Bugs. More and more bugs; that's it. That's all I've encountered.

I ran into another couple of common roaches, killing them each in one shot about 10 inches away. I discovered if I don't damage them in the same place as previous ones my Mimicry form is updated with the non-damaged parts once absorbed. I also picked up a handy new Skill:

Skills:

* Skitter: double your move speed for six seconds. [Cool down time: One minute]

It has the Drawback of being obvious when activated, but using it as soon as it's available will help speed up my exploration of this place.

I also found a few Iron Pill Bugs on the path; they look similar to Pill bugs back on Earth, save for turning into one to two inch spheres and being covered in metal. They have the ability to let out a small explosion similar to a Bombardier beetle, using it to launch themselves a short distance to escape an attacker. That explosion was a bit of a surprise!

About as much as just how horrifying their seven pairs of legs are at this size. It almost made me not eat them… almost.

I absorbed the larger ones for Mimicry and Devoured the smallest. They didn't have any special skills, but I can't expect everything to have them. They did increase my max weight by 2.46 ounces, so I can't complain.

Species: Mimic Modification Menu

5: Iron Pill Bug

* Appearance: An Iron backed bug that can fold into a sphere

* Size: 3 inches long

* Texture: Wrought Iron

* Force Resistance +1

* Species Traits: Explosion, Iron exoskeleton

* Display Information:

* – Description: "An Iron backed pill bug."

* – Detailed Description: "An iron coated bug capable of folding into a ball. It is capable of expelling an explosion to defend itself.

* – Identify Spell: Juvenile Mimic

Knowing Pill Bugs eat rotting wood led me to divert from the well traveled path to what initially looked like a short dead end. I figured there had to be something they were eating, and I was right; the wall at the end of the hallway stopped an inch above the floor where it rest on a few stones. It must be some kind of secret door that didn't close properly, which is good for me.

The space past it opened up into a small room full of rotting bookshelves, moldy books, and a few more Pill Bugs I'm saving in case I get hungry later. There were a few very "fantasy world" items hidden behind a rotting shelf: two red crystals, one blue crystal and one green crystal, all glowing with an internal light next to a vial of a sparkly red liquid.

I was momentarily tempted to stay there as it seemed like a safe place, but what exactly would I be waiting for? As the longer I dawdle here the farther the adventures I am following get away from me, I chose to consume the items and continue my journey instead.

—

Screaming: it's never a good thing to hear. Nor is senseless babbling. Yet for some reason not only do I hear these things, but they sound oddly familiar, as if I've heard them before.

Coming upon a bend in the path I pause, looking up the way to find the source of the constant stream of noise.

'Ah, that's why it seems familiar.' I think, recognizing the small meatball sitting in the middle of a four way junction, babbling its head off: another Mimic! 'A very noisy Mimic.' I think, carefully walking up the hallway.

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Seeing my approach it stops screaming for a moment, then begins babbling nonstop.

Wearily I stop at the edge of the junction and check the intersecting path, noting nothing coming from any direction. With the way clear I revert my form back to my basic Mimic body. The other Mimic watches me move, but rather than turning its body to follow, it's eyes and mouth sort of just … float around on its body to track my position. It's kind of unnerving, but it does stop making noise for the moment.

"Uh, hi? Can you understand me? You're the first Mimic I've met here."

I wait a moment hopeful for a response, only for it to be dashed as the Mimic returns to speaking constant nonsense, without a single note of recognition in its eyes.

"You can't understand me, can you?" I ask as it keeps making noises, eyes fixated on me. "No, of course not. That would be too good." I say, letting out a long sigh.

I debate what to do for a minute, eventually deciding that maybe I should just observe how a normal Mimic acts.

Moving back against a wall I choose the Limestone Rock form, then flatten myself into the previously accidental "pit shape", and activate my Stealth and Disguise Skills. The other Mimic seems confused as it loses sight of me, making me wonder if it isn't smart enough to have object permanence. After a moment it returns to screaming and babbling as if I was never there, save for the red around my vision hinting at a notification

Congratulations, you have hidden from an opponent while under direct observation!

As a rare feat, you are awarded a point in associated skills!

Skill: Stealth +1 [3]

Skill: Disguise +1 [3]

I don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth, but I feel kinda like I cheated on that one. Thankfully a distraction approaches the "screaming demon" in the form of a roach. Man, those are everywhere, aren't they?

For its part, the Mimics face floats around towards the bug before continuing to babble. As the roach nears, the Mimic sticks out its tongue and wiggles it in front of its face like a worm while continuing to make noise.

'Wait, no. No. You can't be serious.' I think as I watch the roach reach for the Mimics tongue, moving forward as it's drawn into the creatures mouth before sharp teeth slam shut over its body, the Mimic chomping down to kill it and consume the corpse.

'... and just like that, all my efforts to fight roaches seems unnecessary and excessive.' Apparently I overestimated their intelligence and battle prowess.

Somehow I feel even more deflated than I physically am. I lay there staring at it stupefied long enough for a Description to appear

A Juvenile Mimic.

'Hua, isn't that what the magic spell says if it's used on me in Disguise?' I ponder.

Taking another minute to stare as the Mimic starts screaming again, the description expands with more information.

A Juvenile Mimic.

Its Gut is barely formed and only good as an expensive coin purse.

'OK HOLD UP: What do you mean "an expensive coin purse"?' I mentally shout, my question going unanswered by the Menu. 'Why the heck would someone want to– wait, does that mean my Gut would still store stuff if I die? How does that even work?"

I am distracted from my confusion as the hallway momentarily falls silent, the Mimic stopping its noise as footsteps echo through the hallway before it continues again.

I shift my focus to the intersecting hallway as the footsteps near, my vision greeted by a warm amber light from a carried torch. Soon after the torch itself enters my field of view it is followed by a form with green skin, a bald head, a sharp nose and pointed ears.

'Crap, a Goblin.' I think, though I don't really know if this is better or worse than if it were anything else.

The Goblin approaches the noisy Mimic, hunching over as it reaches down and picks it up. For its part there is little recognition from the Mimic as it continues to babble and stare at the Goblin as it lifts the Mimic to its mouth and -

'OH GOD.'

My stomach tightens as I wish I had eyelids to close, a cold chill filling me as I am forced to witness a creature, exactly like myself, get bitten and chewed to death.