Creature Languages, 1/12, Period 3

[game-of-you.livejournal.com]

A fishbowl-sized terrarium has been placed on Dream's desk, and students who look closely may notice a small brown arachnid within it, crouched between two rocks.

"Hello.

I have decided to start the term with a discussion with a creature who many of you might be wary of, a Brown Recluse Spider. Like all spiders, brown recluses are arachnids, not insects. This means they have only two body segments instead of three; a fused head and thorax (called a cephalothorax or prosoma) and an abdomen (called the opisthosoma), supported by an exoskeleton composed mainly of chitin.

Spiders also have eight legs (insects have six), no antennae, and their eyes are single lenses rather than compound eyes. Additionally spiders have pedipalps (or just palps), at the base of which are coxae or maxillae next to their mouth that aid in masticating food; the ends of the palp are modified in adult males into elaborate and often species specific structures used for mating.

In short? Do not refer to our guest, who you may call Aunt Nancy, as a "bug."

And do not fear her. Brown recluses bite only when disturbed, and she is bold for her breed. No harm will come to you from her."

As he speaks, Dream reaches into the terrarium and draws out the small brown spider. She crouches on his palm, then waves a foreleg.

//Hey there, children.//

"She is greeting you. I will interpret for the duration of class, but I believe you will pick up on her cues soon enough."

"As always, I am in my office after class."

Comments

Re: Talk to the creature

[sakuracchyan.livejournal.com]

For a while, Sakura remains hunched up in her seat, a little perturbed at the thought of talking to a spider. Then she remembers that the entire point of this class is to work at getting over the fear of creatures most people fear, and stands up. She still stays a fair distance from Aunt Nancy, but can't help but incline her head toward the spider a little in greeting as well as curiosity. "'llo there, Aunt Nancy." she says simply, unable to think of anything to ask her. She gathers up any gall she has and takes a step closer, pondering. "...I'm a little afraid to do so, but I've always wondered if spiders are fuzzy," she adds.

Re: Talk to the creature

[game-of-you.livejournal.com]

Dream winces. He trusts Aunt Nancy, but brown recluse bites are nasty for humans.

Still, he has promised to translate accurately.

//My body is, kinda. Wanna feel, sweethearts?//

Re: Talk to the creature

[sakuracchyan.livejournal.com]

Sakura sort of half-smiles, but hesitates to touch her. She glances at Dream, then back at the spider. "'kay, I'm not gonna hurt you, so don't bite me." Sakura clenches her teeth, convincing herself that she has always wondered this, and hasn't ever had the chance to pet a spider she was fairly confident wouldn't bite her for doing so. She extends her pinky finger and very, very lightly touches Aunt Nancy's back, then recoils her finger. "...woah."