The Savage Caves - Chapter 8
The Savage Caves: Original Story by T.H. Lain
A Fan-Fiction Reimagining: Walthus Proudstump
Chapter 8
The massive chamber was covered in spider webbing; it was draped all over the floor and walls, hanging from the ceiling and forming huge funnel webs. These looked large enough to hold a full grown man inside of them. Rezrek couldn't be sure that they didn’t have the corpses of men inside of them. Even though his eyes were excellent in the dark, the funnel webs were deep enough that it was difficult to make out exactly what was inside of them. He knocked aside some of the webbing with his warhammer and tore the weapon free with a growl as it stuck to the thick strands. Easily more than twenty meters above him was the ceiling and the lair extended back so far he could not see the end of it; after about sixty paces his vision blurred into blackness so intense there was no seeing through it. Large rocky formations along the ground and ceiling were covered in spun webs, jutting from the stone like angry teeth. Spiders skittered back and forth in front of the massive bugbear; their long legs shifting away from the growling figure as it moved deeper into their cave home. Several spiders hung from the ceiling, their hungry black eyes searching for the tall monster that walked amongst them. But they did not move to attack Rezrek, even as he stepped into their lair. Something within them understood that this thing was neither spider nor food. But what it was, they couldn’t know - it was beyond them. But they felt the presence of the brood mother within it and around it, and obeyed the unconscious command to leave the thing be. Rezrek watched a spider the size of a small cat move out of his way, shifting up the side of the large circular ceiling and resting against one of the funnels. Here and there, dangling from the dark ceiling, were long strands of webbing that stretched down almost forty feet to hang in the air. These were wrapped bundles; some small, some large - like sacks the bugbear had seen a thousand times. He knew these were victims, though; prey that the spiders had bitten and paralyzed with their venom. He watched warily, holding tightly to the amulet he’d taken from the dead chieftain. The thing practically hummed in his paw, as if there was a trapped bee inside of it buzzing to get out. As he watched, a spider shifted down from the ceiling. Its spinnerets gently extruded a thick line of spider silk that it fed out with its back legs. The bugbear watched as the beast shifted, bringing a wrapped cocoon with it in its jaws and attaching it to the end of the line. The bundle shifted gently and Rezrek heard the soft bleating of a sheep, though it was muffled by the silk prison. He glared up at the squirming parcel and sneered. The movement slowed and ceased entirely in the span of a few breaths. The bugbear narrowed his eyes as he moved deeper into the area, seeing huge holes dug into the cave walls. Some were only as large as a goblin while others were more than twice his size. All of these were similarly webbed but one of them was much wider than the others. Three horses could stand abreast and walk through with space left to spare. The yawning opening stretched tall enough that Rezrek, even if he was twice his height, wouldn’t be able to touch the roof of it. Inside there was movement as a dozen spiders shifted back and forth over the bulk of some great thing. Rezrek had been down here before, three times in fact, but each time he hated it. The place was damp and rank, almost as bad as Dulf’s stench. But this was a different smell - like death and mold ruled in this place, along with the deep shadows. While there were small patches of dim light from the glowing mushrooms the goblins ate over much of the cave system, this place was dark as pitch. A stranger, more intimidating darkness stretched before his keen eyes and it made the fur on his neck bristle in anticipation. He stood in front of the large cavern opening and pulled the amulet over his head. It took some effort but it was just large enough to fit; it had been sized for a goblin, after all. He held it up before him. It was a soft grey-green color, though in the darkness Rezrek could see only shades of grey and black. It looked to be a natural stone, maybe a gem, but the bugbear didn’t have the knowledge or skill to determine if it was something valuable. All he knew was that it held power and that’s what he wanted; power. Around the stone was a thin silver wire cage, snuggly holding it to the worked clasp. This was attached to a necklace made of wire and bones, many of which were aged and yellowed - probably fish from what the bugbear could tell. As he held it aloft in his big paw, he swung the amulet back and forth before him. “Come out, pretty spider,” he called into the cavern opening in the goblin tongue. The darkness seemed to swarm in the back of this hole, disgorging more than a dozen spiders of varying sizes. These lurched forward, spilling out over every surface of the place as they moved away from a bulk behind them slowly walking forward. There were hundreds of smaller, normal sized spiders moving as a wave out of the hole as well. The sight didn’t please the bugbear but he wasn’t afraid of these little things. Though Rezrek would not admit it, the sight of the brood mother struck genuine fear into the bugbear leader. It was the biggest spider he’d ever seen and that only made him take pause. The brood mother’s body alone stood as tall as two Rezreks; incredibly long, dextrous and spindly but her powerful eight legs made her many more times as wide as he was. The hairs on her legs were as long and thick as Rezrek’s fingers. These bristled anytime they got close to something, as if shifted by wind the monster sensed nearby. Or prey. Front legs shifted from the great opening and drew the massive beast forth. Rezrek set his courage and hardened his face, furrowing his heavy brow at the incredible beast. She looked much like her smaller children; grey-white fur ran along her body, from the flattened head to the great and swollen-looking back. Her eyes were the size of Rezrek’s fist and the eight glossy black orbs were constantly staring out, as if eating everything they fell upon. Her fangs quivered and the strange sideways mouth of the spiders was present on her. The parts of the maw constantly moved. Gnashing. Chewing air. Always hungry. Rezrek puffed his chest out, trying to make himself look larger. The brood mother seemed unconcerned with his presence, or his posturing, but she moved forward to stand before him. Her thick legs towered around him and being this close to her made him feel small. He hated feeling small and a growl started in his throat. A dozen smaller spiders clung to her back. These were the size of Men and they were swarming, shifting and chittering on the brood mother. As he watched, the spiders on her would snap at one another, like mates fighting for the prized female. They hissed and postured, putting their legs up to appear larger all while remaining attached to her. She seemed oblivious. Rezrek presented the amulet to the spider and reached out his free hand. The massive creature shifted its fangs and stared down, craning its oddly shaped body to be level with Rezrek’s. He looked into those eyes and saw emptiness. The many eyes glistened as if wet and so close Rezrek could smell a strange moldy scent coming from her huge bulk. It was the same stink that pervaded the lair. He nodded and moved the amulet to the left, watching as the brood spider turned its head to follow the item. As instructed by the previous chieftain, Rezrek placed his hand on the spider’s head and felt the surprisingly soft hairs underneath his paw. He ran his heavy hand over them and the spider’s legs shifted, a low hissing escaping it. The many smaller spiders on its back hissed as well and the bugbear stopped. The hissing died quickly but the spiders held him in their gaze. Rezrek noticed the brood spider’s front legs had started to lift up but came to rest again on the cave floor. He had to touch the thing but apparently it did not like the petting. “Spider,” Rezrek said aloud. The creature didn’t respond. The bugbear tried hard to focus and closed his eyes, worry creasing his face now that he was alone in a spider den surrounded by dozens of the creatures. He took a breath and thought instead of speaking. Mother, he thought as he touched the spider and it shifted in reaction. Rezrek want children from you. It tapped its front legs and he continued. Rezrek want children come. Go to forest. Find food. For Mother. For Rezrek. The brood mother shifted, Rezrek’s hand slipping from her head as she pulled away. The great spider looked out emotionlessly - as if considering the thought, for a long moment. The amulet felt suddenly warm and Rezrek watched as it emanated a soft green glow. In his mind, he felt a strange sensation - like something was crawling over the back of his skull but on the inside. He scratched at the spot but the itching didn’t fade. He felt a desire deep in his mind. Hunger. Then the sensation shifted to a word: hunt. Rezrek could feel the thoughts of the brood mother and he watched as the many smaller spiders shifted forward, heeding some unheard call from the great spider. They moved as one. The massive mother stepped on her webbing and Rezrek could feel that the vibrations meant something, though what he couldn’t guess. The spiders suddenly surged away from the brood mother, so fast that Rezrek instinctively went for his weapon but stopped short. They moved away from him, crawling along the walls and disappearing into caverns and holes in the chamber. Some exited the floor while others scuttled through the ceiling from unseen holes above Rezrek. He watched them go. The great spider turned to him. Hunt, he felt the thought in his mind again. He nodded. “Good,” he smiled as he held the amulet up. “Hunt.” A few moments later the brood mother crawled back into her cavern, slinking into the deep shadows and away from Rezrek’s sight. He laughed, softly though, and stepped back out of the chamber in less than a minute. The entire place felt strange to him but as he put the amulet around his thick neck, struggling to get it over his ears, he knew this spider mother would be important for his taking of Fairbye. And everywhere else between here and New Koratia. He smiled. And New Koratia. “Rezrek rule,” he said to himself and moved towards the pit that Ripper occupied. He wanted to see blood. “King Rezrek.”
The goblin Sard had led them deep into the cave systems, through the spider web-lined spaces and out into a small open area. Above stretched the far off ceiling and before them there was a rock walkway, under which a flowing river could be heard but not seen. The walkway could allow several goblins side by side on it but it stretched a long way to the other side of the opening. Water dripped from the ceiling and bats made tiny noises above their heads. It was a long fall, Tazerg knew. It wouldn’t kill a goblin, he was certain. But it would certainly hurt and there were no places to easily climb back up, especially when wet. He looked over the edge, his foot kicking a small rock. It tumbled away into the darkness and some time later splashed into unseen water. “Too far,” Undreg said ahead of Tazerg. The smaller, spear holding goblin pointed down the path. Undreg’s left eye was slightly bigger than his right and gave him an odd look - a few goblins said he was cursed and could see other’s deaths before they happened. Tazerg didn’t believe that, though. Undreg was just ugly. He was nearest to Sard, who stood on the platform right before the stone bridge. It was wider, almost circular in shape and could allow all of them to stand on it. “Not too far!” Sard said loudly, his voice echoing in the darkness around them. Though they could see it still was a deep, lightless place and their vision slowly blurred at the edges into total darkness. The lead goblin turned to the other, chest out and looking defiant. “Not too far!” “Sard,” Regek said. “Is far! Look how far,” he pointed to the other end, which they couldn’t even see from where they were. The goblins argued amongst themselves for a few moments. Tazerg spoke up. “Sard,” he said and the goblin nodded to him. “Far - not too far but far. Easier path, Tazerg know.” “Tazerg coward,” replied Muln. He shot the goblin with a look of disgust. “Tazerg not chief. Tazerg father not chief. Tazerg not know easy path.” Silence fell over the assembled goblins as they all looked at Tazerg. He frowned. Tazerg took a step forward and hit Muln on the side of his head with the spear haft. The goblin fell, slamming into the stone hard and making a soft, pained grunting noise. The sound of him falling reverberated in the cavern, echoing off the far walls and Tazerg yelled at the prone goblin. “Tazerg know!” He shouted. Muln looked up, shocked. He’d dropped the small club he was carrying and it fell into the darkness below, tumbling away to splash quietly in the river. From this position Tazerg could drive the tip of his spear into the other goblin and be done with it. But he didn’t. Tazreg didn’t want to kill his goblin siblings, even if they were challenging him and calling him a coward. He just looked down and made a growling noise at the disarmed Muln. He stepped away. Muln got up and threw himself at Tazerg, wrestling with him for the spear. Though the same size, Tazeg was stronger than Muln. They shifted places, each trying to control the spear and growling as they fought. The other goblins did nothing. Tazerg kicked at Muln, kneeing him in the groin and he shoved the other goblin away. The little creature flailed his arms, trying to find something to catch hold of but instead he pitched over the side of the flat ledge and followed his club into the darkness. There was a shout before a painfully long silence, then a splashing noise and the other goblins looked over the bridge into the darkness. Their eyes seemed to search for Muln but there was nothing to see but blackness. Now! Tazerg sucked in a deep breath. Tazerg rushed forward, slamming the spear against Narkle and Regek as hard as he could. The two goblins, caught off guard, lost their footing and slipped backwards. They both tumbled over the edge as well, Tazerg’s spear falling with them. As the two screamed, Tazerg turned and saw Sard coming at him with the stone dagger. The weapon flashed out quickly, narrowly missing the ducking Tazerg and he kicked out. Sard fell backwards, still holding his knife and Undreg just stood there watching. “Sard, stop!” Tazerg said, slowly circling the fallen goblin. He didn’t want Undreg to stab him in the back with the spear he carried, so he tried to keep them both in his sight. Sard stood, growling at him as he did. “Tazerg coward! Sard tell Rezrek and Rezrek kill Tazerg! Ripper crunch and bite Tazerg. Dead, dead, dead!” He laughed and moved forward slowly, brandishing the knife. “Rezrek not chief!” Tazerg screamed. This stopped Sard in his tracks. The words bounced around them for a long moment in the cave. The goblin looked at Tazerg as if waiting. “Tazerg chief. Goblin lead goblin, not bugbear. Rezrek dies, Tazerg is chief.” Sard shook his head. “Too weak, Tazerg. Can’t fight, can’t kill Rezrek.” He lunged forward and Tazerg tried to avoid the blade. He caught the tip of the knife in his side and fell to the stone floor. He gasped, white hot pain spreading out from where the weapon had cut him. He scrambled away from Sard, who advanced on him with a grim face, holding his side as blood dribbled from the wound. “Rezrek chief now. Not Tazerg. Rezrek rule all goblin! All but Tazerg. Tazerg dead!” He leered at Tazerg. “Rezrek kill goblins! Sard.” Tazerg tried to soften his voice as he held his bleeding side. “No kill Tazerg.” He shook his head, holding up a bloody hand to show the other goblin. “Rezrek make goblins kill. Sard want to kill goblins?” He narrowed his eyes. Sard paused. Tazerg struggled to his feet, grabbing his wounded side again. He gasped and growled but still kept Sard and Undreg in his vision. He turned to the other goblin. “Undreg, no kill Tazerg. Rezrek bad to goblins. Hurt, kill, not care about goblins.” Undreg looked at Sard and lowered his spear. Sard cursed, turning for a moment to the other goblin and hissing. “Undreg. You help kill Tazerg or Rezrek kill you! Follow bugbear, not goblin!” The knife-wielding goblin turned and moved towards Tazerg, who held his hands out trying to ward off the stone dagger. Blood rolled off his palm onto the stone below. Tazerg saw Undreg move behind Sard, lowering his spear. Tazerg held his hands up at Sard, keeping his eyes trained on the knife that swayed back and forth in front of him. He spoke to Sard. “Do not kill Tazerg, Sard. Rezrek kill you, soon. Rezrek and bugbears not care about goblins. Only care about bugbears. Please.” He softened his features and waited. The goblin lunged forward and Tazerg jumped to the side, rolling as he did so. As he pulled out of the dodge, he turned to see Sard. A stone spear tip protruded from his back, exiting his little grey chest where his heart was. Sard sank to his knees, coughing blood on the stone floor as he tried to turn and look at Undreg. The other goblin dropped his spear, the long shaft clattering against the floor as Sard tried to shift himself. He was wheezing and coughing, clawing against the stone and growling at Undreg as he backed away. “Tazerg…” the dying goblin sputtered, dragging himself forward. The scraping of the stone spear made Tazerg’s teeth ache. Sard left a bloody trail on the floor as he moved, grunting and gasping as he clawed closer. He reached Tazerg’s bare foot and gripped his ankle tightly. Tazerg kicked him off. As he looked at Sard, he felt anger. He walked around the dying goblin, put his foot on the creature’s back and grabbed the spear haft. With a single pull, he tore it out of the goblin. Sard screamed, writhing before Tazerg for a moment before going still. Tazerg looked down, blood had splattered against his skin and felt the sting of the dagger wound. He snarled and slammed the tip into the back of Sard’s head. The weapon pushed through, snapping at the middle with the effort. He turned to Undreg, who threw his hands up and barked. “No kill, Tazerg! Undreg help! Undreg help!” He whimpered after this and his eyes shot to where Sard had dropped his dagger. Tazerg nodded. He walked over, dropping the broken spear half and snatched up the dagger. He looked at the tip, stained with his own blood and he moved to Undreg. He pointed the knife at the goblin and then gestured to the dead body. With Undreg’s help, the two shoved Sard’s corpse over the side and listened to it splash a moment later. The two goblins peered down and though they could not see the water, they still heard the soft splashing of the others treading water. “Tazerg help goblins?” Undreg said, looking down into the darkness. “Tazerg help goblins,” the wounded goblin said. “Not swimming goblins. Goblins down there serve Rezrek.” He spit over the edge of the bridge. “Goblins down there, dead.” He stood, snarling against the pain of the wound and gestured for Undreg to follow. The two goblins walked quickly, one behind the other - Tazerg brought up the rear - to the other side of the bridge.
Leden watched Tazerg and the other goblin disappear from her sight, moving over the thin bridgeway. She was perched at a higher vantage point above them, nestled in an alcove to the side of another stone bridge that spanned the large gap. Another lay above her about fifty feet but this one was broken and she knew lurking things hid on the ceiling of the caves. She could see very well in the deep darkness. Their bodies looked like stones hanging from the roof of the great cavern but she knew better - stones were perfectly still and to her understanding, stones didn’t breathe. The lone bugbear sneered at the hanging things, turning her gaze back down to the two moving goblins. She was still. She had grown very good at making herself still. So much so that sometimes others could not see her even if they were very close. She’d watched the entire thing play out and said nothing, though her crossbow had been trained on the scuffle. She was impressed with Tazerg. He’d bested several other goblins, mostly by himself - most goblins seemed like cowards to her but Rezrek and the bugbears were very big. Very strong. She might do the same. She understood enough of the goblin tongue that she knew what Tazerg was planning. She could tell Rezrek - he’d kill the little goblin quickly enough and then he might reward her. Or he might hurt her again. She grit her teeth, a low growl in her throat. Leden should be scouting. Maybe I don’t tell Rezrek, she thought. In the shadows of the alcove she hid in, Leden smiled. Click for Chapter 9
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