“AAAAAAAH!!” I screamed as I fell. I twisted in the air, trying to see anything through the dust and debris in the air. I caught a glimpse of Mira before a chunk of stone fell between us. The rock passed and I saw Mira again.

“Mira!” I yelled at her. She turned to me but was suddenly not falling anymore. I plummeted for another few seconds before I felt something odd from my behind. Then I stopped falling as well, bouncing as if I was connected to a bungee cord.

I hung there, stunned at what had just happened.

“Kumoko!” Mira shouted. “You okay?”

“Yeah!” I shouted up. “How about you?”

“I think I’m fine!” Mira said. “What happened?”

“I’m not sure,” I answered. I bent my body to look at what was above me. I saw a long thick string connected to the end of my abdomen. “Check your butt!” I said.

After a pause, Mira said, “Oh… Spiders make silk.”

“Yep,” I said. “And we’re spiders now.” I concentrated and managed to make more silk. I jerked downward before stopping. “See if you can lower yourself using your silk,” I said. I tried again to lower myself, and again I dropped sharply before stopping. On my third try, I got the hang of it, slowly dropping down on my string. Mira followed me, dropping more jerkily than I was.

Eventually, I saw the ground. The dust from all the falling debris swirled on the ground as I dropped down. I concentrated for a moment and then severed my string. Mira dropped down and did the same.

“Where are we?” Mira asked.

“Below where we were before,” I said.

“No, duh,” Mira said. “Thanks, captain obvious.”

Rumble. Mira and I froze. We looked up to see the ceiling above collapsing.

“Run!” I said, pointing toward a small tunnel. We both ran to the tunnel and dashed down it. The falling rock crashed into the floor behind us, sending dust flooding along the ground. The blast of air shot us out of the tunnel. We skidded to a stop.

“What now?” Mira said.

“We explore,” I said. “We need food and I’m still hungry.”

“What can we eat though?” Mira said.

Screech! I turned to see a giant frog standing above us.

“How about that?” I asked.

“You think we can take out that?” Mira asked.

“If we work together, yes,” I said. “Follow my lead!” I dodged as the frog attempted to grab me with one massive hand. I swung around and stabbed my front legs into the frog’s hide. It yelled angrily and swung around to face me. Mira sliced her leg across the frog’s back leg, and it turned to face her instead. I leaped onto the back of the frog and bit down with my fangs.

The frog screeched, raising on its hind legs and shaking violently. It tried to pry me off but its short arms couldn’t reach me. I bit harder, determined to stay on. After a moment, the frog slowed. It staggered and then slumped over.

I let go and stepped back. My bite in the frog’s back is laced with dark purple. It reminds me of the snake bites I’ve seen on the internet. Those pictures showed two dark holes piercing the skin with black and purple lines radiating out of the wound, a result of the venom spreading through the veins and arteries.

“Bleugh!” I spat. “Ugh. That does not taste good.”

“How did you kill it?” Mira asked.

“I think we have venom,” I said.

Then a voice spoke. “The conditions have been met. You have obtained the ability [Poison Fang Level 2].”

“What the?” I said. “Did you hear that?”

“Yeah,” Mira said. “What’s up with that?”

“I’m not sure,” I said. “But I’m really hungry and…” I turned to face the dead frog.

“No no no!” Mira said. “Are you seriously suggesting we eat that?”

“Yes,” I said. “It’s all we have.” I walked over and bit into a chunk of flesh.

“Bleugh,” Mira said. She paused before walking up next to me. She bit into it too. “Ugh. This is disgusting.”

“Tell me about it,” I said. We made short work of it though. In a few minutes, the frog was only a skeleton. 

“Come on, let’s go,” Mira said. “Through there.” We both walked on, going through the caverns. Then I heard something in the distance. “What’s that?”

“What’s what?” Mira asked.

“Listen,” I said. Mira and I both stilled.

“I hear it now,” Mira said. “It sounds like screeching.”

“It does,” I said. I peered into the darkness. And then I saw three pairs of glowing yellow eyes. I backed away slowly, readying myself for anything.

Three more frogs stepped into the cavern. These were much bigger. They screeched, their eyes fixed on us and their tongues flailing.

“Oh shit,” Mira said.