Peacock’s tongue lolled out of the side of his mouth, numb and worthless.

He frowned at the tip of his claw he’d just put into his mouth. A clumpy, greenish-brown paste covered it.

Damn it.

Of course, M and M would use a hybrid alchemy system. What better way to trick new players?

When he’d mushed the brown puffball into some light-green moss, Aisha had unlocked the Alchemy skill and informed him the mixture had healing properties. It wasn’t until it touched his tongue that Aisha informed him of its paralytic properties as well. It was certainly better than raging poison and seemed restricted to the flesh it touched. Still, not a great way to start.

Peacock backed away from the large, paste-covered rock he’d used as a pestle with a snort. He hadn’t thought about ways of disposing of bad mixes. Now that he had a heavy rock covered in paralytic paste sitting next to his sleeping spot, the whole thing seemed like a terrible idea.

A shadow flickered past the edge of his vision. Peacock spun, all senses on high alert. This part of the cave had been empty, he’d made extra sure of it. But he hadn’t explored the whole thing yet. Anything could live deeper within.

There wasn’t anything around.

Maybe my eyes are playing tricks. Hell, maybe that mix has hallucinogenic properties, too. Wouldn’t that be fun?

“Wha’d you make?”

Peacock whirled toward the unknown voice, his pulse hammering in his ears, and attacked.

“Whoa! Easy there, you almost got me!”

Peacock hissed and lunged at the voice again. He couldn’t see anything, but someone was there. Someone stealthed, in his new home. Peacock roared.

“Hey, I’m not here to fight, dragon! Not to mention, you don’t have anything to steal….”

Peacock spun, stretching his tail out and using it to sweep across the cave floor. He hit something, followed by an oomph. A small form flickered into being.

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He straddled the intruder in an instant, his paralyzed tongue hanging down on to the creature’s face. The creature’s small, human, and very child-like face. Peacock hesitated.

The intruder slipped out from under Peacock, darting toward the cave exit.

Peacock spun again. He caught the intruder in the legs, sending him rolling across the rock covered in paralytic goop.

The kid flopped onto the ground with a grunt and went still.

Whoever the kid was, Peacock wouldn’t let him run off and tell others where he was.

“What are you doing here?” Peacock demanded or tried to. With his tongue flopping around, more spit than words came out.

Now that his quarry wasn’t moving, he had a clear view of the kid’s well-crafted leather armor, sheathed double daggers, and rather bulky backpack. The kid’s limbs stuck out at odd angles, limp and paralyzed. Peacock shook his head. Of course, the intruder couldn’t answer. A taste of the goop had rendered his tongue useless. The poor sod had it smeared across nearly every inch of him. Who knew how long it would be before the kid could twitch, let alone speak? At least the lack of vanishing meant the paralytic paste wasn’t fatal, even at large doses.

Peacock cocked his head and poked at the kid. He’d been so focused on finding healing items, he hadn’t thought about offensive concoctions. A paralytic poison effective on touch could be quite useful, especially on curious intruders.

He hooked a claw into the backpack and tugged. The kid’s gear made it clear he wasn’t a denizen of the cave. Some Rebirth from the city out exploring, no doubt.

The backpack stuck to the intruder like a second skin, lifting the kid off the floor as Peacock picked it up. The kid’s face was round and boyish, with big brown eyes and short, dark hair that stuck out in spikes. Every part of his body was round and short, giving him the appearance of a five-year-old. When he’d spoken, his voice had been equally child-like, but what he’d said had seemed a bit too articulate for a young child. But not a small race.

Peacock lowered the Rebirth back to the ground. He looked terribly uncomfortable. Peacock grimaced and adjusted the Rebirth’s arms and legs into more natural positions.

Small races were in most fantasy games. Gnomes, Dwarves, Halflings and such. Peacock definitely preferred being large and powerful, but he had no qualms with others playing different things. Looking at the Rebirth paralyzed on his floor, however, he had to admit the cute kid visage made Peacock not want to hurt him, intruder or not.

Still, letting him just get up and walk out wasn’t a great idea, either. Peacock dipped his claws into what remained of the paralytic paste and sat back on his haunches. Maybe it was the chance at a conversation, or the fact this was the first time he’d been in a position of power over another Rebirth, but Peacock wanted to know why the little guy had come into the cave. Peacock also wanted to know why he’d called out. Maybe he wasn’t a threat. If he was, well, a quick, poison-tipped swipe would put an end to that.