Dear Diary,

Arby and Kelly are back on their floor. They were getting pretty good at not attacking everything that moved, which is nice. I’m not sure which two velociraptors are better as travel companions, them or Lex and Tim. Avi and I haven’t really discussed it yet, but we’ll have to before the cycle ends.

Anyways, they decided to attack a slime. I don’t know why. But they jumped onto the slime and sank in, dissolving pretty fast. I think they’ll never touch a slime again. I know I never wanted to touch a slime again after the first time I got dissolved to death.

So yeah, no more velociraptors. But that’s ok, since we’re pretty close to home. We’ll be back with our dracoraptors soon!

And we’ll be back to marble racing! I have a pretty big collection of marbles to sort through for the best ones, which is exciting. I love racing like two hundred marbles at once. The sound it makes is epic.

And, of course, I’ll be able to cook as much as I want! I’ll be back in my kitchen, with all my gadgets, and I won’t be in anyone’s way. Cooking is always fun, but cooking at home is relaxing. I really want to make like a ten-course meal that takes multiple days to prepare. Or at least one full day. Something that requires me to do nothing but cook all day long, and that takes lots of different techniques.

Or maybe one big thing. Like a giant pizza or an eighteen-layer cake. With each layer a different flavor.

I wonder if the triplets know how to cook. They’ve never mentioned it, but then I’ve never asked. And most of the time I knew them they were ants or mosquitoes, which can’t really cook.

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

I should ask. Maybe they’ll join me!

Goodnight, Dungeon!

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Avi woke up with Nikki’s arm around him.

This wasn’t the first time that’d happened. Nikki moved around a lot in her sleep, and 99 times out of 100 sleep-snuggled something. Usually one of the velociraptors or a party member, but anything nearby was at risk.

The rest of the party was stirring; the dungeon was going from “night” to “day”. Which only meant more light came from the ceiling. Avi had tried to find other differences, and failed.

Nikki, starting to wake up, sighed. Her breath tickled the back of Avi’s neck, making his hair stand on end.

“Erm, Nikki?” He tried removing her arm.

She moved her hand onto his chest, pulling him closer against her. “Five more minutes…”

Avi, feeling his face burn, shifted into fetal position. “C- could, erm, pleaseletgo.”

“Mmmmmno,” she said, her fingers slowly curling.

Avi felt his brain short out.

“Hey Nikki!” Paola called. “Is this rhubarb?”

There was a delay of a few seconds, then Nikki sat bolt upright. “Rhubarb?” She scrambled to her feet, running to see what plant Paola had found.

Avi stayed in fetal position, waiting for his heart rate to slow down.

Peter knelt down next to him, grinning. “You ok there?”

“Fine,” Avi squeaked.

“Need help getting up?”

“No. Thank you.”

Peter gave Avi a friendly pat on the shoulder, still grinning. “If you need any help… or advice… let me know.”

Avi felt his face turn red again. “Th- thanks.”