Snarl has gotten used to the strange work the giant does, even if its tiny hands did similar things on smaller scales. But snarl did a lot, faster, and tiring a lot slower. Its body lost the roundness it cultivated during its stay here, and was now more bulky and scary looking. Especially with those talon scars and the snipped ear, it looked like it had a fight with a rabbit and won, and rabbits were pretty vicious.
More goblins tried to challenge Snarl over the last few days, as well. None of them were named, and they were not a challenge to Snarl, even after losing its mighty belly. The goblin with the fat butt tried to mock Snarl’s lack of belly, but it was soon taught that real strength comes from the name, not just from the belly.
And speaking of belly…
Snarl sunk its face into the porridge and devoured it in an instant. Food was going scarcer and scarcer, but Snarl was grateful that Nana was sharing her food while taking smaller portions herself.
Things must be rough this winter.
Snarl stood up and carried the bowl above its head, and carried it into the cleaning place, where Nana would wash the food eating containers until they smelled nice. The giant always looked so grateful when Snarl helped her with the work. And that in turn made snarl happy.
“You are being awfully helpful lately, aren’t you?” Nana said as she carried her own bowl and placed it in the cleaning area with a clang. “I think I’ll leave the cleaning for later,” she gave him a tired smile.
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Snarl tilted its head, receiving a pat from her before she turned and walked to her bed with slow, deliberate steps. “Don’t break anything now.” Snarl waited until she was in her bed and sleeping before rushing to the window.
It was a slow, quiet day. The snow was thawing, indicating the soon arriving spring. Silent Death was camping the spot, it refused to leave until it was starving and had to find another meal. No one escaped Silent Death, no one escaped it.
No one but Snarl.
That won’t last for long, if the bird kept on glaring at the opening Snarl made with vicious, beady glares. Other goblins have tried to approach the place to find more challenges every now and then, but the recent overwatch of Silent Death made a lot of them stay in the shadows of the bushes, behind the bark of the trees.
Even if spring arrived, even if summer did. The bird will not let go of this grudge, and Snarl will remain a prisoner of this cave, not a Warrenlord. And the great Warrenlord of Nana’s cave was not a slave goblin.
Snarl needed to take action against Silent Death, somehow. Or defeat it. And for that, it will have to remember the old legends, and find the ancient courage.
Silent Death glared at Snarl, sensing the enmity that pulled against the both of them, without a doubt, before it flew off. Another attempt to trick Snarl and the other goblins that the area was safe before it struck again.
One of the challenging goblins jumped into the opening to cross the distance and challenge Snarl, only to meet the fate Snarl knew it would. Becoming a meal for Silent Death, it developed a deep hunger for goblin meat it seems.
There had to be a way to defeat the bird, Snarl grumbled, turning away from the horrible carnage. And Snarl was going to find it.