Continuing down the path that The Giant Toad showed them, they strategized how to go past the bats unnoticed. Well…Johnny strategized, Bob is not really the talkative guy.

- Guess I don’t have to worry about you spooking them, huh. Just sit there and let me do the work.

Path was getting more narrow with every step. The grass became slippery. Unsure of his footing he slowed down. After another few winding turns of the narrow cave they saw a movement on the ceiling. A slow flapping of the wings, stretching and yawning. Bats moving lazily, sleeping, some of them waking up for a moment just to go back into slumber.

The Toad was right, they’re fast asleep. Overgrown Cavern’s moss and grass covering the ground makes the hooves silent. He have a chance to slip past them unnoticed.

Johnny took a deep breath and looked behind him, checking on Bob. But the snail was missing…

Where is this damn snail? For a moment he felt sad…he started to really like his little buddy. The thought that his companion decided to leave him without a reason was disappointing. But then something shiny catched his eye. A slimy trail coming from the ground all the way up to the ceiling. Where the bats were sleeping…he saw him…he saw Bob…the damn snail. Sitting upside down, in between the bats.

- Don’t you dare… - Johnny whispered to himself. 

Bob didn’t care. 

Bob was in charge now.

Bob could do whatever he wanted. 

Bob chose violence. 

The Snail slowly stretched his one long protruding eye and jabbed one of the bats in the butt. 

Johnny felt like the time stopped, maybe because Bob’s movement was indeed so slow. But then everything went so, oh so fast. All the bats woke up. A sea of white eyes washed over the ceiling. A horrible screech followed by chaos occurred. 

The Courser did his best to not slip and slide on the wet moss when running. Praying he won’t break a leg. He saw nothing. The bats swarmed around him, biting and scratching. He ran blindly, wildly throwing his head and kicking around, hoping to scare away the creatures.

He was running out of breath when suddenly all the bats were gone. He felt incredible heat in front of him. Entrance to the lower level. The Earthen Furnace. He did it. Somehow in his blind race he found it. The heat scared away the bats. 

Johnny sat down for a moment. Catched his breath. Looked back into the dark corridor where he came from. The bats were still wildly flying around in the narrow path. For a moment he considered going back for Bob. The Damn Snail. It’s all because of him…or maybe thanks to him… The bats went after Johnny, Bob had time to move. They met down here, in the Overgrown Caverns. Bob is a dungeon creature after all…he will be fine. He is strong.

Johnny got up from the ground but his head was hanging low. He ventured in here alone and looks like that’s how it will be also for the next level.

Before taking the first step down the new road, he turned around once more.

And there he was.

Bob The Menace.

Coming his way as fast as he could. Johnny could swear the Snail was running towards him with open arms.