Slimantha’s black shoes pounded against the silvery steel of the floor as she gave chase. Before her, the fleeing crow cawed. Behind her, the footfalls of Samuel, Mimi, and Black rang out. The crow glanced back at Slimantha, its beady black eyes meeting her brown eyes. She drew closer to it, and it cawed again. It swerved to the left, swerved into a room.

She skidded to a halt, her long brown hair rustling with the sudden deceleration. Samuel skidded by her and tumbled to the floor. Her brown eyes went to him, and she smiled. She brought her right hand to her lips and gave a bit of a giggle. Beside her, Mimi came to a stop, the golden woman’s eyes going to the doorway the crow had fled through. Then Black skidded to a stop, the petite cat woman’s hands going to her black witch hat to keep it from falling.

Black turned to Samuel, her brown eyes going to his face. “You OK down there?” she said and then extended her right hand. “Here. Take my hand.” Her black cat tail swished behind her. Her eyes were still on Samuel’s face.

“Thanks,” Samuel said, taking Black’s right hand in his own right hand. He climbed back to his feet, Black helping him up. He smiled at the cat woman in the witch hat, and her feline tail gave another swish.

Slimantha looked away from Samuel and Black to the nearby doorway the crow had fled through. The room beyond it was dark with only some light from the hall filtering into it. Through the doorway, partially obscured by her own shadow, the crow stood facing her. Its beady black eyes were locked upon her. It cawed, and Slimantha stepped into the dark room, stepped closer to the crow. Samuel, Mimi, and Black entered into the room after her.

The crowed cawed yet again, and Slimantha froze. The slime summoner’s eyes widened. “I-I’m not sure I heard that quite right,” she said. “Mind saying that again?” The crow gave another caw, and she pouted. She placed her hands on her shapely hips and hinged forward, her brown eyes focusing intensely on the crow. “I will have you know having a big bust does not make someone fat, so stop calling me fat!” The crow gave yet another caw. This caw sounded rather mean spirited. She straightened up, her brown eyes flashing, and then she crossed her arms. “I am not a cow!”

“Is that crow really trash talking you?” Samuel said. His blue eyes went from Slimantha, to the crow, and then back to Slimantha.

“Yes.” Slimantha glanced back at Samuel. For a brief moment, her brown eyes met his blue eyes. Then her gaze went back to the crow. It cawed again. “It is being quite rude.” She lowered her arms and glanced at Samuel again. “Hold on for a moment. I have a crow to punch.” Her eyes went back to the crow, and she took a step toward it. It hopped back in response.

The lights flicked on, and Slimantha froze. Behind her, Samuel also froze, his right hand still on the light switch. There was not just one crow in the room. No, there was far from one crow in the room. The room was, to put it simply, packed full of crows. Slimantha, Samuel, Mimi, and Black all sweatdropped at the sight. A crow-fueled cackling filled the air.

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“This is,” Black blinked, “a lot of crows.” She blinked again. Behind her, her black cat tail swished. “Somehow, that may have been an understatement.” The crow-fueled cackling grew louder with a few caws mixed in.

The lights flickered. The crows hopped closer to Slimantha, who took a step back toward the doorway. One particular crow hopped out in front of the slime summoner and cawed.

“Seriously, stop calling me fat!” Slimantha said, her eyes fiery. “Having a big backside does not make someone fat!” She pouted and placed her hands on her hips again.

Mimi watched the exchange between Slimantha and the crow. Her golden eyes took on a dead look. She had the same curvy body type that Slimantha had. Her eyes drifted to the doorway and then to the ridiculous amount of crows. “I vote we run,” she said in monotone. The others looked at her and nodded. The four of them fled out of the room and down the hall. Needless to say, the murder of crows gave chase.

“Quick! In here!” Samuel said, gesturing to a doorway. He darted into the referenced doorway. So too did Slimantha, Mimi, and Black. With a swift motion, Samuel the Hero From Another World slammed the steel door shut. The clang of steel on steel rang through the air. “Y-You don’t think they heard that, do you?” A caw and then a bang sounded from beyond the door.

“Maybe slamming that door shut wasn’t the best way to lose them,” Slimantha said. Her brown eyes went from the steel door to Samuel. She then gave him a pleasant smile.

“Sorry for freaking out over being chased by a bunch of murderous crows,” Samuel said. He glanced at Slimantha, but another bang drew his attention back to the steel door.

“Looks like,” Slimantha looked at the steel door, “I have a murder of crows to punch.” She balled her right fist. “Anyone want to open the door for me.”

“How about,” Samuel looked at Slimantha, “we don’t let a bunch of murderous crows into this room? I think I’d much rather go with that plan.”

“Guys?” Black said. “How about we just use the other door instead of arguing rather or not to open that door?” The petite cat woman pointed at the back of the room where there was a second door. Mimi already stood beside that second door.

“Second door?” Slimantha said. Her brown eyes went to the door at the back of the steel room. “There is a second door.” She looked back at the first steel door. A bang came from beyond it. “I kind of like the punchy plan better.” The crossed her arms and puffed her cheeks out. “I guess the second-door plan is fine though.” She lowered her arms.

“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” Samuel said to Black. “Thank you for pointing out that door. I could almost kiss you right now.”

Black stiffened. Her black feline tail twitched behind her. “T-That isn’t necessary,” she said. She glanced away from Samuel before looking back at him. Her brown eyes met his blue eyes, and her tail gave another twitch. Her cheeks were slightly rosy. “However, if you really want to …” Her tail twitched yet again.

“Let’s go!” Mimi called out from the back of the room. “Hurry before the crows break in! Now is our chance to lose them!”