"After I let her struggle for, oh…ten minutes or so, I sank my fangs into her thorax and ripped her clean in half! I have never seen so much gore come from such a tiny insect. She was quite delicious as well. A bit tart, but she had a certain…tang to her. Because Monarchs are so rare, hunting them would be out of the question. However, some other breeds come close to the taste, but it isn't the same. She was the most delectable morsel I believe I have ever eaten."

If they had been in a cartoon, Gypsy swore that his eyes would have been stars. When they and reached their temporary new home she had been surprised. Meurtrier had found an alcove behind a pile of wood near the human nest; and after he had cleared out any former residents, he turned the grass surroundings into a rather comfy cave like hut.

A soft bed of moss had been delicately placed under the beautifully woven hut. Strands of been grass had been curled over and seemed to meld together; as if they remained in that position on their own accord. There was no sign of bonds or anything till Gypsy placed her face almost touching the hut did she see the minute strands of silken thread, keeping it in place.

"My goodness…Meurtrier…you went all out."

"All out? Hardly. I wasn't even trying."

Gypsy rolled her eyes before heading in. The inside was just as elegant as the outside. Above her bed was a web that would become Meurtrier's bed. A light shove pushed her onto the moss and she turned to glare at the Master Spider, who just smirked and crawled up onto his web; taking a pile of silk from the corner before starting to weave it. Tilting her head to the side, her crimson eyes absorbed what he was doing and tried to figure out what he was doing. Eventually failing miserably.

"What on earth are you doing?"

"Weaving."

Placing her hands on her hips, the ant glared at him playfully. "I know that! Be specific!" The Master Spider chuckled and looked down at her through the web, his claws never ceasing their movement. "It's a curtain. You don't want other insects looking in on you. Heaven knows what you could be doing."

Giving him a weird look she asked, "And what, pray tell, would I be doing that would be so scandalous?" He gave a half shrug in response, "If you bring in another male bug, no one wants to see you two making out. Or whatever else you may do. I'm not sure how kinky you are."

She stared at him is disgusted for the longest time before grabbing a small rock from the ground and sending it flying. It successfully connected with the area just above his main pairs of eyes. Which caused an interesting chain reaction.

Meurtrier roared in pain as he reared back onto his final pair of legs, his claws grabbing at his sensitive eyes. While he was reeling, the black ant darted out the door and under the woodpile. Just praying he wouldn't find her. But with no such luck. She could hear claws scarping at the ground then at wood, following her every move. Being ripped apart by an angry spider was not what she had planned for the evening.

"Come back and face my wrath you puny little ant!" He received no answer; for who would? Certainly not Gypsy, oh hell no! This was certainly not what she needed right now. She just wanted to lie down…relax….sleep…

"Got you!"

As claws wrapped around her waist, Gypsy yelped and thought to herself. 'Apparently that's not going to happen…' Four black eyes glared into crimson, claws digging into her body. Neither moved for a long while before he set her down and headed back towards their hollow. Following him back, Gypsy couldn't help but smile.

"I bet your mother would be very proud of you."

Suddenly her back was pressed against the ground; fangs dripping with poison were millimeters from her throat. Meurtrier snapped at her, "What did you say about my mother?!" Gypsy stared at him wide-eyed and just remained silent. His eyes bore into hers, a claw wrapping and tightening around her neck.

"Answer me! What did you say?!"

His grip tightened even more while Gypsy grabbed at his claw, gasping for breath. With her last breathe she told him.

"I said your mother would be proud…"

Gypsy went limp in his arms, her own falling to her sides. Meurtrier released her neck just after she collapsed, but made sure she didn't hit the ground. Returning to their hollow, the Master Spider gently lay down and began to weave his silk together. Creating elegant patterns and designs, letting his claws do the work. His main eyes were trained on the resting ant while the other two were trained on his work; he looked rather…cross-eyed but he paid it no mind.

The longer he worked, the more his mind drifted back in time to when he was but a spiderling. Such a tiny thing he had been. No bigger then a pin head at his birth, barely any bigger as he grew older. Back then he actually enjoyed the company of others, when he had actually been kind. There had been almost a hundred of them in all, and Meurtrier had been the smallest and the weakest.

Antoinette.

That had been her name. At one point she had been his mother. A beautiful Corinnid spider with markings that looked as though she had angel wings. She had been an angel indeed. One of the sweetest creatures you would ever meet. If a bug that was trapped in her web had a family, she refused to eat them. No matter what her mate would say to her.

Antoinette had taken great pity on her tiniest child; keeping him close and doing everything for him. Meurtrier. Even his name was given to him as a gift. She would say that he would one day become a powerful and deadly monster, striking fear into others.

Her fate was sealed by the very love she felt for her little Meurtrier. The memory of her parting plagued his every waking moment. It had been years since the tragedy but it was as sharp and clear as if it was playing out in front of him once more. Poisoning his sight and tearing at his heart. If he never confronted another human in his life it would still be too soon. She hadn't deserved her punishment…..no one deserved the cruel card fate had dealt her…

"Come along my little one! We have work to do!"

"Coming Mother!"

A tiny spiderling darted after the much larger adult. He looked very different compared to his brothers and sisters, his size playing a minute factor. His legs were banded gold and black like his father, but his body was ebony with elegant patterns of white like his mother. A rather interesting mix; his siblings were not like him. Either a Golden Orb Weaver or a Corinnid spider, never both. But that was just another reason his mother loved him so much.

Antoinette smiled and stroked his back softly before heading on. The young spider trailing along behind her, smiling away. Catching up to her once more, he asked her in a timid voice, "Mother? Where are we going?" A soft laugh escaped her before she answered, "My sweet little Meurtrier, you are always so curious. We are going out so you can capture your first pray."

"Really?!"

"Of course. I can't hunt for you forever. What will your mate say if she saw me bring you food?"

"Um…um….she would…"

"She would be ashamed!"

With a yelp, Meurtrier darted under his mother as an enormous spider crept into the pathway. He's body was a pale gold, tapering from black at his head. The bands on his legs were a much deeper gold, but the black had become lighter with age. There were dozens of scars adorning his body, and one of his fangs was chipped.

With a growl the newcomer glared at the frightened spiderling, yanking him out from under his mother. "Spiders do not cower! Only the prey of one of our kind may cower!" He tossed Meurtrier to the ground with a snarl as Antoinette sighed. Helping her son up, her mate snorted at her.

"Why do you bother with such a weakling?"

The angel winged spider only smiled softly at him, "Because he reminds me of you." Her mate was aghast and snapped, "He is nothing like me!" Antoinette laughed and circled him a bit, letting her claws brush against his.

"I seem to remember a certain spiderling from many years ago who was also the smallest of his nest. I seem to recall he was also the weakest and very timid. You remember him, don't you my little fighter?" Lothair's eyes widened as she leaned closer to his face, purring under her breath. Gulping his gave a sheepish smile until he was tackled into the grass behind him.

Meurtrier covered his eyes and waited for his parents to be finished. A few minutes later Antoinette returned and collected her son before continuing on. Back in the patch of grass, Lothair was on his back knocked out. His limbs had been tied together and he was covered in small nips. Gifts from his mate.

"Now my little one, I want you to make me your best web. Can you do that for me?"

"Yes Momma."

Climbing up into a few stray twigs, Meurtrier created a web that was so thin you wouldn't know it was there unless someone told you it was there. There were dozens of elegant designs on his web, despite the actual use of the web. Antoinette smiled as she watched the patterns unfold before it was finally finished and the tiny spider hopped onto the ground. Before she could speak a tiny lady bug had gotten captured in the fresh web.

"Very good my little one! You've already caught something."

They climbed up the web and found the tiny lady bug just sitting there, watching them. Meurtrier was about to uncase her in silk when she suddenly said, "Peace! This aint right man. Let me free to fly in the skies above! Come on, do what's right. Feel the love!"

Meurtrier and Antoinette just stared at her for the longest time while she gave them the peace sign. After a long moment, the ladybug was free and flying away singing what sounded like Bob Marley.

The spider pair tilted their heads a bit before Antoinette finally broke them out of their stupor. "My my my, she was a bundle of energy wasn't she? Now let's try again. Fix your web and we'll…" She trailed off as her eyes searched the surrounding area. Meurtrier tilted his head and lightly tugged on her arm.

"Mother? Mother? What's wrong?"

She suddenly grabbed him and darted to the ground just as a large foot crashed down on where they had previously been seated. The tiny Meurtrier's eyes widened as he was carried away, the monstrous creature following them.

"Run! Run! Human in the forest!"

Lothair had just freed himself when he heard the scream and darted towards his mate. "Run my Antoinette, run!" The unfortunate orb weaver arrived just in time t o see her become trapped beneath the humans shoe, crushing her abdomen. His eyes widened as the human leaned down and pierced her chephalthorax with the blade of a knife. Antoinette held her blood stained son close before her eyes closed and she saw no more.

All was silent as the human removed his blade and left, leaving the spiders alone. Lothair was soon joined by many other tiny spiders, each letting their tears fall. Taking a hesitant step forward, Lothair approached what had once been his mate. Holding back his tears, the large spider gently ran a claw across her cheek. Minute movement caught his eye and he looked down to see a tiny figure pressing close to what had once been his mother.

"Meurtrier…this is your fault boy!"

Lothair grabbed him and yanked him free before tossing him to the ground. Digging his claws into the ground, Lothair pinned his son to the down who struggled as tears burned his eyes.

"You! You're the reason she is dead! Because of you my Antoinette is gone!"

"No! I didn't do it! It's not my fault!"

Growling, the large spider tossed him aside before returning to his late mate's side. He gently stroked one of her claws before saying, "It seems you've already lived up to your namesake. Meurtrier."

"Meurtrier! Meurtrier!"

All around him, his siblings glared at him. Hissing and clicking their fangs as he slowly backed away. Meurtrier whimpered before running into the grass, tears stinging his eyes. The spider that was crushed couldn't have been his mother. It just couldn't be…

"Mother! Mother, where are you?! Mother!" He collapsed beneath a mushroom and cried, curling up. "Mother pleases…Mother…Mother…