Elegant Emu Campfire: Sunday afternoon [8-10-08]

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

Helen was in her glories! She was seated out at the campfire, gathering as many of the spiders and the creepy-crawlies that were in range to her so that she could check them all out. This meant that her lower half was mostly covered with the things trying to get close to her, while she held several of the others lovingly to examine them.


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[likethegun]

Sam was heading through the cabin area when he saw Helen by the campfire. He stopped and stared at her for a moment before rushing over. "Helen? Are you okay? Do you need help?"

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

Helen beamed at him. "No, I'm fine. Look at them, aren't they wonderful! I've never seen so many different kinds!"

[likethegun]

"You...you like spiders?" Sam asked, looking more confused even as the realization hit him.

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

She nodded, still beaming. "Almost all bugs actually. And they listen to me and do what I say. So do snakes. Oh, and sharks. Look."

She sent a small contingent of the spiders careening off in a pattern before letting them come back.

"They make me happy," she said simply.

[likethegun]

As strange as the spiders seemed, Sam couldn't really argue with something that made her happy.

"I guess you don't have to worry about getting bitten if they're going to listen to you," he said. "And that's a pretty cool trick, getting them to behave like that."

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

"No, they definitely won't bite me," Helen said. "You really don't like them? I guess a lot of people don't but I never quite understood why. Have you ever looked at the webs they make? They're gorgeous."

[likethegun]

"It's not that I don't like them. They're just...kind of creepy," Sam said. "And big. Some of these are a lot bigger than I'm used to."

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

Helen shrugged. "I think they're wonderful. And the big ones, they're almost as good as rats."

[likethegun]

"You like rats too?" Sam said, smiling. "I don't think they get along too well with the snakes, do they?"

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

"They do if I tell them to," Helen said firmly, then smiled. "But usually I just make the snakes go away. I don't like them as much."

[likethegun]

"So, what's your favorite then?" Sam asked, sitting down now that he knew he didn't need to worry quite as much. "Have you always been able to do this, or is it something you learned?"

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

"Of these spiders?" Helen asked, "or of all of them? Rats are really my most favorite, but I love this big spider here."

She smiled over at Sam. "Don't worry, I won't let them bother you."

It took her a moment to figure out how to answer him. "I've always liked them. They aren't big on toys or pets at the temple. I think it took me a while to realize that they came when I called. I was maybe seven when I figured it out and started experimenting."

[likethegun]

"I imagine big pets would probably cause unwanted disturbance in a temple," Sam said, carefully leaning closer to look at the spider. "Seven is still pretty young. "Some people could go their whole lives without realizing they had a gift like this."

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

Helen laughed. "That's not my true gift."

She held the spider out carefully to Sam, directing it to stay still and not worry him. "Look at the small hairs on the legs and the beautiful shine - almost iridescent."

[likethegun]

"It is really pretty," Sam admitted, smiling. "Would it...do you think it would mind if I pet it?" he asked. He figured this wasn't a chance he'd have very often.

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

"Go ahead," Helen offered. "It actually likes being touched. As long as your gentle."

[likethegun]

"I will be, I promise," Sam said. He reached out a little tentatively, trying not to show any nervousness, and ran his finger carefully down the spider's back, petting it. "Wow. Okay, maybe they're not quite as freaky as I thought."

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

"See!" she said beaming. "They're quite remarkable, really. Still you should be careful while these stay on the island. Many of these seem to be poisonous, while the ones I've normally seen around are not."