We had set off from the cottage early that morning, bidding Ma Po goodbye. She'd packed us small bundles of food and given us a warm smile as we prepared to leave. The Wonton had nuzzled against my leg, and even the Dumpling had offered a low purr of farewell—though his watchful gaze remained firmly on Hong Shao.

The air grew heavier as we ventured deeper into the woods, the warmth of the cottage seemed to fade behind us. The once-dense canopy of leaves began to thin, revealing patches of open sky. I couldn't shake the feeling that the forest itself was alive, its gnarled branches and rustling leaves whispering secrets I wasn't meant to hear. Every step felt like it carried us closer to something dangerous, though neither of us spoke the thought aloud.

Hong Shao's gaze was fixed ahead, his bow ready in his hand. His confidence was infuriatingly intact, as if nothing—not even the eerie stillness of the woods—could faze him.

We came upon a field, the woods parting to reveal a stretch of open ground covered in strange, purple-tinged grass that swayed despite the lack of wind. The sight of it unsettled me, though I couldn't say why. Hong Shao's pace slowed, and he raised a hand to signal me to stop.

"Careful," he murmured. "This doesn't feel right."

I was about to ask him what exactly "not right" meant when the ground beneath us crumbled without warning. A sharp cry escaped me as we plunged downward—no root or stone that either of us could cling to—when the earth swallowed us whole. I landed hard on my side, the impact driving the breath from my lungs. Dazed, I sat up and blinked in the dim light, trying to make sense of where we'd landed.

The pit was massive, its walls slick with moss and jagged rocks. The faint light from above cast eerie shadows that danced across the uneven floor. Hong Shao groaned nearby, pushing himself upright and brushing dirt from his hair. Before I could say anything, a low, guttural growl echoed through the cavern.

"What now?" I muttered, drawing my sword. My body ached from the fall, but adrenaline spurred me to stand.

From the shadows, a creature emerged. It was enormous, its elongated body coiled like a serpent but with legs like a crab's and rainbow-colored wings like a giant dragonfly. Its skin shimmered with a golden hue, and its eyes glowed a sickly green. I recognized it immediately from the stories: a Spring Roll, one of the island's most fearsome predators.

"Oh, great," I said, tightening my grip on the sword. "A giant murderous appetizer."

The Spring Roll hissed, its pincers clicking as it advanced. Hong Shao nocked an arrow, his movements calm and precise. "Stay behind me," he ordered.

"Not a chance," I shot back, stepping to his side. "We're in this together."

The creature lunged, moving with startling speed for something so large, its pincers slicing through the air. Hong Shao's arrows struck true, lodging in its armored hide, but although every arrow was Congee boosted, they only seemed to enrage the Spring Roll. I darted forward, slashing at its legs, my blade biting into its flesh. Green ichor sprayed from the wound, and the giant rainbow dragonfly let out a piercing screech.

For every blow we landed, the creature retaliated with twice the force. A few times, the only thing that separated us from a fatal blow, were the powerful force fields that Hong Shao was able to raise only just in time. Recognising him as the biggest threat, the Spring Roll lashed out at him with its tail, sending him sprawling against the cave's wall.

I barely had time to block a pincer aimed at my chest, the force of the impact rattling my bones. It reared back, preparing to strike again. With a desperate cry, I lunged forward, my sword slicing across its exposed underbelly. The creature howled in pain, its movements becoming more erratic.

Finally, it retreated into the shadows, its glowing eyes watching us from a distance. For now, we were safe. But I had a sinking feeling it wasn't over.

"We need to get out of here," Hong Shao said, his voice grim. He gestured to the walls of the pit. "Before nightfall."

"Why? What happens at nightfall?" I asked, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath.

He hesitated, then sighed. "The Spring Rolls don't hunt alone. By nightfall, the swarm will return. And they'll devour anything that's fallen in."

My stomach turned. "And you knew about this?"

"I've done my research," he admitted. "I knew this would be a challenge. But if we climb out before they come back, we'll be fine."

His nonchalance made me want to scream, but I bit my tongue.

Arguing wouldn't get us out of here. I sheathed my sword and approached the wall, testing the rocks for handholds. They were slick with moss, but climbable. Barely.

"Let's go," I said.

As I was about to put my first foot on the slippery rocks, I felt something cold and metallic snap around them. I looked down to see shackles—chains that seemed to emerge from the very wall itself—binding me in place. Panic surged through me as I struggled against them, but they held fast.

"What the hell?" I shouted, looking at Hong Shao. He had set a few steps back and was staring at me, his expression unreadable.

"Stay still," he said, his voice oddly calm. "You'll only attract them more with the sound of the chains."

"Cut me loose then," I said, frustration and fear bubbling up inside me.

He hesitated, then walked towards the opposite wall, getting ready to climb. His eyes met mine, and for the first time, I saw something other than arrogance in his gaze. Guilt, maybe. Or regret.

"This is how they get you," he said quietly. "The heroes who came before us—they all fell down and climbed out, but once you've given off your scent in the nest and go back into the woods, they'll hunt you down all night. The only way to survive this is to keep them occupied for the night, by leaving someone behind."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. "What are you saying?"

"I did choose you for a reason," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I chose you because I knew you wouldn't... matter if I..."

I stared at him, my chest tightening. "You planned this," I said, my voice shaking. "From the beginning."

He didn't answer, which was answer enough. My vision blurred with tears of anger and betrayal. "So it was all pretend," I said bitterly. "The camaraderie, the teamwork... it was all fake."

"I'm sorry," he said, though the words rang hollow. "This is the only way."

I shouted every curse I could think of as he was climbing out of the pit, but he didn't look down once. My strength was ebbing, the pain from my fall and the betrayal cutting deeper than any physical wound. As darkness crept in at the edges of my vision, I whispered to myself, "I'll survive this. Just to spite you."

***

Hours passed—the small opening of the pit above me changing color from cerulean to orange to dark blue as night fell. The faint humming sound of the Spring Rolls' approach reached my ears, growing louder with each passing moment. Panic clawed at me, but I was too weak to struggle against the chains.

And then, out of the shadows, a familiar figure appeared. The Dumpling from the witch's cottage. It let out a low growl, its glowing eyes scanning the pit. Behind it, a swarm of Wontons scurried forward, their small bodies bristling with energy.

"You've got to be kidding me," I whispered, disbelief and hope warring within me.

The Dumpling lunged at the first Spring Roll to appear, its claws and teeth tearing into the creature with surprising ferocity. The Wontons swarmed the others, their combined strength overwhelming the larger predators. The pit was a cacophony of screeches and growls, but the tide was turning in my favor.

With one powerful headbutt, the Dumpling struck the wall near my chains, loosening the shackles just enough for me to slip free. I staggered to my feet, leaning heavily on the Dumpling for support.

My legs wobbled beneath me, weakened from the strain of the battle and the fall. The Dumpling turned its massive head to me, its reptilian eyes shimmering with a kind of fierce protectiveness I hadn't expected. It nudged me forward gently, urging me to move.

"Thanks, big guy," I murmured, resting my hand against its scaled hide. I didn't have time to dwell on the strangeness of the moment. The hum of the Spring Rolls echoed through the tunnels, growing louder with every second. Their collective presence felt suffocating, a tangible weight pressing down on the air around us.

The Dumpling crouched low, its powerful legs coiled like springs. It let out a guttural growl, and I realized with a start what it intended.

"You want me to ride you?" I asked incredulously. The Dumpling growled again, a sound that left no room for argument. The Wontons chirped insistently, circling around us like tiny sentinels.

"Alright, alright," I muttered, pulling myself onto the Dumpling's back. Its scales were rough and warm beneath my hands, and I gripped a ridge along its spine for support. The creature's muscles tensed beneath me, and then it launched upward with a force that nearly sent me tumbling off.

We bounded through the tunnels, the Dumpling's claws digging into the rocky walls for leverage. The Wontons swarmed ahead and around us, their small bodies illuminating the dark passages like flickering lanterns. Behind us, the hum of the Spring Rolls grew deafening, a screeching symphony that sent chills down my spine.

The Dumpling's movements were swift and precise, but I could feel its exertion with every leap and bound. "Come on," I urged, patting its side. "We're almost there."

The tunnel opened up into a massive chamber, the walls glistening with bioluminescent fungi. It was breathtaking, but I barely had time to take it in. The Spring Rolls poured into the chamber behind us, their rainbow wings a blur of motion. They looked even more menacing in the light, their sharp mandibles clicking as they swarmed toward us.

The Dumpling let out a roar that echoed through the chamber, and the Wontons responded in kind. They surged forward like a tide, their small bodies colliding with the Spring Rolls in a chaotic clash. Despite their size, the Wontons fought with ferocity, biting and clawing at the larger creatures. The Dumpling joined the fray, its massive jaws snapping shut on a Spring Roll's wing, sending it crashing to the ground.

I slid off the Dumpling's back, my knees nearly buckling as I landed. I couldn't just stand there while they fought for me. My hand went to the hilt of my sword, and I drew it with a determined grip. The blade felt heavier than usual, but I pushed the fatigue aside.

"Alright, you overgrown appetizers," I muttered, stepping forward. "Let's dance."

The first Spring Roll lunged at me, its mandibles snapping. I sidestepped and brought my sword down in a sweeping arc, the blade slicing through its wing. It screeched and fell, writhing on the ground.

Another one came at me from the side, and I spun, the momentum carrying my blade through its body. Green ichor splattered across the ground, the stench making my stomach churn.

The Dumpling and the Wontons were relentless, their combined efforts turning the tide of the battle. The Spring Rolls, for all their numbers, seemed to falter under the coordinated assault. One particularly large Spring Roll darted toward me, its mandibles wide open. Before I could react, the Dumpling barreled into it, sending it flying into the chamber wall. The impact left a deep crack in the stone, and the Spring Roll slid to the ground, motionless.

The remaining Spring Rolls hesitated, their movements erratic. The Wontons pressed their advantage, swarming the stragglers and driving them back. The Dumpling let out another roar, and the last of the Spring Rolls retreated into the tunnels, their hum fading into the distance.

I leaned against my sword, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath. The chamber was eerily quiet now, the only sounds were the soft chirps of the Wontons and the Dumpling's heavy breathing. "We did it," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

The Dumpling turned to me, its reptilian eyes meeting mine. It stepped closer and nudged my shoulder gently, as if checking to see if I was alright. I managed a weak smile and patted its snout. "Thanks, big guy. I owe you one."

The Wontons gathered around us, their chirps sounding almost celebratory. One of them climbed onto my shoulder, its tiny claws gripping my tunic. It was the same one who had slept beside me at Ma Po Tofu's cottage, "Looks like I've got a fan club," I said, chuckling despite myself.

With the Wontons leading the way, we ascended the tunnel. The climb was steep, and my body protested every step, but the thought of freedom kept me moving. The Dumpling stayed close, its presence a comforting reassurance. The tunnel eventually opened up into the open air, and I was surprised to see it was already dawn.

We emerged onto a rocky ledge overlooking the island's fields. In the distance, a silhouette of the tower that was Princess Mooncake's prison loomed against the horizon. My heart clenched at the sight, a mix of determination and anger bubbling up within me.

My hair was a tangled mess, the tips barely brushing my shoulders. I hated wearing it loose, but the sweat and humidity plastered it to my neck, keeping it from becoming a burden. My clothes—if they could still be called that—were nothing more than tattered green and brown rags, and my arms and legs were streaked with dried blood, mud, and who knew what else. I looked like a half-starved wanderer, someone who had long since abandoned the concept of self-care. But appearances be damned—I was going to be the hero of the day. And I was going to look damn good doing it.

I turned to the Dumpling and the Wontons, my voice steady despite the exhaustion. "Ready to go save a princess?"