Whatever was coming their way, Veron wondered if it ate junk food, if it could be nourished from empty calories. If the reverse was true. As lost as he was, as uncertain of his own existence in a universe that was so unknown, perhaps there was freedom somewhere in obliviousness; the freedom to find more amusement at this moment than concern over what comes.

Maybe that was why, ultimately, it was so easy for him to shrug off her words, whatever their worth, whatever her worth wherever her world was. What was a rat to a spider? Probably the same as the spider to the rat. In his observations, sometimes they ate each other. Though his world was surely as different as hers and both from this world.

The Mad Rat, some called him, claiming that madness was in his veins. What was madness anyway? Perhaps it was this sorry excuse for a forest or whatever stormed between its trees. [color=8493ca]“Heads up and legs up, spider.”[/color] Though, given her distinct inability to distinguish figures in speech as much as figures of speech, and had difficulty with terms like ‘king’, he could only wonder of her species.

Not that she needed encouragement. Her appendages lifted, her legs spread in a sense, and while there was nothing specifically impressive about the simplistic movements he was impressed. There was an elegance to her motion, a natural beauty to it, amplified by her giant height. She was indeed twice his size and, though those back home might laugh in their grave to hear it spoken, hers appeared to be twice the size of his own ego. 

He had met many arrogant souls before and would not hold this against her. Perhaps arrogance was a dish their visitor would find delicious. [i]Perhaps I can eat it for mine own nourishment.[/i] If he was dead, well, death had a sense of humor, because it included hunger and thirst. [i]Here we go.[/i]

[color=8493ca]“Oh, hello."[/color] The bushes shook madly, like they had broken into some wild dance, first over here then over there. [color=8493ca]“One for me and one for you it seems.”[/color] Two of these things, hidden between the trees, had evidently separated from their advance. Their speed and focus were definitely indicative of predators. 

For Veron’s part, he barely moved a muscle. He assumed no battle stance. He just stood and waited. Moments later, as branches swayed in defiance, a giant thing in its own right emerged from the foliage. Truly, Valucre was home to all sorts of beasts, some kinds similar but of varying heights, as much as there were rats and then there were [i]Rats[/i].

Veron had seen a boar before, and what tore toward him was not much different. Only larger. It was a strange thing, its vicious cry quite like that of a wolf’s howl as much as a pig’s squeal. Its great tusks pointed forth so as to gore its target. But the rat was ready for it.

He stepped aside without a roar or wasting any time. His tail whipped as he did, its sharp barbed bits tearing across its neck, opening the throat, so that his prey crashed some feet away. 

Whatever became of the spider’s opponent, the Veshkei paced over to his kill and once again wasted no moment. He crouched down to the carcass on the ground and he began to feast.