We have been isolated from our progenitors, six months now. And from what I’ve learned from grandpa Geist, foreign enemies are closing in our territory each passing day.
The men have difficulty hunting, because they try to avoid them. And unlike the image I previously had, they’re only ogres in name, at least most of them.
This community is composed of three races, such as goblins, hobgoblins and ogres.
Ogres are big, and are naturally muscular. They have tusks, and normally two and some meters tall. The Chief was one of the biggest ogres around, it seemed.
Unlike them, goblins are small. Being about a meter, they are way weaker than ogres. Their strength equals that of ten year old, naturally. They have less intelligence than most creatures, but they’re known for their sneak attacks and for using multiple people against one. They are one of the few “intelligent” races to be able to reproduce more than humans.
At last, the hobgoblins are in between ogres and goblins. They are the born from a goblin and another humanoids relationship, because of this they are a variety of hobgoblins. They normally have the strength of a human, but depending on the parents and way they were raised, it could be higher or lower.
Our small tribe is located in a cave of the tallest mountain around, but its exit leads to the middle of the forest. We are about fifty or plus, being 10 ogres, 5 hobgoblins and about 30 or so goblins.
The death of the chief was an unexpected shock to the tribe, that asked the gods help but got the death of their leader in return.
Because of this, their faith seems to be declining. And my and the other “newborns” isolation is making it worse.
While all of this was happening, the oldman was trying to teach everything he could. He knew it was hard, because the only thing I could do was hear him and there was no means for me to communicate with him. Species like these were normally illiterate, so there was no way for me to write my answers to him.
The languages he knew how to speak were, the ancient language, which he knew only the basics for a ritual. And the normal goblin/ogre language.
He tried to teach me the normal language. But of course, these were hard times for me, as there many things I wanted to ask and communication wasn’t the only problem. I couldn’t pratically do anything, and maybe it’s a side effect of my reincarnation but I feel like biting and playing a bit too much.
***
As the months passed, we reached winter and Geist, decided to take us out of isolation. He warned me about my behavior, then he took us to the tribe.
I met my mother again and tried to acted like the oldman said, but once again, how could I resist not getting emotional toward the woman who gave birth to me. I guess it’s instinct.
I just loved the warmth of her arms, the touch of her lips, the roughness of her hand. She was indeed, the only one that ever made me feel so comfortable. Maybe she didn’t found out my identity.
Only when I was absorbed in the motherly heat, that I noticed. That compared to other ogres my mother was smaller, actually only a few had a height similar to hers and she doesn’t have big tusks, if you can call it tusks. It seems she’s an hobgoblin.
Then does that mean, I’m or an ogre or an hobgoblin?
While I was contemplating my existence, the druid shouted and caught everyone’s attention.
“As you all know, forest invaders are approaching us in rapid speed. I thought that we could ignored them and hope they’d just pass by, but the worst is possibility is happening, they are coming straight toward us!”(Geist)
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“Why!? You told us that they wouldn’t worry about a low ogre tribe, it’s not like we are High Ogres!”
“The fuck are we going to do?! What the hell do we do?! We have the babies, who can’t even walk, and our leader is fucking dead!”
“Calm down, all of you!”(Geist)
“Shut up, druid! Because of your decision we are basically screwed!”
“I said, CALM DOWN!”(Geist)
Suddenly cave that was in chaos, grew quiet.
“I know my decision was wrong, but now we must think about how we are going to survive this crisis”(Geist)
“But what are going to do? Because of the human scouts, we weren’t able to hunt with efficiency, so even if we leave, we’ll run out of food while find somewhere to settle.”
“Then, we will have to choose who will go, right?”
“We mustn’t leave no one behind.”(Geist)
“How the hell do you even choose something like that?”
“Then what do you propose to do? Our food will only last about three to four days and that’s if we refrain from eating for a while.”
“T-That’s.”
One of the hobgoblins then raised it’s hand.
“I could stay behind. Hobgoblins kind of look like humans, so I could maybe just become a prisoner or maybe nothing will even happen to me.”
“Are you insane!? You may look a bit human, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to treat you like one!”
“It’s true, Moot. I rather not risk your life in it.”(Geist)
“It doesn’t matter, I will stay here.”(Moot)
“Please don’t! Come with your father and me.”
“Do not worry mother, nothing will happen to me.”(Moot)
While the whole situation unfolded, my body started to shake. Then I understood that it wasn’t me shaking, but my mother.
“I will also stay!”
“Mor? No, you will not be allowed to stay here!”(Geist)
“Why?!”(Mor)
“You were one of the few that was given the gene of the chief, which carried the god’s gift! Have you any idea how much we could lose if you, the mother of the gift, just disappeared?”(Geist)
“The mother of the gift?”
“?!”
“P-possible mother! But that doesn’t matter, you will not be left here!”(Geist)
“As long as my son lives, then it is not a problem.”(Mor)
“This is too reckless!”(Geist)
“Who is willing to stay here with me?”(Mor)
“Stupid child! Someone stop her, we can’t lose one of the mothers!”(Geist)
My mother started running, being a hobgoblin she was faster than the goblins, but compared to ogres she was no match. Having reached the entrance of the cave, with me on her arms, a ogre appeared on her side.
“I’m sorry, but we can’t allow you to stay here!”
“Then who will stay? Just Moot? Even if the other Hobs(Hobgoblins) don’t stay behind. There’s a chance that we can delay the scouts and maybe even the army! You can take care of my child, and protect the rest of the tribe.”(Mor)
“What are you saying? You want to sacrifice yourself?!”
“I’ll say it again, if my son lives, then why not?”(Mor)
“Are you really sure about this? You probably won’t be able to see your child again?”
Her eyes look into mine. Her teary eyes. She touched my forehead with her lips while closing her eyes. She lean towards my ear and whispered:
“You will always be my little relic.”
She then gave me to the ogre.
“Take care of him like he’s your own, please?”(Mor)
While seeing his comrade crying her eyes out, he took me with his enormous arms and looked into my eyes.
“What’s your name for him?”
“Is that a bit too soon? Only at two years old, that he is supposed to get his name.”(Mor)
“This may be your last time seeing your child. Make it your last present to him.”
After a while of thinking, she came up with an name.
“His name from now on his ‘Relik’, being my most precious treasure. Take good care of him please.”(Mor)
“I will. You as well, live to see your son someday.”
“I will.”
With that, my mother disappeared from my life.