-Chapter VI-
If You Go Out to the Woods Tonight…
After some time, the rain eventually passes and is reduced to a harmless drizzle. From my spot sitting in the stairwell, I get up and get my stuff packed away.
After I finally calmed down from my fit and took some time to rest, I got bored and got some sewing work done. After fixing up my jeans tail hole, I changed back into them so I could work on adding a hole to my skirt. Unmodified, my tail is simply under the skirt, which usually wouldn’t be a problem, but should I end up raising my tail up, it ends up raising the skirt with it.
The last thing I want to do is to go around showing off what I’m wearing underneath just because I accidentally forget to keep my tail down. So, all of my jeans and skirts need a tail hole, no exceptions!
Well, that’s how I spent my time waiting for the rain to pass. Not the most entertaining way to burn a couple hours, but it was a good way to keep my mind focused on other things.
Putting on my backpack and rain poncho, I leave the stairwell behind, ignoring the absolutely destroyed metal door behind me as I walk away. I could go down the stairwell and exit through the mall, but I just can’t bring myself to do it.
Instead, I walk over the giant clearance store roof until I reach the side closest to the highway. Looking over the edge I check around and make sure that nothing is around, peering at the treetops, and watching for any moving shadows.
Once I am satisfied that nothing is around the area, I grab the edge of the building and throw myself over. Digging in my claws a bit into the edge of the wall, I slide down the exterior of the mall leaving a trail of jagged scars along its surface until I jump off and land on the ground below.
I don’t look back at the mall, or marvel at what I just did. Right now, I just want to get back to traveling and put as much distance as possible between myself and this place.
Originally, I was actually starting to enjoy my day. Everything was going perfectly until those damn dogs had to show up and ruin it. A perfect scavenging run where I found everything I needed, plus extra. It was almost like getting to go on a shopping trip again. I was having fun and they ruined it! For once after everything that has happened, I thought I could have one really good and happy day of looting a mall, and THEY fucked it all up!
The next time I see one of those damn dogs I am going to tear it limb from limb and beat the others with its bloody corpse!! I swear I will…!
I stop walking and focus on my breathing.
In, out.
In and out.
In, hold it, and out…
“Calm down Lain, calm down…”
Once I get my shaking anger under control, I get back to walking.
My original predictions for the convoy’s trail ended up being correct. The convoy continued to travel along the eastern side of the city before eventually turning on to U.S 71 and heading south-west. After following the highway for the rest of the day, I eventually come across a truck rest stop on the side of the highway. There are signs everywhere that read ‘Welcome to Ohio!” and advertise different places to visit.
I must be getting close to the state line, thank goodness. I can’t wait to be done with Ohio…
With it getting close to nighttime, I head over to crash for the night. It’s as good a place as any for the night, and I would prefer to stay in a building rather than camping in a semi-cab all night again.
Walking up to the entrance of the building I hear some noises coming from inside.
Great, couldn’t even have a quiet end to the day. What’s it going to be? Another nest of goblin? Maybe some scavengers? Actually, that wouldn’t be so bad; could give me a chance to see how people react to seeing me. Hells, could be funny even.
Several possibilities running through my head, I sneak up the entrance of the building and stick close to the walls. Inside I can hear the sound of stuff being moved around. Peaking my head around, I don’t see anything moving around the main area of the building, but I do see the soft glow of light coming from down a corridor.
Going from how the building is laid out, much like a food court, that hallway looks like it leads back towards the restrooms and the storage area behind the restaurants.
Slinking into the building and double checking my surroundings I make sure that there is nothing waiting in hiding around me. Satisfied that I am not going to get suddenly jumped, I quietly move down the hallway and approach the light.
It is radiating through a door that was left open. The lock on the door appears to have been busted open. Whoever or whatever it is, is clearly not doing a very good job at remaining stealthy. At the very least they are deep enough inside that they won’t be found out unless someone goes out of their way to investigate this building.
From inside I can hear some soft chirping noises as the occupants communicate with each other at a low volume.
Ah, so not humans. I’m pretty sure I know what is in there.
Peaking my head around the corner, I confirm my first suspicion. This is indeed a storage area. Boxes of stuff like toilet paper, napkins, information pamphlets and other miscellaneous stuff are scattered about and littering the floor; much of it deemed useless by the looters.
As for the occupants themselves, they are short little beings that look like bipedal lizard/dog people. It would appear that I have run into a troop of Kobolds out on a scavenging run.
I wonder if they built a nest nearby? I ask myself. Well, it’s already too late for me to find a different camping spot. Guess I might as well introduce myself.
The last time I ran into a troop of Kobolds, I had to hide because of my injured arm. This time, I’m not particularly worried about them attacking me. While I definitely don’t want to, if it were to come down to a fight, I would win without question. If anything, my concern comes from the possibility of scaring them off into the dangerous night, or if they do stay, them trying to steal my stuff.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Compared to goblins, their fellow small monster counterparts, Kobolds could be considered their complete opposites. Goblins are ugly as sin, dumber that a literal pile of shit, and smell like one too. Kobolds on the other hand are adorable in that ugly/cute sort of way, sort of like pugs, being fluffy enough that human nature compels most people to want to pet them, even at the risk of getting bit or stabbed by little spears.
Speaking of spears, the little guys are smart, from what I can tell from my few encounters with them they have some form of rudimentary language, they make their own tools and can even learn to use human ones. They even know how to use fire!
Smell wise, they are alright. I guess they smell like dogs? They definitely groom and clean themselves though, so that already put them way above goblins with that alone as far as I’m concerned.
Now, to approach them. If I just walk through the door, they will probably panic and scatter. Being small, much like the goblins, means that they are typically the prey in a lot of situations, so they can often be rather skittish.
Luckily, it didn’t take people too long to figure out how to approach them for trading. You just have to whistle. It lets them know that you are nearby and are approaching peacefully. They will whistle back if they are willing to let you approach. If you approach them without whistling first, they will typically assume that you are aggressive and will scatter.
Stepping away from the door, I bring my lips together and let out a low but long whistle. Inside the storage room the sound of looting immediately stops. Soon there is some quick chirping as several of the troop communicate with each other. I stay right where I am.
After some time, the chatter comes to an end and soon I hear a whistling noise that sounds almost like it had come from a bird. Looks like I got permission.
Slowly, I head over and open the door. Stepping fully into the doorway, I make sure that I am fully in the light of their little torches. Immediately, I can see a bit of a shock go through the group as hands readjust their spears and they take a step back.
Well, this at least confirms that they have had dealings with humans before. They were expecting a human and instead they get a demon.
Before they get a chance to properly start freaking out, I clasp both of hands I front of me and bow in greeting. It’s what the local troop always did when we would trade, and I assume it’s a way to convey peaceful greetings if it is anything like some human cultures.
This seems to make them relax a bit and soon the largest of the group, a green Kobold [They come in lots of different colors, which I love!] with a manly looking scar going down its chest and missing a couple fingers comes forward. Resting his spear on his shoulder that is covered by a simple sash, he clasps his hands together and reciprocates my bow with one of his own.
Ahhhh, I am loving this! It feels like I am an explorer establishing contact with an alien race. Which, I mean, I sort of am. Ah I don’t care, this is fun! I think to myself excitedly.
Now to negotiate, thankfully this storage area has a window. Kobolds, while they obviously don’t understand English, are more than smart enough to understand pointing and basic hand language.
Pointing up to the window, I draw the leader’s attention to the outside where it is getting dark. He looks back to me and I can tell that he already has a basic idea of what it is I want. Still, I try to explain so that there are no miss understandings.
Making a fist with one hand and flat ground with the other, I mime the sun setting. Then I point to the ceiling and gesture with one arm over head to try and show myself under shelter. I don’t bother with words or speaking slowly like some idiot talking to foreigners on TV.
The leader seems to understand, with a couple of chirps he nods his head. Not sure if that is something they picked up from us humans, or if nodding your head up and down is just a universal gesture for yes… doesn’t matter, he is freaking adorable.
Pulling off my backpack, I dig into it and pull out one of my bags of rabbit jerky. The troop we traded with back home loved the jerky that dad would make from our catches, so it should be a good enough trade for me to be able to share a roof with them. Considering that they were here first, it only makes sense that I should pay to stay here.
When I pull out the bag of jerky, I can feel it as the collective attention of all six Kobold in the room snaps from me straight to the meat in my hands.
Like dogs watching their owner pull food out of the fridge. So, fucking cute!
Just to mess with them a little bit I go ahead and pop open the Ziplock bag so that every member of the troop can smell it. Instantly their little noses start going crazy sniffing the air. I can see their eyes dilate a bit as the meat in the bag quickly becomes their entire world. One of the cute little buggers in the back, a pink one with orange stripes, has a line of drool running down his mouth.
Ah, this is too much fun! I can already feel my broken heart mending. Huugghhh, why can’t those damn mutated dogs be cute and adorable like these little munchkins!? Oh, wait. Then they would just be normal dogs. Hahhhh, I miss normal dogs…”
Deciding that I have played with their hearts long enough, I bend down and hand the bag over to the leader who graciously excepts the meat with both hands, his tail wagging up a storm. From how happy he looks, I may as well of just handed him the holy grail.
Immediately I take a step back towards the door, as I already know what happens next.
The other Kobolds, realizing that the trade is done, and the Bag of Deliciousness is now officially Kobold property, immediately start swarming the leader. All of them chirping in their mysterious language and reaching for the bag. The poor leader in the middle is holding the bag up in the air and chirping angrily as he tries to fight off hungry grasping hands and get everyone else back under control.
I just sit back and enjoy the show as the troop completely forgets my existence. Ahhh, adorable chaos! It’s like watching a bunch of kids trying to be the first to get a cookie out of the jar. Only they are fluffy, and I want to pet one!
Eventually, the leader gets his troop back under control, having to kick a couple of them to make them snap out of it and line up. Now standing in an orderly row, he hands out pieces of jerky into waiting open palms until the bag is all divvied out between all of them, occasionally having to slap one for trying steal from a neighbor. The leader of the troop noticeably has one extra piece which he keeps for himself, although he was the one that did the trade, so fair is fair.
With all the jerky handed out, the leader gives a single chirp, and all the kobolds finally get to dig into their meal, each of their tails wagging at a thousand miles an hour.
I, still standing by the doorway, am busy screaming internally with sheer unadulterated happiness as I watch them. If this goes on for too much longer, I worry that I might end up developing diabetes from all of the sugary sweet cuteness and happiness currently running through my veins.
Ah, they’re done eating. Snap out of it Lain, still got a business deal to close!
Having finished their meals and looking very happy now, the Kobolds all turn towards me with excitement and hope in their eyes. Their leader, taking charge of dealing with me again, steps forward and gives me another deep bow. After righting himself, he then gestures to the room behind him and the stuff they were previously scrounging through. The message most likely being, “Would you like any of this stuff? We wouldn’t mind doing another trade.”
Shaking my head, I respond simply, “No thank you, I’m just looking for a place to rest.” Again, I point to the ceiling and mime putting a roof over my head. I then give the leader Kobold another bow and then back away towards the door. The trade is complete, and our business is concluded.
The leader and the troop all look disappointed, which is adorable, but soon they give up and return to looting the storage room. Knowing that my business is done with them, I step out of the room and head into the food court where I grab a chair and a table by the corner next to the window.
The Kobolds, knowing that I most likely have more food in my bag, might end up trying to steal my stuff. So that’s why I choose to hang out in a corner. Make it harder for them if they try. In regard to them attacking me for my stuff, I would say that the chances are incredibly slim. While yes, I am alone, it doesn’t change the fact that I approached them rather openly and boldly despite that.
Kobolds aren’t idiots like goblins. They know that I am confident that I could take all six of them in a fight, and they’re not going to risk injury and death for it. If anything, they will wait until I fall asleep in order to steal my stuff; only, I don’t sleep. So, staying in a corner is all I have to do to keep my stuff being, ‘my stuff.’
Getting comfortable I settle in for the night with a little smile on my face.