I wouldnt say I have a fear of spiders- just a large discomfort with them. So looking up wolf spiders for the pic collage was… a challenge. Especially at night. Sorry it took so long! (Its also a bit short but aah like??? 6 am now so I need sleep haha)
Also, as a dedicated player of dnd, I had no clue which arachne you meant. There are many versions and mythologies around them and seeing as the most common type was the centaur-like ‘drider’ creature, I went ahead with that. Hope I guessed right!
—–
Your voice echoed back to you from the cave walls as you hummed, swirling your finger absentmindedly in the water. Daylight flooded in through the hole in the ceiling and cast dancing lights across the stream and the cave. The way the light played across the ripples in the water was mesmerizing.
A soft breeze rustled your (h/c) hair, leaving goosebumps on your skin. Being in this place, away from the many stresses of the world, was your favorite pastime. Besides talking to him, of course.
You glanced up, eyes scanning the dim corners for him. He oftentimes stayed away from direct light, claiming it strained his eyes too much, but as it came to be that you were finding it harder and harder to visit him after dark, he made an acception to his “no sunlight” rule.
Sharp clicking and the sound of many footsteps echoed around you as he edged towards you, making sure to stay clear of the spotlight shining on the floor.
“(Y/n),” he sighed, bending at his waist to get closer to your eye level.
“Valzen.” you smiled warmly.
“You seem distant today.” his brows furrowed.
“Hm. I sold all my wares today.” you admitted. Valzen straightened, smiling.
“But that’s great! You’ll be needing more silk, then, I take it?” he lowered to the ground, still towering over you even as he sat.
“Mhm.” you nodded, gaze drifting back to the water. Valzen frowned and brought his hand up to your chin, tilting your head to look at him.
“What troubles you, love?” he asked. Many would never expect such a creature to hold such vast emotions in their eyes and yet, here he was, looking at you with so many feelings flickering behind his gaze.
“People keep asking me where I get my fabrics for the clothes. I always say that I get them from a merchant out of town, but… I fear that they’ll catch on at some point” you sigh.
You were always careful when you visited him and would stop frequently on your route and backtrack in case you were being followed. This didnt stop you from worrying, though. You’d never forgive yourself if something happened to Valzen.
“Nonsense. If anyone finds my den, I will just eat them.” he shrugged his shoulders as if what he said was normal.
“Valzen!” you gasped, lightly shoving him. He let out a low chuckle.
“You know I’m joking- bipeds are too stringy.” he shoots you a cheeky grin. “In all seriousness, though- should anyone come here, I can hold my own. I handled intruders just fine before we met and I haven’t gone soft yet.” Valzen wrapped his arms around your shoulders, placing a kiss on your forehead.
“Alright, I believe you.” you hummed. “Thank you, love.”
—-
“I think it’s very amusing that nobles are wearing attire made of stuff that comes from my backside.”
“Valzen!” you scolded, coiling the silk as he handed it to you. His laugh reverberated around the cave and made the air almost vibrate.
“What? They find my kind to be disgusting menaces and they’re walking around, wearing my ’protein fiber’.” he grinned, placing a bundle of silk into a basket. “Its just ironic, is all.”
“Hm, well I find it ironic that you dont wear clothes and yet you are working with a seamstress.” you poked at his bare stomache.
“I have no interest in your garments, woman. I love you for your weaving.” Valzen shook his head. You smiled to yourself and continued your work. Valzen had expressed his feelings toward your occupation on many occasions. He always joked that it was fate that you wove your own fabric and stumbled into his life. It was a rather funny, albeit fitting, pair; a spider and a seamstress.
“Once I save enough money, I can move out here with you. Maybe even reinforce the den- add some furniture, too.” you promise.
“I don’t understand the big deal with beds and whatnot. The cave floor is perfectly comfortable and I can even make you a hammock if you desired it.” Valzen quirked his mouth to the side.
“What about chairs? It’s not good for my bones to sit on the cold stone all the time.” you chimed.
“Rubbish. You have a mobile seat right here.” he turned to pat the top of his abdomen.
“Valzen!” you cried, breaking into a fit of laughter. Once you calmed down, you sighed. “As nice as that sounds, I just think this place could use some livening up, you know? A woman’s touch.” you froze when you saw his mouth crook into a mischievous grin. “Wait- no!”
Toad's Cave 