On the opposite side of the mountain to where our heroes entered, our arachnid trio walked through the portal.

Weava took out a map from her bag, unfurling it. "Ok, should be a village nearby. We can go there, see if there's anything we might've missed in our preparations."

"Good idea." Scorpia said, everyone walking forward.

The scorpion knight then noticed chattering and shivering noises, looking and seeing Spydey hugging herself. "You ok?"

"Y-y-y-y-y-yeah, j-j-j-just a bit, cold is all…." The queen answered, trying to put on a nonchalant smile, only to fail spectacularly with the chattering teeth.

"...w-well…" Scorpia began, a rosy tint to her cheeks. "You could…uh…" She unfurled her tail and opened her arm.

Spydey's eyes widened at this, hesitating, briefly looking to Weava, who just smiled sweetly at her, nodding. Spydey then, face red, snuggled up to Scorpia's side, who wrapped her arm and tail around her. "Oooooh that's better…" Spydey moaned, holding onto her knight.

Weava looked on, smiling at this.

A part of her wished that…

"..."

She shook her head. At least Spydey would be warm now.

Some time later, the three were still walking until Weava came to a stop.

"Ok it says right here is where the…village…is…" Weava commented, eyes looking upward, her words drifting off as she saw a welcome sign damaged. Broken off chunks, claw marks…

Everyone was instantly unnerved.

"...Ok that's not ominous…" Spydey muttered sarcastically, trying to ignore the shiver running down her spine that she was pretty sure wasn't from the cold.

The three walked forward, eventually seeing the gates to the village…

The very broken down gates.

"...great Areina…" Spydey muttered, covering her mouth in surprise.

Scorpia held her queen close, narrowing her eyes. "Hello?" She called out, her voice echoing. "Anybody?"

They listened.

…No answer.

"..." Recovering from the initial surprise, Weava looked to the two of them. "We should search for survivors."

The queen and knight nodded at her, the trio rushing through the gates.

As they went through this village -or what was left of it anyway- they saw more and more that whatever happened, it was a while ago.

Overgrowth of various plants -some they recognized, some they didn't-, collapsed buildings, cracked windows and furniture covered in dust, dry fountains…

Whatever luster or unique look or beauty this village once may have had…it was long since gone…

"...how…how long ago could this have been…?" Spydey wondered, horrified the more they all explored this place.

"...how in the…" Weava whispered to herself, tracing her hand along some of the worn out benches and walls, seeing something peculiar…similar damage to the sign. "...claw marks…some beast did this…"

Scorpia looked at all of this in silence, though she did experience an unpleasantness in her stomach. She had seen quite a bit in her time as a knight, even when she was in the academy.

Seeing a ruined village…signs of so much loss of life…it was never a pretty sight.

…

Spydey was sitting on a thankfully still intact bench, hugging herself, Weava and Scorpia arriving.

"...nothing." Weava reported, sitting down on one side next to Spydey.

"Nothing…" Scorpia added, leaning against the wall. "Whatever happened, it happened a long ass time ago…if anyone was spared, they left."

Spydey was…shaking, and not just due to the cold, which had calmed down a little in the time they had spent searching. All this death and destruction…with how bad a state the town was in…what could've done this? What kind of…monster or creature could've…

Her thoughts were cut off when, much to her surprise, she was suddenly hugged on both sides by her friends, Scorpia having sat down on the side opposite to Weava.

Her heart raced and her face heated up at this.

Scorpia-and Weava-both hugging-Scorpia's strong arms, Weava's caring touch-this is too much, abort mission, ABORT ABORT-

Just as she was about to go into a critical gay panic attack, the three noticed a large building. It looked a bit like…some kind of old church. There were some broken windows and damage, but it looked relatively intact.

"...we can use that as shelter tonight." Weava said. "I can maybe also find some materials for us to use. Maybe craft some better outfits."

The scorpion and spider nodded, the trio standing up, though to Spydey's embarrassment, and delight, both held onto her the whole way there.

Once they went inside though, all three immediately stiffened.

Something was…off.

They couldn't explain why, but…they just got a bad feeling about this place.

Scorpia gripped her sword, ready to unsheathe it at a moment's notice.

The trio then heard light breathing.

…a survivor?

The three followed the sound, eventually coming to some closed large doors.

They looked at each other, nodding, Scorpia getting in front and slowly opening the doors.

What they saw inside was some old abandoned dusty room, fractured pictures and ceremonial weapons and whatnot…along with something…bizarre.

What looked like a werewolf man, with white fur, scorched in some places, with cybernetic components to him, like a robotic right arm, left leg, plating over the left side of his head, along with some various other components, each part lookin…not terrible per se, but a lot less sophisticated than what the three usually saw.

It was upon closer inspection Spydey noticed…twitching.

She stepped forward, Scorpia holding out a hand in front of her.

"Are you crazy?" Scorpia whispered.

"He's obviously suffering." Spydey whispered back, gesturing to the werewolf's twitching and pained expression, tear stains on his face. "The least we could do is help."

Scorpia and Weava looked at each other, thinking a bit before sighing and nodding at their queen.

Spydey slowly walked up to the werewolf, her seamstress and knight close to her as she approached, gently shaking the werewolf's shoulder. "Hey." She whispered.

The werewolf slowly opened its eyes, its pupils dilating before it jumped back on all fours, ready to defend itself. Scorpia primed herself for battle, though Spydey held her hand up. Scorpia remained on guard, though still.

"We're not here to fight." Spydey told the werewolf. "We just want to figure out what happened."

The wolf stared at them, thinking for a moment before speaking in…

"Teha… Furo ko…aeru…"

Whatever the hell that was.

Spydey walked forward cautiously, kneeling down to his eye level. She gently held out her hand, putting on a kind face, trying to send a message.

We're friends.

We're here to help.

The wolf analyzed her for a bit, sniffing her hand, staring her down…

Before his body relaxed and he stood up a bit straighter.

Spydey smiled, nodding at him. Then…an idea occurred. "OH!" She turned to the other two arachnids. "Maybe the Heart can help heal him!"

"Not a bad idea…" Weava nodded, agreeing after a bit of thinking. "If it's as powerful as what we've heard…"

Spydey then turned to the wolf, her hands glowing a light red as she spun web drawings in the air.

First, depictions of the three of them walking. Then she reformed those into depictions of a mountain. Then, a vague depiction of the Heart. Then finally, the three of them and the wolf happy, surrounding the Heart.

The wolf, analyzing these, nodded and grunted in agreement.

"Great!" Spydey exclaimed, jumping up. "First, let's go check for any injuries. Weava?"

"On it." Weava walked up next to her, the wolf tensing up.

"It's ok." Spydey told him, holding up her hands. "Oh how do we express this…"

"Allow me." Weava told her, hands glowing as she spun out slightly more ethereal web depictions than Spydey's, showcasing general images representing wounds, injuries or the like to the wolf, then pointing to her and Spydey, then to him.

The wolf thought over it, nodded to signal his understanding, then sat down.

"...how're you so good…" Spydey whispered, awestruck.

Weava blushed lightly before the two went to work, checking for any injuries.

"I don't see anything…" Spydey said after a few moments.

"Me neither. He seems to be good." Weava agreed, looking at the wolf, giving a thumbs up and questioning look.

The wolf, surprisingly, got the message, giving a thumbs up.

"Alright. We should probably get going."

Spydey pointed to the wolf, then to outside, then rubbed her arms to make shivering motions and gave a questioning look.

The wolf gave a thumbs up.

"Alright. Let's go."

The four had been walking up for a while, Weava and Scorpia in front with the map while Spydey was a bit behind with the wolf.

While walking, Weava had noticed Scorpia looked…distant, distracted.

"Is something bothering you, Scorpia?"

"Huh?" Scorpia snapped out of her thoughts. "Oh, nothing, I'm…I'm fine."

Weava looked at her for a moment before smirking, playfully elbowing her. "Don't worry, Spydey prefers women."

Scorpia paused before slumping. "That obvious, huh?"

"I can recognize this a multiverse away."

Scorpia chuckled. "With how powerful you are, I can believe that."

Weava then giggled flirtatiously, giving her a half lidded gaze. "Really now, Scorpia, if flattery's your flirting tactic, you should be saving that for Spydey~"

Scorpia went beet red, shaking her hands frantically. "N-n-n-n-no, it's not like that at all! I-I mean you are very very attractive, but you're Spydey's ex, and oh Escabellero that would be awkward, I just made this awkward didn't I, fucking stupid, Scorpia-"

"Scorpia." Weava said firmly to make Scorpia stop, then cupped her chin and pulled gently till Scorpia and her were face to face. "None of that. Understood?"

Scorpia, face still red, nodded dumbly. "G-got it…"

Weava smirks and chuckles softly, "My my you are quiet cute all flustered aren't you?~"

"N-n-no, no I'm f-fine, FINE, fine!" Scorpia stammered, blushing.

"Mmm yes you are~" Weava closes what little gap was still between their faces, stealing a kiss from Scorpia before letting go of her chin and walking off with a smirk.

Scorpia remained there, jaw dropped, blinking. She touched her lips, still trying to process what happened.

Spidey finally catches up with Scorpia. "What's wrong? Why're you stopped?"

"O-oh! Nothing! Nothing! Just uh…needed to catch my breath for a moment!" Scorpia fibbed quickly, looking away.

"Hmmm…" Spydey stared at her suspiciously for a few moments before shrugging. "Okay, if you say so. C'mon let's catch up!" She said with that same damn cheery smile Scorpia loved, skipping ahead.

Scorpia sighed in relief before running up to her. "How's the wolf, by the way?"

"Kinro." Spidey corrected.

"Kinro?"

"He doesn't remember his name, so I gave him one." Spidey smiles.

Scorpia nodded. "Alright. How's he doing?"

"He seems to be doing well…well, for his circumstances, anyway…I…I gotta wonder…who did this to him…and why?" Spidey says, rubbing the top of her head.

Scorpia frowned, crossing her arms as she thought it over. "...probably some sick bastard. Doesn't seem like the type of guy to do this to himself…"

"I mean I don't think he could do some of those modifications to himself."

"True." The two looked over at Kinro, Spydey doing so with a frown on her face as Kinro leaned against a wall, looking at his cyborg hand, as if flashing back.

"Kinro? You okay?" Spydey asked, walking up to him.

"Huh? Oh…yeah...fine." Kinro spoke slowly.

"...he's talking in our language." Scorpia blinked.

"He's been learning quickly. Might be part of his cybernetics or he's just a fast learner." Spydey explained. "You sure you ok, Kinro?"

"...just…don't remember much…"

"Well don't push it too hard and hurt yourself okay?"

Kinro was silent for a bit before nodding. The three of them then hear Weava call out from ahead.

"Oi!"

The three ran up over to Weava, seeing the pathway up ahead was divided into several platforms a few meters apart from each other.

"...Kinro, how far and high can you jump?" Weava asked, turning to the wolf.

"I think I can make it just fine." Kinro nodded, walking forward.

Suddenly, Weava tensed, gripping the map and shuddering, feeling like…like a connection in her head just reestablished-

Oh.

Oh no…

Spydey, noticing the horrified look on Weava's face, walked on over to her. "Weava…are, are you alright?"

"We need to find another way." Weava said suddenly, fear in her eyes.

Scorpia, hearing this, gripped her sword, walking forward in front of the others.

"Scorpia, no, don't, please!" Weava protested, an anxious and worried look on her face.

Scorpia kept her grip tight, narrowing her eyes and looking around for anything, closing them, concentrating…

Then, sensing something, unsheathing her blade and parrying an attack, this one coming from a…tongue?

And strangely enough, it wasn't damaged by her sword.

"Oh my, quite the harem you've put together for yourself, my lovely spinneret~" A haunting, sultry voice with a…sinister tone to it sounded.

Suddenly, someone jumped up and landed on the nearest platform to the quartet.

This was a humanoid toad-like woman with a toned, athletic build, her body black with pink spots and stripes, her eyes pink. She wore a very form fitting black coat with pink edges and highlights on it that went down to just below her hips, along with black and pink gloves and black, thigh high boots with pink soles and trimming.

Scorpia, still blushing from the harem comment, shook her head. "Who are you?"

"Oh," the toad woman tilted her head. "My darling spinneret didn't tell you?"

"Don't call me that." Weava growled, eyes now full of…not just fear, but…anger, and …sorrow?

The woman pouted. "That hurts, Weava. I would've thought after everything we've been through, you'd at least be ok with pet names."

"Weava…" Spydey asked, concerned. "Who is she?"

"Ooh! Ooh!" The toad woman jumped up, clapping. "I love a good story time! Go on, Weava dear!"

Weava clenched her fists, sighing. "Her name is Niknight. She's…" A look of grief and...guilt flashed through the seamstress' eyes. "A failed experiment."

Niknight pouted. "That's a bit mean, dontcha think?"

Weava growled. "After what you did? It's not nearly enough."

Niknight shrugged and conceded.

"Wait, she's…" Spydey blinked before turning to Weava. "One of your creations?"

"No, but she…" Weava paused for a bit, taking a deep breath before speaking again, trying to keep a clear head. "She's…Poisoda's sister."

Spydey and Scorpia's eyes widened at this.

"W-wait…Poisoda…she…her sister!?" Spydey repeated, shocked. "I-I mean, I heard she had one, but…but I thought she was dead!"

"She…was." Weava answered. "There are things that are…not recommended that you try among the sorcerers of Dragrealma. One of those things is…raising the dead."

Spydey and Scorpia were struck silent at this.

During this moment of silent shock, Niknight clapped her hands together. "Weava darling here raised me from the dead like the sweet woman she is. And after a bit of thanking, I had every intention of going back to my old life with my sister…after taking care of some business, like finding my dear old killer!"

Scorpia tensed. She had a very bad feeling about this. "...and…?"

"Oh! I believe I have some recordings of what I did to her!" Niknight began rummaging through her bag.

"NO!" Weava shouted.

Niknight slumped. "Party pooper, like always."

Spydey stepped back a bit, hands shaking. Noticing this, Scorpia gripped her sword tightly, glaring at the toad woman.

"What do you want?" The knight asked.

"Oh, firstly, to let y'all know about her great work! I think an artist needs to have their work shared for it to be truly appreciated!" Niknight beamed. "Secondly, I was thinking if I could get one of you two alone for a bit, I could…make you see things my way?" She suggested, winking with finger guns at the queen and knight, who both turned red at this.

Niknight narrowed her eyes in observation before pointing at Spydey. "Oh, I think you'll do nicely~"

Mistake.

Both the seamstress and the warrior got in front of their queen, Scorpia getting into a stance while Weava prepared red energy balls with each pair of hands.

Niknight put her hands on her hips, pouting. "So that's how it's gonna be, huh?" She muttered before shrugging. "Fine by me."

Weava sent her energy balls right at Niknight as Scorpia dashed at their foe, Niknight extending her tongue, catching the balls before spinning around, using them to block Scorpia's unsheathed blade, Scorpia glaring intensely while Niknight grinned.

"SPYDEY! KINRO! BOOK IT! We'll take it from here!" Weava called out.

"But Weava, I can help-WHOA-" Spydey protested before yelping as Kinro picked her up and leapt on over to the platforms.

Niknight deflected Scorpia's sword, blocking her other swipes with her arms, which seemed to glow upon each clash. "A shame. Aw, well, at least we have time to get to know each other." She winked at her purple foe, getting energy balls shot at her in response, which she dodged. "Naughty girl, want them all to yourself?"

Weava glared, growling and sending more magic blasts at her. While her opponent dodged them, the seamstress spun webs at her with her top hands, pulling her into attacks she had prepared with her other arms. As she was pulled forward, Niknight was then spin-slashed by Scorpia, their foe tumbling away, coming to a halt with an excited grin.

"Ohhhh you haven't told them the best part, have you, my spinneret?~"

"SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!" Weava yelled, throwing more blasts at her.

"You can't kill me, you can't kill me!" Niknight sing-songed as she danced around the blasts.

Scorpia threw her sword into the air, jumping and sliding on the ground, twirling before grabbing the sword with claws on the back of her boot, slashing at Niknight, who dodged, Scorpia standing next to Weava.

"What's she talking about, Weava?"

Weava growled. "Ever since I resurrected her, she's rather tough to put down."

"That why ya didn't kill her last time you met?" Scorpia asked, picking her blade up by her hand.

"Yeah." Weava nodded. "Left her on a deserted island. Thought there'd be no way she could find her way back. We can't make that same mistake twice. She's too dangerous and unstable to be let back home."

Niknight giggled. "Oh you should know by now, you can't keep me away~"

"THEN FUCKING STAY DEAD!" Weava bellowed, eyes glowing a bright red as she summoned hordes of red energy spiders which crawled or lunged at Niknight, who dodged or deflected every single one of them.

Over with Spydey and Kinro, the former was struggling hard to get out of the latter's surprisingly tough grip. He was a cyborg, but still.

"Let me go, let me go! We can help them!" Spydey demanded, grunting as she tried to no avail to push her away out of his arms.

"I ain't exactly keen on letting anyone else die." Kinro replied, rushing forward.

"Then take me back so we can help them!" Spydey responded.

"Lady, if that woman who knows that gal says you have to run, then we stand no chance!" Kinro told her sternly.

"Won't know unless I try!" Spydey argued.

"Would you rather find out by risking death?"

At that moment, Kinro saw…a marking. Coming to a halt, the two took a good look at it, seeing it was one of…an owl, with a cute little arrow.

Putting the queen down, Kinro and Spydey walked up to it, following the arrow to a set of large doors.

"...whoa." Spydey commented, eyes widening, a sense of…dormant power running through her.

Somehow…she knew.

Like something was…telling her this was it.

…Was this…where the Heart was?