Arachnophobia

I think I’ve found out something interesting about Attitude. Maybe it’s something about all faeries, I don’t know.

Earlier today, I was cleaning up Cleopatra’s terrarium. (Cleopatra is my pet tarantula, if you didn’t remember.) I generally clean it up every few months to make sure it’s… well, clean. While I was cleaning up, I put Cleo away in the kitchen sink, figuring she’d be safe (wouldn’t fall off the kitchen counter). Tarantulas can’t climb stainless. While I was busy cleaning up the terrarium, however, Attitude flew by to see what I was up to. When she noticed the terrarium was empty (i.e. there was no tarantula), she paled and look around in a panic. She didn’t say anything, but I know my faeries and this one was terrified. Finally, she spotted Cleo in the sink and flew away prudently.

“You shouldn’t let that creature roam freely,” she said, her voice breaking a little. “Those things are filthy.”

“She’s not free,” I replied, “she’s in the sink. She’s not going anywhere.”

Attitude shrugged.

“I can kill it for you, if you want,” she offered. When I shook my head, she continued. “You like that creature?”

“Yeah, I do. It’s not as dangerous as people say, you know.”

“They’re filthy,” she repeated. “Maybe I’ll kill it while you sleep or when you’re gone.”

And she flew away, not waiting for my reaction.

I guess faeries don’t like spiders much. At least Attitude doesn’t.

–Jaycee

Minx vs Cleopatra

I woke up at 3:30 this morning, to the sound of Minx shrieking her head off.

I didn’t even know she was back — she’d been gone for a few days already, on one of those mysterious expeditions she wouldn’t tell me about.

As soon as I heard the screaming, I raced to the living room and looked for her. All of a sudden, everything fell deathly silent. I glanced around, my heart racing. I couldn’t see much so I flicked the light on. And I immediately found out what was happening.

The top of Cleopatra’s tank was open. Inside, an unconscious Minx was stuck in the web, her hand holding a tiny spear. And next to her, Cleopatra was covering her in more webbing.

I reacted before I even thought about what I was doing. I raced over to the tank, put my hand in, and grabed Minx. The spider backed away when my hand approached, and for a moment I was worried she’d jump to bite my hand or something, but she just watched. I yanked Minx out and put the top back on the tank. I secured it in place and put a heavy book on top just to be safe.

Minx was unconscious. I couldn’t find a bite, so I think she just fainted from fright. Poor little thing. Lying there, all white and helpless, I felt a moment of pity and sympathy for her.

Then I remember what she (and her ilk) had put me and my friends through, and I was tempted to wring her neck. But I’m no killer, so I just let her be. I took her little spear, threw it in the garbage, and went back to bed.

—–

I woke again around dawn, only to find Minx’s face an inch away from mine, staring at me as I woke up. Her expression was… unusual. It was… adoring.

“Minx! What do you want?”

As I sat up, she fluttered in front of my face.

“You saved me! You saved me! The evil spider was going to eat me, and you saved me!”

I scratched my head.

“I don’t think that’s quite what happened… You were going after her, weren’t you? Well, I just didn’t want her to eat you — you probably taste horrible, on account that faeries are all dark and twisted on the inside!”

To my surprise, Minx laughed.

“Oh, you’re so funny! But none of that matters, now — you SAVED ME!”

She fluttered next to my ear.

“And now,” she said, “you get a nice reward.”

She whispered something in my ear. It was some kind of long word, and with every syllable, I felt increasingly dizzy. Then I fainted.

When I woke up, Minx was gone again.

–Jaycee

Next update: Wednesday

And Along Came a Spider

Holy crap. I can’t believe I bought THAT, of all things.

A tarantula.

I’m just back from the exotic pet store. They had a ton of wild and unusual creatures, from iguanas to porcupines, snakes, and — like I said — tarantulas. I really wanted something low maintenance, and what REALLY sold me on it is that you only need to feed it once a week. Crickets and worms are just perfect, apparently.

Yeah, you may think it’s creepy, but personally, I like the idea. This isn’t a pet that’s going to need a lot of food, or maintenance, and it’s totally rad.

I got a FRIKKIN’ tarantula!

(And with any luck, it’s a radioactive type, and if it ever bites me, I’ll get superhuman powers!)

Shyeah, right!

–Jaycee

Next update: Monday