“[i]You[/i] let the monster in?!” Muse reacted, before quickly shaking her head. “Gah, no time to worry about that now!” she spoke up before Books could respond. “[i]Yes[/i] it’s hurting people and yes we should go help! And sorry I… don’t know why I didn’t think to help them, myself.” Muse told Rae, rubbing the back of her head a bit sheepishly as her clouded thinking was starting to show through. Thankfully, though, she didn’t have time to feel guilty; the girls were already off to fight the thing. She quickly scurried off to follow them. “Oh and, don’t worry,” she turned around and told Gwazi before hurrying after them. “I can’t change anyone else. Just myself.” she reassured him, before turning back around and hurrying after the girls. 

As Muse took off after the others, she couldn’t help but be somewhat impressed by the girls’ determination. Books looked about as strong and courageous as she’d ever seen her, and Rae, while she’d fought hard in the past, still had yet to run out of steam. Even the new guy was pretty on-the-ball, knowing that the creature would still be wounded and they could follow its tracks — wait, who did that guy say he was again?? Oh, no time to worry about that! Muse struggled to maintain her focus as she continued to follow the others. 

Before long, the sounds of screaming could be heard up ahead. The group soon made their way out of the narrow corridor and into the more wide-open area that the girls first saw when they entered the village, though while before it was mostly filled with relaxed tribal members, it was now filled with fear. The ratbug stood in the center of the space, one of its legs clutching the wound in its abdomen, as men and women alike stood with weapons raised, though at a safe distance; no one wanted to get close enough to be hurt. 

Once the group entered the open space, the ratbug’s nose twitched. It quickly turned towards the source of the scent. “You again?!” It hissed. “I thought I left you alone — whatever you are. What do you want now?” it growled.