"The Butterfly Effect"
According to legend, the mere flap of a butterfly's wings is capable of escalating into such a disruption of the worldly atmosphere that it can cause a terrible storm on the other side of the continent. In the same way, even the slightest change, in the choices we make, can have far-reaching consequences. Sometimes, it's even possible for these small things to literally be life and death themselves, for one small mistake can mean the difference between a triumphant victory or a terrible defeat.
Take, for example, the victory of the Hashira over the Spider Family of Mount Natagumo. Ironically, the Insect Hashira in particular proved to be one of the most instrumental players in this match to the death, for it was her lethal poisons, strategy, and superb sense of timing that saved many innocent lives and the other Demon Slayers that were fighting for their lives up to that point. But what if she had been less judicious about the use of her toxins? And what if at least one of the Spider Demons had been just a little bit smarter, choosing to wait until the young Hashira member had all but exhausted her resources fighting the rest of her clan?
In this scenario, she might be ambushed, caught off guard when in a state of presumed security. Separated from her weapon, she'd be dragged off into the mountain woods, kicking and screaming, her black blade lodged uselessly in the trunk of a tree somewhere, never to be found. She might soon find herself bound by silken threads, suspended above the forest floor, surrounded by many red eyes, a hundred scuttling legs and counting approaching her. Struggling would only restrain her further, alerting more and more seething arachnids to her trapped, helpless state.
The Spider Demon Mother, the cruel captor who would be the most bereaved at the loss of her children, might've desired a terrible vengeance for the Insect Hashira, a fate worse than death itself. A chance discovery would inspire her to enact an unusual method, thanks to a small spider making its way onto her captive's side, causing her to squirm and giggle in spite of herself. Intrigued, she would thus start by wiggling her deft, sharp nails into the ribs and sides of the captive Demon Slayer, beginning to enjoy the sound of her laughter as the girl found herself unable to escape. Stimulated by the movement upon their webs, the spiders would undoubtedly join in, with more and more of them crawling onto her body, their little scuttling claws and nibbling fangs failing to penetrate her clothing - but tickling immensely all the same.
Bolstered by this, the Spider Demon Mother may then decide to move downward, squeezing the Hashira's knees and thighs, walking her fingers down the backs of her knees and calves, before finally removing the boots from her trapped, soft feet. Her nails would be perfect for dancing all over the sensitive soles before her, teasing the arches and toes as her victim screamed and writhed in place. More and more spiders would thus emerge from hiding, lured in by the Demon Hunter's constant thrashing and shaking with hysterical laughter. Surely, the Spider Demon Mother would be happy to find that her captive was the perfect, ticklish plaything for her and her brood. We might thus see the demon tightening the silken cables under her control, holding the Hashira in a spread-eagle position, allowing access to every ticklish spot upon her for the spiders to feast upon.
Of course, this is just a hypothetical scenario. But it is, if anything, a reminder of just how precarious the eternal battle between Demon and Slayer is, how easily the tide can turn based on who makes the first mistake. For if the Insect Hashira had been just a little less careful, and her enemy a little more prudent and discreet, then the forests of Mount Natagumo might have a new legend to add to their dark history. A legend of a tortured maiden held prisoner for all eternity by a whole legion of eight-legged horrors, doomed to laugh, to scream, to cry for help that would never come, for mercy that would never be delivered...
**********The following is included in this reward:
High-resolution artwork
An additional version lacking the Patreon watermark and with a different signature
Alternate dialogue version
A PSD file version with all layers
-Skaea