Ingestion 1.6.7.4_Poisonous Fox

The tunnels continued seemingly forever. They were near uniform in texture, in diameter, but they twisted in direction.

We had passed the t-junction and were heading deeper into the subterranean complex, though perhaps the term ‘complex’ implies a level technological sophistication which was absent. What was present, was a seemingly unending series of tunnels and branches carved through the dirt. If we had found our ways into an ant-farm, I would not be unsurprised. In fact, that analogy, I felt, was rather fitting.

I had no clue where we were headed.

On one hand, I could follow the strongest mucary scent and possibly reach the surface.

On the other hand, following that scent might also run me face first into a dead-end. Worst case scenario would be crossing paths with an infested, with Muleater trapping me from behind.

The decision, when phrased like that, should have been simple: avoid the infested. However, in reality it was not so simple. We wanted to extricate ourselves from the tunnels first and foremost. So, when we reached the second forking path after the t-junction, once more I had to make a decision.

One direction smelled strongly of the infested. The other direction, the idling clicking of high tension tendrils, of possible mandibles, a chattering susurrous that informed me of their location; I knew they were waiting, not too far from the fork, but why there were, I could only assume.

Naturally, I chose the direction away from the idling plant zombies.

Unnaturally, this continued happening.

Once could be a coincidence, but thrice? No.

“They’re herding us,” I said, relaying these thoughts to Muleater as we continued.

“Gods take the bastards! You led us into a trap?” Muleater swore, then scolded me. As though she had never consented to entering the tunnels to find her swords and supplies. It had practically been her idea, I inwardly seethed.

“You wanna lead?” I asked brusquely, borrowing the humans’ slang to help convey both my immediacy and irritation.

“No,” she glowered. “But I can’t hear shit. You sure they’re actually there?” She asked.

While the clicking was faint, almost inaudible, once I identified the sound I could hardly hear anything else. More worrisome, I failed to pick up any intent from their scent. I was blind to their motives, and I worried what Emboru would do when they caught me.

“Oh, they’re there,” I said plainly. If she chose to ignore what was plain as day, then that was on her. I knew she had some enhanced senses though. She must. How had she not noticed the susurrous clicking?

Thankfully, she decided to listen to me.

“Shit,” she swore crudely. After a pause, she grunted, “May as well see where the bastards are leading us. Just be ready to spring a trap. So long as there’s space, we can fight. Got it?”

I understood what she wanted, but I doubted conditions would be so conducive. “What if there isn’t space?” I asked. “What if they lead us to another prison? Or worse?”

She spat. “Then it is what it is. Do your best. It’s both our hides on the line.”

I guessed that was one way to look at it.

We continued onward, deeper into the tunnel network, until I had lost all sense of direction.

I considered turning us around, I really did. But either I had begun experiencing auditory hallucinations, or the clicking was behind us as well.

Coming closer. Coming for us. Approaching.

It was almost maddening. Except… I reminded myself that I was somewhat allied with them. Except, I was unsure if that alliance was formalized, and if escape attempts fell within the expected terms.

I was somewhat nervous.

The tunnels began to widen.

The scent shifted, from one of labor, to one of perplexity. If I were to make a comparison of the feelings the scents inspired, it would be from one of manual humdrudgery to one of scholastic pursuits.

It was notable.

It was growing in intensity.

“There’s something ahead of us,” I whispered in the most hushed voice I could muster.

“What is? The trap?” Muleater asked.

“Don’t know, but maybe?”

“Should I take the lead then?” Muleater asked. “Does it open up ahead? Crown, I hope so.”

I was still blind in the tunnels, but if the trend continued… I said, “Maybe. But not yet.”

She considered it a bit, before stating, “There’s not enough room for me to get past you.”

She was right. I would need to practically embed myself within the walls to make enough room for her to pass. And I was unsure if a fight was what waited for us, anyways, even if it were possible.

“Want me to scout ahead?” I asked.

“You up for it?” Muleater asked. Then, she seemed to realize something else. “Wait. How do I know you won’t run off?”

“Run where?” I scoffed.

“Crown loves me if I know,” she said. “Just… I’m blind down here.”

“Look,” I said in the most conciliatory tone I could take, “You know I’m not a fighter. If a fights ahead of us, you know I’ll come back for you.”

“Yeah, that’s true. But what if it’s not a fight. If you run or hide?” She shuddered, not finishing her thought.

I sighed. It seemed that this conversation was repeating itself, over and over again. And I could hardly blame someone for distrusting me. Mother knows I would too. So I could understand, I could emphasize. Not that I liked it.

“You want a guarantee then?” I asked. I was skeptical that I could give anything she agreed with, but I offered all the same.

“Maybe?” She said thoughtfully. Likely, she considered all of the things that would never work. What would I even give? I had nothing, nothing except my word. Finally, she voiced, “No. But if you cross me, you’ll regret it. I’m your only ticket outta here, unless you plan on going feral.”

“Got it. No, I won’t betray you. I’m a city girl, through and through…” I said, perhaps revealing more than I should have. But the last thing I wanted was for her to make a scene and draw undue attention because of her doubts.

We had to keep moving.

If she was to be found out, it would be from my doing, and not random chance.

“Then go,” she finally decided. “Be back quick. Or else…”

I tried not to think of all the ways she could ruin this as I crept forward, leaving Muleater behind, and taking care that each step landed surely and quietly.

Stealth I (5/9) +1

Soon, the tunnel was large enough for me to crouch. I continued creeping forward.

I could still hear Muleater breathing from where I left her. How I ever thought that we could avoid detection, I would never know. Because even while I was ten feet away, in a pitch black tunnel, I still knew exactly where she was.

The tunnel turned, then turned upwards, and soon I found myself approaching a dimly lit space.

It was bright enough that I could now see my hand in front of my face.

I heard a shuffling. What sounded like papers. If not for the earthen walls, and the subterranean nature of the place, I would almost say it sounded like I approached someone’s office. Which was concerning, because I had a feeling that there was only a single creature among the mucary that would bother having an office. So either this was that creature, or there was another party of interest. And unknown parties of interest were always dangerous. I needed to find out more.

I kept going. Coming around the final corner, I found the space, the library-like office.

It was as large as the storeroom had been, but the ceilings were much higher, maybe capping at above ten feet. The floor was pressed earth, the ceiling was pressed earth, and I knew that this little pocket of space should in no way be structurally stable, as there were no vertical supports that I could see. Unless the bookshelves counted.

And there were a substantial number of bookshelves. They were made of dried and compressed vines, and they were filled with tomes, scrolls, and what I could only consider to be artificed knick-knacks.

Some of it must have been valuable.

The room, or rather the study, was lit by a single lamp towards the center, where a table stood to about my clavicle.

Only a single creature could find such a table comfortable without a stool, and only a single creature could require such a spacious ceiling to stand without crouching. But if that creature were here, then there must be a second exit, one large enough for them to traverse. And I knew that creature could somehow reach this study, because they were standing at the table with their tulip-like heads tilted over the table, where they were examining a flattened scroll, which might have been a map.

Emboru was here, and they had yet to notice me, or if they had noticed my arrival, then they had yet to show it.

Their presence created something of a problem. Because while I was confident that I could sneak around, especially given the spacious yet crowded room, I knew that Muleater would never manage. She would be found out in an instant.

To make matters more interesting, near Emboru, on the table, there was another set of items. Items that I deeply cared for: One of them, the polished chest with the grimoire that could return me to a human state. Two, my satchel.

Without a doubt, I had been funneled here for a reason.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

But what was that reason? What should I do to avoid causing offense? Should I prove my skills by absconding with the goods out from under their nose? Should I prove my loyalty to the mucary by selling Muleater out? Or was this a test of character, to see if I followed through with Muleater. Though, why would they test my loyalty to their enemies, I could not fathom.

Divining Emboru’s motive seemed impossible.

But what I did know was that the rest of my gear was right there on the table. That a grimoire that could potentially return me to a human, was right there on that table. Nearly on autopilot, as an automaton trained from infanthood to steal and thieve, I crept forward, silently, keeping a series of shelves between Emboru and I.

Ten feet from my objective.

Then five.

I needed to hurry if I were to return to Muleater before she did something stupid.

I could always use her as a distraction though, when she inevitably acts out or gets discovered.

I was now near enough to the table that I could dart in and acquire my bag. But I wanted that grimoire containing chest too, and it was big enough, awkward enough, that I would need a bit more time to abscond with it. At least if I wished to do so silently. Which I did.

While I took seconds to ponder, I saw the map that Emboru studied on the table. It seemed to be one of the world, or at least the continent. But she focused on the far western corner of it, where colorful script spelled “Treasured Sands.” Of course I failed to recognize the location, but the rainbow hued dunes were artfully drawn.

After scanning my surroundings, I was still uncertain on what to do.

Indecision leads to death! What was my mission?

But it was not a simple extraction. There were too many variables to consider. This went beyond what I was practiced with. Were I uncouth, I might have pulled my hair in frustration.

Did I even want my satchel? It likely still contained the egg, the tools I had stolen, and it would likely make my life easier, or at least richer. But if I took it with me to the human encampment, there was a chance the humans would confiscate my goods. It was not an impossible that was impossible to overcome, afterall, I could hide the goods and retrieve them later. It would not have been my first smuggling.

Though there was no guarantee the smuggling would succeed. I would need to have the opportunity to retrieve the goods after, while avoiding monitoring. And from my previous experiences traveling with humans… I shuddered at the de-humanizing experience.

Which brought up another concern.

Did I even want to travel with Muleater to the human encampment?

They would treat me as subhuman property at best. Why did I even want to travel with Muleater?

Maybe she would make a suitable sacrifice to the grimoire’s ritual?

No, I resisted that idea. That was a fate Muleater did not deserve. And besides, I had been leveraging my relationship with her quite nicely. I was certain it would pay dividends soon.

So, I once again reaffirmed my decision to continue traveling with the humans.

But then, the biggest, most glaring issue: I had literally been funneled here, where Emboru was, where my satchel was, where the grimoire was.

In no imaginable or believable way was this encounter unorchestrated.

I made my decision, and stood, brushing myself off.

I caught the scent of pleased amusement.

Emboru asked. In reality, they communicated several concurrent scents carried at once. I had improved in parsing their version of speech, though it still remained difficult.

“Why am I here?” I asked in a low voice, worried that Muleater would somehow hear me, revealing my potential treachery.

Emboru seemed even more amused than before.

“But… but why are you letting us? I don’t understand.”

After a pause, they elaborated somewhat.

That was not foreboding at all.

I had spent a lot of time trying to figure out their angle, and I thought I had a fairly good idea on what they were after.

“You want me to ingratiate myself with the humans, beginning with Muleater as she is something of an authority figure in Southbridge. From there, I should look for signs of a captive mucary, or rather, your sibling…”

I took that to mean that I had guessed successfully. However, this was my chance to learn more, to fill out my model for Emboru and the mucary.

“But I have questions,” I said, tentatively, worried how they would respond.

I almost breathed in relief. But instead, I pushed forward.

“How will I get paid for this?” I asked. Not only was this pertinent, but considering how they responded would help me better understand them.

I snorted.

“I can’t just walk out with them.”

“No…” I said, before sighing. This was far from ideal, and would rely on some measure of trust for these alien creatures. “The humans will take them if they see, and I’m not sure I’ll have the ability to smuggle them back. Not with Muleater, at least. The last time I traveled with humans, it was in a cage.”

Was I still undergoing a test? Or were they just saying that? If it was the former, then what happened if I failed the test? I decided to voice more of my thoughts.

“I had other concerns as well. The grimoire will transform me into a human. But if that were the case, then I would lose all the goodwill I have already built with them, and it would be as though I were a stranger.”

“I could change back and forth then?”

“Another concern. My arm.” I waved my stump. “I can’t just regrow it without raising concerns. The more I think about this, the more the job fails to make sense. Either it was poorly assembled, or there is something significant that I’m missing.”

I exhaled heavily. “That’s the end of the test then?” I asked to confirm. “You’ll tell me what you’re planning?”