Hilda's point of view

As Kite has grown... I've started to dislike him more and more. The young child who would save a girl from a pack of goblins is now far more cold towards everything. I first started noticing this when he started using slave collars. It started with one person, then grew too having slave collars on all the pirates he's captured. There could have been a different method to fight against them. He could have just.... I don't know, destroyed there ship and stranded them on an island. Because I no longer believe in the leader, I have started thinking of leaving here...

Gobber was taken away by Kite to do who knows what. Leaving his pets here for me to watch on top of watching the children. They are doing an okay job of distracting each other though… So that is good. All of them have paired off, each child being watched and playing with a pet. I feel slightly uneasy by having animals around my children but… What can I do. They are the leader of the armies pets… Not much I can say about it… Even if I don't like it.

It is calm enough, nothing bad has happened yet… Maybe I've just been working myself up. I want my children to live normal lives. Because of this, once they are old enough to travel. Gobber and I have decided to leave the army. Heading somewhere that they can grow up and live normal lives. Because of this reason, I have tried to let them not get to attached to anyone outside our family. Kline is the sole person to be against this rule.

It would be far easier to just pawn my children off onto the daycare. I have refused their service for this reason. Everything needs to be taken very carefully, if they grow attached to too many people, they will not want to leave. I'm doing this because, just being around Kite is dangerous. Even though we're at peace right now. He pushes unnecessary war on us. We don't have to fight the pirates. We can just wait and see if they show up. They might not even come if we leave them alone.

I do understand that it will be difficult for my children. Being as they are goblins, I doubt many cities or towns would ever take us in. I still think it would be better than risking my children's lives. One bad time we'll have finding a new home is nothing compared to the constant danger they'll be put in around here. As soon as they are of age, some might want to join his cause… I can't… I won't allow that to happen.

It might be time to leave soon. With this huge battle coming up, he won't mind losing Gobber. Kite will be too busy with the war for a few people leaving to matter. His other friends will be their to fill Gobber's place. I know how close Kite and my husband are but… I don't think their relationship is good. Gobber is constantly put in danger from being around him. I don't want that to happen with my children.

I haven't gotten along with many people since I've been here. Two in particular I had gotten along with were Kattie and Ashley. I liked both of them and over time… They both left this place. Slowly my only two friends here had disappeared. One dying to Kite's cause, the other leaving to live with her family in Shienta. Most likely because she couldn't be around all of this… The location that had put her sister in danger.

Kline has also came to visit. He is my only friend now. I like him because he and Gobber get along. The way he acts also reminds me of what humanity is like. With him here, I feel a little safer. He normally brings food for the children but didn't this time. While he tells them a story I'll go and get them food.

Another reason I dislike living here. All different influences my children could get from. The half if not completely naked lizard women walking around. The gnolls eating as much meat as their faces can fit. Even the demon tribe have many bad habits. A few people stop and talk with me. Several of the females have started to talk to me more and more because of my children. If I wasn't so set on leaving, perhaps we could have been friends.

I grab a tray of food. The food here might be the best part of living in the fortress. Expert chefs prepare every meal, even vegetarian meals that I like. I might miss that the most… That or the pipelines Kite had ran in his downtime. Toilets had started as a weird idea to me until I tried it. The convenience of toilets is something I'm going to miss… I also like the hot springs…

Thinking about it more. This place is far more advanced compared to other towns and villages around the area. The luxury we have here would be very hard to find elsewhere. Money can buy many things but people need to know how to make those things in order to pay them. What do you pay someone who doesn't know how to run pipelines so you can have a working toilet? I have no idea. The luxury is going to be one thing I miss about living here.

The safety of my children comes first. As nice as living here is. It will eventually lead into my daughters going to war. Increasing the chances they die. I can give up everything if it is for the protection of my family. The same goes for Gobber. While it was hard to get him to agree. He finally did, so once he returns. Before Kite can drag him off to war, we'll leave. As I'm walking back with the plate of food, Kline comes rushing up to m-. WHY IS KLINE NOT WITH THE CHILDREN!?

He looks very panicked. Did one of Kite's pets attack my children!? I KILL THEM! Kline yell's towards me.

“You're kids! Something is wrong with them! They're all using superpowers!”

I'm too worried to question what he just said. I need to see for myself. I run passed him and he follows behind me. The entire time I rush back I'm worried about what he meant. Food flies off the plate most likely hitting Kline or landing in front of him. A few steps later I hear him fall behind me as I get close to the door. Opening it I'm both shocked in scared at the sight I'm seeing.

Every child is still with their pet. Each pet had taken a liking to a different girl. This is where it had gotten weird. None of the children had any classes yet. Some of the time, 1-2 classes roll over from the parents. That is how humans work. Goblins are different. None of them had any classes. How is each using what appears to be magic then?

The child with the ferret was using what looked like healing magic. It swirled around her, it was unlike any healing magic I have ever seen before. It had almost a brown look to it. All my daughters look very similar, very cute little girl versions of their father. Two have strands of golden blonde hair but mostly green. The one with the most blonde hair was Hilda junior… She was the one who was casting healing magic.

The child near the giant wolf had started transforming, only slightly though. Taking the appearance of a half wolf/goblin. She scratched herself with her leg and let out a little howl. I can't tell which one this was, 4 of them just look too similar to tell apart… Even as their mother, I struggle to.

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The next child standing near the little cat girl had resurrected the corpse of a dead mouse Gobber had crushed in the corner and didn't have the time to dispose of. I could also see lightning running through her hair periodically. As if by touch I would be hurt by a static shock. The mouse corpse was rolling around and doing tricks while the cat and child both laughed at the tricks. Looking closer to her… I noticed two cat ears poking out of her head where regular ears should be.

The one being watched by the little blue boy almost emanated cuteness. I now noticed the pitcher of water I had in the room had been tipped over and shattered on the ground. Between her hands was a ball of water she was keeping mid air without touching it. She was the only one with enough strands of blonde in her hair to differentiate. This one was Goblynn.

The one standing closest to the fox had blue fire in her hands. She attempted to juggled three fireballs mid air before one crashed down onto the ground. While I expected it to blow up or at the minimum leave a scorch mark on the ground. When it struck, it did nothing. It was as if the fire was a mere illusion. Looking closer I noticed her ears were different. Like she had taken a pair of fake fox ears and put them over her head. But they weren't fake.

The final child, the one with the bat on her shoulder looked at me. She was the only one without something weird happening to her at first glance. Then I noticed a faint wind coming from her. As I thought that, I heard her say.

“Why is all the food falling off the tray mommy? You should try to be less clumsy. *giggle*”

When she had spoken to me. Her mouth didn't open. When she giggled, she did have a smile on her face. I think she just talked to me telepathically… What the hell is happening? I call out loudly now.

“What did you animals do to my daughters!?”

The wolf man looks around seeing if anyone else is going to respond and then answers.

“I'm not 100% sure but… I think we all imprinted onto the children… I'm not sure though.”

“What does that even mean?”

The little cat girl steps forwards next.

“It means we gave them a portion of our powers stupid! How do you not know that by looking at all the cool things they're doing right now.”

The closest daughter to her. One I now recognized as Gobit. My shyest daughter now yells at me.

“Ya stupid!”

Taking the same pose the cat girl had taken. The wolf man only breaths a sigh before continuing to speak.

“They also take after our personalities somewhat and will want to copy some of the things we do. Your daughters might develop some animal tendencies… The only reason I know this was because my last pack leader was able to imprint on his child to pass on their legacy… I think because of the age of the children… The same thing might have happened with all of us.”

I fall to the ground and start sobbing uncontrollably. Hilda Jr. approaches me and casts a heal on me. Then says.

“Why is momma crying?”

“Because… I waited too long to leave here. You all had a chance at a normal life and now you've all been changed by just living around here.”

Morpheus' point of view

I finally made it back to my village. From the time it had taken the beast riders to take me from here to the fortress. I had expected it to be far longer. The rations Kite had left me were all long gone. The food I had to forage for did slow my trip down some but I was still surprised by how fast I made it here. I had transformed into a version of Darkclaw to fly, his body just feels more natural to fly in then anything else. A heavy animal like that would normally take more out of me but when flying… I barely have to move in his body. It is more aerodynamic than any other creature I've tried.

I approach the rock out cove where my family should be. Once I get close I see my family. My wife hisses at me before I realize I'm still in Darkclaw form. Switching back into my natural transformling body… She still doesn't recognize me but does know that I am one of her kind and settles down somewhat. It takes me a few seconds to remember how to speak with her.

“Hey… I'm back.”

I almost don't recognize my own voice. It has been that long since I've said it and with my new form it is different then what it was. She looks at me confused, then realizes who I am.

“What!? What happened to you?”

I see three little changlings poke their heads out from underneath their mother. I instinctively let a smile cross my face. Tears start to well in my eyes at the sight of my children. I barely get out any words.

“Your dad is home kids.”

They all approach me. The warm reception I was expecting where they would jump on me shouting. "Daddy... But that didn't happen...

It is like they don't even recognize me. When they approach me that cautiously, I start to feel brokenhearted. One finally recognizes me and tries to jump onto my back but can't because I've gotten so much bigger. My wife continues her line of questioning.

“Where have you been for all these months? We thought you left and got killed… Do you know how hard it is to get food by myself?”

“I know… I'm back… I've come to talk about maybe moving somewhere safer. My master will let us all live with him.”

“Master? What are you talking about Morpheus. We're monsters, our only master is the god of death.”

Fear shoots through me… I had forgotten what it was like to be without a master. I remember something that master… That Kite had said… It was okay to live with my family if they didn't want to return… What kind of father would I be then? This world is far to unsafe to have children hiding in a cave while you know a place they can live safely at… I decide to tell a lie.

“Y-ya, that is who I meant. The demigod of death is my master. He said he'll take care of us if we can make it back to him.”

“…Fine. Go catch us a big meal and after we eat, we'll head there with you.”

I instinctively go to change into my human form but realize… That might scare them… I had already killed a deer and had it in my void satchel… I'll hold off on telling them some secrets for now.