Ray
I wouldn't doubt the resilience of the lowly Dwemer Spider, those little automatons do a lot. I'd wager most of their maintainence in the ruins involves quite a bit of excavation, perhaps they just haven't been given the chance to expand. Or maybe deep within the ruins in areas that are collapsed in there's a larger Automaton, lying in wait to be repaired."
Charles
"I wouldn't be all too surprised. Something had to clear those caverns for most ruins to be built in. I can't imagine that all of them were built inside naturally occurring cave systems." The two had been walking for awhile and would soon be coming upon Winterhold. "We are almost to the city, have you put any thought into what you'd like to eat before we get on the roads?"
Ray
"Anything really, as long as it's not Chaurus or wild mushrooms." He says, with a slight chuckle, "And a good mead."
Charles
"Sounds good, I've always been partial to the venison brought in by some of the hunters, I would recommend it. I'm sure you can pick yourself out a good mead, I don't drink so it isn't something I could give advice on." She often went to the local inn in Winterhold when she was hungry as she wished to provide some gratitude to the town hosting the College, even if they didn't like most of the mages. It made her someone the town enjoyed having and it made her feel less anxious about the city. Speaking of the College, she hadn't planned on returning to Markarth so soon, so she now had to make new plans. Maybe she could return to the ruins and continue hunting that unknown animunculi.
Ray
"I'm sure I'll find something. If the Nords know anything it's good mead." He says, "I think I'll have some, maybe a salad, or a stew... It's been so long since I've had proper food, if I had the money I'd buy everything they had."
Charles
"I can lend you some money if you want to do so. I live fairly comfortably and can spare the septims for a colleague in need." Again, should her face not be covered, Haliochtus would be getting the friendliest smile he'd ever seen. Alas, her face was still a mystery to him as the travelled ever closer to Winterhold.