Chapter 08 - Curgelek's Loss

Curgelek pressed on, determined to reach the safety of his family's hovel before Keggma’s enforcers took notice of him.

The last thing he needed was another run-in with Keggma's lackeys, and especially when he had such a precious cargo to deliver.

His last encounter with the brutes had not gone so well. They’d taken nearly everything he’d taken, and that wasn’t fair.

As he wove through the throngs of goblins, Curgelek's sharp ears caught the familiar sound of his children's voices, high-pitched and gleeful. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, and his steps quickened with anticipation.

Soon, he would be home, and his younglings would have a new toy to play with. Curgelek's grip tightened on the sack, his heart swelling with pride at the thought of his children's delight. For a moment, the drudgery and despair of the first level faded away, replaced by a sense of joy and purpose.

His heart raced as he hurried through the crowded tunnels. The sack containing his precious cargo still swung against his back. The cat had not hissed or even meowed lately, and he suspected the feline had grown tired.

The familiar scent of his family's dirt-floored hovel grew stronger with each step, and he could hear the excited chatter of his children echoing down the passageway.

Rounding the final corner, Curgelek burst through the crude doorway, a triumphant grin spreading across his face. "Children! Look what I've brought for you!" he announced, his voice rising above the din.

The goblin younglings, their eyes wide and mouths agape, gathered around their father, their sharp little teeth gleaming. Curgelek closed the front door and then untied the sack. He slowly pulled out the wriggling orange form of Warfrost, the housecat.

"A cat!" one of the children squealed, their long fingers reaching out to touch the feline.

Warfrost hissed and swiped at the approaching hand, his fur standing on end. The goblin child yelped and pulled back, a thin line of red appearing on their fingertip.

"Careful, little ones," Curgelek cautioned, "the cat needs a gentle touch to start with. Here, let me show you how to pet him properly."

He gently stroked Warfrost's head, demonstrating the gentle motions. The cat's eyes narrowed, and he let out a low growl, but he did not lash out again.

Emboldened, the other goblin children began to tentatively reach out, their small hands running through Warfrost's soft fur. The cat seemed to tolerate their touch, though his displeasure was evident in the twitching of his tail.

Curgelek beamed with pride, watching his children interact with the new addition to their family. "See, he's not so bad once you get to know him," he said, ruffling the fur on Warfrost's neck.

The cat let out an angry meow, swatting at Curgelek's hand. The goblin chuckled and moved to sit on the dirt floor, pulling Warfrost into his lap. The cat struggled briefly before settling, his eyes narrowed in a glare.

"That's a good kitty," Curgelek cooed, stroking Warfrost's back. "You're going to be the best pet ever."

The cat meowed again as if to tell him no.

One of the younger goblin children, a mischievous glint in their eyes, reached out and poked Warfrost's belly. The cat hissed and swiped, catching the child's finger with his claws.

"Ow!" the goblin yelped, quickly pulling their hand back. "I wanna eat it!"

Curgelek's eyes widened, and he tightened his grip on the cat. "No, no, we don't eat the cat," he said firmly. "He's our new friend, remember?"

The child pouted, their sharp teeth bared in a scowl. "But I'm hungry," they whined, eyeing Warfrost hungrily.

Curgelek sighed, knowing he would have to keep a close eye on his more impulsive offspring. "I'll get you some scraps from the kitchen," he promised, "but the cat stays with us, understand?"

The child reluctantly nodded, their gaze still fixed on Warfrost. Curgelek breathed a sigh of relief, turning his attention back to the other children, who were now petting the cat with more confidence.

The cat seemed to be growing slightly more comfortable, though his body remained tense, and he eyed the goblins warily. Curgelek couldn't help but chuckle at the cat's obvious discomfort.

"Don't worry, cat," he murmured, "you'll get used to it here. This is your new home now."

Warfrost let out a pitiful meow in response, and Curgelek felt a pang of sympathy for the poor creature. He knew it would take time for the cat to adjust, but he was determined to make him feel at home.

Suddenly, a loud crash from the kitchen caught Curgelek's attention, and he turned to see the mischievous goblin child trying to climb onto the counter, their sights set on a plate of scraps.

"Hey, get down from there!" Curgelek barked, carefully setting Warfrost aside and rushing to intervene.

Curgelek's heart raced as he rushed to stop the mischievous goblin child from reaching the plate of scraps. With a firm grip, he yanked the child back down to the dirt floor, eliciting a shriek of protest.

"What did I say about the kitchen?" Curgelek scolded, his voice sharp. "You know you're not allowed up there without my permission."

The child glared up at him, their small fists clenched in defiance. "But I'm hungry!" they whined, their sharp teeth bared.

Curgelek sighed, running a hand over his face. "I know, I know. But you have to wait your turn, understand? Now go back and play with the cat."

The child opened their mouth to argue, but a sudden commotion from the other side of the room caught his attention. Curgelek whirled around to see one of his older children, their hands wrapped around the cat’s neck. The cat was hissing and struggling in their grasp.

"Hey, stop that!" Curgelek barked, rushing over to the scene. "I told you, we don't eat the cat!"

The child looked up, eyes wide with surprise. "But he bit me!" they protested, tightening their grip on the cat.

Warfrost let out a desperate yowl, his claws raking at the child's hands. Curgelek quickly pried the child's fingers away, scooping the cat into his arms.

"That's enough!" he growled, glaring at the assembled children. "The cat is not for eating, do you understand? He's our new pet, and you're going to treat him with respect."

The children shuffled their feet, their expressions a mix of disappointment and defiance. Curgelek knew he would have his work cut out for him, keeping these rambunctious younglings in line.

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The cat squirmed in his grasp, eyes wild with fear. Curgelek tightened his hold, trying to soothe the cat with gentle strokes.

"Shh, it's alright," he murmured, "I won't let them hurt you."

Warfrost let out a low growl, his fur standing on end. Curgelek could see the panic in the cat's eyes, and he knew he had to act quickly.

"Alright, listen up," he said, addressing his children. "I'm going to take the cat to my room, and you're all going to stay out, understand? No one is to bother him, or there will be consequences."

The children grumbled, but Curgelek could see the fear in their eyes. They knew better than to defy him when he was in this mood.

Curgelek hurried to his small, cramped room, the cat still clutched tightly in his arms. He gently set the cat down on the makeshift bed, trying to ignore the way Warfrost's body tensed at his touch.

"There, you're safe now," he murmured, stroking the cat's head. "I'm sorry about the children, they can be a handful."

Warfrost let out a pitiful meow, his green eyes darting around the room. Curgelek could see the fear and uncertainty in the cat's gaze, and he felt a pang of sympathy.

"Don't worry, you'll get used to it," he said, trying to sound reassuring. "This is your new home now, and we're going to take good care of you."

Warfrost let out a low growl, his fur raised. Curgelek sighed, knowing it would take time for the cat to trust him and his family.

Suddenly, a loud crash from the main room caught Curgelek's attention, and he rushed out to see what had happened. To his dismay, he found one of the younger children standing on the counter, their grubby hands reaching for the plate of scraps.

"I thought I told you to stay out of the kitchen!" Curgelek shouted, striding over to the child.

The young one whirled around, eyes wide with fear. "But I'm hungry!" they wailed, voice echoing through the small hovel.

Curgelek's grip tightened as he yanked the child down from the counter, his patience wearing thin. "That's it, you're going to your room," he growled, dragging the child towards the back of the hovel.

The child struggled against his grip, their sharp nails scratching at his hands. "No, I don't wanna!" the child cried, voice rising to a shrill shriek.

Curgelek gritted his teeth, determined to maintain control. "You're going to your room, and you're staying there until I say otherwise," he said firmly, shoving the child into the small, cramped space.

The child let out a wail of protest, but Curgelek slammed the door shut, cutting off the sound. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart.

As he turned to check on Warfrost, a sudden movement caught his eye. To his horror, he saw the other children surrounding the cat, their hands reaching out to grab him.

They must have gone all the way to his room and grabbed the cat again. This was getting really old, really quickly!

"Hey, get away from him!" Curgelek shouted, rushing over to the scene.

But he was too late. One of the children had already snatched Warfrost up, their sharp teeth bared in a menacing grin.

"I'm gonna eat him!" the child cried, their grip tightening around the cat's neck.

Warfrost let out a desperate yowl, his claws raking at the child's face. Curgelek lunged forward, desperate to save the cat.

"No, stop!" he shouted, his hands reaching for Warfrost.

The child jerked back, startled by Curgelek's sudden intervention. Warfrost seized the opportunity, twisting free from the child's grasp, and darting towards the door.

Curgelek's heart sank as he watched the cat disappear through the doorway, his orange fur vanishing into the darkness of the goblin grotto.

"No, come back!" Curgelek cried, rushing after the fleeing cat.

But Warfrost was too fast, disappearing into the maze of tunnels and caverns that made up the goblin stronghold. Curgelek skidded to a halt, his chest heaving as he realized he had lost the cat.

Frustration and despair welled up inside him, and he let out a guttural scream of anguish. His children had ruined everything, and now Warfrost was gone, lost in the depths of Keggma's Grotto.

Curgelek's heart raced as he dashed down the dark tunnels, searching frantically for any sign of the escaped cat. His mind was a whirlwind of panic and frustration.

He'd been wrong to think they were old enough to handle having a cat for a pet. He should have known they would try to eat it.

How could he have been so foolish? Now the cat was loose in the treacherous maze of the goblin stronghold, and Curgelek knew he had to find it before anyone else did, otherwise they would eat him.

As he rounded a corner, he nearly collided with a group of fellow goblins, who eyed him curiously.

"Hey, Curgie, what's the rush?" one of them asked, a crooked grin spreading across his face.

Curgelek slowed to a halt, trying to catch his breath. "The cat," he panted, "the one I brought back. It got away!"

The goblins exchanged amused glances, their sharp teeth glinting in the dim light.

"Ah, so that's what all the fuss is about," one of them chuckled. "Word's been spreading through the grotto. Seems those Danvers folk are up in arms about it."

Curgelek's eyes widened. "Danvers?" he echoed, his heart sinking. "What do you mean?"

The goblin leaned in, his voice lowered to a conspiratorial whisper. "Apparently, three of them are camped near the swamp pit's edge. One's some big, burly half-Dwarf, one's a monk kid, and the third one is an old woman in leathers like a ranger."

Curgelek's stomach twisted with dread. "Adventurers?" he murmured, his mind racing. "That can't be good."

The goblins cackled, clearly delighting in Curgelek's discomfort. "Ah, you should've seen the look on their faces when they realized you'd snatched the cat," one of them said, elbowing his companion.

"Scouts overheard the old woman with white hair talking about her orange cat," another goblin chimed in. "Reckon that's why they came here."

Curgelek felt a chill run down his spine. The thought of facing off against hardened adventurers was enough to make his knees tremble. He knew the goblins of Keggma's Grotto were a tough lot, but they were no match for experienced warriors.

"Did they say anything else?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

The goblins shrugged. "Gonna' kill every last one of us cause of some cat. You done a good one this time, Curgie. Doomed us all."

Curgelek nodded, his mind racing. He had to find that cat, and fast, before these Danvers folk made good on their threat.

"Thanks for the information," he said, turning to leave. Under his breath, he muttered, "jeez, it's just a cat, lady."

"Hey, Curgie, where you going?" one of the goblins called after him.

Curgelek paused, glancing back over his shoulder. "I've got a cat to catch," he said grimly, before hurrying off down the tunnel.

Suddenly, a deep, booming voice echoed through the tunnel, and Curgelek froze in his tracks.

"Well, well, if it isn't our friend Curgelek," the voice rumbled, and Curgelek felt his heart skip a beat.

He turned to see a group of Keggma's Enforcers approaching, their massive frames casting long shadows in the dim light. Curgelek swallowed hard, his hands trembling.

"Keggma's been looking for you," one of the Enforcers growled, his beady eyes narrowing. "Heard you've got something he wants."

Curgelek felt a lump form in his throat. "I-I don't know what you're talking about," he stammered, cursing himself for stuttering.

The Enforcers exchanged glances, their lips curling into cruel smiles. "Oh, we think you do," one of them said, taking a step forward. "Word has it you've got an orange cat that's got the whole grotto in a tizzy."

Curgelek's heart raced as he glanced down the tunnel, desperately searching for an escape route. "I don't have any cat," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

The lead Enforcer let out a bellowing laugh, the sound echoing through the narrow passage. "Don't play dumb with us, Curgie," he growled, his hand moving to the hilt of his sword. "Keggma wants that cat, and he wants it now."

Curgelek's mouth went dry as the Enforcers advanced, their shadows looming over him. He knew he couldn't outrun them, and the thought of facing Keggma's wrath made his stomach churn.

"I-I don't have it," he stammered again, his eyes darting around frantically. "Check my home, I swear I don't have it!"

The Enforcers paused, exchanging puzzled glances. "Multiple goblins confirmed you done had the orange cat. You can't lie to us!" one of them echoed, his brow furrowing.

Curgelek nodded, his heart pounding in his ears. "Y-yes, it...it escaped just minutes after I got back from the raid. I couldn't stop it."

The lead Enforcer narrowed his eyes, studying Curgelek's face for any sign of deception. After a long, tense moment, he let out a frustrated sigh.

"Alright, Curgie, we'll take your word for it," he said, his grip on his sword loosening. "But if we find out you're lying..."

He let the threat hang in the air, and Curgelek felt a shiver run down his spine.

"I-I'm not lying," he insisted, his voice barely above a whisper. "The cat is gone."

The Enforcers exchanged another glance, then turned and began to make their way back down the tunnel. Curgelek watched them go, his knees trembling with relief. He leaned against the dirt wall and then rested there.

As soon as they were out of sight, Curgelek let out a shaky breath, his heart slowing to something more normal. He couldn't believe he'd managed to avoid Keggma's wrath, at least for now.

But he knew it was only a matter of time before the Enforcers would be back, and he had to find that cat before they did. Had he really just doomed the entire grotto by taking a random cat from some random lady?

Steeling himself, Curgelek turned and hurried down the tunnel, his mind racing with a newfound determination. He had to find that cat, no matter what it took.

Perhaps he would go to the amusement park. Yes, that sounded good. There were two primary entrances and exits from the grotto. One was from above, through the big giant sinkhole in the swamp. The other was from a cliff facing far away, where swamp water drained through an underground river.

Between the second and third levels of the grotto was a large cavern, and in that cavern was an amusement park. He liked the place, even though it was falling into serious disrepair.

Maybe the cat went there. It was where he would go if he was a cat.