Nope-nope-nope! Ghosts are the worst at introducing your empty plot of land, those games always lead to turning dead bodies into hamburgers to feed to unwitting townspeople who have way too many fetch quests!


    Several seconds passed and nothing appeared or made further noises other than the flapping of the flag.


    Nobody is coming out to greet me. It’s safe to assume this place is deserted.


    Charlotte pet her slimes, silently thanking them for protecting her. She went to the first building that didn’t look like it would cave in on her. She stepped up the creaky steps. The house had a single, large room with a curtain separating the thin bed and common area. A dusty woodstove sat in the middle with cut wood stacked sloppily next to it. An old, dirty pack hung on the back of a chair pushed to a table. She inspected it and fortunately it had no mold or holes.


    The kitchen had a single counter nook with a large bowl she assumed was the sink. She looked through a small window to see the overgrown garden in the backyard. Pewter cups and bowls were in the lower cabinets and she used a long wooden spoon to fend off the cobwebs. She stuffed one cup and bowl into her pack after dusting them off with a dirty linen cloth she found on the table. She cinched the bag and was about to leave but a sheathed knife hanging by the doorway caught her eye.


    It would probably be best to have something to protect myself. There might be monsters or kidnappers with tattoos who only use gangsign to communicate. I doubt they''d understand my ninjutsu hand signs but then again, they might think I''m their new boss and try to adopt me.


    She chuckled at the crazy thought.


    I''m sure the spiders or ghosts won''t be needing any of this stuff anyway. She nodded to herself approvingly and took it from the wall, unsheathing it.


    It’s not bad but needs sharpening.


    Some of the slimes followed her into the building and were looking around curiously. She put the knife in the bag for now and gave the room another lookover.


    Can we make this village our own or keep looking? What if whoever was here before comes back and kills us?


    Charlotte grabbed a pewter cup and wiped the thick dust off of it.


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Nobody’s been here for quite some time. There’s plenty of space for all of us and I’ll be making more slimes. This would make a good base but it needs some TLC.


    She went outside and rounded up the slimes, looking at each of them in turn.


    “Do you all want to live here? We can make it a lovely home.”


    Muck Norris let out a pip and the rest joined in merrily.


    It was decided.


    “Good! Now go forth and clean the village. Make it suitable for your Mucklord.”


    She laughed like an evil boss and clapped her hands once. In unison, they all pipped, taking off in their own directions like animals from a specific singing movie with cleaning animals that seem to know exactly what to do. She watched them scatter around, Muck Norris staying by her side.


    “Come with me to find a river or something. We’re this close to the ocean but I need something…cleaner.”


    She led the way to the opposite end. The slimes were scooting stuff around with their bodies and picking up stones with their mouths to place back on the stone wall. She beamed at their helpfulness.


    This place will look great in no time!


    Charlotte and Muck Norris left the village and found themselves in a thick forest that twisted with brambles with strange berries on them.


    “A stable food source?”


    She grabbed one, squishing it between her fingers. She rubbed the goop on the back of her hand while they trotted along. She kept her ears alert for running water.


    My skin’s not reacting to the berries. They might be okay then.


    She licked the back of her hand and waited another moment. The path disappeared under an overgrown patch of thick vines that hung from the wide trees. She plopped the berry into her mouth.


    A growling caused Charlotte to look back at Muck Norris but it wasn’t coming from her slime. She looked around and this time heard another growl from within the nearest brambles.


    A tiny rabbit no more than a foot long, bounced out. Two horns stuck out of its head. Its mouth curled back, revealing sharp canines. She read the horrifying letters above the rabid monster.


    [Horned Rabbit - Level 2]


    Charlotte trembled.


    This dull knife is nothing compared to those massive fangs. They’re as long as my hands! I’m not ready to fight! What if this thing one shots me?!


    It hopped to them and she fell back on her butt, scooting away. It hopped again and she turned tail and ran.


    “I never want to see another one of those ever again!”


    Muck Norris adventures #1


    Muck Norris watched its master run. A shadowed figure—not quite as tall as its master—caught its attention as it emerged from the ground. The figure rose slowly and stumbled clumsily toward the village. The slime ignored it and turned its attention back to the rabbit.


    Master. Command.


    Two tentacles shot out, instantly breaking the distance. They gripped the horns and consumed the thrashing beast in its gooey mouth and chomped down viciously.


    Another growl came from the brambles. And then another. Muck Norris turned its beady black eyes toward the monsters. Dozens of rabbits appeared, seeking vengeance.


    Never. See. Again.