Nya sat gazing longingly in wonder at the amazing weaving in front of her.
The young spider knelt on her stomach resting her head in her arms with her legs raised behind high in the air as she watched her incredible mother work tirelessly.
Esvia had long been a most talented and famed seamstress known far and wide, at least in the town. Selling her fabric's and tapestries in the markets for all to admire and purchase to help feed their family. And while her work was amazing to gaze at to be certain up close, it was even more impressive to watch the process of their creation firsthand.
The calm caring woman sat on a pillow in the center of the living room pulling silk from behind her thorax with both skill and a masterful precision. Using two of her arms for holding the tapestry wide apart in place to avoid wrinkling, one hand for dying the silk in dozens of shade's of paint set beside her, her main hand for stitching the needle in and out of the fabric carefully with surgical precision, one for cutting the thread when it was only necessary, and one for wiping away the sweat on her brow.
It was a synchronous elegant dance of gentle hand movement and quick gestures creating the vibrant tapestry at an incredible rate. The fact that they're was not even a single knot or crossed thread of webbing was astounding to say the least.
Nya dreamed of being just as good as her mother one day, having seen her use what little free time she had on quilt's, carpets, and elaborately detailed dresses. Nya had grown quite skilled in weaving herself, but was no where near as advanced as mother. But still she loved to see her weave every day regardless. Not only for the intricate and fascinating process she performed in front of her almost as a show. But also for the sweet gentle voice she provided for her to hear.
Esvia laid in silence smiling calmly as she hummed a beautiful tune for her daughter staring in awe beside her on the floor. The Titan's fall." One of her favorites.
"Gather all around for a tale of old! Oh I'll tell you the tale of the great stone titan!"
"Standing tall atop his mighty wall, his watch will never cease for us all!"
"He stood on guard for a thousand years. He'll stand there for a thousand more!"
The two sat quiet beside one another enjoying each other's company and the melody for the next few minutes as mother slowly completed the massive piece stretched all across the wooden floor. While most blanket's she finished on time with adequate and satisfactory skill for her clients. This one was particularly extravagant and comfortable.
She always did her best work when it was for her children.
Just as the Esvia cut and tied the last thread with a quick snip and flick of her thin nimble hand holding the scissors, there was a knock at the door to interrupt her sweet song. Both smiled.
"We're Home!" Father cried aloud merrily before busting open the door with a loud boom with Nadia standing in silence beside him.
Little Nya was startled briefly by the noise but then smiled from the sudden jump in place it caused her. Mother remained quiet and unaffected as she smiled at her husband covered in boar blood grinning like an idiot.
Nya Immediately bolted to the door and latched tightly around her father's thin waist in a heartfelt embrace, almost knocking him off his feet. Although he had only been gone a few hours, to her it felt like an eternity away.
"How was the hunt?" Esvia asked quietly. Beginning to pull out a fresh strand of golden web to prepare for Nadia's lesson.
"Wonderful!" We caught a boar in our web and Nadia did the honor's herself! Wanna see?
"That's nice." Esvia said quietly, trying to keep interested. "Just don't bring it into the house. I don't like blood on my nice clean carpets Naru." She said sternly. Using his name aloud meant she was dead serious.
"Yea yea." Father replied. Sneakily bringing the boar in closer to show Nya and careful as not to stain the carpet. "See what your sister did! Right in the windpipe!"
Nya looked at the bloody mess appalled but also deeply impressed. Making a gross smirk and sticking her pincers out in disgust before gesturing with her hands to say she thought it was dandy. Causing her father to laugh heartily aloud. Nadia as well released a faint proud smile at seeing her little sister compliment her handiwork.
The smile started to slowly vanish as mother spoke.
"Alright Nadia, you've had you're fun with your father. Let us begin. Take a seat. Esvia slowly gestured for her eldest daughter to have a place on the cushion right in front of her so she could see what she was doing.
Nadia slowly breathed a deep breath and set her bow and quiver beside the doorway before sitting cross-legged beside her mother. Turning around for a brief glance at her father who winked at her, proud of her effort and resolve.
'I can do this' she thought to herself hopefully.
Well! I'm off to town! Father said aloud heartily. Setting his jade bow atop its pedestal resting over the fireplace. Reaching for his web spinneret device and two control gauntlet's laid out on the floor in the corner.
"Nya sweetie? Would you mind helping daddy with the straps, can't quite reach." He asked politely. Struggling with the clunky device. She quickly nodded enthusiastically and began to help him. Fastening the apparatus which resembled a large sewing machine to rest atop his thorax, tying the straps securely around his narrow waist on his back before finally fastening the belt in front by its clamp. It took about five minutes. But at last he was ready thanks to her help.
Nya stepped back smiling as dad stretched his arms and cracked his knuckles getting a feel for the complex appliance fastened to him once again. Despite the added cumbersome weight, he always enjoyed his journey's into town using this method far more.
Such a complex machine would funnel and direct his silk up to his arms and fire from his wrists on command, allowing him to make the long trek much faster by swinging though the trees as opposed to walking on foot. Plus it was more fun.
He then swung and tied the boar over his shoulder and began to exit the room to start the long journey into the nearest town to sell the meat to the local butcher, while keeping what was left to make dinner for his family. Nya grabbed onto his leg as he stepped out the door, not wanting him to go.
"Don't worry honey. He smiled affectionally down at her. "Ill be back by nightfall with dinner and we'll play for hours after! I promise."
Nya replied with her hands. Saying she would hold him to it before finally agreeing to let him go.
He then bowed graciously for her majesty allowing him safe passage along the road by gently kissing her atop her little forehead adorned in a beautiful blue headscarf, handcrafted by mother as always.
"I won't be long. Keep up the good work Nadia! Said father as he closed the door behind.
Nya stood by the door for a few more seconds before going to ask mother to play with her again. She got bored easily.
"Not now Nya. I'm helping your sister. Tonight when you're father gets home. I promise. Esvia then kissed her daughter on the head as well and then asked her to go study her homework upstairs in her room. To which Nya rolled her eyes disgruntled and sunk up the walls to read. Now it was just the two of them sitting in silence.
"How was your day dear?" Esvia asked caringly. Trying to see if her daughter was ok.
"It.. was fine mom." Nadia muttered awkwardly. "Can we get started please? I want to practice early."
Esvia smiled eagerly towards her daughter's change in enthusiasm. She was usually so grumpy during their lessons. "Very well. Pull out your thread like so and let's begin with a basic cloth this time with a single embroidery at it's center.
Nadia wanted to sigh heavily aloud at the mere mention of such an boring phrase, but instead kept quiet and did as she was instructed.
The two began to weave slowly and carefully. With Esvia intentionally slowing her pace to show her daughter the steps and allow her to keep up with her far more advanced skill so as to not make her feel disgruntled again.
"In and out, In and out. Like this. Do you see?
"Yes mom." Nadia replied. Looking up for a brief second and unintentionally making a large knot in in her fabric before pricking her finger with the needle.
"Shit!" She said aloud in anger.
"Language." Mother said calmly as she proceeded to helped her retrace her steps and try again. Both sat by each on the wooden floor for hours as the sun began to set outside, until finally Nadia had finished with the last shred of light illuminating the room for them both through the window. She stared down in silence.
The quality was poor, with tangle's and misplaced colors everywhere. She wanted to somehow admire it as a strange mishmash of colors and wild abstract simplicity. Instead she just stared at the mess enraged. Wanting to throw it against the wall hoping it would vanish forever. Instead she sat in silence disappointed.
Another ugly tapestry.
Esvia stared at her daughter trying to hide her tears as she turned her head away from her mother's gaze.
"Sweetie. You did wonderful! She said genuinely aloud. "I love the colors and detail." As she began to point her finger towards the center of the embroidery Nadia interrupted.
"Don't lie mom. It sucks. It always sucks!" She cried in frustration. "I though it would be different this time! I tried! I mean really tried! But this is as good as I can do!
Esvia came in closed and wrapped her sobbing daughter in all six of her caring arms in silence. Allowing for her to let it all out. After finally calming down and plenty of handholding. Esvia spoke.
"Honey. I'm so proud of what you did. I can see the improvement in every tiny detail you crafted by your own hand even if you don't see it yet. It's beautiful. And even more beautiful every time I see you create something entirely on your own with your own silk. It's a special experience and sense of pride only spiders can have, one that my own mother taught me and its one I've wanted to teach you for so long. And you've already mastered it. You may see a rag. But you know what I see?"
"What?" Nadia asked before sniffling her nose. and hugging her mom tightly.
"A masterpiece."
Nadia pressed in closer as her mom wrapped her inviting cloak around her for a final hug as the two sat in silence in the dark.
"Mom?" Asked Nadia.
"Hmmm..? Mother said while stroking her daughter's shoulders and beginning to hum another tune.
"Sorry I thought sewing sucked. I think I like it now."
Esvia let out a faint chuckle amused as she held her daughter close beneath her.
"It's ok honey." She smiled. "It's not for everyone."
Nadia grinned slightly as she yawned before falling asleep in her mother's arms clutching tightly to her beloved handcrafted tapestry. Hearing the lullaby her mother had sung to her since she was a young child. There was no name for it. Mother had created it just for her. And no one else.
"Through the Jungle."
"Across the mountains."
"Empires may fall, rivers may dry."
"But my love for you, will never die."