Continuation of The Grotto of Sorrow, which is the tale of my baddie, Nekumbra. Also inspired by playing her earlier today.

Warning, may be disturbing to younger readers

Two fawns happily played at De Drinkplaats, splashing in the water, transforming into little animals and laughing with each croak and caw. The two had left their mother for the moment, who had wandered off to gossip with the other does about which stags they thought were the most handsome.

While the two little ones played, another doe came toward them. Her black eyes stared at the two with hungry thoughts, and she smiled, keeping herself from salivating. She spoke softly to them, standing just outside the ring of mushrooms as the words came from her lips, "Hello darlings. My, you two look lovely today." The two looked to her curiously, "Do you know our mother?", they asked.

The doe nodded, "Why yes, she told me to come gather you up. Come now, I will take you to her.", she replied.

One of the fawns looked to the other, "I don't like this...", she said to her brother. "Don't worry, she said she knows Mom.", the brother replied. The two started to walk to the doe. She didn't seem dangerous...

In the distance, the fawns' mother heard the screams coming from the fountain. She and a few others raced to see what the commotion was about. As they arrived, they were horrified to see a shadowy deer seeming to hover in the air.

They could not believe their eyes - eight spider legs held the doe up, four on each side of her body. They then saw that she was holding two fawns with her - the younger girl was wrapped up in spider silk and held pressed against the doe's white belly by her legs, while the boy was being gripped in her mouth. Her fangs pierced his fragile body, he was already bleeding and crying out in pain.

"You! What have you done to my children?!", the mother cried out in horror. The spider doe looked over to them, and then very quickly she fled, both fawns carried with her, both screaming in terror and pain. She vanished just as quickly as they saw her, and the others chased after only to lose her trail.

The mother collapsed, her mind cluttered, she could not help but burst into tears. Her babies were in terrible pain, and she felt helpless. What was that creature? Why didn't anyone know that there was danger lurking in the Endless Forest?

The stealthy monster soon entered her lair, and going deep within, she lay the two fawns side by side. Both had fallen into a deep sleep, the venom from Nekumbra's fangs coursing into their blood. Their bodies were already shutting down.

Nekumbra was pleased with her catch for the day, but she knew she had been spotted. Soon word would get out that the disappearances in the Endless Forest were related to a strange doe, and her hunts would be more tedious than before since the adult deer were keeping their eyes open for her.

But for now, she would feast, quenching her appetite for the day.