The True Confessions of a Nine-Tailed Fox

Chapter 159: The Scariest Yellow and Navy-Blue Stripes You Ever Did See

These joro spiders were ginormous! I'd seen spider spirits before, of course, but none of them even approached this size. Each one had a teardrop body with bright yellow and navy-blue bands, rather like a bumblebee but not furry at all, and long legs that also had yellow and navy-blue stripes.

And when I said their legs were long, I meant loooong. The front pair was twice the length of their bodies! Seriously, what were they eating out here in the Wilds?

Wait, maybe I didn't want to know.

As the oversized spiders encircled us, way too many feet pounded a rhythm that vibrated the earth. The wolf stood up straight and proud, which was no mean feat given the snake, the crane, and the sparrow dangling off her.

The largest spider tapped her right-side feet, one-two-three-four, one-two-three-four, rather like Floridiana drumming her fingers. "Well, well, well, what do we have here?"

That was not an original line. That was not even close to an original line. You could hear better lines in a puppet show in the open-air market. (At least, I assumed you could – I'd never attended one myself.) But you'd think that such a ginormous, obviously ancient spider spirit would have spent some of her centuries polishing her villainess self-introduction.

"My name is One Ear," snapped the wolf. (Oh, was that her name? I should try to remember it.) "Vassal of Steelfang, defender of the great Fox Empress Sphaera Algarum. By what right have you kidnapped us?"

The spider's legs drummed. One-two-three-four, one-two-three-four. "I bow to no empress. Any and all who touch my webs have trespassed on my domain and are subject to my justice."

Boring lines. Such tedious, boring lines. Leaving One Ear to deal with the spider, since the wolf seemed to know what she was doing, I whispered to Bobo and Stripey, One Ear? Why's she called One Ear?

Because I could clearly see two furry, pointy ears where you expected to see ears on a wolf.

"'Caussse when ssshe was a pup, one of her ears was droopy! Isssn't it sssuch a cute name?"

Shh, Stripey shushed us. I'm trying to listen.

Chastened, Bobo and I jerked our heads in opposite directions, each pretending that the other didn't exist. Stripey rolled his eyes.

He was probably right that we should have been tracking the conversation between One Ear and the spider chieftain, though. When I returned my attention to them, they had already passed the challenge stage and were working out the details of the fight.

Wait, I protested, flying forward as far as the threads would let me. One Ear, you're planning to challenge their leader yourself? You're not going to wait for Steelfang?

The wolf twisted her head around and bared her teeth. Their sharp points gleamed in the sunlight. "Are you saying that I can't take a spider?"

Well, yes. Steelfang hadn't selected her to fight in any of the challenges thus far, which implied that she wasn't among his stronger warriors. She was more of a scout, quiet and quick on her paws, at least when they weren't tangled up in spider silk.

I highly recommend that you consult with Steelfang before you arrogate any diplomatic negotiations to yourself. You are not authorized to make any decisions that will bind your clan or – a sour taste rose in my mouth, but I forced out the next words anyway – the Fox Empress.

The spider chieftain tapped her feet in a light, mocking rhythm. "Hear that?" she cried to her vassals. "What is there to fear from these intruders? They are led by a little birdie!"