I watch with unblinking eyes as the Goblin swallows the Mimics crushed body, licking blood off its lips as it looks down the intersecting hallway I am in before continuing on its way.

I ignore the tint of red as I stare, the Goblin none the wiser to my presence. I can't help but wonder if there was anything I could have done; should I have tried to get it to hide? Should I have attempted to fight the Goblin off?

I want to say it's because I'm altruistic, but the truth is there's a little voice in the back of my head that keeps asking:

Shouldn't I have eaten it myself?

I feel like something was stolen from me and I'm a little disturbed. I don't know what would make me think cannibalism is an option; I'm not even hungry! I mean sure- the other Mimic probably would have eaten me without a second thought, but I'm not some dumb monster running on instincts!

Well, I am a monster. And I did eat bugs.

And speaking of instincts, I feel an odd desire to fight that Goblin. I know I'd lose, but I still want to take it down– a very strange thought for someone who's practically a pacifist.

While waiting for the sound of footsteps to fade I check the alerts, confirming Stealth and Disguise were used and Stealth increased in value by one to four. I didn't expect another increase since they didn't change after the last few bugs, but it seems the Goblins level difference was enough to bump up Stealth. I wonder why Disguise didn't increase too though, since they're used in tandem?

Left in thought i continue following the less dusty trail, passing by a few more offshoots and intersections before a shrill squeaking sound comes from ahead.

Moving cautiously I creep up to the Intersection, poking my head past the edge to side eye the hallway.

What I'm met with is a series of large spiderwebs crossing the width of the hallway and dozens of spiders half my own size swarming a screaming rat!

The rat seems determined to fight the spiders, but the outcome is evident: the sheer volume of spiders outnumber the rat to such a degree it would have to kill a dozen just to escape. And that's not even counting the fact they're probably venomous, something that'll kill it faster than the spider bites alone.

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And you know what? I don't think I want to be here when they're done with the rat, so I activate Skitter and quickly move through the intersection into the next section of hallway.

I realize I'm not the only one to hear the shrill cries as a couple of rats come running in my direction. I climb onto the wall to avoid their reach, but am mostly ignored by them anyways. I initially plan to do the same, but something about them makes me pause and watch as they pass.

A pebble appears between my mandibles and I wait for the first rat to pass around the corner where it gets sight of the battle and moves to engage. Before the second, slightly smaller rat can reach the corner the pebble is fired, a firm "thump!" sounding as the stone impacts its hip.

Shrieking in pain and surprise it turns around to face me as my body backs up the wall, six roach legs having an easy time finding purchase.

Knowing a rat will have an easy time climbing the rough stone wall another pebble is fired with two Breaths added in for a stronger impact. The stone slams into the side of the rats face, crushing its eye with the sound of a crack from its jaw. It squeals in pain and anger as it begins to approach.

It may be able to climb the wall, but not nearly as easy as a roach. It gets close before my body quickly moves to the side where it's missing an eye.

The Roach Form changes; the path used to launch the stones merges out of existence as the small bug mouth begins to stretch wider and wider across the front of the bug face, bisecting it entirely as the edge creeps half way down its sides.

The wide mouth hinges open as the bugs back flexes in unnatural ways, rows of teeth exposed with a sharp tongue extending into the air before piercing the rats back, the needle-like tip burying into flesh as the barbs grab hold. The rat has no time to react as its attacker lifts itself off the wall with its tongue, its full weight pulling against the rats grip on the stone. For the moment the rat has to fight to counter the added weight and the mimic uses that to its advantage as it pulls its tongue into its mouth, sharp rows of teeth flexing wide as its mouth is pulled over the rats shoulders before it bites down hard.

Screaming in pain the rat loses its grip and falls backwards, twisting and convulsing in the process. The two land hard, both impacting the floor at the same time, but the attacker remains on the rat like a cancerous growth, teeth embedded in its flesh as it rips its tongue out of the rodents back before slamming it in again, driving the tip deeper.

The rat claws at what little it can reach, small tears forming beneath the tips while teeth bare down tighter against its ribcage. The tongue worms its way between a set of broken ribs where a sudden pulsing sensation is felt– and pierced.

The rat grows still.

The barbs flatten as the tongue is withdrawn from the corpse before flexing around the rats neck, pulling it head first into a waiting mouth, most of it fitting inside before the entire rat is sucked into a void.

The crease running the length of my body seals back together, the air bladder reforms it's path behind my pincers, and I continue walking down the hall.