THE DEVIL LIVING BEHIND THE WALLS

Pug dropped to his knees, with his hands falling like rubber at the sides of his shivering body.

For over six generations of goblins, a terrifying legend had been handed down by the leaders of the tribes. A demon like no other, which killed for pleasure. Most Demon beasts chose to exit the forest, sweeping into human settlements.

The wolf demon did not pursue such a trivial path. It used the forest as a base, meticulously conducting its ambushes undetected for years. Unsatisfied with this success, it stalked the forest, leveling the small goblin tribes. One day a village would be bustling with activity, then the next day devoid of life.

Pug fixed his stare at the rumored yellow eyes that slowly appeared from between the trees. A faint palpable aura of death seem to ooze out towards him, but it quickly receding like a tide. Natural instinct and ingrained stories convinced him the legend surfaced before him.

"What the heck do you see?"

Ming asked while peering into the darkness. The tight grip on the sword soon loosened as a familiar voice broke the silence.

"You really think it's all because of you, the goblins aren't swarming here?"

Chu huffed, as his shadow materialized into form. Lucy walked at his side, wiping fresh blood from her dagger.

"Count yourself lucky you troublemaker, we had to fight a dozen goblins attracted by the clanging. For some reason though, after we fought a couple, the others either showed an expression like this one here or simply ran for their lives."

Chu said, thumbing at the goblin kneeling at the side. He turned to Ming while covering his nose. Lucy moved away, trying to find a place upwind from the scent that previously guided them along with the hubbub.

Chu raised his hands to stop Ming from closing in on him with the intention to hug. He glanced at the shivering goblin clutching onto the teen's rags.

"Care to give me a short explanation?"

***

"I see, so that's it then."

Chu frowned as he digested a tale comparable to one that sprouted from a fantasy book.

Lucy had disappeared into the darkness, acting as a sentry. Ming and Pug sat on some leaves, in front of him. The goblin had regained a little vigor but kept swiveling its head ever so often as if searching for the terror. Chu handed the boy a water skin and a rag from his backpack.

An opportunity to communicate between two different species.

Forget about the cannibalistic tendencies of the goblins, this meeting held importance in his heart, similar to the explorer tales of old. Discovering new tribes after sailing the world, cutting through jungle, or trekking across deserts. What path would he choose?

Greed?

Enslavement?

War?

The end results were boundless. History had left him with many choices and just as many outcomes. He had to tread lightly, so as to avoid future problems.

"Ming, have your new friend follow us. I think we can provide him with something more than what you promised."

With Lucy's guidance, the return to the farm turned into a stroll in the woods. They did stumble pass wounded goblins who made it into the forest, only to succumb to their injuries.

Pug walked close to Ming literally hugging the boy. With the girl who possessed the aura of the demon wolf at the lead, escaping would simply be courting death. Staring at the corpses of his kin, he knew that Lord Pocong had suffered a convincing defeat. He pulled the grimy sleeve of the boy, because of their present path.

A Devil lives near here.

He signaled. This general direction was all too familiar to the scout.

"Hey, Chu I think Pug is signaling that something dangerous is in front."

Ming said. Reading the signs in the poor light proved difficult for him. By the time he grasped the meaning, they had broken through the tree line. In the distance to the northeast, the silhouette of the familiar walls disrupted the smooth flow of the grasslands.

"Wait here with Lucy, I will return as soon as I can."

"Lucy, keep Ming company, make sure the little guy doesn't try to escape since he is vital to my plan."

Chu said. He set off towards the farm, making a shrill whistle when he recognized an outer marker. A few breaths later, an answering whistle originated from the farm. Rose walked out soon after, holding a torch. She then guided him in safety towards the east gate, away from the precarious battlefield.

"Brat, haven't you learned nothing? What are you trying to pull?"

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Mr. Thomas confronted him angrily at the gate. The old man face displayed a face crinkled from worry. Around the walls, everyone, including the non-combatants stood peeking and scanning the surroundings. Torches illuminated the surroundings, chasing away the dark shadows.

"No time to explain. I need a bag filled with grain, and also another with a small cask of pickled vegetables. Miki, you and Rose come with me, while Elder will take over the defense of the farm. I expect no more goblin attacks for the rest of the night, but we need to be wary of any injured survivors sneaking a final attack."

Chu said. Sue and Clod rushed off with some helpers to obey his order. Miki skipped to his side, a smile beaming on her face. She did not forget her responsibility that had been entrusted to her.

"All clear within the inner circle, no movement detected. The goblins who had climbed over the walls are dead, with their corpses thrown back over the wall for safety. Four lightly injured on our side, but safe in the Medical Station."

Miki provided a brief report. She checked her crossbow and equipment, like a child-rearing to go on that anticipated field trip.

"Oh, Amanda, ask Mrs. Thomas for a ring from her jewelry box."

Chu instructed since he decided to travel down this road.

Clod and Sue soon returned with the supplies and Chu set off with his two escorts holding torches.

Lucy whistled like a night-bird, guiding the group towards her. A slight distance from her, Ming and Pug stood fidgeting uncomfortably downwind. One from filth, while the other from pure fear.

"Wow, what smells?"

"Hey, keep away from us you stinker. It's like you haven't bothered bathing for days."

Pug trembled on seeing the return of the boy together with two new faces. A moment ago, his heart nearly stopped beating, when Ming signaled him that the boy who accompanied them had actually been the Head of the nearby farm.

From the gestures during the conversations, his human seemed to occupy a relatively low ranking in the devil hierarchy.

The Devil.

The little goblin knees knocked together in fright, on knowing he had encountered the devil behind the walls. Only a devil could subdue and tame the demon of the north. In the torchlight, the Big Boss stood before him with Ming between them as the translator.

From early explorers to different tribes, until the advent of modern times.

Intelligent species had always conducted business.

No matter the difficulty of communication, if both sides placed their minds to it, seeking benefits, then a businessman could be regarded as an expert communicator. Chu plan hinged on the easiest way to conduct trade between two individuals.

"Rose hand over the bag of grains. Ming, ask him if he wants more."

Chu said while maintaining his position as a leader through inaction.

Ming began his extensive hand and body language, as Pug unconsciously received the bag of recently husked corn. His eyes opened wide as he began to grasp the crude message conveyed by the prancing boy. Pug's fingers clenched the bag, on interpreting the general idea.

Pug placed the bag carefully on the ground while moving his hands in a reply.

"Boss, he asks if you have more?"

Ming said. Chu smiled within, as his mind went rampant with all sorts of imagination. He himself could understand the meaning conveyed by those dancing hands. Chu signaled to Miki again, who stooped and placed some items on the ground. Under the torchlight, Chu pointed to the items and then to the bag of grain.

Pug squatted on the ground while holding up the different items. His fingers finally rested on something he had confidence in delivering. Standing up in confidence, he pointed at the bag, then at the item. Chu nodded and signaled him to wait. He ventured into the forest, after which sounds of chopping could be heard.

Chu returned and let Miki place the hacked lumber on the ground. Ming understood what he wanted and signaled the goblin, but Pug had already grasped the meaning. Thinking the Devil would renege on the offer, Pug began increasing the numbers. Satisfied by the goblin's intellect, Chu motioned to Rose.

The astonished girl placed the bag holding the casket on the ground.

Chu opened the tight wooden lid and removed a pickled vegetable similar to a cucumber. He handed one over to the curious Pug while handing another one to Miki.

Pug looked at the girl chomping down on the strange vegetable before sniffing and taking a nibble. He spat out the sour tasting preserve, but the lingering taste in his mouth seemed to draw his hand holding the vegetable. Within moments he had relished the taste and devoured the pickle.

His eyes locked onto the small sealed casket, as fingers popped open on his hands in a fevered negotiation. Chu nodded with a serious face, unaware of the three girls who bore shocked and amazed expressions. Ming kept the process ongoing, as the two reached an agreement.

Late at night, long past the magic hour, Pug staggered into the forest. On his slim back, he carried a new path for the goblin race.

"If Pug survives this night, we might also find ourselves lucky."

Chu commented while slipping an object back into his pocket.

***

In the early hours of dawn, three old goblins hobbled out of the cave, panting because of the climb to the small hill. All held staffs for walking, while one had an additional burden.

These Elder goblins possessed some astounding positions-- they were all leaders of individual tribes.

During times of war, or when the Bones called for a Goblin Tide, the Shaman led the gathered goblins. Barring such events, the tribe leaders handled the operation and management of their individual villages. The Great Western forest had adequate space for the villages to scatter within.

Long ago, they had been driven from the north by a great evil. Now that the evil had vanished, the goblins joined together on their journey towards long forgotten homes. Common knowledge dictated that the cost of resettling would require large amounts of food and supplies.

The reading from the Bones offered them hope-- raids on the human settlements.

"We have failed. Our Clan in the south will be treated as fodder, killed off in the upcoming battle."

"The Vanguard should have provided the opportunity for us to gain glory and raise our village standing. Now we have tasted bitter defeat."

"The crow must fly, if we seek to keep it, the Shaman will slaughter our kin. We have lost everything before the war even started."

The goblin Elders despaired together while standing on the hilltop. Between them, the crude wooden cage contained a small crow, pecking at a human finger. The flight and message towards the south will signal the start of the war, and also the destruction of their own tribe.

"I am unwilling, but the Shaman is all-powerful. We are doomed!"

An Elder cried while slumping to the ground in despair. His withered hand gripped the gnarled knobby staff, that had signaled the leader of his tribe for countless generations. Within a month, his Clan would become extinct because of this failure.

As the wrinkles increased on their faces, a goblin scrambled towards them on top of the hill.

"Elders, Elders, hold the message. A goblin champion has returned. A Champion!"

The Elders stared open mouth at the excited goblin relaying the message. Their jaws struggled to close.

"Champion?"

"From a losing battle? That title is not easily granted."

"Did the Heavens relent?"