Time slowed to a crawl, at least for Grimaline. The world was no longer spinning, and she was suddenly very aware of her own heavy breathing, as it devolved into absolute panic. Humans, right here in the Undercaves? How did it happen? Did some idiot really guide them back here? One of them was standing taller than the others, a woman with a tall black hat and a red cape. She was speaking, but the words felt strange, jambled, impossible to decipher. Grimal knew it had to be some sort of spiel, a speech to read to captured prey…

As the men behind her lifted their weapons and took aim, Mama Grimal’s eyes looked at the others. Some of them were picking up their own weapons, crude knives and axes. The more intelligent of them though, they looked at her and thought the very same thing she was thinking.

How to get out of here.

Her eyes then looked down on her beloved little Olk. He was too young to really understand the danger they were in. He was afraid, yes, but his eyes were looking up at her, hopeful, as if she could really do anything in this situation…

The old goblin’s heavy breathing only got worse, especially when one of the damn young chieftains spoke up. Time returned to its natural flow.

“What have you done with my clan, you bastard taint-lickers!?”

The woman with the cape did not answer, smiling with much satisfaction.

That youngling was ready to rage and jump at them, but that upstart goblin from before tried to speak up.

“W-We will leave, if that’s what you want! Just let us go!”

An arrow flew right past the upstart, forcing him to shut up and jump out of sheer fear. These humans, they could not be reasoned with, did they even listen? Could they even understand their language!?

Fight or flight, fight or flight. Grimal’s mind spun like a coin flipping in the air. Her fear was overwhelming… but she had faced odds like these before. Maybe, just maybe…

“Fire!” One man screamed.

Her body made a decision before she did. She grabbed Olk, grabbed her Hammer, and ran. Ran as far and fast as she could, panting heavily while arrows began to rain around her. They were armed with crossbows, those were inaccurate enough to keep safe if you serpentine your way.

Grimal ran like the wind, feeling like arrows flew right beside her, some of them even managing to pierce holes in her poncho as she took cover behind one of the giant mushrooms. There, she put Olk on the floor and looked him in the eye.

“Run.” She ordered. “Run and don’t look back. Get back to the Boiling Muds and tell them to get ready to go. We’re leaving.”

“B-But Mama Grimal! I can’t leave you…” The boy pouted heavily.

“Do as I say!” She barked, not really caring for the boy’s feelings in such an intense time, before she turned to look out of their cover.

The smarter goblins had managed to hide behind something, be it a mushroom or the stone slab itself, to avoid the first volley of arrows. Unfortunately, not everyone was so intelligent: several bodies laid on the ground, trembling, twitching, trying to take the arrows out of their bodies before losing all strength.

The human horde was approaching. Again, Grimal felt the need to run, run as far as she could. But a strange sense of duty kept her there, at least until the boy ran off as quietly as possible. As long as the critter kept himself away from the light of those torches, he should be fine…

The woman with the cape screamed manically something that no goblin took the time to understand, all while holding a torch with one hand and a little crossbow with the other. She was reloading… this was the perfect moment to strike. But Grimal hesitated, biting down her lower lip.

Another youngun ran from the dark, jumping and slamming a rock deep into one of the human’s faces, forcing him down on the ground as he desperately slammed over and over, only to be shot by the others.

Grimal gulped. That was definitely her if she jumped in… so instead of trying to help, the goblin closed her eyes, and ran once more.

Her steps were heavier, thanks to the hammer on her back, so she was immediately spotted.

“There it is! After it!” One of the humans yelled, while the other goblins in hiding began to scatter all around the caves.

This meeting had been an absolute disaster, but at least the conclusion was very clear: they were no longer safe in the Undercaves, and they had no other option than to follow the Dragon’s orders.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Grimal could hear how the humans following her started to scatter as well, probably distracted by some of the others… but looking back, she could always see the caped woman right behind her, soon abandoning her crossbow and pulling a long, shiny sword from her waist. This huntress wanted to be close and personal, it seems…

As the others left, Mama Grimal suddenly felt… a little confident. It was only one human, right? She could probably take her in a fight, right!? With a sharp, sudden turn, she jumped as high as her tired legs let her and tried to slam the woman right in the face! The weight of that weapon should be enough to at least daze her.

But the Huntress blocked with that sword, runes suddenly visible on the blade as it absorbed all the force behind that hit. Grimaline realized her mistake, and the bad situation she was suddenly in.

“The Gods have blessed me with their gifts, filth!” The woman roared “Your brutish strength is NOTHING compared to the embrace of the Holy ones!”

Desperate, Grimal attacked again right as she landed on the floor, slamming her hammer once, twice, three times in a row! Her arms screamed in pain from the sudden, intense use she was giving them, but there was no real time to languish and suffer! Sadly, every time the result was the same: the Huntress blocked the hit with her sword, and the force behind each swing simply disappeared; only a few sparks flew from each impact, and that would be it.

The goblin grandmother fell to her knees for a moment, panting heavily while the Huntress raised her weapon, getting ready to execute Grimal… but then, a voice from the dark screamed.

“GOLTHOI!”

The human could barely react before a big flame suddenly burst from her left boot. She screamed, jumping back and trying desperately to extinguish it, while two other goblins suddenly jumped from the sides and tripped the distracted Huntress with a long piece of rope.

“Run, run!” Yelled one of them. Grimal didn’t need to be told twice.

The group immediately ran, and as they did, Grimaline picked up a little critter on her way. Olk had refused her orders and stayed behind to help… which honestly, left some bittersweet taste on the elder’s mouth.

“I told you to leave!” She chastised the little creature as she ran.

“I can’t leave you Mama Grimal! I love you!” The boy protested.

Grimal looked to her sides, spotting Ilma the Messenger and that damn upstart running beside her. With a grumble, hating to have to depend on these people, the old lady guided the group to one of the many openings on the Fields. She stopped, letting the other two keep running, and then whispered to Little Olk’s ear.

“Look at the exit, see those green mushrooms?”

“T-The ones you told me not to touch?” The boy asked nervously.

“Light them up. Now!”

The boy didn’t hesitate, he loved having chances to use his talent. He pointed at the mushrooms with a finger, calling the magical word… and the flames burst, illuminating the way and showing how the Huntress was right back on their track, before the bursting toadstools changed colour from green to a bright red.

And suddenly exploded in a huge burst of flames and heat.

Rocks fell everywhere. Grimal had to hold her grandson again and run as fast as she could, letting the caves fall down behind her. And then, silence. The way was blocked, at least for now, and they could no longer hear the screams of goblins fighting and dying in the distance. Grimaline sighed in relief, taking a moment to finally sit down and breathe heavily, while he heard the steps of Ilma and the upstart, approaching them doubtfully.

“What was that? What did he do!?” The upstart asked with a mixture of awe and indignation.

“Something you won’t be telling anyone about.” Barked Grimal, still laying on the floor. “He saved our asses. You better keep your mouth shut, you…”

“The name’s Pramok.” The upstart said, before sitting down as well and panting softly. Grimal wasn’t the only one tired. “...But thank you, kid…”

Little Olk smiled, jumping up and down a bit while Ilma came to sit by Grimaline, patting her belly.

“Are you alright, miss Chieftain?” She asked.

“I will be. But there’s no time to wait for that…” Slowly the old lady forced herself back on her feet. “We need to warn the others. Everyone must know… we are leaving this place.”

Pramok the contrarian was ready to say ‘I told you so’, but a glaring look from Grimaline was enough to make the young man shut up.

“You can come with us… unless you want to find your way back to your clans. I ain’t stopping you.” The grandmother said, taking a few little breaths in before starting to walk. She had no time to really look after anyone but her clan now. Ilma looked around and soon after followed the group, while Pramok, clearly a bit more hesitant, eventually sighed and walked too.

The way back would take them much less time, considering they didn’t really stop for food or rest. They didn’t have the time to.

Arriving at the Boiling Muds by the end of the next night, their arrival was announced by Ilma and her snail conch. Everyone around immediately gathered, smiling nervously at first.. only to see the sorry state of their representatives.

“What happened!?” Olk’s mother cried in, quickly snatching her kit. “Come here, you. What have you done!?”

“I-I did nothing mumma I swear!” The little critter complained.

“This is the work of humans… they have found their way into our lands.” Grimal announced, to everyone’s sudden fear and dismay. “We don’t have any time to waste. Pack your things, only what’s necessary… we’re leaving.”

The clan looked at each other, trembling, fearing, already conjuring some doubts… but they didn’t have the bravery to argue. With a dejected sigh, the group scattered around and scrambled to pick up their things. Tents, bedrolls, food and water, all they could carry on their backs.

Pramok looked at Ilma, whispering something to the messenger… but she didn’t take it well, grumbling and smacking the other goblin with her open hand.

“This is no moment to spread doubt!” Ilma said, lifting her nose in indignation.

“It is a legitimate question!” Pramok said, before looking at Grimal. She was laying on the floor again. “Where will you take us, Mama?”

The old lady, tired and annoyed, looked at the younger goblin and grumbled.

“Anansi said to seek the sea… there’s only one way to the closest sea.” At least, one that she could still remember. “We are following the Danube river to its delta.”

There was silence then. Pramok didn’t know enough of the surface to really know if this was a bad idea… so he just accepted it. Ilma carefully helped Grimal back on her feet.

“Now you two, help me pack our things… we have a lot to prepare for.”

The two younger goblins nodded, rushing up the hill to go to the Chieftain’s hut. Meanwhile, Grimaline looked at her own hand for a moment, curious. If it wasn’t for Olk, she would have died right there… she had to admit that those magic tricks had been real useful.

“Golthoi…” She whispered, fearful, as if expecting a fire to burst from her hand. But nothing happened.

With a dejected sigh, the elder shook her head and began walking. This wasn’t the time to dream of magic like a youngling. Now, this was the time for action.

And action was taking them all back to the surface.