weak spot, c

Ignatia lived for the hunt. Every aspect of it filled her with a strange bliss that couldn't be matched by anything. No amount of murdered siblings or mother's praise could ever match to its brilliance. The observation of a group of people, either from the shadows or from among them. The thrill of being but an arm's length from them but going unnoticed -- at least for what she truly was. She'd always enjoyed learning their patterns more than anything. Figuring out exactly when she could hit them the hardest. This was what she'd been doing for the past week with a group of travelers.

Early in the week she had found them, and seeing their numbers had decided it safe to "stumble" upon them in human form. She'd riled up a couple of wolves and fled from them, though she knew that if they caught her it would only take a few moments for her to dispatch them. They were simply a decoy to make her seem vulnerable and inspire the small band of hunters to run to her aid. Ignatia had learned it was easier to win trust through sympathy than any true merit. From there she'd walked with them to a nearby town before parting ways. She'd learned when they were going to head home and set up her web on the path they'd taken so that she could trap them on their way back.

Then she'd waited. This was perhaps Ignatia's second favorite part. The slowly building blood lust as days passed and anticipation grew. When her web had begun to shake and panicked noises had rose from it a few days earlier than expected she was disappointed, but was sure that the feast awaiting her would make up for it. At least, that's what she thought until she saw what was actually caught in her web.

A bird. A giant fucking bird. She couldn't have become frustrated faster. When Ignatia had approached she'd done so on careful feet, relishing the idea of coming from the shadows slowly and watching their faces fall as recognition met fear. But as soon as she saw that ugly, thrashing heap of feathers she'd lost her cool. Flair went out the window as she scuttled quickly onto her web and bared her fangs. All four of her arms began to click angrily in time with her frustrated hissing. She made sure to get as close as possible to the bird before saying anything more.

"Well I'd been suspecting a catch, but it certainly wasn't you pigeon," Despite her frustration Ignatia spoke the words eloquently, in a way one would deem softly if not for the edge to each hard sound, "You know I'd put a lot of effort into this. More than a day, really. Made sure it was big enough that if those idiot hunters were clumped together they'd all run smack into it. It was set to feed me for at least a weak, and yet here you are. Hardly a day's meal. And yet you've managed to mess up such a large amount of my handiwork."

As she spoke Ignatia had backed away from the bid to explore the rest of the web. The disgusting beast had managed to get tangled well enough that it had left the rest of her work a mess. There was no way all those hunters would still well in this trash. She'd have to redo it, and oh how she hated extra work with no extra pay off. Scowling, she returned to the bird's side and leaned in nice and close. She offered a quick view of her fangs and another hiss before continuing to speak.

"I don't usually enjoy poultry, often too dry and tough, but you've got me so mad I could consider it."

LAIKA OF GS!

Usually Ignatia loved prey with a bit of a tongue. There was something oddly satisfying about listening to something on the verge of death screaming and raving and throwing insults. But that was the thing. It was only entertaining when their responses were panicked proclamations. Rabid rantings brought about by unbridled fear. This bird, on the other hand, was simply sassy.

Sass frustrated Ignatia. Narrowed eyes and focused, stabbing comments. Prey that sought to wiggle under her skin with any kind of composure were unwelcome in her web. It only made her want to end them faster, which would in the long run ruin her dinner. Half of the full feeling she had after a good meal was the fear and anticipation she soaked in from those trapped. So, this mouthy (beaky?) bird left Ignatia in a strange suspended state of murderous intent and cautious patience. She wasn't sure if she wanted to end her existence and comments now, or let her sit and maybe harvest some panic. Either way she was more than willing to respond to the mild goading.

"First of all, you ratty mass of feathers, this web is some of my best work. You'd think that considering your current entrapment you'd understand that. An 'atrocious web' would have let you fly right on through. And second of all, you hadn't flown through this particular path in any of my recent memory. I set this web up with the intent of catching things that regularly came down this road. You were not one of them," Ignatia clicked her claws together and moved about while she spoke, mending bits of webbing and straightening what she could, "Thus you're still at fault since -- by changing your route -- you flew into my work. It's like blaming a tree for obstructing your path. Very foolish."

It was only towards the end of her comments that Ignatia finally looked back at the stuck bird, an almost innocent smile on her face. A look that contrasted with the rest of her monstrous appearance.

"Demonic goo might as well be it. I produce that webbing as all spiders do, but a fair amount of it is the liquefied remains of those in your very position. Maybe you yourself will net me a meal down the line."

LAIKA OF GS!