The Angry Spider

Never Give Up

A/N
Just something I thought up. I hope you enjoy!

There was once a little spider named Sid who was trying to make his first real web. He tried his hardest to make it the biggest and the best of his brother and sisters. They all had a head start since he was the last out of the egg sac, so all around him were magnificent silky threads in intricate shapes and patterns.

The first thread wasn't too bad since he got a good breeze to float him to a sturdy flower. The next one was the difficult part. Sid just couldn't figure out how to make the triangle pattern he wanted to try. It was a simple enough shape for his first web but for the poor tiny spider, not so much.

A swift rush of air caught his sulking body and sent him towards the ground. At the last second, a flyaway thread grabbed a thin stick on top of the grass and Sid abruptly stopped short of hitting the dirt. Heart pounding, the little spider looked up and cried out with joy. He was almost done! Looking at the other webs around him, Sid saw that the triangle ones had one more line before getting to start on the fun part.

The little spider realized this was the hard part. How was he supposed to get back to the spooky log he flew from? The stick seemed so far away and he didn't have wings to get there. Then it hit him: why don't I just walk across the thin wood and use the tall grass? Sid felt silly after that thought knocked some sense into his tiny brain.

In no time, he finished the last thread to his awesome triangle web. Now to have some fun, Sid thought. Scurrying across the first strand, he stopped a little ways and gracefully spun down to the stick.

Landing, he secured the silk and looked around. Now what? He pondered for a moment then went back up to the main thread, crawled a bit further, and repeated the process.

Sid did this twice more and sat up on the moldy log to observe his progress.
Finally, the web was starting to take some form. It was a work in progress but at least he wasn't failing at what he believed was a simple matter.

The little spider glanced at the others around him and saw that they had made pretty little patterns between the silk threads and thought that was a really good idea and got to work.

Some moments later, and much thinking on how it should look, the tiny spider was finally finished on what he thought was a great web. Sure, it still needed some work. But if it caught food, Sid was happy with the turnout. There will come a time when a more interesting and elaborate home can be constructed. So for now, it would do.

Early next morning, when the dew was still heavy on the plants and grass, the little spider crawled out of the log to the middle of his sparkling web to observed the glorious day. Birds called to one another in the sky and trees while bugs of all kinds buzzed over the glade. The bees were out doing their thing and the grasshoppers were making sweet music among the tall weeds. Ants began their routine forage march, collecting bits and pieces of what food was available to take back to the ant hill.

Sudden frantic jerks of his web brought the spider out of his reverie and rushed to the problem. One of the flies had gotten too close and got stuck in the sticky thread near the flower's head. Sid hurriedly spun it in silk then rushed back to his little spot to continue staring aimlessly. He was still trying to take it all in when yet another bug, this time a locust, stood fast while running along the stick. It was huge! Not wanting to be eaten in his own home, Sid cautiously walked up to the insect and freed it of its doom.

Not moments after letting the locust free, a great shudder then rushed winds tore the web to shreds; the little spider went flying and landed on the moldy log. Untangling himself, he tried to see what caused his home to break. Rapidly disappearing in the distance through the tall grass was a rabbit; right behind it, soaring through the air, a hawk was after it.

The little spider sighed heavily, the stick was snapped in half and the flower was destroyed. He set to work making another one, this time in the entrance to the hollow log, hoping this was the last time.

Sid was done by the time the sun dried the dew from the plants and grass in the glade. He was happy with this new web, perfectly circle with little waves for design and a nice hidden spot where he could tuck away while waiting for prey. There were still plenty of flying bugs around to be caught. That first one, a big fly, Sid didn't even have a chance to eat.

No sooner did he begin boasting about his new web to his surrounding brothers and sisters that something shot through the log at full speed in one end and out the other, shredding his home once again.

Sid let out a frustrated yell and stomped around, the faintest of echos of his rant whispered through the dead hollowed wood. The little spider just couldn't figure it out, he thought for sure that this was a better spot. He was rapidly running out of ideas.

From his advantage point on top of the log, Sid spotted another hollowed out piece of wood. Perhaps this one was closed on one end so nothing could rush through like last time.

There was just one problem in this new discovery: how on earth was he, a tiny spider in a big world, supposed to travel such a great distance without getting squashed or eaten? He would have to think about that. First thing's first, make a temporary web to catch food and gain strength before attempting such a difficult task.

Sid put together a simple yet sturdy web that ran from grass blade to grass blade in a haze of sticky silk. Already he had three small flies and a lady bug stuck in its strands. He hurriedly ate all he could before anything else could happen. With a full stomach, he could think a lot more clearly and an idea sprung to life.

Leaving his cozy new web, Sid sought out the highest point he could get his eight legs on, which happened to be a branch propped up against the backside of the log he started out on.

How he never saw it before he might never figure out; the thing wasn't that easy to miss considering it was a few feet long. Sid just now needed a good enough breeze to take him to his destination.

He waited...
And waited...
And waited.

Finally, when Sid was about to give up, a great gust of wind swept him off his many feet. Letting out a little silk like a parachute, he flew to a faraway log and landed lightly on all eight legs.

It was then the little spider noticed a tree branch was hanging low and wondered if that would be a better place to make his home. The thought drove him to scuttle down to the ground and through the tall grass.

As Sid reached the trunk, he noticed a giant hole in one of the raised roots and went to investigate. A warning rumble made him veer away and rapidly climbed the tree until he hit the long, low hanging branch he spied on the hollow log. He set to work.

The sun had set three days since Sid the little spider had found that branch and was happy where he finally ended up. He decided if that many days could go by with no consequences, then here he will stay.