Jacob sat down by the fire and warmed himself. In the dark labyrinth it was impossible to tell if it was day or night. But it felt late and he was tired. After fighting their way through hordes of goblins, giant rats and gnolls, the group decided to rest and set up camp.
Jacob watched the animal roasting on a spit above the fire. It looked a little like a chicken, but he couldn't be sure what it actually was. Nothing in this dungeon seemed to look even remotely normal. He really didn't care. The cooking meat smelled good and as long as it didn't make them sick it was fine by him.
Martha was sharpening her sword for what felt like the thousandth time. It was new, acquired from the last group of monsters that tried to attack them as they ventured deeper into the dungeon. She looked at it with pride. She was pleased with her new toy, eager to try it out. Martha was becoming quite skilled with the sword and Jacob had to admit he was glad to have her by his side.
Stewart was looking through the bags of loot the monsters had left behind, sorting through their possessions for anything of value. Jacob felt a little uncomfortable watching him. It was almost like watching a vulture pick over the remains of the dead. But he had to admit that it had yielded results. The 'chicken' they were about to enjoy had been one of Stewart's finds. Stewart's crossbow sat beside him, carelessly tossed aside. His skill with the crossbow left a lot to be desired. Not only did he miss more often than he hit, Stewart almost hit members of his own party in the last scuffle. Jacob suspected it was because he stayed so far away from the battle, choosing to hide in the back away from the throng on animals and men. Jacob hesitated to call him a coward, but he didn't quite trust him to guard his back.
Jacob himself chose to use a club or bo. Even though his opponents were animals - and possibly not even real - it still seemed wrong to kill them. Jacob preferred to just subdue his enemies, knocking them unconscious and moving onto the next opponent. No one had yet complained about his combat methods, although Martha did occasionally give him a disdainful look.
And then there was Caroline. She was probably the biggest reason Jacob chose not to kill. What if the other monsters were just innocent people like her, transformed into animals and forced to fight? Did that make them all murderers?
Caroline sat silently next to the fire, staring at the her clawed hands. She needed no weapons - those claws were lethal! It had taken a while, but after the other monsters threatened her life, she had no choice but to fight back. And fight she did - it was like watching a ferocious animal attack its prey. It was unnerving how she could flip between a subservient maid who loved to cook and clean for the group to a wild beast eager to rip apart its enemies.
"How are you doing over there, Caroline?" asked Jacob.
"I'm fine, " said Caroline, still staring at her clawed hands. "It's strange. I still get odd feelings and urges, but they don't seem as strong anymore. Like they are fading away or something. But this body - it's just so weird. Sometimes I still can't believe this is me now."
Jacob patted her on the back.
"It won't be for long. I'm sure we will find a way to change you back soon. If nothing else, I am sure you will return to normal when we reach the exit at the heart of the dungeon," said Jacob.
"Thank you, Jacob. You are so kind to me. You are a good mas....friend. Would you like some tea? I could brew you a cup. I could make some for all of us," said Caroline cheerfully.
"Um, no thanks Caroline, " said Jacob glumly.
"Why not? It is good tea. I make very good tea," said Caroline. She looked around at the others faces, a mixture of distrust and suspicion. "Ah, I see. It wasn't going to be tea like... well, never mind ......"
Caroline solemnly looked down and continued to stare at her clawed hands, clenching and unclenching her fingers. The group sat in silence, the only sound the crackle of the fire and the sizzle of roasting meat.
"Hey! Look at this!" said Stewart with excitement. "Look what I found!"
The others crowded around him and looked in the bag. He started to hand out bottles, the group passing them around. Jacob read the labels.
"Cheetah Speed, Dragon Max, Kobold Mini, Minotaur Strength, Pretty as a Princess, Drider Climb..... What the heck are these? The dungeon's version of soft drinks?" asked Jacob.
"No, I think they are enhancements. You know, kind of like a power up in a video game, " said Stewart. "There are tons of them in here."
"Forget it! I am not drinking anything like that. Look what happened to Caroline! I sure don't want to end up like her, " said Jacob.
Caroline ducked a little in shame and Jacob blushed a little. Martha said nothing. She just continued to study the bottles, carefully examining each label.
"Sorry, Caroline, I didn't mean it, " said Jacob,
"It's okay. I understand. I really don't want to be like this either. Is there anything that can change me back in there? Maybe something labeled with human?" asked Caroline hopefully.
Stewart shook his head sadly.
"Sorry, I don't see anything like that in here. It all looks like monster or animal characteristics, " said Stewart. "But I don't think it would do much good anyway. If my guess is right, the effect of each of these bottles is temporary. We should wait to use them until we really need them."
Stewart gathered up the bottles and placed them back in the bag. Martha returned hers with a little reluctance.
"Okay, I think we have all had enough excitement for one day. Let's eat and get some sleep. Do you mind taking first watch Martha?" asked Jacob.
"No problem, " said Martha, as she sat back down and resumed sharpening her blades.
After a hearty meal, the others slept well knowing Martha was protecting them.