The Eating Woods, #2
Eldritch
by Keri Lake
Contents
Chapter 27
Overview
Maevyth and Aleysia are attacked by human-faced spider abominations. Maevyth fends them off with glyphs and her bone whip, then summons Raivox, her Corvugon, who incinerates the swarm with silver fire and devours a wraith that escapes a metalized carcass.
In the aftermath, living black scales and silver-veined glyphs sheath Maevyth’s hand, signaling a bond with Raivox. Zevander arrives and witnesses Raivox, who grudgingly stands down, tying Maevyth’s awakening power to the broader conflict.
Summary
Maevyth and her sister Aleysia edge toward the cottage door as eight spider-like creatures, some with fused human faces, close in. Maevyth uses the Aeryz air glyph to blast attackers back, but acid spit and more spiders force them outside into the snow, where the horde surrounds them.
Pressed by fear and dwindling strength, Maevyth wields a summoned bone whip to keep the spiders at bay. Desperate, she whistles for Raivox through the scar-metal link, and a storm of black birds heralds the Corvugon’s arrival. Raivox lands, roars, and unleashes silver fire that flash-freezes the spiders into metal.
From one metalized carcass, a wraith-like shadow emerges and rushes Maevyth. Raivox snaps it up and crushes it. Aleysia faints and wakes to Raivox looming; Maevyth shields her and calms the Corvugon, revealing he hatched from the strange egg she once brought home.
As cold sets in, Maevyth notices a living black-scaled glove forming over her hand, inscribed with silver glyphs and pulsing veins that cut Aleysia when touched. Zevander arrives across the field; Raivox bristles but yields when Maevyth intervenes. Zevander, awed, learns the creature is Raivox—Maevyth’s to command—marking a decisive turn in her power and alliances.
Who Appears
- MaevythPOV; fights spider abominations with Aeryz and bone whip, summons Raivox, gains living glyph-etched scaled glove.
- RaivoxMaevyth’s Corvugon; arrives with a flock, breathes silver fire, metalizes spiders, devours a wraith, guards Maevyth.
- AleysiaMaevyth’s sister; panics during attack, briefly faints, learns Raivox hatched from Maevyth’s egg, is protected.
- ZevanderArrives after the battle; awed by Raivox, stands down as Maevyth mediates between him and the Corvugon.
- Wraith-like entityShadow that escapes a metalized spider corpse and attacks; Raivox catches and crushes it.