A small goblin bared its fangs as it chased another around a tree. It leapt forward and tackled the other to the ground, and pressed the second goblin's face into a pile of leaves. Then the first goblin hopped back up and began to run away. They were both smiling widely.

They're playing, Vakdragnar realized. These are the savage monsters? They seem to be quietly living their lives in a poor forest village.

Vak looked to his companions. They watched at the goblins from their place hidden in the bushes. Braid's eyes were hard to read, though Vak knew what it was he was thinking.

"We should pull back for now," Braid whispered.

It was not that, Vak thought, speechless. Shattershade slowly backed away from the small town. They walked far enough to be out of sight before Braid stopped them.

"Alright," he said. "We can rest up here. They won't travel this far away." The rest of Shattershade began to situate themselves. Vak sat the large pack down but went to speak with Braid.

"Is this wise? We are very close to their village. There is a high chance of discovery."

"Don't worry, Rag. We'll take turns keeping watch. You will be safe."

"They sent a raiding party outside the forest; surely they must patrol the interior as well?"

"Maybe? I think it's more likely that they'll stay clear after that goblin we let live shares his story."

"And if he does not? Or if they do not believe him?"

"Oh, they'll believe him. He's part of their group. For a group to function, its members must be ready to hear one another out," Braid told him in his overly patronizing way.

"That has not been my experience," Vak mumbled under his breath.

"What was that?" Braid asked, looking up.

"It was nothing." Vak lied.

"Look, Rag, they'll likely look for us out on the road, not huddled up right next door. Now let's let the matter drop. We've got a lot to do." Braid told him motioning back toward the pack.

Anka and Dam had begun unpacking and setting up the tents. Cassie was patrolling the border of their camp, taking a few moments to place her hand upon trees. A small flash of fire escaped her palm and tt left a charred print on the bark.

She turned to Vak and smiled at him. He turned from her awkwardly and began helping with the set up of camp. Braid went to collect firewood, and they made a small fire. Vak's suggested to keep the light low and avoid attracting attention. They ignored him.

Braid cooked a pot of beans over the fire for everyone, and Anka took a few minutes to say a prayer over the food, blessing it. Cassie sat next to Vak as they ate their meals.

"So, what do you think about your first day as an adventurer?" She said with that false smile; Vak could no longer ignore it.

"It is not at all like the stories make it out to be,” he replied carefully.

"No, I can't imagine it is." She said.

"The trick is to expect the unexpected," Braid said from across the fire. "That way you won't be surprised by it."

"The unexpected by definition cannot be expected," Vak said letting his day's frustration show.

"Oh, Rag, I have so much to teach you," Braid said, shaking his head. Then he went back to eating.

Vak, let the matter drop. There was no sense in getting angry over something so trivial. Sometimes it was better just to stay silent than intentionally offend people.

After dinner concluded Braid drew them all over to him and with a stick drew a circle in the dirt. "This is the goblin camp." He said, drawing a small mark a bit to the side. "This is us. When first light hits, Cassie and Dam you're going to sneak around to the far side of the village.”

“Dam, you're going to be protecting her while she lets loose with the big magic. Cassie, I want you to light up that side of the village, I'm talking fireballs, and anything big or showy you want to let loose. Drive them back this way where I'll be waiting to pick off any that flee."

"Is this all necessary?" Vak said, surprising everyone else. He steeled himself, remembering the playing goblin children. He must make them understand that attacking these goblins was not necessary.

"It is smart to have a plan, Rag. Without one, we could just as easily injure each other instead of our enemies." Braid answered him.

"No, I mean the goblins. I don't think they went all the way to a heavily populated city to murder a waitress. It just seems insane."

"Goblins aren't rational creatures," Braid said.

"And there was that report from the Grievspair Organization."

"Not this again," Anka said, annoyed.

"I believe that the thief saw something." Vak continued. "What if we're chasing after something more sinister than goblins. What if we are wasting time…"

"Wasting time?" Braid snarled. "Tell that to my friends and family back home! Tell that to the people on the road who were taken by goblins! Even if these are not the things that killed Nina Hale, we have a duty to destroy them."

"I am not…"

"Enough! Rag, you are here to carry our stuff, not give tactical analysis. Eight of the hells man, I can accept that your people are unusually dense and stubborn, but your constant interruptions and flights of fancy are the real waste of time!”

The entire camp glowed red, as the static charge of the air made Vak's arm hair stand on end. Shattershade looked around, immediately checking the area.

"Cassie?" Braid said standing.

"No way! I warded the entire area. Nothing can get in here without me knowing, instantly."

"Well, something did!" Braid told her.

Vak stood staring at Braid finally sick of his insults and superior attitude. He clutched his axe, preparing to strike as his anger poured out into the campground.

He has had this coming for a long… He forced himself to stop. His brain was slowly catching up with his emotions, and he was appalled at what he had almost done. No, this is wrong, he thought. One, two, three, he slowly counted, bringing his breathing back under his control. When he let his anger loose, people died. These were heroes of Tirough. Stalwart adventurers, frustrating, yes, but they were still people. He would not kill them.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

The red aura swirled around him and ended with a small breeze. Vak sat back down, feeling exhausted. The rest of Shattershade ran about for nearly half an hour before they accepted that whatever they experienced had passed. No one had any clue as to its cause. The red light was written off as a "strangeness of the woods."

They relaxed for about an hour or so before people wandered off toward their tents. Braid volunteered for the first watch, and after a few hours, he would wake Vak. The rest of Shattershade was quick to volunteer Vak for the second watch. He did not know the reason. He was to wake up Anka after his watch concluded.

Vak tried to get some sleep using a log for a pillow. They told him there was no tent, nor a sleeping bag for him due to some oversight, and he should expect to purchase his own with his earnings. Eventually, he drifted off to sleep, and after what felt like only moments, he was startled by Braid waking him up.

"Just stay close, do a couple of circles around the camp every ten minutes or so. Don't stray too far. We are putting our lives in your hands, Rag."

Vak nodded to him and sat up slowly stretching his back and then his arms. He thought he understood why no one wanted the second watch now. It was annoying to have to get up after finally getting to sleep.

He stood quietly and looked out west; toward the goblin's village. No movement so he decided to walk the perimeter as Braid instructed. He grabbed his axe from off the ground and took with him an unlit torch and a piece of flint. Vak looked out into the deep still forest and for a moment contemplated just leaving Shattershade.

He nearly did it. He only stayed because goblins would murder them in their sleep if he abandoned them. So, he walked towards the north side of camp to one of the trees with Cassie's charred handprint. He paused for a moment and listened for any signs of movement or trouble.

A small rustling of a branch caught his attention a few yards away. He spun behind the tree for cover and tried to remain as still as possible. He slowly peaked out to try and see what layout in the night. He swore he could hear the faint muttering of conversation.

Whatever it was, it was not approaching. Vak looked back to the camp and then towards the noise. It was worth pursuing. Then he slowly stalked after the sound, checking that he still had his axe correctly secured.

The forest was easy to get lost in with it as dense as it was. The trees blocked any light from the stars, and Vak had to move slowly to keep his footing. The sound of the conversation was louder now and nearly right in front of him, though he did not recognize the language.

Then something snapped under his leg, not a stick. This was thicker, like a tiny tree branch. He froze as the forest went still around him. Unable to see anything and feeling the limitations of his hearing, he lit the torch.

A goblin stared back at him only a foot away. He looked up at Vak with wide eyes, completely still. Vak took a step back and looked down at where he had stepped. It was the corpse of a goblin. The skin blackened by some dark magic and looked nearly burnt. It was eerily reminiscent of the body outside Nina Hale's apartment.

He looked back to the goblin who had retreated a few paces out of the torchlight. The small green man drew a small knife and held it out threateningly, hissing. He began to speak in quick, goblin words. Vak just held his hands up.

"I am not here to hurt you, I am sorry, it is not safe for you here."

"This is home!" The goblin said in Vak's language. "You no be here. Bad."

"I promise I am good," Vak said, taking the axe out of his back and tossing it to the side. "I merely heard a noise and came to investigate."

"You go now!"

"I am here, hunting something… bad," Vak said not sure if the goblin wholly understood. "I think it killed your clansman."

"Grishoovak!" he said spitting.

"I do not understand."

"It kill Jits," the small green man said, indicating towards his friend.

"Have you seen the demon? Do you know where it is?" Vak said, getting excited.

"Is down in caves by home. It here not long. Kills goblins. Leaves them like this."

"Can you show me?"

"No. I not stupid. You find it in cave."

"I can respect that,” Vak told him trying to be friendly. “Your people are in danger. Why do you stay?"

"This home. You no leave home."

"I think I understand,” Vak said. He knew that home was not easy to leave behind. It was one of the hardest things he had ever done. “I can destroy this Demon for your people.”

"That stupid plan. You die like Jitz. You stupid?"

"I am Vakdragnar."

"That is long name…. Voogaboogah! Hewman think names big deal."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes. Names not important, Voogaboogah."

"You realize Voogaboogah is longer than Vakdragnar?"

"I Krum."

"Okay,” Vak answered, not entirely sure Krum understood all he was trying to say. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Krum."

"Plea-sure." Krum said as though trying the word out. He nodded appreciatively. So, Vak held his hand out in a token of friendship. Krum stared back with his head, tilted to the side. He had no idea what to make of it.

Suddenly, a cry rose out of the dark. Krum looked around in horror. Then an otherworldly howl echoed through the forest coming from the direction of Krum's village.

Vak grabbed his axe and sprinted toward the sound. Krum ran close at his side. They broke through the treeline to find the goblin village in utter chaos. Little green people ran in every direction away from a giant beast. It stood in the center of the village, overtop a goblin it had killed.

It stopped and looked to Vak as he broke through the treeline. The creature was disturbing. Nearly ten feet tall on all fours, it had long gray fur and would be mistaken for a wolf if not for its very human head. Vak had never seen its like in any story.

"I will not let you hurt anyone else this night, demon," Vak said.

"I am no demon, Mortal.” It said as it slowly stalked back into the light. “How like your kind to forget creatures of greater power. I am the Fang of the Glade. Tremble, insignificant wretch, you stand before the Rezishust!"

"Forgive me; I am not familiar," Vak answered.

"How short-lived your memories are. I protect the forests from the likes of man. For too long, your people have come here and taken the trees, defiling nature. You need to learn your place!" It sneered, bounding the fifteen feet between them in a single leap. Vak spun on his heel, placing Krum behind him instinctively. The Rezishust just missed snatching Krum and instead crashed into a small dwelling destroying it. It shook its head for a moment as it collected itself.

"Then what of the goblins? Do they defile nature as well?"

"They just taste extremely well." It snarled. It laughed in a strange mix between a bark and a very dry laugh. "What do you care? Mortals don't have any love for the goblins. Your people would destroy each other given any provocation."

It lunged for Krum who had quietly found his way a few feet from behind Vak. Vak again placed himself between the goblin and this Rezishust. He caught its massive claws with his hands.

"You dare to get in my way, Mortal? I will teach you respect."

"Is this how you protect a forest? By eatings its citizens?"

"I am through with merely protecting the forest. I will devour the mortals and the goblins of the world." It pushed off Vak, attempting to slash at his stomach. Vak moved away before the swipe landed.

"I will not let you kill innocents."

"You are all tainted. The whole of humankind is a plague, and I will be its vaccine."

It charged again at Vak. In a swift motion, Vak swung his axe, striking the creature in the head, shattering its skull upon the forest floor. Vak again stepped to the side as the former Fang of the Glade crashed down beside him. The forest around them went still.

"You strong," Krum said in wonder as they stood in the quiet village. Vak saw a fire light up from the east.

Shattershade, he thought. "I am, but now you must go. Find your fleeing friends, stay out of the village for a few days. My team and I will deal with the demon in the caves."

"Caves that way!" Krum said with an excited smile.

"Thank you; now you really must go. My friends aren't as even-tempered as I am."

"Me understand. Hewmans hate Goblins. I tell clan to stay away. You kill demon!" He said, running toward the west as Shattershade broke through the treeline in the east.

"Rag! What have you done! I told you to keep watch!" Braid demanded.

"The goblins have fled," Vak said.

"I see that. Where did they go, we can still chase after them."

"They went…" Vak cut off as he stalled for time. There was no way Shattershade would head down into the cave after the demon. They were too stubborn to listen to him. So, the idea of an opportunity struck him. "That way." He said, pointing. "Toward those caves over there. They ventured in with their leader."

"Their leader?"

"Yes a big fellow, I think he is who is controlling the goblins, getting them riled up to attack the city,” Vak told them. They stared back at him, and Vak was sure they could tell he was lying.

"Yes, excellent work, Rag! Quickly let's give chase!" Braid said excitedly.