Nth paused to think through how to explain his predicament. His mind was full of concepts that he had only human words for and, to his dawning horror, he found that even thinking like his true self was proving difficult. When had his internal train of thought crossed over into something human? Considering now how he might frame these ideas in this spider language, he found himself frustrated with it. How had his people managed for so long with so few concepts they needed to give names to?

Because, he told himself, that way was simpler, which made it better. He was desperately asserting to himself the moral superiority of the web, the forest, and the cave, over all the filthy scuttlings of the city and the fortress. So the humans hated his true people, because once in a while they dined on the sweet juices of Man? What was that, compared to what they did to each other?

But he could express none of this. He must slim his dictionary down to the simplest of common themes, or he would get nowhere.

My Mother dwelt here once. She left and found a new home. So far so good, and there was an expectant stillness to the threads to show that he was, at least, being listened to. The world beyond here is filled with Men. That did not communicate his horror at it, to any satisfactory level, but what more could he say? The Men make war with the dark master that dwells near here. For of course they would be aware of their neighbor Darvezian. The Men follow a thread that will let them attack the dark master. The thread leads through your places. The Men do not mean you harm. The Men will pass through your places.

By now he felt the thrumming and twitching of their worry. Men passing through their home? Impossible, an unthinkable intrusion to be met only by violence. This was what Nth had been worried about from the start.

The Men are very powerful, he insisted, striking hard to send his message through the mounting unrest within the caves. They have fire and killing light. I have seen this. Keep away from them or they will slay you in great numbers.

We will fight! resounded from the caves. Instruct your Men to follow their thread some other way. We will defend our nest from your Men.

There is no reasoning with Men, Nth told them, with great feeling. They destroy all they touch. They are very strong. They are convinced of their purpose and cannot be swayed. To resist them is death, but if you let them alone then they will pass through and be gone, and leave no mark.

We will feast on them. We will trap them and drink their juices. We are stronger than Men, and Nth imagined the brood within the caves scuttling and skittering and preparing for battle.