Carver

I awoke as I often did these days, full and satisfied. Envy was curled around my naked body. His forest green hair tied in a pony tail. Feeling me stir, he opened his golden eyes. His face was soft, relaxed. A sight only seen briefly.

He brushed his fingers across my cheek. A silent question directed my way. One I always replied to with a perfectly sweet grin. A kiss or two and I dressed for the day. Envy remained au natural, switching to his ghastly form.

His spider body up close was even uglier. Thin needle like legs, twisted mix of light and dark green on his body, and a rough bumpy texture. An intense smell of swamp water followed his steps. I did as was required, I followed.

We did not leave his webbing at first. The two chambered home had a center room with breakfast. A sinner. Envy took drops of his venom from his mouth, dripping it down one limb at a time. The screams filled the nest, but the fly's response was instinctive. Their emotions clearly rotted away long ago from other spiders. She suddenly collapsed, the webs held her hanging body to the wall. The fly dispersed into a cloud of dust, floating in the air.

A frustrated hiss came from Envy. He made his way towards the nest entrance. He tapped his back, his usual command. Climbing aboard, we exited for the day. The eternal darkness of the world a friendly sight.

Several spiders noticed our arrival. Low ranked ones maintained a safe distance, while the higher ranked ones went about their business. The strong spider, the brown one, eyed us up. He had attempted to steal me before, resulting in Envy refusing to let me touch the ground. The pair have always been at odds for control. My presence made it even more chaotic.

Envy observed the forest floor, the activity of the group. It may be some time before another meal comes through the area. Still, vigilance is key, or the only food in days may be stolen away. Of course there was other ways to gain food.

I curled forward, petting the monster beneath me. I spoke out in the sweetest, most docile voice I could manage.

"Envy..? Why don't we go trading today..?" In response to my words, he taps his front leg to the ground, thinking.

He doesn't respond, but I know I won. He silently moves between the trees, toward my favorite cave. He does a quick check around before entering, ensuring that we weren't followed. Once inside, he taps my head. I slip off, shifting into my hybrid form.

I use my claws to grasp a piece of wall. My back limbs carving out the designated piece. It rips right out, I place it on the watery floor. Envy uses his needle-like legs to cut it into sections small enough to fit in a hand. He webs the pieces individually at first, and then in a larger webbed bag together.

We leave the cave with our loot in tow. I travel on his back, remaining in my hybrid form. He fears an older spider stealing me away. We travel at full speed, taking some time to reach our destination. An open dirt field in the center of the forest. Other spiders claim different spots showing their goods. From clothing, to jewelry, even newborn spiderlings. We opened our bag to display our ice mirrors.

Envy responded to offers simply by hissing or handing the mirror over. We received small items, shiny stones, pieces of shed, even some colored silk. I focused on the other spiders while my owner was distracted. A familiar dark blue female approached the market. Every spider froze, eyeing the other males around them.

She approached our spot, she dropped a sinner wrapped in webbing at our feet. Envy bowed in respect, she didn't acknowledge his existence. The female took every remaining mirror and went on her way.

I looked down at our next meal. He stared back at me, a defiant look in his eyes. They were a deep brown color. His hair was short, black. I tilted my head, clapped my claws together in excitement. It was the prey that was stolen from me. He was newer then the food I was used to eating. I salivated in expectation.

I carried the human in my arms on Envy's back. He kept speaking at me, mumbling. It was frustrating hearing the annoying sounds. I was about to give hiss as a warning, before his words changed, understandable.

"At least I'm outside again, anything is better than a cage again." He sighs, observing the world around him. "There could at least be some sunlight! Hey world! Your seriously bumming me out here!"

I blink. An unnatural chuckle comes from inside me. Envy slows down, listening. The human stares at me, questioning his ears.

"Did a monster just laugh?" I nod, amused for the first time in this life. "Holy shit." His mouth gapes.

Envy stops moving.

"Lovely one? What was that sound?" He moves a claw to pat my head, concerned.

I pet his claw in response.

"I laughed Envy." The human's eyes widened. He understood me.

"Laughing..?" Envy didn't understand. His concern growing by the second.

"It's a good thing, a rare thing. I could try to make you laugh if you want."

Envy thought in silence, he didn't respond. He sped up again. The human decided to keep talking, excited to have a conversation for once.

"I'm Carver. What's your name? You have a name right? Envy is a name, I guess?" He continued asking questions about spiders, flies, this world, I didn't answer. The tilting of my head the only response.

Envy dropped me off with the fly in his nest. He left to handle the group, maintain his status. I attached the man to the wall, shifting into my human form.

......

POV: Carver

It was the first time I saw one in human form. I did not expect such a divine appearance. The almost porcelain white skin, the cute face, the eyes that sucked your soul out. My mind was ablaze with such art in front of me.

"My divine." It slipped out.

The being in front of me grinned twistedly. He approached eyeing my body, licking its lips. I felt untold shivers down my spine. Gulping, I reminded myself this was not seductive, but predatory.

A pair of cold hands held my face. I waited for the familiar pain. Moments passed and the creature kept staring, thinking. It spoke to me.

"Make me laugh again."