Gob and Lin were perched high within a tree plucking peaches.

Lin, perched on a low branch, carefully pulled one off and dropped it into a woven basket at the base of the tree. Falling from above, a peach nearly smacked her in the head.

“Come on,” Gob said, twisting one, before yanking it off.

“Careful Gob,” Lin said, “you’re bruising the peaches.”

“Peaches, shmeaches,” Gob said, waving her off. He inched closer, climbing an outstretched branch that had many more fruit on it, however, an obstacle remained in the way. Three little heads popped out of the little bird’s nest, staring directly at Gob before chirping rapidly.

Sliding down the tree, Lin looked up to see what her brother was doing.

“Better learn to fly quickly,” Gob said, gripping the branch and shaking it violently, and peaches began to fall at a fast rate.

“Hey, watch it!” Lin said, running around with the basket attempting to catch the falling fruit.

Suddenly, a hawk swooped in, hastily pecking at Gob’s head.

“OW! Beat it!” he said, swinging at the hawk. “Wa-woooa!” Gob fell from the tree, smacking a couple of branches on the way down before colliding heavily with the floor. “Stupid bird…”

“You asked for it,” Lin said. Gazing at the ground, she sighed, “Half of them are smushed… Come on, help me pick them up.”

“Don’t tell me what to do,” Gob said. Picking up a peach, he tossed it towards the basket. It sailed right past Lin’s outstretched hands, landing on the floor with a splat.

Before Lin could scold him, Lucy came around the corner carrying a basket of her own. Her gray hair was tied back, sweat dripping from her forehead. “You found some more, perfect,” she said, smiling at them both.

“Yeup,” Lin said proudly, running over with the basket. “We’ve almost filled it to the top!”

With a swift step back fade away shot, Gob hollered, “GOBE,” however, it completely missed Lucy’s basket, splatting on Lin’s head. Gob burst into laughter.

“GOB!” Lin shouted. Stomping her foot down while steamed rolled out her ears. “You’re ruining the peaches!”

“You’re ruining the peaches,” Gob mocked, sticking his tongue out at her.

“Hm, fine. I’ll just tell uncle Bog the reason there’s less pie is because you wasted them.” With that, she dashed out of the forest toward their home, leaving Gob scrambling to catch up.

“Don’t!” Gob said, in hot pursuit.

Lucy chuckled softly at their bickering, shaking her head slightly as they disappeared. “For goblins, you’re so much like children.” Leaning down, she placed her hand on her back, before gripping the extra basket and placing it on top of the one she currently held. Slowly, she followed them back home.

As the small cottage home came into view, Lin burst through the door, shouting, “Bog!”

“Shut up!’ Gob said, tackling her.

Around the corner, Bog appeared, though he wore a look of confusion. “Have any of you seen Gio?”

“Let go!” Gob shouted.

Gazing over, he noticed Lin’s foot on Gob’s back, whose stomach was to the floor as she yanked his ears upward. Uncle Bog placed his hands on his waste, tapping his foot slowly. “Ahem.”

Noticing their uncle’s stern glare, “He-he…” Lin let go of his ears, stepping on Gob’s head as she stood to the side innocently with her hands behind her back.

“She was always the better fighter of you two,” Bog said.

“No she’s not!” Gob said. “She just got lucky is all.”

“The last I saw him was yesterday night,” Lin said.

“Could he have run away?” Gob said, rising to his feet.

“That stutter bug ain’t got anywhere else to go,” Bog said. “Perhaps he’s by the river…”

Suddenly, a scream resonated from outside. It sounded like Lucy! The three of them bolted out the door to find Lucy on the ground, surrounded by four goblins.

“Are you crazy!? That’s a grandma you overgrown snotbags. King Obgi would have your heads on a spike for this!” Bog shouted.

The leader of the four goblins, a slightly taller and more menacing figure, stepped forward, causing Gob and Lin to get behind their uncle. “King Obgi,” Ligo said, handing a seal to Bog, “is the one who sent us.”

“What?” Bog eyes narrowed, examining the seal. “This is definitely the seal of the goblin king,” he muttered. “But I still can’t allow you to take her. She’s under the protection of the previous goblin king’s orders, something that can’t be undone regardless of the new king’s commands. Goblin law states the laws can’t be undone for another fifty years.”

“You can tell that to King Obgi yourself,” the leader said, and his men surrounded them.

“Uncle Bog, what’s going on?” Lin said.

“King Obgi has requested your presence to discuss very important matters,” Ligo said, gazing back at Lucy.

***

“So this is where the goblin king stays?” Gob said, gazing at the high castle walls; much of it was already destroyed.

“Humanities last defense,” Uncle Bog said, overlooking the many goblins peering from the high walls; each one brandished a spear with necklaces that had human teeth on them.

Around the corner of the main gate, many snickering goblins ran into a room, followed by one very large female goblin, shutting the door behind them.

“What’s going on in there?” Gob said, hearing them raising a ruckus.

Lin tried to peer over Gob’s head, but a hand gently placed to her back forced her in the other direction.

“This way you little green boogers,” Bog said.

As they neared the main entrance of the goblin king’s quarters, they noticed many human heads displayed on spikes.

“Open the gates!” one of the goblins waiting shouted, after seeing Ligo approach.

Gob’s eyes traced what looked to be a squirrel that had found its way within the castle walls. Peeling off from the group, he whispered, “Come here you little nut muncher.” Creeping behind some rubble, Gob lunged forward. SNAP! Large teeth clamped down right before his face, completely consuming the squirrel in a single bite.

The worg licked its lips, placing a foot closer to Gob. “Never smart to get between a worg and its food,” a goblin riding the worg said.

Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

“Uhm, good worgy,” Gob said, but it snapped at him, causing Gob to run behind the rubble.

“Hahaha,” the goblin laughed seeing him duck and hide. “These snotlings aren’t half the goblins we were growing up.” Veering the creature away, it returned to a pack of other riders that were getting ready to leave the castle.

In the corner, Gob noticed another slightly smaller worg within a cage. It was nursing its wound by licking it; a leg that had been severed about halfway down. Locking eyes with it, it looked sad.

Worgs that couldn’t ride into battle were often set to be killed and distributed as food; undoubtedly this one’s fate.

“Gob,” Lin said from behind, startling him. “Come on, there waiting for us.”

“Okay…” Gob said.

“What’re you doing anyways,” Lin said.

“I saw a squirrel,” Gob said, fire burning in his eyes.

“Ugh, you and squirrels,” Lin said, grabbing his wrist and dragging him in the other direction. As they approached the group, she pushed him forward, saying, “Found him.”

Bog yanked Gob’s ears, causing him to wince, “Hells wrong with you. You don’t keep the goblin king waiting. You trying to end up as goblin stew or something?!”

“Sorry,” Gob said, gazing back as the riders departed.

“Spot checking,” Ligo, the leader of the four goblins said to him.

“Spot checking?” Gob questioned.

“Scoping the fields for any remaining humans. The war may have been won, however, it doesn’t mean a few aren’t somewhere beyond these walls,” Ligo said.

“Come Gob,” Lucy said, gripping his hand as they walked inside.

Inside, as they approached King Obgi, each one of them kneeled.

“Bog,” King Obgi said. “It’s been too long. You look as hideous as ever.”

“Thank you King Obgi, as do you.” Standing upright with the rest, “I see you’ve done some redecorating,” Bog said, gazing at the many arms portrayed as flowers within vases; one of many decorations he had on display.

Growling, around the corner, a large white worg appeared, whereas the rest were normally black. The goblin guards in its path, quickly scurried away, however one tripped onto the floor.

“N-no!” the worg tore into the goblin, chewing him along with the tad bits of armor, before gobbling him up. Other goblin guards snickered at the sight.

“Gore has quite the appetite, you must excuse him,” King Obgi said as the white worg lay at his feet. Positioned above the Goblins head of the table was King Jack’s skull, and his crown now lay on the head of the goblin king.

“Obgi,” Bog began.

“King, Obgi,” he replied.

“Apologies. King Obgi, what’s the meaning of this summons? Your men ruff-housed the grandma in our care. That’s in direct violation of the law?”

“That remains to be seen,” King Obgi said. From around the corner of the king’s chair, Gio appeared.

“Gio?” Lin said.

“Should have known it had something to do with you,” Bog said. “Whatever this green-skinned trash digger did, wasn’t our doing; feel free to do with him as you please.”

“On the contrary, he’s done us quite the favor,” King Obgi said.

“Favor?” Bog said. “What sort of favor could Gio possibly offer, he can’t even tell the difference between his left foot and a mushroom.”

Gio looked down at his foot, noticing a mushroom growing on it.

“Go on,” King Obgi said, gesturing to Gio.

Head hunched lightly over, Gio walked forward. The white worg kept an eye on him, snapping as he neared, causing Gio to quickly run down the few steps before stopping a couple feet away from the rest. “Last n-n-night, I overheard Lu-lu-lucy t-t-talking about something…”

“Gio, don’t,” Lucy said.

A wicked smile spread across his face, “She’s w-w-with child,” Gio said.

“WHAT?!” Gob and Lin said.

“Pipe down,” Bog said to the two. “That can’t be true. She’s practically 65, there’s no way in hell she’d be able to have a child at that age. Besides, Lucy hasn’t had any contact with another human since she’s been brought into our home. We’d have turned them in if so.”

“True, it is very unlikely, however, whose to say she hadn’t met someone prior to her capture?” King Obgi said.

Ligo, the goblin warrior, said, “We only won the war a few weeks ago… Since then, the distribution of grandma’s while proceeding with the executions of the other humans not listed under the law’s protection have gone rather smoothly. It’s not impossible for her to have met someone prior to that last battle.”

“I’m telling you it ain’t true!” Bog said.

“I h-h-heard her say it!” Gio said.

“Shut up you stinkin—” spears swiftly appeared at the neck of Bog, causing him to stop in his tracks.

“Tell me Lucy. Have you had any love interests prior to your capture? I’d hate to have to ask the others to dig the answer out of you.”

Many goblins scratching their butt while gripping their knives, among other things, sneered, chuckling at one another. Not everyone was particularly fond of the law protecting grandmothers.

Lucy, placing her hand on her stomach, recalling moments prior to the Goblins surprise assault on the last remaining kingdom, said, “There was one… He’s dead now.”

The goblin kings smile faded. With a light whistle, the white worg stood up.

Gob stood in front of her, stretching his arms out wide, as did Lin. “You can’t!” Gob said. “She’s a grandma…”

“It’s true, the law protects her from any harm, however, it doesn’t protect the child she bears,” King Obgi said, signaling to the other goblins.

“Wait, King Obgi, there’s got to be another way,” Bog said as he and his family were dragged away from Lucy.

“Let go!” Gob said, biting the finger of a guard off.

“Why you little,” the goblin guard smacked him across the head, knocking him to the floor.

“Gob!” Lin said, kneeling by his side.

“Unfortunately, this is the only way,” King Obgi said.

“King Obgi,” Lucy said. “There’s something else you must know.”

Piqued, he placed his hand up, halting everyone’s approach, saying, “Go on.”

“Not long after the goblins final raid, many of them burst into my home… I’m sure you’re well aware of which trait goblins tend to share that is even more prominent than their lust to kill…” Lucy said.

Everyone was confused, but then King Obgi’s eyes opened wide. He couldn’t utter a single word…

“O-Oh my Gob…” Bog muttered, gazing at Lucy.

“I-Impossible…” King Obgi said.

“I can’t be for certain,” Lucy said. “However, according to one of goblin kinds most sacred laws, goblins must be old enough to wield a weapon before they can kill one anoth—”

“I know Goblin law woman,” King Obgi said. “I’m the one who writes it now.” Biting his long yellow finger nails, he spit them out, contemplating what to do.

Ligo, who was also in shock, said, “King Obgi, what would you have us do?”

“This is quite the development…” King Obgi said. “What say you?”

From the shadows, an old lady approached. She was wearing a tiara that had a shinning emerald in it. Behind her, a dressed decorated in gold embroidery that glimmered against the sun peering in; small bones were stitched to each arm sleeve with a ring on her finger that had the seal of the goblin king on it.

“Queen Malindra…” the many goblins bowed their head.

“She’s the grandmother who killed King Jack, her own son,” Lin muttered.

Malindra circled Lucy, tracing her fingers through the strands of her gray hair. Noticing her earrings, she said, “I recognize you. Lucy, a prolific horse rider, renowned for your skill in performing, and not too bad with a bow if I remember correctly.”

Lucy remained composed. “Those day’s left me long ago.”

“Indeed,” she said, holding up her wrinkly hand. Turning to the goblin king, “It’s too soon to decide. The dungeon should suffice, for now.”

The goblins all sighed, putting their weapons away as the queen turned to leave.

“You heard her,” King Obgi said, and the goblin guards started to escort Lucy from the room.

“Hold it,” Gob said.

“Gob…” Bog muttered.

“How long will you keep her there?” Gob asked.

“For as long as needed,” Malindra said.

“That’s not fair!” Lin shouted.

“Fair?” Malindra turned around. “What’s not fair, is my love being taken from me. Be happy her head isn’t resting on a spike at this very moment along with the rest. Or do you wish to take her place?” Malindra said.

Gulp. “N-no…” Lin said, staring at the floor while placing one hand over the next.

Gob clenched his fist, not knowing what to do.

“It’s fine,” Lucy said to the children, “I’m sure this will all blow over soon enough. Make sure to keep the pies warm for when I get back.”

“But—” yanking Gob’s ear, Bog dragged him away. “Ow, uncle Bog,” Gob said.

“Shut it, before you get us all killed.” Looking at the goblin king, “Seeing as the matter has been settled, we’ll be on our way,” Bog said, giving a slight bow before turning to leave. “Come on Lin.” Bog looked at Gio, “Get your ass over here.”

“Gio will be staying with us,” King Obgi said. “Consider it a parting gift for having our guards go through the trouble of escorting you three all the way here.”

Gio chuckled at Bog as he turned to leave.

Grabbing her uncle’s hand, Lin glanced back once more as Lucy was escorted to the dungeon below.

Back at the cottage, the three of them were at the dinner table, each with a slice of peach pie before them.

Bog was eating his portion, before helping himself to another slice.

“So that’s it?” Gob said in disbelief.

“What?” Bog said. “If you want some eyeballs to top it off, there’s more in the cabinet.”

“I want Lucy back!” Gob said, pushing the plate away, leaving to his room.

Meanwhile, Lin was poking at her food with the fork.

“You not going to eat either?” Bog said, gazing at her.

“I’m not hungry…” she said.

“Fine!” Bog said, pulling her bowl and Gob’s over to him. “More for me!” He shoveled the food down his throat, almost choking in the process. “I- I don’t see what the big deal is. She’s old, she could have died any day now.”

“But, Lucy’s family…” Lin said.

“Meh, we can get more family tomorrow. I even hear the new batch has one in their fifties,” Bog said.

“They aren’t Lucy!” Lin said, sliding the chair back and leaving to her room.

Bog’s mouth was full of peach pie, before he eventually let it fall out as a pile of mush. “Ugh… you kids just don’t understand…” Gazing at the top of the dresser which Gi’s head was in, a photo of him, Lucy and the kids.

Later that night, within her room, Lin was unable to sleep, instead walking over to Gob’s room. “Gob?” she whispered, inching the door open. Peeking in, she noticed him sleeping under the covers. With a light sigh, she gradually closed the door, before stopping as a cold breeze brushed by her. “You’re going to get sick if you leave the window open like that…” she muttered, opening the door and quietly walking into the room. Closing the window which was only slightly open, she glanced over at the bed; Gob wasn’t there! In his place were a few pillows. She had no idea where he could have gone, before at last, it dawned on her. “Lucy…”

Elsewhere in the forest, Gob raced towards the goblin kings castle with a look of anger and determination.