Blackfeather Woods into the living sea of waking dreams,

Perhaps one day, she'd look back with distaste of this moment. The presumption of her, to seek love from a mother that was not hers, whose love belonged to the beings within. She would feel disgusted at her moment of weakness, maybe.

But Maegi was young, and desperate for attention, and she accepted Relmyna's embrace with an open heart, closing her eyes as the expectant mother cradled her against her belly. She smelled of warmth, and musk, and milk yet to come. . .and safety. A safety she'd never experienced before.

She did love them, did want them! Oh, did Maegi's heart soar at this! These spiderlings would grow up loved, cared for, accepted, and she wanted to be there for their every step. She wanted so much not only to be their friend, their teacher, but their sister, in nearly every sense of the word.

If only she knew.