"So, um, hi."

"Hello."

Actively making sure I'm thinking inside my metaphorical head, I'm a little... well, I got what I wanted, we're talking... now what? I guess I should follow the rule of K.I.S.S; Keep It Simple, Slime.

"My name is Luke, what's yours?"

I see thin bands of light ripple unevenly over its form, conveying something like uncertainty, but sharper... confusion?

"Name? What is 'name?'"

"Ah. Well... I guess it's something other people call you? Like instead of saying "hey, you" if I want to talk, I can say "hey, insert name here". Does that make sense?"

My tone is uncertain, but I don't know if that translates accurately, let alone how I'd go about trying to do so without any idea how I'm even speaking right now. The larger slime before me is silent, maybe they're thinking? I'd much rather believe that than worry they think I'm a weirdo.

"Only slime here with... name... is Big. I am slime, not Big" they pulse with conviction.

"Oh, alright then. So... I just call you Slime?" Nervous, it's not hard to foresee the inevitable confusion if I run into any others of our kind. Slime is probably about twice, nearly two and a half times, my size. I've never really looked at myself all that closely, I've been a little busy, but now that I have another slime before me, there's a lot more detail in our bodies than I would have expected for a gelatinous blob of something-or-other. It's not just the lit surface of their membrane in motion, I can see the way Slime's currents flow within and across their mass, reminiscent of a stunningly detailed watercolour painting.

Embarrassingly late, the significance of what they said registers with me. "Hold on, 'Big'? There are other slimes here?" I shine, bright with unguarded hope. Now that I have something to compare against, I find I can see the lights of my own membrane surging and pulsing, and my Dispersed mana sense can detect the barest trace of the stuff charging through the surface, doing something to my membrane to cause this reaction. I hadn't really considered that this form of communication couldn't be using actual light, yet I know, instinctively, that it is light. Weird.

"In fort. You are from fort, yes?" Bobbing inquisitively, the slime's question is neither aggressive nor suspicious from what I can tell, watching the way their currents flow. I assume they have something to do with their emotional state, but reading into it and seeing where my intuition leads me, I'm not so sure. Why they would be feeling 'red'...?

Seeing no reason to lie, I swing my body from side to side, only to abort the motion halfway through. We're creatures without heads, would the concept of 'shaking your head' even mean anything to them? Instead, I try to pulse out a 'negatory vibe', attempting to replicate what they did before to express confusion. "No, I'm not. I was born a while ago in the tunnels, I only came into this big forest in the last few hours." I leave out the fact that I was hiding in the tree-line for most of that time, I don't want to look lame.

Rippling with a combination of shock and something else I don't recognise, Slime crawls forward until we nearly boop membranes. Unsure of what's going on, a thrill of alarm shoots through me when Slime presses forward, reaching around to surround me. "Hey, what did I do?! Please don't eat me, I don't want to hurt-!"

But the initial sting of pain from the attack doesn't come. I'm not being eaten. Instead, Slime's currents gently brush against my membrane as they envelop me, a calming weight that presses in on me, holding me gently.

"There, there," the Adult Slime says warmly, seemingly either unaware or unbothered by the way I melt in shock. "I go back to fort. You come. Safe in fort. Big protect us." The currents flowing around me strengthen incrementally, enough to spin me around like a balloon drifting through the air. I have to admit, it's both fun and relaxing, tickling an urge for play seated deep within my slime instincts. Being flown around like this... it reminds me of something...

Am I being Superman-ed?! I'm not a baby, I'm-! Well, I am, but not that kind of baby! I want to be affronted, straining against the embarrassment, but it's just... too... nice...

Unwilling to stop the tears as they ripple the surface of my membrane, I let myself enjoy the all encompassing hug. I haven't felt this safe... ever, certainly not since being reborn. The sensation does more than soothe my instinctual desire for contact and connection, I never had something like this in my human life either. At least, not without ulterior motives. It almost feels wrong for something so simple to have such a profound impact on me, let alone the fact that it's coming from what may as well be a stranger, but I can't help it.

Wheeeee! I loose myself in the feeling of safety, spinning and rolling around like a tumbleweed while I cry softly.

A moment later, I realise Slime has taken us to the water's edge. "We go now. Stay inside, path is dangerous." Without acknowledging my rather fragile state, nor further fanfare, the large slime slips slowly into the water, ceasing spinning me around with their currents in favour of making their profile as low as possible while still accommodating me. Pulling myself together, I try to reinstate my game face, or something- just stop crying, okay!? You can appreciate the affection later, right now we've got survival to worry about.

Circulating myself until the trembling bands of membrane calm, I take stock of my surroundings. It's interesting, trying to see out into the world from inside a slime. It's like looking through cellophane paper or a stained-glass window, the narrow, quick currents tinting the water and silt beneath us red-

Ooooh! The currents don't indicate our emotions, they're linked to our colour! Slime must be a Red Slime!

"Hey, Slime. Are you red?" I hope that's not impolite to ask, my curiosity demands its appetite be sated. Half crawling, half rolling down the steeply sloped lake bed, Slime's reply has me a little puzzled.

"I am Red Slime. Is this same thing?"

What do they mean by that? "Uhh, I guess? It answers my question, so yeah, thanks..." I just asked if they were red, it seems like a simple enough question. Then I realise that we're all colour-blind and Slime probably doesn't even understand the concept of what 'red' is. They've probably never encountered it as anything other than the word 'Red' on their status, so they wouldn't think to attribute it to the way their currents move.

Still, at least I know my intended meaning is getting across when I put on a lightshow... even if Slime doesn't understand the concepts... still, I can't hold that against them. I didn't have much of an education, but at least I was able to go to school a few times. I doubt there's a school just sitting around this Dungeon somewhere, and even if there were, it's possible they wouldn't accept slime applicants.

By now, Slime has reached the lake floor. For most anything else it would probably be pitch black, but I've long since seen the error of my ways when it comes to ocular organs. Who needs light when you've got mana! The lake bed is a lot flatter than I expected, like those pictures taken at the bottom of deep sea trenches, whorls and ridges in the sand the only evidence that this environment has ever experienced the touch of change.

Pausing as they look out across the barren expanse of silt and rock, Slime ripples in trepidation and... fear? "Be still. Predator in water. We will be careful, or will be eaten."

"Ah, so I was right about the lake monster. Joy," I mutter dryly, straining my senses to their limit so I'll have some warning if whatever-it-is shows-

I'm startled from my observation by the pressure of the mass encasing me increasing a not inconsiderable amount. About to ask if Slime has sensed something, they flash a jarring, almost physically stunning burst of vibes at me. The closest thing I can attribute it to would be the stern expression of a displeased teacher, mixed with the firm assurance that I will be in 'big trouble, mister' if I don't listen to what comes next.

"Predator is dangerous. Not to be played with. Play in fort, with others."

Like I'm standing before the rarely seen presence of both my parents once more, I snap back to the years old instinct to drop my gaze, something very difficult to do without a head. "Yes Sir-, Yes Ma-, Yes Slime!"

The flashbang reprimand cools to one of acceptance, shot through with glimmers of apology. "Good." While succinct, their response is not unkind, impressing upon me that I'm not really in trouble as we set off on our journey across the unremarkable landscape.

Mollified, I think I understand where the reaction came from. "I don't suppose you're aware I was being sarcastic?" It would make sense if they didn't, how would they have learned of the concept without-

"I am aware. But is not playtime. Serious business," Slime says with a flat membrane, a sparkle of good natured mischief barely visible beneath the serious intent of their words.

Oh. Oh. We've got a joker, huh? Well played, Slime, I like you more already. You hear that, Attenborough? It's good to discover my race is one of comedic culture.

Held within Slime's mass, I watch our surroundings as we slowly, oh so slowly, creep across the watery floor. Contrary to my expectations, there aren't any of the small waterborne monsters I'd have thought would inhabit such a large body of water, but I guess that just goes to show how nasty this lake monster must be. Honestly, I'm impressed by how well I'm taking this little trek. If I were still human I'd be warming the water around me in a most unsanitary manner, but my slime-y instincts find nothing wrong with crawling across the bottom of a pitch black lake. Slime parts the silt smoothly, their wake barely raising a small cloud of the notoriously easy to disturb matter, while the weight of the water pressing down above us is more comforting than oppressive.

"So," I begin conversationally, the barren landscape unable to scratch my itch for stimulation, "where were you going off to before we ran into each other?" I'm not just asking to pass the time, though I won't deny I want to leave this watery wasteland ASAP. I'm curious what could be important enough to risk what sounds like such a dangerous journey.

"Hunting. Am part of group told by Big to take risk, fight monsters to become strong like Big. Also, bring back food. More important than fighting."

"Makes sense," I reply. "Sounds like it's your job to protect the others. I've had to fight a few monsters myself, and it's risky, but the rewards are worth it." I'm a little surprised at how much I mean that. I wouldn't relish the danger, but if an opportunity were to present itself right now to fight a monster I had a good chance of winning against, I'd probably dive right in. Rather than be concerned by the sudden realisation, though, I focus on what I know; Struggling, winning, getting stronger... in this world, it feels good. I'm actively encouraged to risk my life, even. I could question the reasons for this Pavlovian conditioning; why mutating feels so nice, how the System uses 'gains' and 'congratulations' to make you feel like a winner. Or, I can accept that this is the way things are now, maintain a healthy dose of survival instincts, and make the most of it.

Slime ripples in recognition of my words, a small spark of surprise standing out. "I am surprised you fight. Not common for Baby Slime, especially alone."

"What can I say, I'm just a bit different like that," I offer with a light glimmer of pride.

Anyway, it's not like I'm becoming less human than I was, at least not in the ways that matter. Sure, I need to hunt, kill and eat monsters to survive, but humans have been doing that for thousands of years, I'm essentially just going back to basics. I still have my morals and my soul, and I'm not about to compromise on those any more than I would if I were still human.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Slime or Homo sapiens, I'm still Luke.

Taking another look at the scenery to see if anything has changed, to my surprise, I notice a good deal of Null mana down here alongside Chaos and Atrophy, more than I saw when I was up on the surface, at least. Peeking infrequently from between the streaks of Atrophy and Chaos flowing within the water, it appears most often in areas devoid of, well, anything. The flattest sections of ground, the unmoving water above, Null mana seems to like it quiet, empty, and still, as opposed to the other Aspects, which build frames or latch onto things. It's fascinating to watch, though that probably has more to do with the complete lack of anything else interesting than my inherent scholarly inclinations.

It's been around five minutes now, during which time I've been avoiding distracting Slime from their "serious business", but when I notice a massive collection of knotted Chaos, Growth, and Matter mana come into view in the distance, I think it's best inform him of the development. It reminds me of the trees up on the surface, maybe we've reached the island?

"Hey Slime, I can see something big over that way," I gesture, "have we made it?" Feeling them roll to a smooth stop, they remain quiet, probably looking for themselves.

"Can not see anything. You are sure?" They don't sound skeptical per se, which is nice, so I bob up and down firmly inside their mass, before remembering to follow it up with a visible pulse of assertion.

"I'm sure. I have a Skill that helps me see Foundational mana Aspects, there's a huge knot of them over there, it stands out from the rest of the water like a sore thu- uhh, very easily.."

Slime is silent for a moment more, before settling further into the silt, nearly sandwiching me between the top and bottom of their membrane and brushing me with a swift current as they compress. "Useful. Good." Before I have a chance to preen at my first taste of praise in a hot minute, they immediately ruin my good mood by answering my question. "Nothing between us and fort. Is Predator."

"That thing is the Predator?!" I whip back to staring at the vague shape in disbelief, carefully 'eyeing' the humongous mass of mana floating a few meters off the lake bed. "It's the size of a jumbo jet!"

"What is 'jumbo jet?'" Slime's confusion clear- well, bright -as day. "Is another Predator?"

I have no idea how to explain the concept of a plane to a slime who's likely never seen a machine before, so I keep my explanation concise and to the point.

"That doesn't matter right now. What matters, is how we avoid becoming an appetiser- before you ask, it means something to nibble on -for this utterly and unfairly massive monster?"

Seemingly unperturbed by my frantic trembling, Slime just spins me around like a leaf tossed in the wind, probably hoping it'll have the same calming effect as earlier. Well, joke's on you, it does!

...

Wait, shit. Really? That easy? What have I become?

"Do not move. You may alert Predator," Slime ripples. Actually, now that my attention has been pulled away from the rather distressing presence in the distance, I can see that Slime hasn't been completely stationary since I alerted them. Their mass has flattened out and sunk into the silt like a stingray. If I didn't know where we were, I'd be hard pressed to pick us out from any of the myriad other ridges or inconsistencies in the lake bed.

"It can't see us like this, right?" I'm happy to trust Slime's judgment, they're the local after all, but having seen the plethora of sensory options available from adapting just one mutation, I can't say I'm wholly confident of our concealment. "Do you know how it sees?"

I'm careful to emphasise the 'perception' part of the word I'm trying to convey, to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings. I appear to have been effective, hearing their response. "Big says Predator senses movement. Can feel water move, even far away. We stay here, then move again when Predator is gone a long time. Big showed us."

So it can sense water currents, or has some kind of water-y airbender awareness? Must be pretty sensitive if it works in a lake this big. "Big must be pretty smart to have figured that out. What are they like?" Anything I can learn before meeting what sounds like the leader of this group will be useful, even if it's just so I know what to expect. And a distraction from the, again, massive monster, would be nice too. I guess.

Glowing softly with pride, Slime's membrane sparkles with something approaching awe. "Big is strongest slime. Smartest slime. Biggest slime. Found the fort. Led many slimes there, where we are safe." Now their softly swirling lights are peppered with something that isn't quite confusion, excitement is wrong too... wait, got it, I think it's wonder. "Slimes not strong. Many Predators, many Hunters. But around Big, slimes stronger. Smarter. Like Big."

"Woah..." I didn't expect such an impassioned response, this 'Big' guy must be a... a....

...shit. I have to say he's a 'big deal', don't I? I mean, it's right there. Cringing slightly, I can't see any way out of the loafer wearing, tucked-shirt level dad joke. Curse my flawless and indomitable sense of humour!

"Sounds like he's a... ahem... a pretty 'big deal'."

God, I'm an idiot.

My self flagellation is interrupted by a sudden shower of light coruscating across Slime, a more vibrant, full-bodied reaction than any I've seen them express so far. Their membrane trembles with the effort to remain still under the onslaught of merriment, the showering lights making it look like I'm underwater staring up at the dappled sunlight dancing on the surface.

"Hahahaha, ha-hahaa! Do not understand shape, but meaning!" Slime does their best, but they can't completely stifle their mirth, small clouds of silt rising into the water before veeery slowly drifting down once more. It's an almost painfully jarring disconnect from the tension of our situation moments before, piercing through the pall of potential perdition. "Funny!"

It slowly dawns on me that not only is Slime a fan of dry humour, they're also a dad joke appreciator. Seeds of the truest, most pure hope swell within me while I wait for the trembling to subside. "Do... Slime, do many others of our kind have a sense of humour like yours?"

I'm rapidly coming to appreciate that slimes are just more efficiently designed than pretty much any other organic creature I can think to name. For example, my new best friend here is able to respond to my question without stopping their giggling by clearing a patch of membrane, like erasing an Etch A Sketch. Using this little window, Slime lights up my day, literally. "Doesn't everyone?"

Well, I know why I was reborn as a slime now. Mr Attenborough, these truly are my people. Whatever the actual reason, I'm quite happy with this one. "Slime, I don't think I can express how excited I am to get to the fort now."

----------------------------------------

We end up waiting another ten minutes for the lake monster to move on. It's too far away for me to make out any details, barely more than a blur, but I'm quite happy to accept ignorance in the interests of safety for the moment. The rest of our brief journey is unremarkable, the only break in monotony coming when we reach the base of the central island. Climbing spurs of rock half buried beneath the silt, worn down by water and years, Slime carries us up the steep incline, rapidly leaving the soft lake bed behind in favour of thick stone crags and the occasional broad root.

Breaching the surface, I expect a declaration of arrival, attempting to hop out and look around, but I'm held back from leaving Slime's embrace. "Not yet. We have not arrived. Big very clear, not safe until we are inside." Oh, I mean, sure. There's always the possibility something could see us from the shoreline, but it seems a bit... no, they're this careful for a reason, Luke. You shouldn't be questioning their leader's judgement, especially when Slime respects them so much.

Waiting patiently for the larger slime to ferry the both of us up the length of a thick root that descends into the water, I take the time to look up at the canopy above.

"Uhh, Slime..."

Eyeing the treetop, I see the abundance of Growth and Matter that all life so far has been thick with, but that's not what has me concerned. No, the great big fuck-off toucan and its entourage of smaller avian fellows hopping from branch to branch and flying in and around the crown of the wooden skyscraper has me a tad nervous, though. "What are those?"

Without missing a beat Slime answers me with their trademark brevity slipping down to hug the bottom edge of a thick root, hiding us behind it's raised bulk.

"Predators."

Okay, yeah, I got that mate, but- you know what, never mind. "What's around here that isn't a deadly threat we need to avoid? Like, what monsters have you seen that aren't Predators?"

Slime is quiet for a time. An extended period. A long time.

"...I do not understand?"

....

"Right. I think that answers my question, thank you."

They give a pleased shimmer, all too happy to bear my thoroughly disillusioned self into a hole dug beneath the raised root while I put the quite probably killer-birds out of my mind. Rolling smoothly down a shallow, sloping tunnel of softly packed dirt, Slime comes to a stop in a small antechamber of sorts, the loose, dirt floor pushed around the edges of their body like a ball pressed into soft sand. Nudging me on with a sharp current, I push against their membrane and slip right through, the seal as snug as a bug in a rug.

Falling out with a 'plop', I look around the dirt room. It's pleasantly cool, the soft dirt floor, like a rug beneath my base, stretches five or so meters from curved wall to curved wall, and small roots poking out the roof giving the place a surprisingly cosy vibe.

I catch sight of another slime Slime's size- bloody hell, that's gonna get confusing -crawl over from their spot against the far wall, next to another tunnel which looks to continue further down. Slime crawls forward to meet them, flashing a greeting. The other slime reciprocates, their currents, which flow with a gentle, natural movement like water, giving me 'blue' vibes, like myself.

"You are back soon. Why?" I imagine they're a guard or sentry of some kind. There's no irritation colouring their communication, so I guess most slimes are concise like Slime. At least the tone and context comes across with what Slime referred to as the 'meaning', if I interpreted our conversations right.

Slime pokes out a small nubbin of an appendage in my direction, the first I've seen from an outside perspective. It's surprisingly endearing. "Found Baby. Is not from fort. Brought back, like Big said."

Rippling with surprise, there's a pause in the conversation. Oh, they must be looking at me! We don't have faces, so I couldn't tell. "Hi, my name is Luke. I heard from Slime that you don't do names? Apart from Big, they mentioned them." Dimming before I start to waffle on, I bob down. "Is it alright if I stay here? I don't know much about the Dungeon, or being a slime, and..." Don't hold back now, Luke! "...and being around others of my kind 'feels' right. Does that make sense?"

I await the assumed-to-be guard's response. Just because Slime brought me here doesn't necessarily mean I'll be welcomed, no matter what they say. I don't know whether they're just a good Samaritan or not, I don't know if the fort can even support me. I have no idea how many slimes there are here, but it can't be easy to feed a group of creatures with appetites like mine if they aren't hunting regularly, and Slime, one of those hunters, just turned around for the sole purpose of escorting me here.

The maybe-probably guard is blank for a moment, straining my nerves, before rippling something like encouragement mixed with that impression I'm unfamiliar with. I'll have to ask them about that. "Your meanings are complex, like Big. Yet you are Baby. Strange... but good." Bobbing in Slime's direction, the two boop membranes before Slime crawls back toward the tunnel leading up, the guard approaching me.

Wiggling a little nubbin once more, Slime flashes a goodbye, immediately setting out once more. "Am hunting now. Enjoy fort, will see you when returned."

"Wait!" I call after them, struggling to hop across the loose dirt floor. "Thank you for bringing me here Slime! I can't repay you right now, but I'll make it up to you, I promise!"

Halting just before the mouth of the tunnel, they glow in mild confusion, tinged with amused exasperation. "Luke uses strange meanings, do not understand. 'Pay'? 'make up'?" Before I have a chance to try and explain that I'm indebted to them, Slime disappears up the tunnel, none the wiser for having altered the course of my, so far brief, life.

Unsure what comes next, the other slime- I'll call them Guard for now -stops just shy of me, towering over my much smaller mass. Gently dipping forward, I accept the proffered boop, the sensation of membrane-to-membrane contact sitting somewhere between clasping hands and a half hug. Unexpectedly, it feels casual, like a handshake, but also more intimate?

How do slimes treat the concept of personal space, I wonder?

Light playing across Guard's broad surface, I break free of my curiosity before I miss something important. "Welcome to fort. Home to many slimes. I will take you through orientation now." Without further ado, they ford through the dirt, making a path over to the tunnel leading deeper.

"Orientation?" I query, keeping pace with their sedate pace despite my considerable size disadvantage. "What's that?" I've been through a few, moving schools a lot will do that, but I can't imagine what might be involved in this case.

At first, I think the pulsing flash on the side of their body facing me is a reply, but it's oddly wordless, just pure concepts. Then I actually take a moment to register what they're conveying, and I realise they're essentially gesturing for me to 'follow' and 'stay close'. So, we can communicate in pure vibes as well? I guess it's like using facial expression, or gesturing? But Slime used appendages before, maybe there's no hard and fast rule? Sidling up next to them, I feel like a duckling led along by their mother duck, half expecting a flock of other Baby Slimes to congregate out of nowhere.

Descending into the tunnel, I see a left hand bend in the shallow slope ahead, the soil packed firmly only a few meters in. "Big say orientation important. New slimes know what older slimes know, don't get confused." Coming up to the bend, I can see the tunnel wraps around as it continues down, corkscrewing into the earth. "This is fort. Slimes live here, safe from Predators. But only," oh wow, emphasis really stands out when communicating like this, that's bright, "because we are hidden. Must not leave fort unless still and quiet." At this, Guard projects a little nubbin and boops me again. I get the impression my hair was just ruffled, if I were still human. "We know is hard. Do not worry, many slimes here to play with."

As nice as the affection and care is, there's only so much my legally-an-adult self can stand. "It's alright, I have the Stealth skill. I was hiding in the bushes for a long time before I showed myself to Slime. The one who brought me here," I quickly add, in case that wasn't obvious.

"'Slime'?" They pulse in confusion, their progress slowing. "...oh, this is meaning you used earlier. You mean-"

Suddenly, a dense spot of kaleidoscopic light sparks to life, distinct from the general canvas of meanings covering their form. Seeing it, a startlingly vivid concept of Slime comes to mind, the unique patterns and motion of their currents highlighted, the patterns they form as distinguishing as facial features and a personalised tattoo rolled into one.

"Y-yeah, that's them," I confirm, feeling a little silly for giving them something so banal as a name. Somehow, I doubt remembering which slime I'm talking to, or about, is going to be an issue.