Day 39

Quiet. Far too quiet.

Haven't heard a peep from the monster bird.

It is already midday according to my internal clock, I'm making a few toys from the remnants of the turtle, I've used practically everything but I'm concerned about getting more. It took most of the morning to cobble together a third bone golem. I have no materials for more golems, if I don't get that iron.

I call golem number three 'Moulder' since it is guarding with 'Skully'. Moulder is at the river entrance, Skully the gate.

While I've been building I've been learning the language of the ape-like humanoids. So far I have been holding out various weapons that are generic and getting the name for the type; axe, sword, spear, etc. I also used that to learn a few numbers, so I can now count to ten. I have been writing the words down on the wall using charcoal from the fire from last night, so that I can learn them repeatedly to make it stick.

Fortunately as it seems like I'm still developing, my brain is still able to absorb languages at an accelerated rate. I'm fairly sure rat language is genetic, perhaps there are a few Rosetta stone-like genetic memories buried as well. Either way I'm catching on fairly quickly which has the girl clapping her hands every time I have a recap over the earlier words. I'm only a bit clumsy with the pronunciation.

I was innocently minding my own business crafting yet another knife when a shadow loomed at the doorway. At first I thought it was Niala but for some reason it just hovered there instead of aiming to kill through cuddles.

Turns out I had a gawker. A young male rat who seemed fascinated by my weapon.

“Well? What do you want? I'm busy, if you can't tell.” [Rick]

“Uhh... can I watch some more?” [boy Rat]

“You mean you want to watch me making weapons like this knife?” [Rick]

“Uh huh.” [boy Rat]

“Too bad, I'm done with that for now.” I glanced through my collection, only a few dozen to go and I can make the quota.

“Why do you do it?” [boy Rat]

“The weapons? Because they are useful, they may keep me alive. They certainly have helped hurt anything that I don't like.” I sigh. “Or if you mean all the gates and stuff... I do that keep alive. If it can't get in it can't eat me.”

“Um...” [boy Rat]

“What do you want now? I'm not planning to make anything else, God knows I don't have the resources left for much.” [Rick]

“What was that thing you just made?” [boy Rat]

“Huh? You mean the knife? This?” I held it up and he nodded. So naturally I explained the uses and purpose of a knife, from weapon to tool.

He then began to query every different weapon I had at hand. After that I explain the reasons and uses of the traps around town. He seems quite animated and looks at me differently.

I eventually get around to the golems which really I can't explain fully. I mean how do they actually work? Magic I suppose, but that isn't very logical. Same with the healing hugs and the other things we do. How does that really work? I can't really test it. All I can do is simple things like forage without the skills active. The results are what you'd expect though. I have searched an area repeatedly with my eyes only to see Mother fetch some high quality food item from that same place. So either the skills mess with our perception or the universe actually creates these things so that they are imperceptible to those with lacking skills.

Is it the maze itself or the world?

I can't really test that one either, without escaping the maze. However there does seem to be an outside judging from the forest room's roof. I saw a few shacks up on top of the crystal roof, on the outside. The question is, why live down here with the risks posed by the monsters?

I suppose it is the food supplies respawning? Possibly the respawning resources and monsters too. I could see a nation farming a region for rarities and magic, especially if it is a unique feature of the labyrinth itself rather than the world at large.

Food is probably the reason the rats are here, since they don't use anything more complex than a rock as a tool. Well perhaps not, because my mysterious gawker seems to want to borrow a knife.

Maybe the constant danger around here whittled away anyone with a backbone? To the point where using weapons means that you will die? I can see a kind of sense there, challenging a turtle or the spider would kill most people.

Monsters around here are just too deadly without something as potent as a golem backing a person up. I assume hat that isn't a constant, that there are places in the maze that have weaker monsters. I think the crypt was one. Shame it's cut off.

The real problem that has killed off all the armed rats is most likely lack of coordination. They move in small groups, they die when they run into something they can't handle, like that giant shrew. I'm sure that killed plenty of rats.

For now, lets just try to keep the family alive and together. Regional conquest and harvesting isn't something that will be available in a hurry. I need to turn the mentality of the rats on it's ear.

This little fellow with an interest in my gear, he might just be the pebble that starts the landslide.

I include him in my language training.

The slave girl is actually quite charmed by the little guy, since he's still being weaned he's a ball of fluff. A living stuffed animal basically. I'm getting a little jealous of her obvious favoritism.

Day 40

The big four zero.

I open the gates but no one is willing to go out, now that the big bird is moving. That isn't encouraging.

At least unlike the rest, my family has food supplies. I do pity the others but I can't really go foraging for food at this time.

Sigh.

I take Moulder and make him catch fish by hand in the river. The fish are quite bluntly: mutants. I have no idea what even half of those things were, but all of them went into hungry bellies quickly enough. I'm actually repulsed the rats could even stomach them. They were abominably ugly. A few even had human faces...

I suppose the nourishment skill is a common one for rats. I'm not sure if Niala's lucky or unlucky she didn't get it.

The language of the apelike humanoids is quickly becoming much easier to understand. I have maybe forty words of it clarified, I'm almost able to talk to the girl.

I managed to finish the weapon consignment, using the remnants of the iron armor.

My new little shadow seems to have watched my work again, the small rat lingering to learn how to speak a second language.

Niala is quite surprised to find the fur-ball present, alternating between teasing him and pampering him. I think she's reminded of our brothers.

Around dinner time we hear crashes in the distance; the bird is on the move. However it doesn't come here.

Day 41

Ominous rumbling every few hours. It really must be voracious it eats monsters at that pace.

Unable to sit still I try to teach the little rat how to use a spear.

I think he said his name is 'Foolhardy' which is pronounced as Tirmin. I can certainly see how he got that name, but I'd say it isn't a correct one. He's just clever enough to realize how great the danger is.

I also learn that the slave girl thinks I'm Tirmin's father and Niala's husband which is quite untrue, but I simply can't explain how yet. I do seem to understand the language better than I can speak it now.

We share a meal of berries. Even the little guy.

The slave girl seems to be losing her cool a little though. The stomping is getting to her. I almost don't recognize her sometimes. Then she smiles again and has me take her pulse. I don't get why she does this, I guess she thought it was some kind of custom? Damn, it is faster than ever.

Day 42

I wake up to the sounds of stomping golem feet and the crashing of the main gate.

Bone pieces spray down the passage as I race toward the ballistas, signaling Moulder to turn the one facing the wrong direction. Behind me Boney follows.

I send both golems at the bird as the siege weapon is aimed. The massive bird is a sight of terror. Broad hooked beak and powerful legs. It has clawed wings, stubby and strong. It is a ruddy red, with yellow highlights on a long crest. It is even bigger than I guessed, tall and slender but massive. Twice my golems. It is four stories tall. It has to duck in the passageway and barely slips under the metal bars of twisted gate.

As Moulder tries to grab the bird, avoiding the traps by my programming; the golem shatters, blown away by a killer beak.

Damn. Down to one.

The slave girl followed us out and stares terrified at the bird.

She screams only one thing as she scrambles back into our house. A single, frightful word.

Butcher.

I don't know how I know that word in her language but the undertones of instinctive understanding send chills down my spine.

The bird chortles a cry and strides toward us as I launch the massive bone bolt.

At the last second the bird stumbles and the bolt misses, clattering off the walls to one side as the bird regains it's balance. It almost fell into one of the pitfalls but managed to avoid that.

Dammit. This is really bad. It looks at me. I get the feeling it understood I nearly hurt it. Shit, shit, shit, shit, SHIT! It's smart too!

With a second chortle the bird leaps over the passageway, into the town. The only thing between it and us, Boney.

My new upgraded Boney, complete with turtle skull arm and the cleaver, taken from Skully's remains.

I may not be able to repair weapons, what I can do is merge them and add materials for additional modification.

Boney is twice the golem he used to be.

What we learned:

Damn bird puts a T-rex to shame.

Boney mark II, Activate! (Is that you Shenlong Gundam?!)

Things are about to get a whole lot worse.