Cruelty was survival--but in this case, neither of the two would perish.

Instead, the Spire Spider hissed, the inattentiveness of these warm and too-fast creatures warning it that its ploy had failed. It turned and scurried off, leaving to find itself easier prey.

@Nerium @Itri

Itri watched the Spire Spider scurry away, and decided that from now on, he would no longer help others. Today, he had helped the chick survive, but instead of helping him back, she ran away. At least he had learned his lesson now. In Hydra you couldn't rely on others to survive.

"Exit Itri"

Nerium
there is no such thing as harmless power

She's barely a few dozen footsteps away from the site of their encounter when guilt hits her like a stone to the gut.

Why did she run? Why did she run?

The other—the other kid was clearly still entranced. She didn't know what the spider could do, would do to them, but instinct and common sense buried in her gut beneath the creeping, twisting guilt told her—'nothing good.' Not with those fangs.

What… did she just doom the other to? What did she do to him?

No matter how much she wants to look back and see what exactly had happened, she can't bring herself to. Part of her is still imagining the play of blue on blue on blue, mind instinctively reaching for something she can't quite remember… the other part of her is simply horrified at the thought of turning back and seeing the pangolin suffering from some horrible doom.

Or, worse, looking back and not seeing him at all.

So, instead—instead, she swallows the lump in her throat, barely keeping back that surge of guilt, and with unsteady footfalls on stone, continues walking the other direction.

I hurt someone.

The thought lingers in her mind even after she's long gone from the spot of her hatching.

~ exit Nerium
♥ I speak. ♥
♥ I think. ♥

❥