Web of Destruction, by Angela Field (PG)

[marycrawford.livejournal.com]

Fandom: HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS
Author Website: Heroes' Path
Why this must be read:

Angela Field's Argonauts are a bunch of appealingly rowdy young men, having the kind of adventures that the Young Hercules crew only wished they had the budget to film.

Angela excels at getting Iolaus into trouble, and this story is one of her best, foreshadowing Iolaus' later troubles in the episode Web of Desire and bringing tons of hurt/comfort, angst and adventure.

Warning: if you're an arachnophobic, you might want to skip this one. Or carry a really big shoe.

Unable to move, with the warm wet web filling his nose, eyes and ears, Iolaus was plunged into a muffled world of increasing darkness. The pressure of the tightening web crushed his ribs and stomach. Webbing gagged him, unable to stick to his tongue but choking him so that each breath became a desperate struggle to draw breath. There was no point in fighting any more; all he could do was hold still and concentrate on breathing. He could feel the tapping of the spider's claws, testing the silken shroud for security, plucking at the strands like some insane harpist. It seemed to be nuzzling him, its mandibles nipping at the strands across his chest until they were smoothed to its satisfaction.

Then it bit him.

Web of Destruction

Comments

[barbaraa.livejournal.com]

I've read this 2-3 times and each time, that whole scene just gives me goosebumps. Considering Missouri seems to giant-size their spiders, I really don't want to see any after reading this story.

I sure hope she writes some more of the Argonauts' adventures. :)

Thanks for reccing this one; new readers will love it!

Barbara