The slide between floors was extra twisty this time, going on so long that I lost the adrenaline rush of falling and was now just zooming along behind Cole who couldn''t stop giggling like he was having the time of his life. I shook my head. He really was an odd duck, but I might be even odder for actually following him.


    Eventually a door opened and we shot out into the foggy air of a new dungeon floor. My heart pounded as a rocky cliffside got closer and closer. I clamped down on the scream trying to escape. Last time this happened, a giant slime had broken my fall, but there was nothing but golden grass below us now.


    Golden grass and goats.


    Massive goats that got bigger and bigger as we fell. My chest tightened and I squeezed my eyes closed. I should have cooked a feast for goats this size instead of just the odds and ends I had in my inventory. What did goats even like to eat? Grass? Hay?


    This was going to go horribly wrong. I could feel it in my bones.


    "It''s fine!" Cole called out as he took my hand. "The Dungeon would never let you fall."


    His skin was smooth against mine as he pulled me to him. Time seemed to slow down as I opened my eyes, seeing nothing but his innocent little grin. He was so full of life and excitement, like everything was a fun new experience. Time might not have been slowing for real, but our descent sure was as we gracefully landed in golden grass that came up to my waist.


    "See? Nothing to worry about." He squeezed my hand before letting it go and turning to the biggest goat in the area who towered over us by a good ten feet at least. "Hello, friend."


    The goat''s shaggy fur was a mix of dark brown and cream, with a shimmer of gold when it caught the light just right. Its massive horns curled behind its head, etched with cracks of golden light that pulsed faintly, like a majestic power that was too much for the goat to fully contain. When it moved, the light seemed to ripple, casting faint patterns on the jagged cliffsides that stretched high to the sky around us.


    Its eyes had that same golden glow, piercing and regal, as if daring us to challenge it. The goat stood motionless, an unyielding force of nature that was just waiting for us to make the first move.


    I gulped, resisting the urge to step back. Or bow. This goat gave off the aura of a primal nature god, so falling to the ground and begging forgiveness for intruding on its domain felt like the appropriate answer here.


    Too bad Cole was already rushing towards it, a big goofy smile on his face. "How have you been, old friend? It''s been ages since we had a good chat."


    The goat lowered its head, eyes narrowing as its hooves scraped big ruts in the ground. This time I did back up.


    "Maybe we should go..."


    "No way, we haven''t even gotten the milk yet." Cole scoffed. "Heliandor and I go way back, it''s fine."


    Cole seemed nice enough, but I''d just met him and this whole plan seemed pretty foolhardy. I glanced at his level, once again seeing the ??? that gave me no information at all. The goat''s level shone bright: Level 39 Solhorn Goat.


    As a level 5, I had no business being here. Something bumped against my leg and I jerked away, yelping. A tiny goat gnawed on my apron, digging around in the pockets like they were full of treats. The goat pulled out a sprig of thyme, chewing it before bleating softly.


    I stuffed my hands in my pockets, but they were empty. "Sorry, that''s all I had."


    The goat continued to bump against my leg, chewing on my apron like it would be just as tasty as the thyme. I stumbled back, trying to get out of range, but the goat nuzzled against me. Its fur was light yellow, as if it hadn''t grown into the warm golden brown hues of the other goats yet. I carefully patted it on the head, avoiding the adorably tiny horns poking out of its fur.


    It jumped up in excitement, making me yelp again. The eerie bleating of dozens of other goats carried on the wind like a song coming from all directions. The cliffs loomed over me with glints of golden eyes sparking in their shadows. This one little goat was fine, but dozens of others?Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    Cole was still chatting with the goat he''d called Heliandor, reaching out a hand to pet him. The giant Solhorn grunted, lowering its head and rushing forward, headbutting Cole with those terrifying horns of his. I gasped as Cole flew through the air, collapsing in the tall grass.


    I wanted to rush to check on him, but my legs were shaking as the Solhorn turned its golden gaze on me. Power rolled off the goat in waves, making me shiver as the others climbed down the rocks to join their master.


    "I''m fine!" Cole shouted as he sat up, brushing grass off his clothes like getting headbutted by a goat god monster meant nothing to him. "Huh, maybe he doesn''t recognize me. I mean, I guess I do look a bit different, but still. How could he do that?"


    "Is that really important right now?" I let out a breath, almost collapsing on the ground myself. "You idiot, let''s go back to the cafe and forget this whole plan. That goat obviously doesn''t think you''re friends."


    Cole tilted his head, studying the monstrous Solhorn. "Maybe that''s just how goats say hello?"


    The beast pawed the ground again, looking like it was getting ready to headbutt Cole a second time since the first obviously hadn''t left enough of an impression. Cole''s curiosity was going to get him killed. I forced my legs to move, hurrying over to the fool.


    "That is not how goats say hello. It''s how they say goodbye." I grabbed his arm, hauling him up. "Take the hint and let''s get out of here."


    Cole''s eyes widened. "You speak goat?"


    I sighed, pushing him to get moving. "Yup and I''ll tell you all about it once we''re back in the cafe."


    "But your milk..."


    "Screw the milk. We''ll come back later."


    "If you''re sure." Cole glanced back at the Solhorn with sad eyes. "Until next time, old friend."


    The Solhorn made a noise that sounded an awful lot like a snort, then went back to grazing on the tall golden grass as if we''d never been there. I took a deep breath, happy to be going back to my mostly safe little slice of the dungeon, but my back itched like somebody was watching me.


    I turned around to find the little goat from earlier following me.


    "You can''t come with us," I said softly. "I don''t want to be part of a goat-napping. Not with that big guy looking all terrifying."


    The little goat bleated at me, sniffing my hands like the scent of herbs was still on them. It hopped, bouncing in such a similar way to the slimes that my tension started easing away. The goat was only level 10, which was perfectly acceptable for my floor...


    I shook my head. I was not about to goat-nap him, no matter how adorable he was.


    "I''m really sorry," I repeated. "I''ll come back though, once I''m stronger."


    Cole nodded. "Definitely. Somebody''s gotta remind Heliandor who''s the boss around here."


    I bit my lip. No way was Cole the boss of that goat or any other monster here. Even the slimes didn''t listen to him. I pulled the cafe''s key from my inventory. It was still warm, like it had been sitting by a fire. I smiled, grasping it tightly. Time to go home.


    A high-pitched bleat shook the air, rumbling the ground so much I almost fell over. Heliandor charged, racing towards us faster than I could summon a door.


    "I said I wasn''t goat-napping him!  He''s all yours, I swear!"  I dropped the key in shock, losing it in the tall grass.  The little goat just kept hopping next to me, bleating back at Heliandor as if egging him on.  "Hey!  I gave you herbs!"


    I gasped as Cole pulled me behind him.


    "Time to prove that friendship," he said, cracking his knuckles as he stood firm in front of the charging monster. "Heliandor! Sit!"


    "Sit? Seriously?"


    Every goat in the area besides Heliandor plopped down on their backside with a soft thud. I blinked, staring at the ridiculous sight of so many goats sitting in the grass. The little one beside me was too short to even see over the swaying golden fronds.


    Huh, so Cole really was a friend of the goats. I did not see that coming.


    Heliandor bellowed, its voice shaking the very air as the golden glow spilled out of its horns like sunlight. The light got brighter and brighter, until I had no choice but to squeeze my eyes shut.


    "Okay, maybe we''re not friends," Cole muttered darkly. "Hazel, go back to the cafe without me. I''ll be there as soon as I can."


    "I can''t just–"


    "Go!"


    I fumbled for the key in the grass, accidentally grabbing the little goat''s hooves. "Sorry."


    When I finally found the key, I stumbled up to summon a door, but the light was searing my eyelids and tears were welling up. I brushed them away, swaying as I moved, trying to escape the light just for a moment.


    My foot met open air and the tall grass disappeared. Air whooshed around me as I fell off the very cliffs the goats had been climbing on earlier.


    Damn goats. Adorable, but terrifying.


    This probably would have gone better if I''d brought cookies.