The Goblin Elders stood across from the Evolved Kobolds, the Spider Queen watching from the tree branches above with her three representatives standing above the goblins who were used to the monstrous beasts.Klu stood alone with only the Death-Bringer Diel standing a few feet behind him. Glo had regained most of his health and stood next to the goblins while staring at the kobolds with his bandaged arms crossed.

Sun-Chaser looked over her people, then cleared her throat, “First, I would like to apologize for the words of the previous alpha. They-”

“He deserved the death he got.” Elder Kulos said. He glared at the kobolds with blatant dislike.

“Yes. Well, you have shown to be a good people.” Sun-Chaser continued, “And I am extremely grateful and happy to serve the Grand Mother. I hope we can work together to create the vision she envisions for all of us.”

“You are a fox in shape and in nature.” It was Glo who spoke, his gaze making Sun-Chaser want to wilt. He didn’t seem to mind the other kobolds, instead directing his anger solely at her. “How do we know that we can trust you?”

Sun-Chaser forced herself to return his gaze. “The Grand Mother risked her life for my people at my request. That is a debt I will never be able to repay.”

The spider queen chittered and tapped her legs against the tree. Sun-Chaser couldn’t stop her hairs from standing on end as she looked at the large predator. She’d seen the spiders feed, and it was something she could never forget.

A Goblin Elder who shared many spider features spoke, “Klaz’zks says to calm yourself Glo. She trusts the Kobold to keep her word. We are here to discuss the future, not blame others for the past.” The Elder paused as the giant spider continued to chitter, “She also said that if she let anger control her actions, the orcs would be slaughtered while the Grand Mother sleeps, but she trusts Risha, who has not steered her people wrong yet.”

Sun-Chaser saw Klu share a look with the giant spider, then bow his head.

Glo grumbled something under his breath, then let out a sigh. He tore his gaze away from Sun-Chaser and stepped forward so that all eyes were on him. “We have gathered here, because this is not the end. The base of the third Chieftain lies a week’s march from here. Klu,” Glo nodded towards the orc, “Has requested that we claim the territory before the other chieftains slaughter the orcs within it.”

“We suffered many losses, can we claim the base without suffering even more death?” It was an Elder that Sun-Chaser didn’t know who spoke.

Klu cleared his throat, drawing many hateful gazes towards him. “With the chieftain dead, I believe that I can convince them to surrender peacefully.”

“And why should we save these orcs?” Elder Kulos spoke, hatred sneaking into his voice. “Why risk ourselves like that?”

Elder Oltak, a wisened goblin that Sun-Chaser respected, stepped forward. “Beyond anything else, their base is an important strategic point, with access to the mountain paths that lead to the other chieftain's territories.” He looked to Klu who nodded in confirmation. Sun-Chaser suspected that they had spoken of this beforehand. “If our enemies were to gain a foothold there, it could be disastrous.”

“And how can we trust the orcs? There are many,” Elder Kulos looked at the kobolds, “who see us goblins as lesser creatures.”

Klu bowed his head, “My loyalty to the Grand Mother is absolute. Any of those who follow me will be loyal, or they will be dead.”

“I trust Klu.” Elder Oltak said.

Elder Kulos narrowed his eyes, but didn’t argue further.

“We agree then?” Glo asked. He looked around at the gathered forces until his gaze landed on Sun-Chaser. “Will the Kobolds follow us?”

Sun-Chaser bowed her head. “We will. We hope to earn evolutions from the Grand Mother so that we can be of even greater use to you.”

“That is for her to decide.” Glo said, “But knowing her, she will want to see you as soon as she wakes up.” Glo took a deep breath. “Prepare to march as soon as possible. We’ll have a troop of goblins escort the injured to the village.”

The Spider Queen chittered in the tree above.

The Goblin Spider-Tamer spoke. “She wishes to have time to mourn for the fallen.”

Glo paused, his posture deflating for a moment before returning to his strong self, “Yes. We will celebrate tonight, and mourn the fallen in the morning.”

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

***

Risha woke to pain. Every part of her body hurt and she didn’t like it one bit. A wrinkly purple face looked down at her with a frown.

“Foolish Risha.” Tya said.

Risha growled in response.

Tya tutted with her tongue and grabbed a bowl nearby. She threw some herbs into the bowl, then smashed them with a rock.

“The wounds the wolf left aren’t healing like they should.” Tya said as she grabbed a vial of green liquid and held it out to Risha. “Drink this.”

Risha grabbed the vial with her good arm and gagged at the smell.

“You’re lucky that there were some Gloka plants nearby. It was a close thing.” Tya said as she lifted a bandage on Risha’s stomach and gently applied the paste she’d been making. “But you always took fights you were too small for. I said drink.”

Risha couldn’t move her other arm too plug her nose, so she drank the vile drink with a force of will.

“Sometimes I forget that you were that tiny runt. All of us forget.” Tya’s hands stilled, then she reached for some more paste. “Especially you.”

Risha started to growl, but stopped as she was forced to hiss in pain.

“We worship you.” Tya continued. Her eyes met Risha’s. “And if we lost you, we would fall apart in moments.”

Risha opened her mouth to respond, but Tya poked her arm, causing another hiss of pain. “Quiet, and listen to your elder.”

Risha closed her mouth grumpily.

“We rely too much on you. What if you were asleep for longer than a day? You need to create something that will last even without you. Or kobolds will be killing goblins and spiders will be killing orcs as soon as you are gone. Roll onto your side.”

Risha turned onto her good arm, exposing her back to the old goblin.

“You are special. You were chosen by the system. But you are not invincible.” Tya rubbed the paste across her back. Her hands paused, just resting above Risha’s wounds. “You need to remember that most of all. Or you’ll doom us all.”

Tya grew quiet after that, focusing on rubbing the paste over her wounds.

Risha glared at the wall of the tent, opening then closing her mouth a few times. Finally she spoke, “I have to fight. I have to protect my children.”

Tya moved over to the other side of the bed so that she could look into Risha’s eyes. “I know. That is why you were chosen, Risha. But you have the power to create something greater than yourself.”

Tya helped Risha sit up in the bed, placing furs behind her so as not to disturb the bandages on her back too much. Risha looked up at the ceiling of the tent as Tya continued to mix and chop herbs.

“How?” Risha finally asked.

Tya cackled. “I have no idea. You were chosen, you figure it out.”

Risha glared at the back of the old goblin. Her words made sense, but Risha didn’t want to admit it.

A Goblin Warrior peaked his head into the tent. “Grand Mother, Sun-Chaser is here.”

Risha nodded in thanks, and the fox kobold stepped into the tent. She looked nervous, and Risha thought over the words of Earth-Shaker.

Sun-Chaser got onto her knees and bowed to Risha, “Sun-Chaser presents herself to the new alpha.”

Risha shifted uncomfortably, then hissed in pain as she aggravated her injuries. Sun-Chaser was by her side in an instant, looking worried.

Risha waved her off, “Earth-Shaker wanted to leave his mark.” The words came out as a growl. Risha shook her head to clear the anger from it. “It’s good to see you. What happened while I was out?”

Sun-Chaser stood awkwardly as she pulled back. “The army is going to march towards the Third Chieftain’s home base. Klu says that they will surrender to us.”

Risha nodded. “That’s good.”

Sun-Chaser scratched behind her ear, “There’s some… anger towards us about what the previous alpha said, but we will prove ourselves useful.”

“Hmm.” Risha said, her eyes meeting Tya’s before Tya returned to her work. “We’ll have to fix that.”

Sun-Chaser bowed her head low to Risha, “I’m embarrassed to ask this of you now, but you could save lives by evolving my people and-”

“Of course.”

Sun Chaser looked up, meeting Risha’s calm gaze.

“I’m not ready to move around too much, but bring those you believe are ready here. Could you have Glo and Klu come here as well?”

Sun-Chaser nodded, then looked away, blinking rapidly to clear her eyes.

“Sun-Chaser,” Risha started, unsure of how to phrase what she was saying. “I need you to lead your people for me. It will take some time for me to trust them, so I want you to be their voice. Can you do that for me?”

Sun-Chaser looked startled, but quickly hid it. “I can.”

“Good.” Risha smiled, her exhaustion from her many battles settling into her bones, “Go get them and we’ll start right away.”

Sun-Chaser bowed her head and left the tent.

“The system chose well. You are not that little goblin anymore.” Tya said as she walked over with another vial of strange looking liquid. “Drink this.”

Risha frowned as she grabbed the strange looking liquid. It didn’t smell like anything, but it bubbled strangely.

“I said drink.”

Risha put the vial to her mouth before she could think. The liquid burned as it went down, but spread a comforting warmth through her body. She could still feel her injuries, but they hurt less.

“Thank you Tya. For everything.”

Tya turned away, hiding the smile that spread across her face. “That’s what Elders are for. Telling young goblins when they are being foolish.”

“Tya?” Risha said, causing the old goblin to turn around. “Do you really think I was chosen?”

“Of course. We all do.”

“That’s a little scary.” Risha looked up to the top of the tent.

“Why? You’ve done more than any goblin could ask for. The system made a good choice.”

“Mmm.” Risha responded noncommittally, “What if I’m supposed to do more?”

“Then you’ll do it or you won’t.” Tya shrugged.

“That’s not helpful.”

“Tough. Or is our powerful Grand Mother scared of a little uncertainty?” Tya cackled to herself. “Welcome to life.”

Risha glared at the Elder, but the old goblin ignored the look and turned to continue her chopping of herbs.