In a dark meandering tunnel stalked a large figure, traveling down the passageway, searching and exploring the various routes. This being was in fact the Giant Mantis Queen that marched through the halls, leading a pair of goblins.

She had been ordered to explore the extensive tunnel network that housed the Maze’s core.

“Squiget, quit dawdling. You keep up with big mantis now.” A rough, high pitch voice sounded from behind the Mantis Queen.

Two goblins were following her in this trip, holding a torch, ink and parchments for recording and drawing maps of everything they found.

To be honest the goblins were the ones tasked with exploring and mapping the network, the Mantis Queen was technically just the escort, but she had taken the vanguard position in the small expedition.

“Meh, stop badgering me you leechie toad. All you’ve done so far is hang on to the back end of the big mantis, while I’ve been doing my job.” The goblin called Squiget responded harshly to his compatriot.

The Mantis Queen had to put up with their outbursts for the past several hours. Even with an intelligence that wasn’t at the level of a human she was contemplating just ripping their heads off and being done with it. Unfortunately, that would violate her Master’s orders and since she was currently unable to draw any maps, which was the whole point of this mission, she patiently suffered the two goblins bickering.

Since the Golden Thunder Tiger had the same mission of escorting goblins as they mapped a different section of the network the Mantis Queen felt a sense of loneliness. Separated from those she was familiar with, while traveling with a pair she found less than trustworthy. She wanted to complete this task so she can resume her post of silently guarding her master.

“Stop Big mantis, stop.” The goblin named Squiget yelled at the Mantis Queen in a shrill voice.

Turning around she found the diminutive creature some distance away scribbling on his partially made map. He stood in front of a small gap in the wall, which was shrouded in an impenetrable darkness that alluded to a larger space than a simple gap.

The Mantis Queen was mildly curious as to how she initially missed this, she moved closer to peer into the hidden space.

“Shine the light in there.” Squiget tried bossing his comrade who was holding the torch.

“Don’t order me around.” The other goblin retorted angrily, yet he did slowly inch his way towards the gap. His resolve bolstered by the fact that the Mantis Queen had already approached the gap.

With light now flooding into the space revealing a small circular room. It was empty except for various pieces of debris scattered on the floor, with faded markings on the walls, the gap was the only way in or out and it was to small for the Mantis Queen only a creature of the goblins stature or less could enter the room. The Mantis Queen vaguely recalled Mazia stating something about storage rooms for crystalized Quintessence and she presumed that this was its purpose.

Quickly losing interest the Mantis Queen continued down the hall, urging the goblins with her pace. Besides the goblin Squiget already marked this location on his crude map so they could return for further exploration.

Soon they resumed their previous state of affairs.

The Mantis Queen was growing tired of this tedious job, but it was something Sigard required to be done and she wanted her master’s praise. Master was her creator and she held absolute devotion to him. She will follow her master and carry out his wishes.

Even if Master was spending his time recently with that female werewolf.

For the past few days the Mantis Queen has felt ignored by her Master since he defeated the overgrown elk. First was the creation of that werewolf, where he spent most of the previous days with. He also spent a great amount of his time with the Core, with hand on it and eyes closed consulting the Core’s catalogue. Crafting new monsters, preparing for an expansion of his authority. Even Mazia had been busy picking out several female goblins her own inexplicable reasons. Granted she instinctively knew that Master was the proper ruler of the Maze of Beasts, and that her duty was to silently guard him as he reigned over his domain.

But that didn’t mean she didn’t desire some of her Master’s attention. The Golden Tiger would get head pats and the Mantis Queen was a bit envious, she wanted a few head pats as well. And now she was off alone with two annoyances, Master nowhere in sight.

The Mantis Queen pondered if there’s a way she could attain Master’s praise.

“Hey! We’re passing an odd thing.” The goblin, Squiget, yelled from several yards back while pointing at a small passageway that veered off from the one they were currently in.

Being distracted by her own concerns the Mantis Queen had inadvertently missed this particular location. Good thing Squiget called out to her, she would have just continued on not noticing at all. She quickly veered back to thoroughly explore this newly discovered hallway.

Prodding the goblin with the torch to march forward, all three of them went down the hall. The edges of the torches light progressively exposing the space within. Initially there wasn’t much, just another empty hall. Then rather suddenly the narrow hall expanded into a mostly empty room.

This room was a simple square area that was bare except bits of rubbish left on the floor. There was no indication as to what this room was, at least to the three monsters present, the only thing of interest to them was a continuation of the passageway on the other side of the room.

“Is it good enough?” The torch bearing goblin questioned out loud while glancing at the Mantis Queen, clearly wanting to head back.

She wanted to complete the mission her Master handed her, so in response to the goblin’s question she merely pushed him with her raptorial forearm. So with reluctance he resumed his advance, into the hall. Squiget could be spied from the periphery scribbling on the map as they left the room.

Silence hung in the air for several minutes as they progressed, the occasional crackle from the torch the only sound in small area. The light around them seemed weak and brittle compared to the darkness beyond, the lights an intrusion to the shadows domain.

Arriving at a sharp bend, quickly rounding the corner the trio were met with an opening. About a half dozen yards further on was a gateway that emptied out into a murky black swamp that stretched on beyond sight. Approaching the entrance they were hit with a moist putrid smell that would be overwhelmingly nauseating if it wasn’t for the fact that goblins are used to living in less than ideal locations and the Mantis Queen didn’t have the finest olfactory senses to begin with. The landscape of this swamp was just as dark as the tunnels they had just come from, the only source of illumination being a small clump of giant mushrooms were the portions between the stem and the bulb gave off an eerie glow.

Inspecting the swamps environment the Mantis Queen drew still waiting for something she instinctively knew was out there. A short flash of movement went by in the distance, she zeroed in on the spot. Then a beast skittered in front of one of the giant mushrooms, a giant beetle.

She inched forward, preparing to lunge. The beetle was dozens of meters away but the Mantis Queens instincts were kicking in, she wanted to hunt the creature, to kill it and to eat it. The intellect that resided within her began to reason that she could, in addition killing the insects, dominate over them and conquer this swamp for her Master. Then Master would praise her show her some affection as a reward.

“Wait. Wait!”

“Big mantis can’t leave us goblins.”

“Yes, yes. Big mantis can’t leave us to die. Big mantis needs to stay here with us, to guard us.”

Both goblins pleaded with the Mantis Queen once they noticed her movements, with the torch bearing goblin jumping at Squiget’s words to demand that she stay with them. They clearly didn’t want her charging off and leaving them alone in this swamp.

“Big mantis here to protect goblins, ensure us goblins are able to draw map and return safe with map.” Squiget continued to reason with her as calmly he could manage.

Squiget’s words did remind her of Master’s orders and they were correct. She reigned herself in, still desiring to go forth and conquer, but she controlled herself and withdrew back to the tunnel.

“We return now, okay Big mantis.” Squiget said while pointing back the way they came.

The Mantis Queen hesitated but complied, taking one last look at the gloomy swamp, still desiring to hunt her natural prey. Eventually she turned around and followed the two goblins back down the passageway.

They would work their way back to the Core room to report their findings.

Once arriving all three walked into the room to see not just Sigard and Mazia. The Golden Tiger and her pair of goblins were there, as well as a pack of hyenas. They were lined up before Sigard as if he was surveying them, while the Golden Tiger stood to the side with a proud look in her posture.

“Good job. Taking command of these hyenas and without needed my direction, you’re truly an intelligent and capable girl.” Sigard praised the Golden Tiger.

The Mantis Queen witnessed with shock as her master, Sigard, placed his hand on the Golden Tigers head to begin rubbing it while he had a slight smile.

He continued to praise her when the Golden Tiger licked his cheek.

Staring at the scene the Mantis Queen was envious, and furious at what had folded. She had wanted to ravage the beasts of that swamp, to hunt them, to bring them to heel and present them to her Master in the same way as the Golden Tiger was doing, but she had followed orders, at least as how the goblins interpreted them.

She glared at the two goblins, both of them blissfully unaware as she carefully considered ripping them limb from bloody limb.

The Mantis Queen stared back enviously at the Golden Tiger joyfully purring as Master continued his petting.