The cavern was unassuming if seen from the outside, just like any other cavity on the mountain, but a keen eye would start to see a very abnormal amount of cobwebs and any lack of animals around it.
If one were to step inside they would start to see the complex structures made of a extremely sticky spider web followed by the muted groans, moans and gasps of victims trapped by the giant arachnid inhabiting the place.
Many cocoons were stuck to the cave or hung from the ceiling, the tightly wound web fitting the prey inside completely, showing the shapes of the people trapped inside. Both parts a chaotic and terrifying display of care from the drider, currently playing with his last guest.
"I keep telling you little morsels that this week of the year is dangerous, but do you listen? Of course not, you never do!", he said to the rat inside the cocoon, getting a few mewling sounds as he spider pulled the cocoon up, the silk tightening around the trapped victim, "What would you do in this dangerous time without little old me~?"
The other cocoons made some sounds as the forced guests struggled and tried to make sounds, getting a chittering chuckle from the spider.
"Fight all you like, I would know if you are fine that way. Struggle for me~" he said as the played with his newest guest of his macabre hotel of horror, "But do not despair, I won't eat you~ I want to keep you all alive and well after all! And best of all, we will get to know each other very well until I deem it safe for you to go back. Would you like that~?" he asked, squeezing the helpless rat as he squirmed inside his almost vacuum-fitting cocoon, "Yes you do~ I know you do, my little friends" he said, releasing the rat and making the cocoon sway for a bit, "But alas, I need to go out now. I have to watch for other helpless wanderers lost in the forest. That way you all won't feel alone, right?"
The harsh sound of chitin against rock could be heard as the drider advanced towards the exit.
"And don't worry, I'll be hunting while I'm out. I can't have you being hungry after all~"
With that, the cave became silent once again, the slight sounds of squirming and muffled groaning keeping any curious creature far and away from it, for they knew the would end would up and spun in the web of the most dangerous predator in the area.
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A Halloween piece for all those with arachnophobia to enjoy! Although I suspect that many others will enjoy this one for completely different reasons unrelated to the spooky factor~
The surprise guests of this cocoon hotel are, from left to right and top to bottom: