Arachne was a timeless, mythological being who had seen nearly everything, in every place, to ever exist on Earth.

This meant that she always loved newcomers in her burrow. Especially those new to the world of magic. Which meant that you were the perfect person to have come inadvertently knocking on the spider's den.

You had sensed the presence of something ancient, something timeless and very powerful, underneath a deeply rooted tree. You pressed your hand against it, trying to get a feel for what could possibly be waiting down there. Then, a voice not dissimilar to that of a friendly grandmother's spoke from the darkness. "Oh, you're someone new! Come in, come in, you must introduce yourself." You failed to notice the intermittent clicking as she spoke.

The roots that had previously been blocking you from the darkness below suddenly retracted, revealing a compacted dirt path leading deeper. It was an exceptionally large passageway fit for something larger than a normal human. You cautiously wandered in deeper. The dirt slowly turned to smooth stone, weathered by many feet passing many times.

As you crept further into the dark, you saw small, blue orbs lining the walls, keeping the passage still somewhat lighted. You soon arrived at a series of sheets blocking the entrance to what looked like a much larger chamber. You pushed through, and came upon something you never would have expected to find in a hole in the ground.

Beautiful dresses and suits lined the walls, hanging from handmade hangers. A few couches, also covered in clothes, sat on the edges of the room. Though the walls were dirt, they were heavily padded down to be almost completely smooth like the stone beneath your feet. The entire room radiated magic, each article of clothing bearing its maker's invisible signature. Several other passages were blinded by thin sheets and cloths, giving a small indication as to what might have been going on behind them.

Then, the voice again.

"Oh, honey, it's so good to see a fresh face. Not many people visit me... come, let me examine you." You saw the movement of something large behind one of the curtains.

Nothing in the world could have prepared you for what you saw next.

A creature about the size of a minivan emerged from the blinds. It skittered on eight legs, each cut up into multiple segments. Its face was somewhat circular, and had two mandibles hiding a pair of fangs. Its body was segmented in two, the backside being the larger segment. It had eight eyes in rows of four on either side of its head. It had long, sharp hairs all over its body.

Essentially, a giant spider.

Thankfully, your main course of action in danger was to examine the situation more closely, not run in terror like any sane person would. However, you almost felt your soul leave your body when it seemed to glide across the floor and appeared behind you. Its forelegs were upon your body, gently brushing against what they could reach. You were right beneath its fangs.

"What is this... rubbish? You cannot just wear clothes such as these on a daily basis. Your jacket has holes in it!"

You could barely recognize the voice you heard above you as the same one you'd heard earlier. There was a distinctive clicking as it - she - spoke, most likely from her fangs.

She kept feeling your body for a few more moments before pausing. "Oh my, I'm so sorry! I have forgotten to introduce myself! I am Arachne. Who are you?"