Force2reckon

  The next morning Toni stood with Temate as he spoke with a goblin wearing a hastily fashioned eyepatch. The goblin stood tall but Toni could see his legs shivering in fear as he waited for Temate's response. Temate had expined his thoughts this morning as they got ready for the day, and much to their surprise it had been the goblins who approached them first.

  Temate looked over to Toni thoughtfully. She looked back at him waiting for a decision. When she realized he was still staring at her she turned to look for someone else behind her. Seeing no one she looked back at him with her own questioning look.

  "What?" She blurted out, flushing a bit from the stare. Temate blinked and seemed to realize where he was looking.

  "Sorry." He said, "I was just trying to think about what you might do." He added and Toni crossed her arms and smiled.

  "Well... I mean you could just ask, I am right here." She pointed out and he nodded.

  "I figured I might as well try, need to understand how everyone thinks anyways." He smiled softly and straightened up. Only now did Toni realize he'd also leaned over at some point to stand level with her. He'd still seemed so... Tall.

  "So what would you do?" Temate asked her. Toni quickly reviewed the information before she gave her pn of action.

  Chiel, the eyepatch goblin, had told them exactly what Temate had expected to hear. There were more goblins waiting a way back for their warriors to return and tell them where to move to. Apparently the goblins were in the process of moving, fleeing something Chiel didn't seem to know. Only the 'Bigs' and the Chief had known and they'd all been killed in the ambush.

  The other things to address were Thares, The Grand Ceil, The Bears, Temate's weapon and potentially a reward. That had Toni excited, she hadn't really thought about it but wasn't that normal? Some magical treasure or valuable thing as reward for a great deed?

  Sure the Lich had beat them, but they'd purged the Rot spirits and managed to survive the Lich. Bringing news of it back at all was certain to net them something right? Anyways, this was an easy enough problem to solve, she'd been pnning out their schedule for awhile. Hell she'd asked Laurel where Thares was the moment she heard about visiting the woman.

  After all, other than Ren, Thares was basically Toni's first friend in this world.

  "Thares and the goblins, based on what Chiel's just said, are in simir directions. I say we go to Thares, then we split. I'll stay there and see if I can't fix up your machete a bit more properly, with Voel and Kea. You, Ren, Pip and the gobs can go get their tribe and bring them back."

  Toni saw Temate staring at her with one eyebrow raised and raised her own in return.

  "What?" She asked.

  "You've been real clear that I shouldn't leave you behind ever, and now you want me to leave you alone with a bunch of strangers?" Temate replied and Toni narrowed her eyes.

  "I said don't go running off alone into danger, and to let me help, not that we couldn't ever be apart. I told you, I'm not fragile I can handle being alone for a few hours." Toni stated firmly. She saw Temate's eyebrow raise even more and wished she hadn't crossed her arms before so she could now.

  "What?" She asked again. Annoyingly Temate just ughed as he straightened his back and smiled softly. Then his hand came out, the not stripped one which in the daylight was far more disconcerting to her, but also kind of cool? Still seeing it, and feeling the soft warmth of his other hand on her head, she mellowed.

  He had been through a lot, she didn't need to be a burden now by following him around constantly. The fact he thought that's what she wanted annoyed her, but it wasn't... entirely inaccurate. Going to get a goblin tribe, with a whole group of warrior goblins? That didn't need her help.

  Fixing his sword? That she could help with, her new Power [Patchwork] would let her permanently fix the handle, though roughly. It'd be better to get him a new sword, or make one herself in her forge. Er... Which she didn't have because it was in another world.

  "Look, I'll be fine, Voel at least seems strong enough, plus where Thares is has to be safe somewhat right?" Toni was pretty confident in that, and Temate's ck of hesitation in his response was further encouraging.

  "You're the strategist." Temate told her with a warm pat on her back and all her irritation vanished. She rexed her body, which she hadn't even realized had gotten so tense. God, why was she so tense!

  It didn't take long for the group to gather their things and get moving. Partially because they didn't really unpack much the night before since they stayed in Laurel's abode. Partially because of Laurel's unparalleled energy, the mad Squarel was hopping about with energy, excitedly offering help where he can.

  The real surprise were the goblin's. Once they'd talked with Temate about picking up the rest of the tribe they broke up neatly into groups. With shocking efficiency they tore down their small ramshackle camp, distributed the load across their team, and even shared out their fallen comrades gear.

  Toni pointed to a pile of scrap which included heavily damaged half-pte as she approached a grumpy looking goblin hefting a pack next to it.

  "Why are you guys leaving the armor?" She asked the goblin who, unlike the other goblins she'd approached with aimless questions, didn't jump in surprise at her approach.

  "Mmm. Too heavy. Broken." It- he, grunted in a rough English and nodded in satisfaction at his own answer.

  "Why not... fix it?" She inquired as she bent over it. "It's just some holes, give me a good hot fire and a half decent hammer and tongs and I could mold it over. Actually..."

  Toni reached out and picked the half pte up, it was too big really for any of the goblins to wear. Not big enough for her or even Ren with how big around the chest she was. Which meant there was excess metal, and Toni could work with that.

  "Who's your best fighter?" She turned to the goblin who tilted his head then turned and shouted to the other goblins.

  Not a minute ter Toni watched the goblins standing in an almost football huddle. They stood shoulder to shoulder, arms wrapped around each other as they leaned in and whispered. Even Hema who could only wrap her arm around one neighbor, but the one on her injured side didn't seem bothered.

  One of them looked up at her and then they leaned back in. A few grunts and barking words in a nguage Toni didn't recognize were passed around and then two goblins were pushed forward. The whole ring of goblins separated and in the circle stood Chiel, the one eyed goblin, and a female goblin wearing a wolf fur pelt.

  That stood out to Toni only because all the others wore rough patchwork leathers, some bits of metal, and rough woven cloth. There were some patches of fur here and there but none so big and fluffy as the wolf fur pelted goblin. The two stepped up in front of each other, puffed out their chests and...

  Stripped naked?

  Toni gasped, and would have said something except before she could reply the two smmed into each other and began wrestling. Cwed hands grabbed at naked limbs as they threw each other about, it was rough, violent. Nothing like modern wrestling, either actual wrestling or the performative kind.

  It was brutal, and 'dirty' attacks were clearly fair game, of both the cheap kind and the... naughty kind. Chiel had the advantage to start, using his rger frame and stronger upper body to push the female goblin around. Eventually he got a hold of her tail and yanked! Smming her face first in the ground he leapt on her, using his hand to smack and tease her... bits. That made Toni blush.

  However she was determined to win this competition, getting herself on her back while Chiel snarled some things in their nguage she returned to Chiel what he had done to her. She lifted one cwed leg up in a fsh and kicked his bits. Every goblin shouting and chearing their chosen champion on ooh'd or hissed. Toni saw the grumpy goblin from earlier grasp his own balls in empathetic pain.

  Even Toni winced, and she heard a sharp hiss from behind her turning to see Temate watching as well. When she turned back around the female goblin had used her gained advantage to pin Chiel down and was snarling the same things he had said to her. Eventually Chiel barked something and there was a cheer from the goblin circle. The female goblin helped Chiel up and the two hugged and then they kissed!

  Toni blushed as the still naked female goblin marched over, carrying her wolf pelt cloak and stood proudly in front of Toni.

  "Big ask best, I best!" She thumped her chest and stood legs spread, she grinned sciviously at Temate and Toni saw him admiring her naked body. She elbowed him but simply got a raised eyebrow and then a wink. Stupid man, stupid fetishes, why did that make her blush!

  "Ahem" she cleared her throat to distract herself. "I did, do you want this armor?" She held up the damaged half pte and the goblin looked at it askance.

  "Why? It broken. Not protect well, poke back." The female goblin replied and Toni knew she was right. It's owner had been right next to the grenade she'd thrown to start the fight and the back had several spots where shrapnel had shattered it inward.

  "I know but I can fix it, so do you want it?" Toni asked and then realized something. "Uh... What's your name?" The goblin grinned at Toni's cim she could fix the armor, then her grin broadened as Toni asked her name. The goblin thumped her chest again and donned her wolf fur dramatically. She looked at Temate when she answered though, completely ignoring Toni which was frustrating, but also... Fuck her fucked up brain.

  "I Sioh! I serve Chief however he need." The emphasis was not lost on Toni or Temate who spoke up.

  "I'm sure I look forward to you and all your tribes... service." Temate replied and then wrapped his arm around Toni and raised his voice so all the goblins could here. "I am Mate, your Chief, and this is Toni one of my mates and smartest of us. If you wish to serve me you serve her as well, understood?" Temate rumbled the words out and Toni watched all the goblins look at Temate, then look at her.

  She beamed with pride at that

  It was a little under an hour to the nursery Thares was working at, by Laurel's guess. He lead them quickly through the woods until the goblins compined they were moving too fast and too loud. So they slowed down, despite Voel's grumbling about slow earth walking pests. He also just generally didn't like being bossed around.

  "Listen, you want us to come with you? Fine, we will. When we're done with what we need to do. You don't have to wait around for us, fly off bird boy and come back when we're done!" Not for the first time Toni was arguing with him about it.

  "A-All I'm saying is you don't need to help these goblins! A-They're wild goblins, hardly worth your time, A-I mean look at them!" He gestured towards one of the goblins who was sniffing something and then opened their mouth wide to eat it, stopping when they realized they were being pointed out. They pointed at themselves and looked quizzically at Voel.

  "A-Yes you! A-Are you just gonna eat that without any idea what it does?!" Voel squawked angrily at the goblin. The goblin, with wrinkly, burned hands narrowed his eyes at Voel and Toni. He opened his mouth wide and slowly lowered the strange piece of pnt into his mouth. He chewed slowly and then very loudly swallowed.

  Toni was only managing to hold back her ugh by remembering how annoyed she was with Voel. When she heard Voel literally hoot in irritation, frustration, anger or annoyance she didn't know, she lost it. Her loud ughing was interrupted by a female goblins hand csping over her mouth.

  She gasped and restrained herself apologizing to the startled goblin, or goblins, as all of them were suddenly on edge. Everyone in their group looked confused but it was Kea who asked the goblin what was on their mind.

  "Sorry miss... uh I don't know your name, apologies, but why is the ughing so bad? We're a big gro-" She hushed when another male goblin put one finger to it's mouth and hissed. All the goblins were in a big circle, weapons drawn though they had never been sheathed during travel, and facing outward.

  "Many things come to loud noise. But few hard to kill in big group." The goblin who'd covered Toni's mouth answered in a quiet, soft voice.

  The male goblin with burned hands continued. "Laughing brings the face thieves." He growled, a rge stone mace, or hammer thing, held in both hands as his eyes scanned the woods. They hadn't stopped moving but the goblins kept their protective circle carefully.

  "Face thieves?" Kea whispered, looking to Voel who had a thoughtful look on his feathered face.

  "A-Looks familiar from behind, but has a bnk face when you see it?" Voel asked quietly.

  The female goblin nodded and continued. "Take face, become you, bad you. Make bad, hurt, suffer. Tear cn or tribe apart." She grumbled.

  "Noppera." Voel hissed and Toni saw Kea's eyes widen as her hands tightened on her small clubs.

  "Noppera... Here? I thought they dwelled in cities." She whispered nervously.

  "A-no, they are drawn to them because it is easiest to hunt for them there." He whispered, his eyes closed but Toni saw his eyes moving wildly in the sockets.

  "How dangerous?" Temate grumbled as he also watched the surroundings.

  "A-practically, not much. A-Noppera are a species of monster who steal people's faces, forms, memories. A-they need the person alive to keep taking their memories, so will kidnap or drive them away." Voel began his eyes narrowing and Kea took over for him.

  "They feed off pain, physical, mental, emotional it doesn't matter. So they'll often incorporate themselves into cities by taking the pce of good folks and driving their loved ones mad, destroying their lives and the lives of those around them until it's all burned. Then they simply change targets." Kea shuddered.

  Toni growled. "Fuck that." Kea nodded in agreement.

  "I've heard of herds getting even one Noppera sneaking inside and causing the whole herd to self-destruct, killing each other and themselves its... brutal." Her eyes scrunched up. "Though some of those herds deserved it. Stuck up assholes." She muttered and that made Toni smile a bit.

  "Not a big fan of herds? Isn't that weird for a sheep person?" She asked.

  Kea put on an expression of faux outrage. "Ah! How dare you! What about you, why's a monkey person willing to leave all these tree's huh? Don't you wanna just swing around on them!" She smirked as she jabbed back.

  "Oh I'd looooove to, but I much rather swinging lead into stupid sexy sheep girls faces!" Toni retorted, flipping her gun out and spinning it which drew a muttered admiration from the grumpy goblin nearby.

  "Hey, I get thinking I'm sexy but how are you gonna go assumin a girl is stupid huh?" Kea replied and Toni thought she looked actually hurt by that.

  "Oh- oh no I! No I didn't mean you were stupid I just meant-" Toni stopped as she saw the sly smirk on Kea's face. "Oh are you sure you're not a wolf in sheeps clothing?"

  Toni didn't think a woman with as dark, ashy bck skin as Kea could blush, but she was very wrong. Kea's face darkened but most notably her big floppy ears began to wiggle about happily.

  "W-well damn, you know how to make a girl feel special." She muttered then grinned, she held up two fingers to her lips in a V shape. "If you let me, I'll show you just how much of a wolf I can be." She licked between the two fingers and this time Toni blushed.

  Voel sighed as he spped Kea on the back of her head. "A-don't go flirting with every half decently attractive person we meet, at the very least flirt with Mate. A-he's at least got good muscles." Voel stated ftly. Toni saw Temate's eyebrows raise as he looked at her, she knew what he was thinking and mouthed 'talk ter' to him. He nodded at that and their little group continued on.

  After Voel confirmed there were no Noppera in the area, the goblins rexed and began chattering with their group. Over the st 15 minutes or so Toni made certain to learn each and every goblins name, and even why they got their names. Some, like Fraar's, were interesting stories.

  Some were stretches.

  Fraar was the goblin with the burned hands. One of a group of triplets who got his name after killing a goblin from an ambush party. He had been grabbing a te snack at the cooking fire when the ambush began. He reached into the pit and grabbed two hot rocks from the fire to smash the goblin who came for him in the face killing him. Fraar was the scream the other goblin made as it died.

  The club, mace, hammer thing he used was actually both of those rocks strapped to a sturdy stick. Most of the goblins were like that. The grumpy goblin was Gief, who mostly used a dagger. He got his name from taking another goblins dagger in a fight and 'giefing' it back to him.

  Chiel was the oldest, and the one with one eye. Apparently his name came from pushing a bunch of goblins into a cold river. Sioh, the one with the wolf pelt, got her name from cutting a strange hole into a wolf's side. Qinq, a goblin with a very lumpy head, smashed a goblins head in.

  Crak and Roikx, Fraar's triplet sister and brother respectively got their names from trapping a wolf in a crack in the ground for Crak. For Roikx he tripped a bunch of goblins by rolling rocks under their feet.

  Chaft and Trir, two twins got their names from setting another tribes tent on fire and knocking a tree onto a boar respectively. Pebba threw a rock at a bird and killed it by choking and Hema... Well she got her name from Temate and they all knew that story.

  To be honest Toni wasn't really sure why those names were attributed for those actions, and neither were the goblins. For the most part it seemed the Chief chose their names, so nobody knew why that thing got them that name, they just accepted their name and deed. Interestingly they had many other stories to tell.

  Altogether the goblins reminded Toni of some of the rougher crowd she hung out with when she was with... him. Bragging about their best fights and kills, but much more like comrades in arms rather then a bunch of puffed up brats trying to seem big. They praised each other even when hearing a story multiple times, pumping each other up.

  When she brought this up with Temate he smiled softly and simply said that they seemed like a good tribe for him. She was approaching Hema to talk with her when they arrived and whatever Toni thought when she heard the word nursery, she had not expected this.

  Force2reckon