I walked around the halls for a few minutes before deciding every room looked the same. Back to my original plan! I quickly found a window and leaped into the city. My plan to get food was simple. Act cute and beg near anyone who has something made of meat.

I peeked out of the window I had found and saw the thirty foot drop. I glanced around and saw a roof nearby. I smiled and screamed. “For food!” I leaped across the gap. I sailed through the air like a graceful swan. I could almost feel the gods of this world blushing at my beautiful appearance. Then I clipped the edge of the roof with my face and fell down into the mud, thirty feet below.

I staggered to my feet and began limping out of the ditch I had landed in. Still a tad dazed from the blow to my head I stumbled into a busy street. I shook my head and screamed. “Food!” No one even glanced at it so I began exploring the area I was in.

I had hopped into the merchant district. The perfect place for my feast to begin. I quickly found a food stall where a large, heavy set man was frying skewers of meat. While he was dealing with a customer I stabbed a piece of meat with my tail and ran.

I heard a cry from behind me but ignored it. His fault for being poor. I was about to turn a corner and sprint through a small hole in a wall when I felt a hand grab my neck. The woman who grabbed me picked me up and stared me in the eyes. “Now then, why don’t we go pay for that little treat?”

I quickly shoved the piece of meat into my mouth and stabbed the old lady's hand. She looked to be in her mid seventies, with gray hair, a wrinkled face and scars covering her neck and hands.

She frowned as my tail bounced off her skin. She stared at me for a few seconds and asked. “What is a Mud Skink War Queen with a collar of transformation doing in this city?” I stared at her in abject horror and screamed. “Let go of me you ugly beast!”

She frowned and said. “No reason to insult others' appearance. Most would consider you a cripple. Seeing as you only have three legs.” I spat in her face and said. “I don’t care if you can understand me! I’m sick of you high level shit heads bossing me around!”

Her frown grew deeper and before I knew what was happening she shoved me in her purse and tossed the merchant a coin. “We can continue our conversation at my house. I fear people have been staring at me since I started talking to you.”

Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

I began screaming as loud as I could. “Hanno! Save me! I’ve been kidnapped.” After only a minute she pulled me out and sat me down on an armchair. I looked around her house and saw it was only a single room. There was a cot in the corner and two armchairs. Other than that the house was empty.

She stared at me for a few seconds before asking. “How are you here? Why are you here? Did someone send it to you?” I frowned and said. “I got kidnapped and enslaved. By one of you high level jerks.”

She nodded slowly and said. “I assume you have children? Otherwise you would have to have become a war queen at a very impressive speed.” I stared at the women in abject horror. Who the fuck is she? How does she know so much about me? Is she gonna threaten my kids too? I shook my head and said. “Nope, all dead. Got killed by a giant turkey.”

She smiled and said. “If you lie to me again I will rip your tail off. I am currently trying to decide if you are a threat to me and my friends. If you are, I will kill you.” Why is everyone I meet so confidential?

I sighed and said. “I have children. I assume they are alive.” She nodded slowly and asked. “Who kidnapped you?” I weighed my options but decided to answer truthfully. Maybe she’ll kill Creep?

“I was kidnapped by the leader of the Raven clan to protect his son.” She smiled and said. “Ah Hanno, I know of him. Alright, you weren't lying just now. I am friends with Ferdinand. He’s a good man.”

Creep’s name is Ferdaninand? And she trusts him? Well, she is strange. I stood up and said. “Well then, I guess it's time for me to leave. Nice to meet you, hag.” I sneered at the end and only felt the slap after a few seconds. I was on the other side of the room and was pretty sure my entire snout was shattered.

She smiled sweetly at me and waved a hand. I screamed as the bones in my face began to move, slotting back into position. “Watch your tongue child. And no, you will not be robbing and harassing anyone. I am going to take you back to the academy. I’ll inform Hanno of what you have done and let him deal with it. Maybe I’ll tell him to keep you on a leash?”

I shook my head vigorously and said. “Can you ask him to let me go? I wanna see my kids!” She shook her head and said. “We all must make sacrifices. This is yours. Hanno must survive. You can keep him alive. I see no problems.”

I stared at her, my now perfect jaw gaping as I screamed. “What the fuck! A sacrifice is one you make willingly! This is just a punishment.” She nodded and said. “Maybe, but I don’t care. A random monster's happiness cannot interfere with the outcome of my mission. Like it or not you will die if we fail. Protect Hanno no matter what. Do this and I will make sure your children survive and prosper.”

Another person holding my kids hostage. Who are these people? How powerful are they? “What level are you?” She smiled and said. “I haven't leveled in years. But I am currently level 245. I won't tell my class.” Class? Level 245? Sweet taxes are high! She smiled and said. “Now, why don't we return you to your owner. And remember, if he dies. Who will protect your children then?