Art by  Valytine
Based on a mystery commission from them, grab one here! https://www.furaffinity.net/view/57443767/



"C'mon, hurry up! I want to get there before they run out!"

Octavia tugged along at Am, trying to get him to hurry. He could barely keep up as he stumbled along, trying to find his footing on the rough forest floor. Despite being nearly a foot taller than the pink haired spider, the rabbit plush could barely match her energetic pace.

She was clearly much more used to the terrain. She ducked and dodged through the webs that hung from the trees, not disturbing them in the slightest. Meanwhile Am couldn't help but keep stumbling through the webs, having to pull them from him. Countless eyes stared down at him, the unseen collective of spiders glaring as he disturbed their well woven traps.

After a short while, Octavia had successfully guided Am deep into her territory without getting him caught and eaten by something. As the familiar walls of the compound she lived in came into view, she dragged him toward the entrance.

Standing right next to the sealed gate was an unfamiliar, reddish spider. She offered a wave with one of the spider-like legs that jutted from her back. A strap was laid over her shoulder, securing the bag at her hip. The cloth was uneven and bulging with the weight of multiple differently shaped vials, each bubbling with a mix of colors.

"There you are. I was just about to leave. Not as much business around here as expected." The stranger spoke. "I've got plenty potions left for you to choose from."

Octavia bounced eagerly on her feet as Am rolled his eyes a bit. He eyed the filled bag before looking back up to the spider carrying it.

"So these are 'magical potions.'" He said in a tone that was more a doubting statement than a question.

"Seems everybody around here is doubtful about my craft." Her eyes moved from Am to Octavia, her expression softening. "Well, at least I've got one person wanting to buy. And I think I've got just the thing for someone like you."

She placed her hand on the top of Octavia's head. Her hand brushed back and forth as she chuckled a bit at the size of the diminutive spider. She reached down into her bag and noisily fished brought the many vials before pulling out the one she was looking for.

Flanking each side of the spout were horn-like protrusions. Inside was a thick red liquid that bubbled throughout. As the stranger placed it into Octavia's hand, she offered an assuring smile to the pink haired spider.

"It's something that will bring out a bit of... Extra power in you. Usually I'd charge forty for it but... I'll give it to you for twenty. Call it a spider discount."

"Deal!"

Octavia chirped out and reached into her robes. She pulled out a few bills and placed it right into the other girl's hand. She looked over the flask for a few moments before pulling the cap off.

"Careful there. Don't just drink it here and now. Go get somewhere comfy, lay back, and enjoy it." The stranger advised.

Octavia put the cap back on and gave a small nod.

"I don't think I'll be coming to this spot anymore, but if you want more, I've got a shop. You'll find it at the bottom of the bottle. Take care."

With that, the stranger turned away and adjusted her bag. It clacked and rattled with each step. It didn't take long for her figure and the noise to vanish into the thick forest, leaving Octavia with her prize.

"Oh man. I'm going to go to my special spot and try this..."

Octavia said, quickly turning the other direction and scurrying off into the woods.

Am looked around at the many spiders that stood near the entrance to that compound. Despite them simply going about their business and paying him no mind, he quickly grew uncomfortable being alone around the variety of arachnids. Instead of dawdling, he followed after Octavia to see what her special spot entailed.

--

After a few minutes of wandering in the direction Octavia ran off to, he finally found her. She was sitting in a small cloth tent, just big enough for a single occupant. The bottom was covered by a small rug, giving her something relaxing to recline on. The ground around was littered with burnt out rolls of paper and the air carried the semisweet hint of weed.

"So this is your special spot?"

"Yessir. I usually just snack on gummies to get my fix but sometimes I sneak over here and smoke. The others don't mind, I just do it away from the compound to be polite."

Octavia chuckled a bit after speaking, caressing the bottle in her hands. She popped the cap off and brought it to her lips, giving a small sip.

"Oh, it tastes weird. Kinda good though. Can't really explain it."

She titled the bottle back and took more and let it slide down her throat. It only took a few swallows to down the bottle, the taste quickly growing almost irresistible. She breathed a little huff as she finished the bottle without even savoring the taste, though a small bit remained at the bottom of the glass.

"Want to try it?"

She asked as she held the bottle out to Am. He looked at her skeptically for a few moments but shrugged a bit. She clearly enjoyed it and wasn't actively dying after, so he threw caution to the wind. Tilting the bottle back, he let the last few drops fall onto his tongue. The flavor was one he couldn't quite place, a strange bittersweet.

"I mean... It's alright." He said with a bit of a shrug.

As the words left his lips, his head started to spin a touch. He placed a paw against the side of his head as he took a seat. His vision blurred as he looked toward Octavia.

She was stood with her hands on her throat. The burn running through it was indescribable, one that spread down her throat and through her body. She gagged and choked, her eyes looking fearful. She tried to steady herself but the thoughts that she just downed a vial of poison raced through her mind.

She fell to the ground and balanced herself in her hands and knees. Her confusion and fear seemed to boil into something else as that heat ran through her body. A rage consumed her, her eyes darting around frantically in search of something to take it out on.

As she tried to stand, she felt herself being swept off her feet. The small quartet of spider legs that typically hugged her waist had grown and continued to do so. They lifted her body up from the ground, growing almost four times her height in length. She only took a moment to steady herself on the newly sized limbs before she could start to walk around with her core body touching the ground.

Her gaze turned to Am. While he hadn't changed in any notably way physically, his behavior very much had. He had look of malice in his eyes that glowed with a subtle red. His body was hunched onto all fours, stalking about like an animal.

Despite the mutual feeling of burning rage that they both wanted to unleash on the first person they saw, neither went after the other. With some luck, the potions effects will wear off before any unlucky person stumbles upon them...