Hey guys, MERRY CHRISTMAS! (to those of you who celebrate it) and to those who don't, MERRY ORDINARY DECEMBER SUNDAY OF THE 25TH! I had planned on updating all of my stories today, only two I had time to finish by today. But I'm gonna try and work on the others today and have those up by tonight. Hopefully, *crossed fingers*

Now, introducing "Animal Instincts Book 2: At War with Monsters" and I decided we'll start things off with a reunion with Spider and his Pack! This goes on right from where we left off from the last book.

Also,

ß that means Spider is talking to Peter in his mind.

Now, let's get reading!

Spider watched in great satisfaction as Wolverine was dragged away, leaving a trail of blood smearing across the floor and the tangy taste in the air. He inhaled sharply, taking the scent in and felt his mouth water.

The ever-growing hungry sensation rolled through Spiders stomach and he withheld a whine. Cooked meat was just not enough; he craved something more, something…warm, fleshy, and dripping with blood. He was almost tempted to call Squirrel Girl back and eat the infiltrator right there – certainly this Wolverine wouldn't be missed.

But then Spider remembered why he was keeping Wolverine. He needed to watch him, observe, and figure out how these humans worked so he would be better prepared next time they fought. Besides, not only would Wolverine be an interesting thing to watch, he also could prove to be a great chew toy and practice dummy for Spiders pack.

Watching as Wolverine was dragged around away – covered tightly with webs to ensure he wouldn't cause any trouble – Spider turned the opposite direction and walked down the hall toward the rest of his pack. Tiger was crouched by the broken cameras that were scattered on the floor, and was sniffing them curiously. She stopped Spider as he walked past though, with a low growl.

Tiger gently picked up a bigger piece in her teeth, and flung in at Spiders feet. She cocked her head and glanced at the scrap metal, before looking back up at Spider with a confused and expectant look. The arachnid followed her eyes.

"Cameras watch us." Spider told her carefully, "Bad. Enemies."

Tiger gave him an unimpressed look. She clearly didn't understand. Not a word.

Spider sighed but didn't press. He would teach soon, he would teach them all. For now though, he'd have to them in a way she would. He picked up the metal piece and hissed at it imploringly, showing her it was no friend. Tiger merely sniffed the metal in his hand and backed away with an unconvinced upturn of her eyes; the metal didn't look threatening.

Spider hissed at it again, this time crushing the insignificant scrap in his hands. Tiger decided to go with it and growled half-heartedly at the remaining pieces on the floor, before trotting down the hall and out of sight.

She thinks you're crazy. Peter pointed out quietly; his voice was strangely alight with grim amusement. Spider huffed and turned to the rest of his Pack, They might think you're crazy too. No one wants a crazy alpha.

Looking over them, Spider could see looks of hesitance and curiosity. Rhino himself was probing a little piece of metal with his snout. That's okay though, they were just…just…Spider tried to think of the word. He had been learning a lot over the last few days. Unaware…uh…new to this…naïve! Yeah, they were naïve about the situation.

How do you even know what naïve means? Peter demanded.

It was weird; sometimes the words just popped up in Spiders head. He knew they made sense because it just…it just made sense….Spider wasn't entirely sure how it worked yet, but maybe he would eventually.

Humming soothingly to his Pack, Spider eased them past the metal remains and they walked back down the hall, toward the place they had all been relaxing before there came an intruder. Tiger was already back in the room, laying against the far wall and purring softly in her sleep. Some of the blood staining her fur was licked clean, but dots and splatters still speckled the white coat.

His Pack returned to the activities they had been doing before. Zabu was playing a tiring game of tag with Vulture, though the bird wasn't allowed to blast Zabu – it could injure the young cat, and Spider preferred to avoid Pack-inflicted pain. Squirrel Girl had been scrounging through doors in the walls, but was currently putting wolverine with Spiders other prisoner. Triton was lounging on the floor, watching Zabu and Vulture play and looking like he might jump into the fun as well. Spider watched over them all from a web spun high up in the corner, Rhino was right under him.

The room was filled with playful growls and caws once more, and Spider relaxed. He watched Zabu and Vulture for a while, occasionally shouting out a grunt of scolding scrutiny when Vulture started giving up and letting Zabu win, and then a croon of encouragement when he fought back again.

Eventually though, Spider became detached to the playing and began to think more of the sunlight and sky. He looked up toward the ceiling, and for a moment imagined that is was a brilliant, bright blue and that the light fixtures were actually warm beams of light.

For a moment it smothered the deep, longing feeling in his chest and Spider almost started humming with happiness.

But it wasn't enough, for just as soon as it was there the sky was replaced with cold and hard metal once more and the sunlight was nothing but a dull, blinking bulb.

He grunted in disappointment as the longing came back full force.

You've only seen outside once, Peter said in disbelief. How can you be that attached to it? I mean, Aunt May always tried to get me to go outside, but…

Aunt May? She sounded familiar…but then again, pretty much anything Peter said sounded, in some way familiar. It was annoying at times, like Spider was ALWAYS missing some sort of information. But it was helpful; a bunch of memories followed Peter's words occasionally too. It helped Spider figure out what-was-what and (at times) who-was-who.

~The outside it is…beautiful, Spider told Peter.

If you love the harbor so much, I'd love to see ya in Central Park. I'd be all unicorns and rainbows for you, Peter muttered sardonically.

Central Park…

Spider mulled over the word for a minute.

~ Central Park? What is that? Spider asked in innocent curiosity.

Peter was quiet for a minute, as if worried he had given something away. It's nothing, Peter eventually said. I wouldn't want you getting any more crazy ideas in your head.

Spider snarled under his breath, he hated it when Peter did that. The voice said something, and then didn't ever explain. It was absolutely infuriating. Down below, Rhino grunted up at the arachnid in concern. He probable heard Spider snarl.

Spider looked down at Rhino to show him he was fine. Rhino studied the alpha for a second, before returning his gaze to the play-fight between Zabu, Vulture, and (now) Triton. Spider watched them for a moment too, before his thoughts shifted again, this time to Squirrel Girl and the two prisoners.

Wolverine was a pretty strong enemy, and he'd probable be awake anytime now. Spider thought of Squirrel Girl, down there all alone with the Infiltrator, and felt a flick of panic and concern for her well-being. He glanced down at Rhino for a moment, who was engrossed in the three-way-fight, before he quietly crawled higher up on the wall and toward the exit.

Tiger might've noticed Spider take his leave, but she didn't follow or say anything about it. She merely laid her head back on her paws and closed her eyes.

Out in the hall, Spider crawled smoothly and quickly on the ceiling as he made his way toward one of the "training rooms". He moved carefully across the webs he strung along the walls, trying not to disturb them to much or – worse – break them. It had taken quite a long time to set up his alarm system, and he'd hate to have to go through all that trouble again – besides his wrists ached horribly when he used too much webbing.

But Spider managed to efficiently maneuver is way across the halls, and only stopped when he stood in front of the training room doors. He jumped off the ceiling and twisted in mid-air so he landed in a crouch on the ground. Smoothly, Spider entered the training room, as quiet as…well…a spider.

Inside the room though, the first scent that hit Spider was that of the tangy smell of blood. He couldn't say he didn't enjoy the smell, in fact a small part of him salivated as soon as the smell reached him.

His stomach growled pestering.

Squirrel Girl, who had been watching the prisoners from a far side of the room, perked up as soon as she saw Spider and chittered a greeting at him. Spider nodded in acknowledgment. She relaxed just a little again, but kept on alert all the same.

Spider walked up to the prisoners, both leaning against the wall. Wolverine was still unconscious, but judging by how much of his injuries had healed, Spider guessed he'd be waking up soon. The other one though, the Agent, was wide awake and staring up at Spider wide-eyed and in fear. Coming off of him was the sour smell of urine, which made Spider bristle in disgust.

Uh, yeah, people are supposed to use the bathroom too. Peter dully told Spider. And eat. Look at him! They guy looks as skinny as me back in Elementary! When was the last time he got any food?

Spider shrugged, he honestly didn't care for the human. Heck, the Agent could die and Spider would give it to his Pack as a play toy. Besides, Spider had to be scarce with the food that they had, they hadn't gotten a delivery a food for a while and Spider was still deciding if he was happy about that or not.

S.H.I.E.L.D controlled the food, of course, but they didn't control Spider and his Pack. But then again, there was nothing to hunt in this blasted prison anyway. Well….Spider glanced over at Wolverine…not yet that is.

But anyway, this Agent did serve as some leverage over the situation. Unless S.H.I.E.L.D wanted the Agents and Wolverine to die of hunger –

Can Wolverine even die of hunger?!

-then S.H.I.E.L.D would have to send food. They already had water, so that wasn't a problem.

With nothing to report as a problem, Spider growled playfully at the Agent (who whimpered and pressed himself further against the wall in fright) and turned to leave. Squirrel Girl squeaked a good-bye, and slumped against the wall. Spider noticed how her tail drooped and how she picked at the floor sadly.

It must've been no fun to stay cooped up in this room, just watching two pathetic humans with nothing to do. Spider hummed sadly, and instead switched directions and walked up to her. Squirrel Girl squeaked in surprise once Spider situated himself next to her, but gradually relaxed as Spider simply stared at the prisoners across the room.

It was quiet between the two, nothing much to say or do to ease the time. But as Spider stayed next to her, he noticed that she still looked sad. Maybe it wasn't just watching the prisoners.

He crooned softly at her; Squirrel Girl looked up timidly, but didn't look like she knew how to express what he really felt.

"Squirrel…sad…" Spider noted, one of his talons brushed Squirrel Girls cheek gently. Squirrel Girl looked down in melancholy, but didn't say anything. She didn't even understand what Spider said.

But…well…speaking like a human came disturbingly easy for Spider, so maybe…maybe it would be for her too. A thrill of excitement shot up Spiders spine. Yes, yes this could work. If his whole Pack could learn to talk like them, perhaps Spider could get them to understand the danger this people were.

Shot full determination, Spider scooted so he sat in front of Squirrel Girl and fixated his gaze on her. She jumped back in surprise, but had nowhere to go. Spider looked at her intensely and said, "Talk."

She didn't get it.

Spider scooted closer, "Squirrel. Talk."

Squirrel Girl glanced around the room nervously, but didn't say anything. Her eyes landed on Spider, who still look dead-set and determined, and chittered at him in confusion.

Peter laughed: She has no idea what you're saying! You can't teach someone to talk just by saying "Talk". It just doesn't work that way.

Spider huffed, ~Then what do you suggest?

Well, for one… but then Peter stopped. Uh…you know what, never mind.

~Of course, Spider grumbled. That's what you always do.

But no one, not even Peter would deter Spider from doing this. He was going to teach them all how to speak! It would just take some time was all. But he could do, he knows he can.

Spider patted Squirrel Girls head as if to console her and say: It's okay; it's not your fault, and then got up.

He needed some time to think on this and come up with an effective way to teach his Pack. Squirrel Girl slowly leaned back against the wall, like she was still trying to figure out what Spider was doing. She watched the Alpha leave the room, looking to be mumbling to himself, and regarded him with conflicted eyes.

He was kind of odd.

But she shrugged and climbed up the wall to watch the room from above. Whatever was going on in the Alpha's head, she was sure would be fine.

He was the Alpha.

And the Alpha had everything under control.

First chapter, complete! Boo yeah! *happy dance* Hello book 2, welcome to the world!

I'll try to keep up with a schedule for this book. But school can be a writers nightmare, alongside writers block and pinterest/tumblr, so we'll see.

Hope you enjoyed! And MERRY CHRISTMAS!