Somehow, the web wasn’t freaking gone.

  A soft glimmer caught the corner of my eye as I studied the path in front of me. There had to be a way to cross the web without getting caught.

  A crawler touched the edge of my radar, then didn’t move.

  I finally spotted it at the edges of the web near the very top edge of the archway.

  [Crystal Crawler, Density, Level 75, Prey, Bland.]

  I needed to get to the other side, and the crawler just wasn’t worth the fight, if I could help it.

  “Yo, crawler. If you let me pass, we don’t need to fight. I already killed the other two.” I peeked into my inventory and snatched out more of the hare meat. Then I tossed it toward that edge of the web. It caught pulling the web taunt, highlighting the trappy area.

  The crawler disappeared from view for a second, then reappeared next to the meat. Two of its legs yanked on it before it rapidly crawled away. The web broke behind it, leaving a gapping hole that slowly grew larger as the threads twisted around other threads.

  “Bribery works pretty well in dungeons… who knew?” I said to no one in particular. This was the second time I’d bribed someone and it’d worked.

  I carefully slid between the gaps in the web, making sure not to touch any of the glimmering stuff. Within a few feet, everything vanished behind me.

  [You have gained experience.]

  [You are entering a safe area. If you instigate a fight, you will be ported randomly back into the shard Labyrinth.]

  A large wooden door appeared in front of me, and I pushed it open. It swung silently, and I stepped forward. In front of me, an entryway appeared along with an Elder Azura folk behind a counter.

  “Oh, someone new?” she said with a grin. “You look like you need a soak and some rest.”

  “A soak would be amazing.” Thoughts of hot water and being clean made me smile.

  “Since you are new, let me give you a rundown. This safe area is the same across the level 80 areas of the dungeon. So, you’ll see plenty of people inside from various parts of the dungeon. We have a soaking pool, a small kitchen with someone cooking, and bunk beds.”

  She studied me for a moment. “We also have a small marketplace where you can trade goods, and sometimes a healer is in attendance.”

  “What does everything cost?”

  “Nothing, services in the safe area are free. The marketplace is the only exception.”

  “Then who pays for all of this?”

  Her eyebrows drew together strangely, and she leaned closer to me. It made it easier to notice a swirling blue pattern in a slightly darker color on her skin.

  “This is just like the academy; no one pays for anything. Everyone works together to help our people. The strong protect the weak, and the weak help the strong. It's a community.” Pity crossed her face. “What world do you come from that isn’t this way?”

  I paused and thought about my answer. “One that, thankfully, I can’t go back to. I appreciate your help. I prefer this style of community.”

  Earth hadn’t entered my thoughts in a long time. Little things, sure, like the barbecue stories from my dad, but as a place with people and cities and governments, it really hadn’t crossed my mind in a while.

  I didn’t think of it as home either.

  When we’d joined the mission, we all knew we’d never go back. Lenna's world and Lakeside Landing were my home, now. And, come to that, this world of Kabi’s had also become a home, of sorts. Still, Lakeside Landing was where my family and the other people I cared about were. If they left, maybe that’d change.

  I pushed those thoughts aside as I entered the doorway beside the counter.

  Laughter, conversation, and background noise took over.

  So many people.

  Almost everyone held weapons, wore armor, and sat at large wooden tables stretching across the room.

  It reminded me of the workshop area in the larger marketplace near the entrance to the dungeon, with doors leading off the space, along with two bigger archways.

  A few people glanced in our direction, but then went back to the groups they chatted with.

  Strange still slept in his sling. Soft snores came from the cloth.

  I headed in the direction of the other archways. Peeking in the first, I discovered a kitchen with a few different people cooking in large pots and roasting meat. Empty bowls covered a serving station.

  The next opening had another gathering space, with people sitting on various blankets with items in front of them. On the other side of the room stood another archway.

  I entered slowly, glancing at various equipment items.

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  [Obsidian Daggers.]

  [Silk Pants.]

  [Leather bag.]

  I didn’t pause at any of them, though I gave nods to a few people. A few worked on projects, not registering me passing by.

  Muggy air came from the archway making me smile as I entered.

  An attendant stood next to a counter.

  “Would you like to take a soak?” he asked. “We can store your items and provide a cleaning service for a fee.”

  “I’d love a soak, but I don’t need to store anything. Is there an area to clean off before getting in the spring?”

  “Not for this spring,” he said with a nod. “The current moves quicker than the one above. It's less a pool, and more a hot river. We recommend folks keep to the edges where there is seating. You can slip in from anywhere.”

  His lips narrowed, then continued. “Don’t cross the center. Given how small you are, the current might take you away.”

  “Got it.” I spotted an empty area off to the left and headed in that direction. It didn’t take long for me to toss my clothes, boots, and cloak into my inventory.

  Strange woke up as I undressed.

  “Hey, I’m going to soak in the water. Do you want to rest on my shoulder?”

  He peered at the water, then back at me, motioning for me to put him on the ground.

  I slid into the hot water, tucking my feet underneath me so my head remained above the surface.

  It was hot.

  Not too hot, but still really warm.

  Strange cocked his head to one side, then leaped for my shoulder. He landed with his feet and tail in the water, but then his tail circled about my neck.

  I leaned back against the rock behind me, which wasn’t as hot.

  His head stuck out of the water, resting near my ear. He purred at the temperature.

  “Hot springs are amazing,” I replied.

  “Warm…”

  I chuckled.

  As much as I wanted to linger, I only took ten minutes of just enjoying the water. After that, I made sure to rub any dirt off my skin and shoulders. The necklace of crystal remained around my neck, and that also got clean of any dried sweat from being under my clothes.

  After warning Strange, who jumped out. I ducked under the water, letting my hair get wet. The braids in my hair stayed put. Once I felt clean, I got out and redressed.

  This time, I felt eyes on me as Strange led the way toward the exit.

  “Are you the one freeing people from collars?” The question hung in the quiet air, and I turned about to see who’d spoken.

  A rather large Azura folk stepped closer, along with three others. All of them were much taller than I, and built wide. Much wider than Kabi. They wore thick leather armor and had dangerous-looking weapons at their sides.

  “I have helped the Forest and Water tribe free people from collars. Right now, I’m doing a run to the boss so we can move around more easily to places where we are needed.”

  “Figured as much.” The massive guy nodded. “We are heading into the shards, if you haven’t cleared that area yet. It’d be an honor for you to join us.”

  Strange chirped from near my feet.

  “The little one as well.”

  I smiled. “We just cleared that area. The Crystal crawlers suck, but it wasn’t bad overall.”

  “Ah, our loss.”

  One of the guys behind him spoke up. “You're gonna have a variety of choices for your next path. Good luck with wherever you end up.”

  “Thanks, same to you.”

  I smiled to myself, proud of the progress we’d made within the dungeon. It wouldn’t be long until everyone in our group had better access to the rest of the world.

  Back in the marketplace I stopped at the place selling bags.

  [Jollo, Leatherworker, Level 88, Prey.]

  He glanced up when I paused.

  “Are you interested in any of my bags?” He motioned to the ones in front of him.

  I held up the cloak that I had been using as a sling. “I need something to carry my friend in.”

  Strange pouted at my words.

  “Just for when you're tired. My cloak needs to be a cloak again.”

  Finally, the little guy nodded.

  Jollo glanced at him and the bags he had. He frowned, then pulled something out of storage. It looked like a fanny pack for my waist.

  “Would this work?”

  I tried it on, but the belt was too big. I held it in place as Strange climbed into the pouch. I tucked the flap that hung over the top into the pouch, and it fit him. He could even curl up inside in a small ball.

  “I can fix the belt.”

  In a fight, it’d get in my way, but a lot less than the cloak. I could vanish it into my inventory when a fight started.

  “Would you take these in trade?” I pulled out the Echo Bat wings I’d harvested earlier.

  His eyes lit up. “That is too much for this pouch.”

  “Not for me it isn’t.” I set them on his blanket and he stood up.

  It didn’t take him long to shorten the belt and do something that made it fit better on my hip. He adjusted it so it wasn’t to my side, but slightly in front.

  It didn’t feel like I was carrying anything at all. Not to mention, it didn’t mess with how my pants sat on my waist, and was really very comfortable overall.

  “Perfect. Thank you for this.”

  “Thank you for the good work you are doing to free our lands.”

  I jerked back in surprise.

  “I’ve never seen someone looking like you, but the rumors about what you are doing have spread to our people.”

  “I guess I do stand out a little.”

  “Just a little.” He chuckled and flashed bright white teeth. “The same goes for the green one like you as well. Her friend is bigger, though.”

  “You saw Lenna? Recently?”

  “It was a day ago. I don’t think she remains in the rest area. You can check with the attendant at the front. They keep notes and take messages from those passing through.”

  I bowed my head in his direction, even though he stood taller than I.

  “Thank you again.”

  Then I headed back to the main room.

  “Food?” asked Strange.

  “Yes, food then rest.”

  The spicy stew with meat and veggies provided a good variety of tastes. After that, we picked a room, though each had three bunk beds. One against each wall. They were meant for a party, but it was all they had.

  I chose the bed to the left on the lower level. Given they were made for people of Kabi’s size, it was giant.

  As soon as I closed my eyes, I was out.

  Strange woke me up as he spoke with someone else.

  The presence felt familiar.

  I sat upright as I recognized Dengu lying on the bunk across from me, with Strange next to him.

  [Dengu, Bonded Raptor, Sharp Talons, Level 68, Friend.]

  “Alpha.”

  “Dengu!” I rubbed my eyes, but I couldn’t feel Lenna anywhere. “You guys are still here. Congrats on the growth.”

  Somehow, Dengu had added almost ten levels in the time we’d been apart. That was faster than me, but not as much as Strange.

  The door creaked open.

  [Lenna de La Dengu, Pathfinder, Arcane Arrow, Level 72, Friend.]

  “I wondered when you’d wake. We need to talk,” she said. It sounded important.