It was a few days after the party and clean up was well on its way. Ratface had mostly been on monster clearing but today she was pulling up vines.

The kudzu had started growing naturally and it turned out the plant was aggressive even when there wasn’t magic running through it. She yanked at one part and ripped it up. She’d rather go back to the monsters than this.

She leaned back in her spot and watched as Tiffany pulled the plants out with a combination of magic, and farming knowledge. Suncat was nearby with a book and when a pile got big enough she would set it on fire. No amount of persuading had managed to get her down in the dirt now that the disaster had passed. Ratface pretended not to notice that Suncat was also taking care of other groups piles so their casters could take a rest. Cats were so predictable. The other goblin girl caught her looking and turned her nose up. Ratface let out a little grin.

It was a lot easier for her to tell when someone was casting these days. Since her spell she’d gained the ability to feel magic being cast around her. She could even see it if she concentrated.

Still couldn’t touch it though, she didn’t know if this new state was better or worse than when she’d been unaware.

She watched as Albert and Krysa argued about the best way to pull out vines. The elf was insisting that as an elf, her way was superior. She kept ignoring Albert whenever he tried to say she was a glamour and so not a real elf.

It had been weird having the glamour around. For one thing her room was a lot smaller as Krysa and Halmir insisted on staying in there with her. Turns out someone who lived in your head didn’t immediately want to leave you. Ratface had caught Krysa staring in wonder at things a few times. A whole world that she’d get to see with her own eyes for the first time. It made Ratface smile in wonder too. She’d made this happen, they all had.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

Halmir called them over. Somehow the rat boy had ingratiated himself with the cooks and managed to get out of helping with them weeding. Instead, he ‘helped’ with the cooking. Ratface suspected his help consisted of eating the snacks they fed him. At least he made for a good delivery boy to all the different groups.

He passed out their food and the group dug into it. It was the first time they’d all been silent this entire time and Ratface happily munched into the selection of different vegetables they’d put in front of her. She took an intense satisfaction out of eating plants now that she’d been attacked by them.

Krysa leaned against a tree and ate hers. Despite being the only one of them just getting used to eating, she somehow managed to be the neatest of them all. Ratface wondered if that was something she’d imagined when she’d made her or if it was something the elf had picked up herself. It was almost like she was Krysa’s older sister, even if Krysa acted like she was the older one of the two of them.

She looked around and realised she was surrounded by friends. No one was in danger, there was no lurking threat in the distance. She let the moment wash over her. It was nice to just have to worry about weeding.

She knew it wouldn’t last. She still needed to find the other goblin children from her tribe. She tried to ignore the part of her that whispered they could already be dead. It wasn’t wrong, but better for her to keep her eyes open for them than to give up. She wondered if they remembered their tribes sacrifice or if they were out there without memories same as she’d been.

That was for another day. Today, she had to clean this place up. One thing at a time. After that she’d go adventuring, see if she could find them. If she became famous enough maybe they’d hear her name. She could dream.

She looked at the group around her. Looked further out where Abigail and Claudette were working together. She had quite the team she was part of. It was difficult not to be hopeful with them around.

They’d done the impossible once, what was to stop them doing it again?

Ratface rolled up her sleeves and got back to work.