Trying my best to slip back into my slick, casual street act, I semi-aimlessly wander the village for the remainder of the afternoon and into the evening. Not sure what I’m looking for exactly, but at least I’m learning more about the layout of this wretched place. My routine has become going to the central stone circle, traipsing back out to the walls via the web of connecting trails, and then repeating the cycle down a different path.

  After the sun has long set, everything has been covered multiple times. I’ve located many more of these holes for men, but every single one is inconveniently covered and immovable by my tiny frame.

  Why don’t they leave any of these open? What are they afraid of? Another set of simple bars would be sufficient to keep the big, scary things out. Why also goblin-proof so many of the entrances to such a perfect place for our kind? Ridiculous and unfair. Unkind!

  The dungeon’s evening now fully in swing, many of the vendor stalls, according to appraisal, along the street have converted over into offering some kind of disgusting smelling food for the still roaming big ones. Most of those who gather look joyful as they commune and eat together, making impromptu dining areas of the haphazardly scattered tables and chairs near the stalls.

  More than a few of the bored, aimless ones are also loitering out here. Some enviously watch from an awkward distance with angry, jealous eyes. Others bravely approach the stalls and diners, but they’re all turned away exactly as the one who confronted the front man back at the stone center.

  Exhausted from my exploration, I resort once more to leaning up against a wall in my best impersonation of the lost ones and linger to watch. My performance of boredom nearly becoming truth, my attention thankfully engages with the discovery of another small one trying to hide themselves amongst the big ones.

  It’s on the other side of the trail near the vendors. A pointy face sticks itself out from an alley near a stall and sniffs at the air to thoroughly investigate. It appears to be waiting for something. Casually, I inch closer and closer until standing almost right next to it. Keeping my back towards it, my clever stalking goes unnoticed. I only risk occasional clandestine glances in its direction while pretending to fascinate over the various nearby diners.

  A vendor at a nearby stall leans over and opens a container lying on the ground, readying to resupply something up above. The patiently awaited trigger fully activated, the rancor rat charges out like lightning towards the universe’s gift of opportunity. With a flash, it’s in and out with some sort of treasure in its mouth, darting away back into the alley.

  “Cursed rats!” the vendor angrily shouts, futilely throwing something at the escaping rodent. “Didn’t Garvin say he found someone to take care of them?”

  I take off in a controlled sprint after the thief, bounding down the narrow, labyrinthian corridors. Catching up to the constantly hesitating, nervous rat is easy, but I maintain a distance so as not to make it worry. Yes, yes, return home rat. Return to our precious home.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  After another corner, we pop back out at the stone center. Without any further hesitation, the rat shoots into the open space, diving down into a long, open hole running along the side of the trails there.

  “Gyah!” I gasp, affording myself a brief, joyful celebration.

  Can’t unseal the holes for men, but the holes for rats are wide open! I pause for a moment to search the square, but apparently it completely empties at night. Eagerly scurrying over to join the rat, I manage to flatten myself just enough to enter. Once inside, I must drag myself along a narrow, slimy tunnel with my hands until eventually tumbling down to somewhere large enough to stand.

  I’m in! I’m back in! I’m home! Rushing around the underground twists and bends, I eventually hit the main tunnel. From there, it’s easy to return to my precious alcove after a brief detour to take up the spear I left behind.

  In all my previous exploration of the branches, somehow I never thought to look up. However, now it’s easy to see that countless little, open tunnels enter all around me from up above. Another treasure gifted by this wonderful place.

  My night’s new goal decided, I resolutely work to survey all the little tunnels down here. Many narrow to a point too small for me to enter. However, more than a few open up into similar rat holes running along the trails. They snake out everywhere throughout this village. This means I’m free to get in and out via any of these! They can’t trap me inside the dungeon anymore. No more wagons, no more giant ones. Only freedom to come and go as I please!

  Glorious songs, sing your praise to me!

  Lost in the revelation, I tirelessly continue darting in and out of all the new openings, plotting courses above ground between them. They must all become perfectly ingrained and natural so that in a moment’s notice I can flee. The big ones are almost completely absent at night up here, the fools, so it’s a perfect time to explore. It gives me free reign over their stupid village. I can go anywhere!

  Eventually the sun returns, but my energy doesn’t wane. Another hole, another option, another connecting path, another universal treasure. Every one that I learn here, I learn at all the other villages, after all. My global power grows! Even those towns and that big city might be similar if not also the same.

  The morning fully arrives, and I finally realize that I’m pushing my luck. More and more big ones are coming back out onto the open trails. Have to get back down and rest for the useless daylight hours. Tomorrow night I’ll continue gaining even more control over this place.

  “Eh? Child?” a booming voice suddenly calls out behind me.

  Turning to carefully glance out from under my floppy hood, I see the giant one standing nearby. Too fast to react, he again grabs the back of my neck and lifts me up into the air.

  “Such a gift! Saves me a trip with ya here.”

  Curling into my tight ball of cloak wrapped protection, I can’t see anything outside. All I can tell is that he’s carrying me like a bag as I bob up and down with his every step.

  “Got a port and fetch job this mornin’. Perfect for ya.”