Rain washes away the snow, and the freezing last assault of winter hits my body with intensity, only now that the fury of the battle is gone, do I feel the pain of injuries beneath my flesh, bones cracked, muscles torn apart by the fight against the Knight.

I help Orokur guide the horses through the storm, he shows me a map crudely made by orc hands but still effective, and points at a location where we can find shelter. Before I can say anything he grabs one of the horses and leaves us to go back to Makur. Forcing us to abandon the cart it carried with everything in it.

It is a sight that leaves me, speechless. Gone are the many orcs, constantly speaking with each other, training, and laughing. Now there is only the sound of the downpour around us, sudden lighting splitting the skies.

Maeld hugs her legs, trembling from the cold and I consider giving her my pelt, but it is drenched, the blood so abundant and deep within its fur that not even the heavy rain can wash it away. Luckily, Dubby sees me look at her, and understands my intentions, taking the lid off a barrel and using it to keep her as dry as possible from the rain.

He looks at me expectantly and when I nod he smiles cheerfully.

I struggle to guide the three horses at once, the loaded carts behind them sticking in the growing mud or between the roots of the trees.

But the struggle is short-lived, Fogosh cuts the reins off the two of them, leaving us only with one cart as the others are abandoned and the horses now freed, leave. He takes the map from my hands and begins to silently guide me through the woods.

Eventually, we reach the safe place, an abandoned tower of sorts, crumbling to pieces and made out of stone. The tower is short but wide, and entering it is a pleasant surprise to find ourselves beneath a roof made out of wooden planks that while dripping, keeps the interior dry for the most part.

I imagine the tower must have been huge when it was first erected. The base we take shelter in is big enough to fit a dozen carts with their horses.

For some time nobody moves, Dubby with his blissful ignorance reaches for something to eat from the barrels. Fogosh begins setting up a rudimentary tent for him to sleep in and Maeld remains seated, trembling as she looks at the rain outside the tower.

"Stay away," she tells as I begin to approach her "I need to think. Stay away, please" not bothering to look at me.

So I leave her be and take a moment myself to process what had happened. I was once again met with inminent death, and the thing that I was starting to think I could obtain from the warband was now suddenly gone a home.

No, it is still here. Maeld is alive and well, but it's just no longer about her. I was glad Dubby survived too, and my thoughts about Makur were in disarray, I imagine Maeld feels the same.

My purpose has been challenged. Did I even have one, to begin with?

I lived so long as an animal that I latched on to Maeld just because she resembled just a little bit to Ismeina. I have wanted so long to go back to the tranquility of that life, so long thinking I could find what I had back then.

But now I see it clearly, I have changed. The mind that carried with me from the life I once had, when I was human, it was never complete. And my brain, the grey matter that belongs to this flesh is slowly tainting it.

The enjoyment of the kill, the hunger for the warmth and touch of a woman...It's been gradually growing within me.

I take out my pelt and stare at the empty sockets of the wolf, of the demon. I swear I can hear it chuckle in delight from afar, my pain and doubt amusement for him.

For almost a year I have lived in this body, but only now do I realize that as time goes on, my thoughts, my wants, and my very being becomes more like the creature I am.

I force myself to stop thinking about it. Maeld's body is shaking uncontrollably now, and I rush to look around among the debris and find ancient wooden furniture that can be broken further and made into a campfire. Once I manage to get some fire going near her both Dubby and Fogosh sit around the fire.

My eyes glance at Fogosh from time to time, where was he? And now that I think about it, back when we attacked the caravan he didn't join until every human had been slain, he simply watched us or watched me.

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I thought it had been by Makur's orders, but I know he watches. He has been doing it from the very beginning, and as I ponder about his intentions we lock eyes. He stands up and jerks his head to the side, telling me to follow him.

We walk up to the wide doorway of the tower, its wooden doors lay dug inside the dirt. Fogosh and I stand next to each other, he takes a while to speak, looking outside at the rain as if he thought about his next words carefully.

"You and I got off, the wrong foot" he finally speaks, his words slow, but firm as he glances at me, "I thought you were someone you are not, and I treated badly because of it"

"Are you apologizing?"

"No," he says with a snicker " The way I saw it you deserved every little bit of shit I gave you, for almost killing me and yadda yadda. But I want to leave that behind us, there are few of us now, so is better if we stick together" he turns his body to face me, a subtle grin on his face "You are smart, like me. And between you and Gobby, I would rather have you as an ally than a nuisance"

I study carefully his face, he always conducts himself with this sense of forced poise, and while I don't fully trust his words, he never said to be friends, he just wants us to work together now that there are so few of us...so I nod.

"You know what? You are different, aren't you," he says looking away from me and back to the rain, "I thought at first you were a goblin gone mad, feral as you looked when we fought. But I was wrong, you have an outstanding intellect, but it seems that it goes further beyond that, you don't act like a goblin at all"

I wonder if telling anyone that I am not from this world would change anything. After all, I don't really remember anything solid of my past life, so there is no real point in doing that unless...What If there are others like me? Suddenly I look at Fogosh with new eyes, and he picks up on this.

"Struck gold? It is a strange world we live in, so I wouldn't be surprised if you were not a goblin at all...so, are you?" He takes a step forth, coming closer to me, his eyes looking deep into mine as he tries to silently dig up anything I may be hiding.

"I...I am not"

My reply, even if he made the question, still takes him by surprise, but while he widens his eyes slightly, he manages to keep his cold and calm expression. He looks away, taking a hand to his chin as he chews what I just said.

"You are no demon, and clearly, you are no shapeshifter" he whispers, and then snaps his fingers "You are a human"

I'm, impressed. It could have obviously been a guess made at the moment, but I doubt that's the case. I don't need to respond, my reaction was enough to give him the answer.

"That explains a lot" He chuckles to himself, looking at me differently than before, but I can't tell exactly what is going through his mind now.

"You don't sound too surprised"

"As I said, it makes sense. A true goblin wouldn't throw up at the sight of disemboweled human corpses, especially after being the one to commit the deed" he smiles, but not to me, to himself, proud of figuring it out.

"And you? Are you...not a goblin?"

"I was human. With a different name, and a different face" he looks at the ground for a moment, whatever he remembers makes him frown "But I was cursed by a witch from whom I tried to steal once, I have had to live like a goblin for many years now" He seems to realize something, focusing on me once more "Do you want to be human again?"

What? I had never thought about that possibility. But I also had never been exposed to magic like the one I saw recently, explosions of fire, flying swords and if he could be turned into a goblin, then surely I must be able to become human! I glance at Maeld, and for a moment imagine if I looked like her.

"Can I?

"Yes, there is only one way"

"How" I step closer, my heart beating fast and hard against my chest "How can I become human again"

Fogosh silences me with his finger, placing a hand on my shoulder as he leans in closer, glancing first at Dubby before speaking in a hushed tone.

"Let's keep this conversation between us, alright?" he then leans back, letting go of me "It's simple really, you must find a witch, and force her to turn you into a human" he then laughs softly to himself "Well, that's a lie. It's not simple, you would have to fight against her, beat her, and ensure she won't just turn you into a bug to crush beneath her feet, but it can be done"

I could become a human again? I want to believe his words, but there is doubt.

"Why haven't you tried to become human then?"

"Well..." Fogosh sighs, unbuckling his leather armor and lifting his jacket, he has a large burn mark on his chest "Take this as a sign of trust. I tried to, but I wasn't strong enough, so the witch beat me, and I simply gave up. Embracing my new life as a goblin" he says with his stare lowered, and weight in his words.

"And do you think I could beat one?"

"As you are? Not at all. But with proper training and teaching...I believe you can become a formidable warrior and beat a witch to submission, then, with me with you I can make sure she doesn't cross us, putting a knife to her throat"

I feel all strength leave my legs as I rest on the nearby wall, a life I thought I could never go back to, was now a possibility. With its risks for sure, but it is still a chance. To shed this flesh, and return to what I should be.

"What do I have to do?" I ask, looking up at him, even if we are the same height, now, he looks taller than I.

"Train. Makur will survive, he is too stubborn to die like that and I know you have a gift with herbs, I managed to save our rudimentary medicine before we had to flee, so you will tend to his wounds, he is an old-fashioned warrior and he will be indebted to you. Use that, ask him to train you to the best of his abilities, learn well, and when you become strong enough, we will leave to find the same witch that cursed me" he grabs me by the shoulder side hugs me as if we were old friends "Can you do that?"

"I can"

"I know you can. Don't worry, I will teach you everything you need" he says before letting go of me and leaving me alone next to the doorway.

The downpour doesn't let up, instead, I believe it's raining even harder than before.