voice and taunted her.
"And you're going to be a dead one!" Annowe yelled back at it defiantly, brandishing the pack in front of her.
Gaining the confidence that comes from desperation, Annowe again swung her pack at the spider. The thing could do nothing but try to cushion the blow as it was backed up toward the end of the boat, unable to turn around and unwilling to jump into the river.
The spider was not to be parted from its prize so quickly and deftly leaped over Annowe, trying to sting her in the process.
"Damn you!" The enraged nymph cursed, swinging the pack again. She just missed getting hit by the stinger.
But now the spider could not see her so well and Annowe spun about and rushed at it, keeping the pack in front of her like a battering ram. She hit the spider in the backside full force and felt the thing lurch forward and scream but it still clung to the sides of the hull.
The boat, now unbalanced by their weight, ground to a halt on the rapids again. Seeing her chance, Annowe drew her knife and jammed it into the spiders exposed back.
It screamed and cursed as it tried to raise its stinger. Annowe used every bit of strength she had to press the pack down on the stinger so it could not be used against her. The two of them struggled in the boat as it tilted wildly, still lodged on the shallow rocks.
The spider, unable to see its prey and desperate for revenge, tried to turn around and face its tormentor. It was the opening Annowe was looking for. Caught off balance by the careening of the boat and pressed into a corner, the spider unsteadily tried to turn. As its legs lost contact with the sides, Annowe used the pack as a battering ram and pushed her entire body weight up and forward, driving the spider over the edge of the boat.
It landed in the river with a splash but was not immediately rendered senseless. Instead, the infuriated arachnid struggled to regain its footing on the slippery rocks.
Annowe knew she had to get as far away from it as she possibly could and quickly! Throwing caution to the wind, she jumped out of the boat and pushed it as she ran along side it over the shallow rapids, the enchanted water swirling about her ankles.
The enraged spider gathered its senses and chased after its juicy treat. Annowe did not look back but she could hear it splashing through the water behind her. Giving the boat a good shove, she jumped into the small craft and turned to face her attacker. The boat, freed from the rapids and the added weight of the spider, picked up speed. Not to be denied, the spider made one last desperate attempt to regain the boat by leaping at it but was met square in the face by Annowe's pack. Spider and pack landed in the river with a splat. The spider thankfully did not get back up.
Weak from fright and relief, Annowe collapsed in the boat and sobbed uncontrollably. She could feel her feet and legs growing numb from the enchanted waters and would soon succumb to the sleep. Removing her belt, she placed the circlet of her birth on her head to identify herself should she be found and waited for the darkness of enchantment to overtake her.
*****