A kobold

Teysa stalked through the winding caverns. The spear was not her preferred weapon, but her order had required that she at least be passing familiar with a variety of arms, so she hefted it with confidence.

The "proving grounds" were a series of tunnels linked by small grottos. Teysa couldn't tell if they had been artificially connected, or if they naturally formed a labyrinth. She saw evidence of the driders' passage: webs against the wall, the occasional glow-jar. The path had been cleared of most stalagmites and rocky outcroppings to allow for somewhat easy passage.

Teysa pushed onward. The caves were even dimmer than the drider cavern, so she tried to open her ears. Gradually, the thousand tiny sounds of the cavern filtered in. She heard the trickle of faraway water, the susurrus of spiders spinning their webs, and the scrape of movement in the distance. She supposed Zir'ekk had been right; armor would ring out in here like a bell. Teysa padded along on her bare feet. She hadn't seen another living thing so far. She had heard a few distant bellows or thumps but had tried her best to avoid them, taking Zir'ekk's warning to heart. The Underneath had always been a fabled land of monsters to those on the surface.

Teysa was alerted to a sudden scrape ahead of her. Something was moving. From the sound it of it was roughly human-sized. She paused to listen. The scrape repeated a bit louder. Whatever it was was coming this way. She ducked down behind a rocky pillar and waited.

She stood silently for a few minutes, almost long enough to decide that whatever it was wasn't coming after all, when a familiar creature skulked around the corner. It was about four feet tall, with reddish scales and a long, reptilian jaw. It wore creaking leather armor and carried a rusty short sword. Kobold!

Kobolds were a pestilence on the surface. They tended to cluster near dragon lairs and serve their larger cousins as fodder, slaves and occasional snacks. The ones making cities in the Underneath were supposedly more dangerous. They were certainly larger-- Teysa had never seen a kobold over three feet on the surface. This one was moving cautiously. Its beady eyes scanned the tunnel ahead. Teysa waited until it was almost upon her pillar, then leapt out.

The kobold reeled back immediately. Teysa hoped her sudden appearance would keep it off balance. She had the edge with reach, but without armor, one swipe of that rusty sword could open her up. She jabbed with the speartip. The kobold dodged wildly, almost stumbling but keeping its balance. It lunged for her and she vaulted nimbly to the side. She spun her spear like a quarterstaff and caught the kobold's wrist as its slash passed through the air. With a crack the creature hissed and dropped its sword. It retreated, eyes darting side to side. They were cowardly creatures, the kobolds-- this one would likely try to flee. Sure enough, it turned to run. Teysa cast out with her net, which unfurled as it flew through the air. The strands of silk settled over the kobold. Thrashing its limbs it only managed to tangle itself more thoroughly. Teysa stepped forward and clubbed it down with the butt of her spear. The creature slumped into unconsciousness.

Finding her way back was easier than she thought. She followed the webs, taking the paths where they spread thicker. Soon enough she heard the clicking scuttle of a drider. It was another soldier in bronze plate, who said nothing but held out a hand. Teysa handed over her bundled prize and the drider turned her back and, casting back with a beckoning hand, scurried off.

After a few minutes they arrived at yet another new chamber. This one had the feel of a trophy hall. The walls and floor had been smoothed down by some process Teysa couldn't even guess at. They looked like dressed stone rather than the natural walls of the cave. The room was perfectly circular and, most surprising of all, held actual furniture. There were a few chairs that looked perfect for a human or elf and some of the low, curved benches the driders seemed to favor. An actual rug covered the floor, not just a web of woven silk. It had patterns of spiders, of course, but the perimeter also held scenes of drow and driders hunting together. They sent spiders the size of dogs out after a variety of prey: kobolds, troglodytes, minotaurs and less familiar creatures.

Teysa tore her eyes away from the carpet. The soldier had dropped off the netted kobold in the middle of the rug and quietly left. Teysa was alone. She wasn't sure if she should have a seat, or if that was part of the test, or...

The arrival of the matron cut short her thoughts. The massive drider entered regally. This time she wore a silver tiara that sparkled like moonlight. A single massive pearl dotted her forehead, surrounded by a cluster of rubies cut to look like eyes. She looked down at Teysa's catch and unfolded the net with one long leg. Teysa shifted nervously as the drider matron examined the **** kobold.

"A kobold? Hyou bring me thisssss? A pittance." The matron shook her head sadly. "I sensssed potential in hyou, child. But our way is the way of ambition. Hyou musssst never be content with weak prey. The hunter isssss only as ssssstrong as her quarry."

Teysa was crushed. How was she supposed to have known? "W-what happens to me now?"

The matron lunged at her, knocking Teysa over and pinning her arms. "Hyou can still serve the warren."

She spread Teysa's legs with another pair of arms. Frantically the paladin squirmed, but the drider had her in an iron grip. Her dripping ovipositor began to extend. "No!" screamed Teysa. "No, please! Not again! Give me another chance! I can do better, I promise! I promiiiiiiiieeeeeee-" her plea cut off in a scream as the drider slid the ovipositor home. This time it pierced through to her womb easily. Her insides had been stretched by the last birth, Teysa reflected, as the first egg began to slide into her. Maybe it'll hurt less this time...

Egg after egg filled her womb. Once again her belly swelled up. She felt herself stretching to the breaking point. It was worse this time because she knew what awaited her. Teysa wept into the carpet, but the drider seemed not to notice. No comforting hand on her cheek was forthcoming. Teysa felt the alien presence inside her, a knot of bulbous eggs and warm goo that filled her every crevice. Finally the drider relented and withdrew from Teysa's abused cunt. There was no audible pop this time; the ovipositor slid out without a sound, followed by a gush of the green juice.

The drider's expression softened. "Be calm, little one. You will not be alone." She picked Teysa up and cradled her in her arms. Teysa felt the eggs stuffing her womb sloshing back and forth as the drider rocked her gently. Her captor carried her off into the room where she had hung after her first breeding and spun another web to hold her against the wall. Teysa could see Kyrness hanging some distance away, her stomach likewise engorged with eggs. Her too, then. Well, at least I'm not alone.

In time Teysa and Kyrness forgot their old lives. Their new life was simpler: breeding, nurturing the young ones in the nursery, then breeding again. The driders fed them ambrosia and brought them some small comforts. Teysa never forgave herself for failing the test, but at least she did not have to suffer alone.

GAME OVER