For a few moments after the spider left, none of them dared to move, either. Eventually, Grimalkin crept forward, poking his head out warily, scanning the thorns. "Wait here," he told them. "I will see if it is safe." Slipping into the shadows like a ghost, he disappeared.

She stays silent.

she waited for him to come back.

Then, one of the thorns moved.

she froze. Well, she froze more than she already did.

She glances at it.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the three-inch barb shivered and unfurled into a pair of pointed black wings, attached to a tiny faery with glittering eyes that glared with insectlike menace. Its spindly body was covered by a shiny black carapace. Spikes grew from its elbows and shoulders, and it clutched a thorn-tipped spear in one tiny claw. The faery curled its lip, revealing teeth as sharp as needles, and flew at their faces.

She grabs her knife and slashes at it.

She was still for half a moment, then quickly moved back from the spiked faery.

She succeeded and cut it. It gave an insectlike twitch, then was still.

"You know, I'm really starting to hate the insect life around here," he muttered. "Next time, remind me to bring a can of Off!"