Her pulse hammered so hard she could feel it in her fingertips. It was too late to run away now--the battle was here, and the patrol blocked every escape route.
She had to at least try. Marron rolled until she got close enough to the ant and stabbed one of her knives onto its leg. As she expected, it didn't even affect the monster--just angered it. The ant tried to stomp on her, and she barely managed to dodge.
Think Marron, think! I already lost one knife, and the other isn't gonna be much help. I don't want to die under these crushing mandibles.
Unless...
She slipped a hand into her apron pocket, fingers finding the secret weight of the salted rice ball she'd prepared days ago. It was simple, but vicious. She'd mixed it with enough salt to make her eyes water, packed tight as a stone.
It wasn't made for eating--but she knew ants hated the stuff. If she could get the ant to eat it...
