The spider crawled with some difficulty up the steep cliff, scrabbling for grip on the jagged rocks.

He wasn't an especially unusual spider. He wore a knee-length hooded cloak of a deep green color, a small brown satchel resting next to it. Three small charms were sewn onto the satchel's strap near the bag, glinting slightly in the minimal amount of light emanating from the lamps taht gently swung from the stone ceiling far above. A simple white mask with six almond-shaped eyes and two small fangs rested on his face, giving away no hints to the effort he was using just to stay on the cliff.

One spindly hand stretched out and clutched onto the top edge of the cliff and tightened. The spider took a breath as he braced himself, preparing for the explosive force required to yank his thin body over the top. Lifting all four of his lower limbs, he found several footholds and tensed for the upward jump.

Unexpectedly, a large three-fingered claw wrapped around his and easily lifted him into the air. Pulling his limbs inward, the spider stared wide-eyed at his sudden savior.

The beetle holding him aloft was a solid three times larger than he was, with an incredibly tough-looking shell. He wore no clothes, but as with many bugs, clothing was more of an option than a necessity. In his case, he instead bore a long and evidently razor-sharp nail across his back. It was remarkably wide and likely weighed more than the spider did, but the beetle didn't seem to consider its heft noticeable. A matching metal shield covered the majority of the nail, although the spider thought it to be quite unnecessary given the beetle's shell.

He spoke, his voice a cheerful and somewhat loud baritone. "Why hello there, little spider! I, too, travel these tunnels, although my journey has led me to a safer place than this. My name is Kowle! And who are you?"

The spider glanced around briefly and then twisted his head to look up at the claw holding him above the ground. "My name is Kisch. I come from Hallownest. Would you overly mind putting me down?"

Kowle immediately dropped him, and Kisch neatly landed on his legs, using his hands to better stabilize himself. Standing, he promptly dusted himself off, and Kowle tried to help with his giant claws. "My sincerest apologies, little spider! I must confess, I was surprised to see one such as yourself coming up here. Hallownest is a long way away, and I have not visited in quite some time. I myself herald from the city, where I lived with my uncle. What of your history?"

Kisch shivered. "I do not want to talk about my history. I will simply say that I come from Fog Canyon."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Kowle's black eyes blinked in confusion. "What? I thought Fog Canyon was-"

Raising a thin hand, Kisch repeated, "I do not wish to talk about my history."

Shrugging it off, Kowle cheerfully asked, "Very well! I shall not inquire further as to your past. Let us speak of the future! To where are you traveling?" As he spoke, he gripped Kisch's shoulders and stood him up a little straighter, a large smile on his round face.

Kisch grumpily slouched, lowering his shoulders as he patted himself down, still checking to ensure that the enormous beetle hadn't tugged a limb off or something. "I've no clue as to where I'm traveling, so long as it's not Hallownest. In fact..." He trailed off as he looked around, puzzled. "Where did you come from? Is there an outpost of some kind nearby?"

Kowle chuckled. "Something like that, yes. I operate a smithy at Checkpoint Four."

Rolling his shoulders as he readied his satchel, Kische glanced up at Kowle, confused. "Checkpoint Four? What's that?"

Raising one hand to indicate the grooved tunnel they were standing in, Kowle told him, "Do you see this tunnel?" Seeing Kisch's unamused expression, he continued. "This was supposedly carved by a wyrm!"

Kisch blinked behind his mask. "I don't think that's possible. There have been no wyrms for a long time."

Grinning, Kowle told him, "No wyrms near Hallownest, you mean. Who's to say that their types do not roam apart from it? For all you know, I could be a wyrm, shed and transformed to greet wary strangers to Barrowlore!"

Kisch tilted his head skeptically. "I do not believe I need to tell you that I doubt that very much. And what is Barrowlore?"

Rolling his shoulders, Kowle shrugged the comment off. "Eh, you are indeed correct in that doubt. I am far from a wyrm. As for Barrowlore, it's where you stand! You walked onto Barrowlore soil the instant you crossed over that ledge." He pointed at the ledge in question. Kisch stubbornly refused to turn around. Indicating the tunnel behind him, Kowle continued, "Bardell is the capital of Barrowlore. This tunnel has been maintained and improved by their workers. I'd recommend heading there, although you may want to make your nail a bit more visible. I can't tell where you're hiding it!"

Kisch stiffly replied, "I... don't have a nail."

Kowle nearly jumped out of his shell in shock. "You what!? How in the King's name did you make it this far without a nail?"

Uncomfortably, Kisch told him, "I do not want to talk about it. How about you lead me to Checkpoint Four?"

The beetle wasn't listening to him. He was staring at the ground, muttering under his breath. "No nail? Then how did he get past the..." He realized that Kisch was looking at him and shook himself out of his thoughts. His nail and shield rattled along with him. "It seems I must ask your forgiveness once again! I have not talked to another bug from Hallownest in quite some time, and my thoughts often go in circles, it would seem..."

He trailed off again, and Kisch tentatively poked him. "Are you - are you going to sleep?"

Jerking back to reality, Kowle looked around wildly. For a brief second, Kisch could have sworn he saw a glint of orange in his eyes, but as the beetle blinked, the faint sheen vanished. "Of course not! Ah - you wish to go to Bardell, do you not? I shall guide you there! Although I must confess, the journey is not exactly a difficult one."

He pointed to the perfectly straight tunnel before them, and Kisch sighed. "Indeed."