Cyrus had no idea how long he had spent in the creature's claws.
He only knew that the darkness seemed to have suddenly receded a little, and he could now see spiders swarming over the leaf-covered ground. He turned his head and found that they had reached the edge of a broad hollow cleared of trees. The clouds overhead had parted somewhat, and the stars illuminated a terrifying, spine-chilling sight.
Spiders.
Not little spiders like the ones scurrying through the fallen leaves below, but enormous creatures, each as large as a cart horse, with eight eyes and eight legs, black and covered in hair.
The giant spider carrying Cyrus and the others descended the steep slope toward a misty, domed web in the very center of the hollow, its companions crowding around it. When they saw what it held in its pincers, they worked their great jaws excitedly, filling the air with clicking.
The spider released its claws. Cyrus flicked his wand lightly and landed as steadily as a cat. Harry and Ron had no such ability, however, and the two boys and the dog crashed heavily onto the ground at his feet.
Fang curled up in terror and lay motionless, as though playing dead. Ron and Harry had their mouths stretched wide, seemingly screaming without a sound, their eyes bulging.
He would probably have been better off unconscious than awake right now.
"Are you two all right?" Cyrus asked quietly.
"I'm fine..."
"What do you think? We're going to die!" Ron's voice was hoarse.
Just then, the spider that had brought them there made a loud noise, and Cyrus realized it was actually speaking human language. It was difficult to make out, because its great jaws clicked with every word.
But as fantastic beasts, Acromantulas could speak and possessed