Yule Mathoms 2005 Collected
December 4 - 21 ornery orcs: 4. Ornery Orcses by Aranel Took
He couldn't help but giggle as he scampered down the passageway. Dim memories tugged at his brain, of playing tricks and laughter near a river, but they were only fleeting images and he passed them off as a dream.
He heard grumbling and shouting behind him as his ornery playthings followed. "Follow me! Follow!" he yelled and he scampered again into a familiar cavern lit by a hole high up in the rock. The light glowed on silver strands and he had to shield his eyes from the brightness as he ducked behind a boulder.
Only when the first had reached the center and became tangled in sticky web did they realize their mistake. But it was too late. With a hiss, She dropped from her place high over the door, blocking off the escape route. Hairy legs and clacking mandibles deftly captured each screaming, wriggling victim. They gave a good chase, provided some amusement in this lonely dark place, and when she was done, twenty-one orcs wrapped in spider silk hung from the ceiling.
"Nassty orcses! They won't bother us no more. Gollum!" he muttered. When her attention was turned to feeding, he slipped back out into the passage.
He heard grumbling and shouting behind him as his ornery playthings followed. "Follow me! Follow!" he yelled and he scampered again into a familiar cavern lit by a hole high up in the rock. The light glowed on silver strands and he had to shield his eyes from the brightness as he ducked behind a boulder.
Only when the first had reached the center and became tangled in sticky web did they realize their mistake. But it was too late. With a hiss, She dropped from her place high over the door, blocking off the escape route. Hairy legs and clacking mandibles deftly captured each screaming, wriggling victim. They gave a good chase, provided some amusement in this lonely dark place, and when she was done, twenty-one orcs wrapped in spider silk hung from the ceiling.
"Nassty orcses! They won't bother us no more. Gollum!" he muttered. When her attention was turned to feeding, he slipped back out into the passage.
