Even Animals Get Bored

[Rafael]

This had definitely been much more difficult than normal. Rafael was finally just about home now climbing up the mountain side. It had taken him about an extra hour of travel from the district of the Rukongai that he tended to go for acquiring certain supplies to get back home. The reason that it had taken him longer to finish the travel was something that admittedly he hadn’t thought would be such a pain in the ass. Carrying gifts for the others without some sort of container like a backpack turned out to be very frustrating, especially when he considered that he had to contain his rage for fear of breaking that which had taken quite a bit of effort to find for the both of them.

Now as he jumped from near the top of the mountain side Rafael knew he was going to elevate himself up above the top and then down into the clearing that he knew as his home. It was going to take roughly fifteen seconds to land in the clearing, but when he was this close he was almost certain that Lolth already knew he was back. As for Zadora well she probably would hear him land and come right out to greet him. He’d been gone for several days now as the distance between their home and the Rukongai wasn’t a minor amount. In truth though Rafael was just giddy with excitement to give them their gifts. A large wooden box full of spices and small cooking manuscripts. As for Lolth Rafael was holding onto three different large rolls of fabric. Accompanying the manuscript for Zadora were just as many for Lolth containing the secret of weaving fabric like the webs of a spider.

[Zadora]

Since getting up this morning, Zadora had kept herself busy with small chores. Mainly the ones around her room. With the tiger cub growing and shedding its fur. She had to keep a daily sweep in the room to get rid of the falling fur. Plus the cub made it a challenge to do said chore. Every time she made a pass of the broom, the cub would tackle the broom. Insisting on playing instead of letting her sweep. As she would sweep, she would put away items that the small feline would knock off or play with. . This process would follow with either softly scowling the small cat or playing with it. Depending on if the small cat broke anything of hers or not. Then came grooming the cat.

The process of which she took out near the waterfall. Simply placing the cat in the shallow water where she would wrestle around to get the feline clean. Also to get the cat accumulated to being in the water. Unlike herself, the feline didn’t seem to like the water and made cleaning the feline a tab bit difficult. But it needed to be done. She cant have a dirty feline running about the room. But once she was done, she would let the feline bound about playing with the small critters that inhabited the area while she bounced into the river as the heat started to settle in from the day. Plus the little workout with cleaning her cub caused her to sweat. And now she needed to let herself relax in the water.

‘I wonder when Rafael will be back’ She thought as she glanced around. Partly hoping the large black feline would come into view but also to see if Lolth had come out of her cave. Since their leader left, she keeps a minimal distance between the two of them. One to keep her little cub from stepping on one of her little ones. And the other was that she was still trying to get used to her ‘children’. She can handle the woman by herself but when she is surrounded by the little spiderlings. That was a different story.

While lounging in the rivers water, her ear flicked backwards at the sound of the ground cracking under something. The sound mildly familiar to the sound her dear friend made when he dropped from the top of the mountain to the area they lived in. Turning her body to the direction of the sound to see Rafael in the crater he had just made. A smile working it’s way to her muzzle as she shot to her feet and ran to his side in mere seconds. Eager to greet her friend. “Welcome back Rafael.”

[Lolth Orbweaver]

Deep in the darker caverns of the cave, Lolth sat humming a soft, soothing lullaby to her little ones. Thousands of spiders of various species lay on a blanket of silk and webbing. The sticky threads were kept clean of the left overs that remain of their meals, like a mother cleaning her home. The little ones were all that she cared about. They were the most important things in her life, close second would be her packmates, Zadora and Rafael. As much as their impulsiveness got them into more trouble than Lolth would like, they helped her as much as she helped them. They needed each other, but she wasn't one to hesitate to leave if it means the survival of her little ones. 

She sighed once the last of the spiders was still. She would gingerly move herself from strand to strand careful not to move them too much, and disturb her slumbering children. Though her eyes were blind, she moved with the skill and confidence of one who had seen everything and memorized it all. She preferred the darker parts of the cave. They were isolated so she wasn't disturbed, and the others didn't have to witness her more...unpleasant habits. Lolth's feet scraped across the stone ground, as she smelled the scent of Zadora and her little cub. She knew that she was close to the entrance, and could hear the splashing of water even from this far away. 

Rafael's scent was fading from the cave. He had been gone for a while, and it worried her. She steadfastly resisted the notion of going to the home of the shinigami for any reason. To her, the valley they lived in would provide everything they needed. Fresh drinking water, plenty of food, and protection from the more dangerous residence of the spirit world. Why would she leave it? A cold breeze brought with it a familiar scent. She smiled warmly and waited for Rafael to arrive. She could smell the spices that he carried. They tickled her nose, and she had to resist the temptation to sneeze. Zadora would notice as well soon after and rush to meet their friend, while Lolth hung back.

"It took you a while Rafael. I hope that you didn't cause any more of a stir than usual this time?" She asked lacing both sets of fingers together. She considered herself a patient woman, but there was a limit to the recklessness that she would tolerate from him. 

[Rafael]

Landing in the ground Rafael could feel it give way beneath his impact. For a moment it felt like he sank just a bit too much and wondered if he’d put on weight. If that was the case though it was more than likely just additional muscle. Rafael couldn’t imagine himself getting soft, not when the majority of his food was meat and vegetables. Not when he spent the majority of his time constantly pushing himself with physical activity. At this point his body was what he imagined as superhuman while a child, minus all the fur.

He was happy to see Zadora rush to meet him though. The little cub tagging along behind her was a pleasant sight. Although he wasn’t a fan of the citizens in the Rukongai the chance scene of misery that was on constant display throughout every village he’d come across so far. . . It pushed his hatred towards them to its limit. Even he had to question whether or not they deserved to live in such conditions. Right now though that despair was broken from the warmth his family were bestowing upon him. “Glad to be back.”

Rafael didn’t waste any time in handing over the square box of supplies and books that he’d been carrying to Zadora. It was at this point that Lolth made herself known. “No this time nothing fun really happened. Just found some presents that I hope you’ll both enjoy.” Rafael was certain that based on what he knew of Lolth she could already tell he’d brought back spices. What he was certain she didn’t know though was the gift he’d brought for her.

He’d wait for Zadora to open the box afterwards reaching in to grab a small book. “Take a look inside. I brought back something I believe you’ll enjoy.” Rafael spoke to Zadora knowing she’d be too curious looking over the small bottles of spices along with the cookbook inside for her. Walking over Rafael got a bit worried not knowing for certain how Lolth was going to respond. “Thought this might be something you’d like. It goes over different methods of weaving for clothing. I know you can’t read, but I don’t have an issue helping.”

[Zadora]

When she was near him, his usual scent was heavily mixed with different spices. The different scents of spices made her blink and look at her friend in confusion. Just when she was about to question what he had gotten until he presented her a box and some books. She turned her head up to him in surprise before she crouched down and opened the box. Her nose scrunched up at the heavy scent of the spices. That laid out in the box in individual bottles. Reading over each label that each bottle had.

While looking over the bottles, she saw the large pay of her friends to reach inside the box, pulling out a book and handing it to her. Stopping her search through the spices. Crossing at her ankles to sit upon them as she took the book from him. Opening the book to look over the different recipes that littered the pages with pictures to match said recipes. Giving her an idea of the recipe looked like. Stopping on certain pages what a recipe that seemed to appeal to Zadora causing her to read over the ingredients and instructions.

Peeking up every so often to look at Rafael. Watching over the top of the book as he left her side to approach Lolth. She blinked, watching as he pulled out a book and handed it to her. Holding back a retort of him handing the blind spider woman a book until he spoke up. Listening to him explain that he knew that she couldn’t see the words in the book but would happily help her with the book. He would probably read it to her whenever she wanted to learn from the book he had gifted her.

[Lolth Orbweaver]

Lolth smiled and laugh when Rafael reported that, no more than the usual stir occurred. She was fully aware of his impulsiveness when it came to combat all too well. "That is good to hear." She didn't move any closer to Rafael. She was able to smell the powerful scent of the spices a long ways away, and even this close it was strong. It took everything Lolth had to not physically recoil from the sudden, overpowering smells hitting her all at once, when Zadora opened the box to inspect the spices further. Lolth couldn't suppress a dry cough however and moved a bit back to lessen the impact on her sensitive nose. As much as her heightened senses were a blessing, they were also a curse as well. 

Lolth perked up when she heard Rafael approach her. She was able to recover by the time he got to her though she could still smell the stench of pure spices and human pulses all over him. She let all four of her hands grab the book he handed to her. She opened it running her fingers over it, though unfortunately she could gleam nothing from it directly. At first she was about to punch him in the face for such a blatant oversight as to her lack of vision, but then he offered to help her read it, and the concept of weaving her thread did interest her, so she decided to hold herself in check this time. "Thank you Rafael. I will make sure you relay the information in great detail." She said half teasingly. 

[Rafael]

Watching Zadora go through the box that contained all the spices brought a big smile to Rafael’s face. It wasn’t a super common thing for Zadora to display interest or genuine joy unless she was playing with her cub. He realized that he had accomplished what he wanted while she looked through the book peeking at certain recipes more than others. He didn’t just want to help the both of them survive in this new life, but enjoy it. He didn’t know why, but the both of them he felt connected towards from the moment they crossed paths and now he just sought to give them the best life possible.

It wasn’t something easily accomplished though. Despite finding a place to make their new home and doing a fairly good job at it so far. They constantly needed to hunt for food. Rafael was still a little shocked at how much he could eat in just a single sitting. It wasn’t the same thing that humans went through when going to the store. They could get an entire week’s worth of supplies in just a few hours. Zadora or himself had to go hunting, find something out there and then hauling back. Not to mention usually it was finished off in no more than two days at most.

When he got over to Lolth the happy remarks to his respond about not actually getting into a fight this time was unexpected. Lolth was definitely the most reserved out of the small group, but even still the smile on her face right now made everything worth it. “Whenever you want to study on it let me know. I can’t be the only one that has an interest. Figured you guys could use something new to try. Maybe you can make us something awesome looking.” Rafael hadn’t actually thought about that until just now. If Lolth learned how to weave her thread with fabric, she could probably make clothes. What would that be like in this new body?

[Zadora]

She turned her attention from Rafael to Lolth. Watching the spider female step away. She reached forwards and folded the flaps of the box down. Maybe the heavy scent of the spices were overwhelming the females scent of smell. Hoping that closing the box of spices would ease the female's oversensitive nose. But maybe that didn't help? Maybe she should get the box full of spices away, like putting it in her room? She would wait to see if it was needed or if the female would voice it.

She watched the female take the book from him and opened the book. She perked a brow waiting for some kind of reaction to the gift. Maybe she was expecting some type of snap from the woman. But there was none. She had teased the large panther, holding him to his word. A small chuff rumbled in her throat as she turned from the pair to continue to look through the book in her paws. The recipes in the book were interesting and she let herself linger on certain recipes that peeked her interest.

[Lolth Orbweaver]

Lolth closed the book and let her lower set of hands hold it. The concept of weaving was not fully lost to her. She had to weave her complex webs herself after all, and made a rudimentary dress for herself. Though she did think that further application could prove useful for all of them. The hard part was just learning. She couldn't teach herself well since she can't see it done, or read a book on it, so she would have to rely on Rafael for that. She looked to Rafael. "I would also assume that you have a few ideas of what you would like me to make already?" She would then turn her attention to Zadora. "I assume from the smell that your gift has something to do with...cooking?" She asked. "What catches your eye?"

[Rafael]

Rafael could tell that the gift he had gotten for Zadora was causing a bit of an issue for Lolth. Truthfully he hadn’t thought that her senses had developed so vastly that even the scent of a few different spices would be enough to cause her discomfort. Even though it wasn’t the best thing to find out Rafael couldn’t help a grin from spreading across his face, not from Lolth’s discomfort yet at the realization that she was amazing. He knew his own prowess in combat along with Zadora’s as well, but despite knowing Lolth’s ability and her power it wasn’t until now that Rafael truly figured out just how awesome the spider girl really was. She could do something far better than him that would protect all of them long before his body would be able.

“I really don’t know what I’d want to wear. Especially with how big I am.” Rafael laughed a bit making fun of his own size. “Maybe some shorts and a shirt. I’ve kinda gotten used to not wearing shoes and I’m not sure they’d work with my claws anyway.” Rafael turned to see that Zadora wasn't looking at the spices anymore having close the box, but was now scoping through the receipt book. This was definitely going as well as he could have hoped. He wasn’t sure if Lolth especially was going to like his gift, but for the first time in a long time the giant Beast felt a very intense warmth in his chest. This really was starting to feel like a family for the large furball.

[Zadora]

Blinking as she heard Lolth’s voice caused her to lift her head from the book to look at the woman. “Yes. Rafael got me a few spices as you already smelt and a cookbook. There are some recipes in the book that deal with venison and a few that I marked that are fish based.” She explained as she closed the book and set it on top of the box of spices. ‘Maybe I could try to make a few things that I see the people in the district eat?’ She thought as she looked to the river that ran through their territory.

‘I can get the fish from the river. It is quite plentiful with fish. And I know where to get the deer. There usually is a herd of them in that field I like to hunt in. I have seen boars run through the field as well. Maybe I should lay out a snare of sorts since I haven't figured out the time they always show up in the field.’ She thought. She knew boars were smart and some were not the ideal size for her to take. ‘Maybe I should feed them to fatten them up.’ She added silently to herself.

She turned her head to look at her panther friend. ‘I have to be picky with what I take until I take more than one. He eats a lot. But if I add more vegetables into our diet, maybe I can take slightly smaller prey.’ She thought as she looked between her two companions. “Do you guys remember anything that you liked to eat when you were alive?” She asked