We left the farm in silence. Dee was leading our small group across the fertile lands. I noticed from Dee’s waist hung a round contraption with thread. It was leading back to the farm. The more Dee walked the more thread came out of it.

Snell had Shino I over beside him. He was pointing out the tracks of a mouse. Zoran was walking a little behind Dee. To top it off I was walking in the shadows trying to copy Lucy. Somehow Lucy always seemed to completely disappear. I wonder if one day I could be that good?

We walked for a good part of the morning but we all knew we needed to let Dee concentrate. He seemed extremely smart. I felt like he would make a good tracker if he kept on. Even though Dee was smart I also knew that his easily distracted mind would be his downfall as a tracker.

“We’s here!” Dee was shouted excitedly. He surprised us all. Even Lucy appeared in his shock.

“Where is here Dee?” Zoran was looking all over the ground. Sadly we all had the lost feeling just like Zoran.

“Under the rootses duh.” Dee started tugging on some of the over grown grasses. To our astonishment they pulled away leaving a hole big enough for a person. Or better yet two goblins.

Maybe this was the way the goblins always ran from the ogres. How long had this cave been buried though? The grasses had to be as tall as me at least. No wonder none of us missed the hole.

“Dee how long has this hole been here?” I watched Dee as he finished moving the grass.

“Long as the farmers sir tooks me in.” Dee looked at the hole. “I fells in here’s long times ago. He saves me.”

“Are you able to get back Dee?” Shino looked worried.

“Yes. Farmers sirs made me this. I just follows back.” Dee patted the contraption on his side.

“I promise we will meet again Dee. Next time I see you we will have stories of our adventures and will be able to stay longer. Now we need to make it through the ogre lands.” I patted Dee’s back. I knew now that I would be back. Dee was one who deserved adventure.

“Bye Zens. I will sees yous again. Stay safes everyone’s.” Dee grabbed the device and started to twist a handle. The string started to wind into the machine. We all waited until Dee was out of eyesight then slowly climbed into the tunnel one by one.

The tunnel itself wasn’t dark. From somewhere within light was flowing. As we walked it grew wider. It twisted and turned just like the path of a core worm. As we progressed I noticed that it was the stones that gave out the light. Spread unevenly yet it gave enough light to see.

I could feel in air in the cave that some thing wasn’t right. I tried to look for Zoran leading in front of us. She was gone! But where? Snell too had disappeared. I noticed Shino behind him looked a bit hazy. Lucy had the same formless out line starting.

“Shino! Do You see Snell or Zoran?” I hollered to him. He didn’t seem to hear me. That’s when it happened. Shino disappeared into the haze surrounding him.

I started to hum the song of dwarves. I needed answers. The familiar sound filled the tunnel. The grains blowing in the wind caught Lucy’s attention as the haze enveloped more of him.

Do not fear child. This is the cave of trials.

I looked around. Where did that voice come from? I reached out to grab Lucy’s shoulder but right at that moment he disappeared into his own haze.

Do not panic child.

“Who are you?” I felt a fear welling up inside. My guts had become stone. What do I do now?

I am the guardian. The forgotten gave this cave to these lands long ago. I am here to test travelers let it be ogres, goblins, humans, or even dragon kin.

“What are you talking about? Where did they go?” I felt tears on my face.

They are here child, but not here. Just keep walking. Follow the path and your own trial will come to you. We might finally find a soul worthy of our gift.

I noticed a lady materialize before me. She was tall. Her golden hair hung to her waist. Her white robes were flowing even though there was no wind. Craziest of all were the wings on her back. Delicate and brighter than the sun.

“Who are you?” Was all I could whisper in my awed state.

I am a forgotten. You’re priests know us as saints. Call upon our power from the beyond. Once before time we were know as light walkers. We are small in number. But have a power that rivals demons. I can see dear child that one day you will travel to the forgotten lands in the north. To the beyond. Now it is time for your trial. Take my hand and come with me.

The words echoed Inside my head, but at the same time outside. I took the forgoten’s hand and followed. Soon she disappeared but somehow I knew she was watching.

As I went deeper into the tunnel the light faded a little. The haze around me grew deeper. Before I knew it I came out into a large cavern. I saw everybody standing in a circle in the middle. There were small huts built around the edge. Two caves split off from the cavern.

“Guys what happened?” As I approached they all turned and looked at me.

“Where did you go Zen?” Shino was looking at me. “I heard something and when I turned around you were gone.”

“You were the ones to disappear. You were swallowed by a weird haze.” I felt puzzled.

“Never mind that now we have to figure out which of the two caves to follow. Something about those huts going to that cave over there isn’t right. I say we go down the left cave.” Zoran had her tracker face on. I felt like we should follow her.

I felt my gut squirm as I glanced at the left cave. Maybe that wasn’t right. I could feel a pull coming from the right cave. A promise of safety.

“Zoran we should try the right cave. I don’t know why but it feels right. I think the left has something waiting.” I could feel the air from the left cave. It didn’t seem right at all.

“Zen where is this coming from? You know Zoran is the best tracker we have ever known.” Snell seemed lost in contemplation.

“Instincts Snell. Zen has them too. It takes more than a reasonable head to feel them you know.” Zoran glanced at me. “We will try the left cave first. If that doesn’t work we will double back to the right cave.”

“Okay Zoran. But I still don’t like the feeling of the left.” I was clutching my gut. What was this feeling?

We started into the left cave. It was wide enough for us to walk two at a time. I don’t know how long we walked but the light stones in the cave grew even more unevenly spaced. Darkness was hiding in areas now. Vision had become limited.

We entered into another cavern.

Boom

The was a crash behind us. Out of the shadows goblins started pouring in wielding there half size spears and smaller swords. They were maybe waist high with grey skin. Their floppy pointed ears bounced as they ran towards us.

“Lucy, Zen keep Shino and Snell in the center. Protect them. We are the fighters. They don’t have enough training to deal with goblins.” Zoran was surveying the cavern. “They collapsed the other side. We can’t go back either. They are coming from that direction.”

“What’s going on Zoran? Why are goblins here?” I felt worried. Is this why I had been so scared?

“Remember all your training. We can get out of this.” Lucy put his hand on my shoulder. “We have enough trained people to make it through. Just remember always protect those who can’t protect themselves. In this case Shino and Snell.”

The goblins had us completely surrounded now. They were growing ever closer. How could we get out of this? Was the only way to fight? There had to be another option. I looked at the closest goblins carefully. They seemed just as scared as I felt. Maybe we could get out of this.

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“I want to meet your leader friends!” My shout echoed across the cavern. I watched as all the goblins froze. The closest ones started to whimper. A smaller goblin than the rest stepped forward.

“You be intruder. We don’t want to hurt you. He just gives us no choice. Please don’t sees the leader warrior man.” The goblin was shaking a little.

“We can save both of us little goblin. All of you and us. You all seem nice and there is no reason for us to shed blood.” I took a deep breath. I noticed the others looking at me in complete shock. “Who is your leader little one?”

“The goblins eater. The terrible Yarg.” The goblin broke down into shivers. “Don’t talk to hims. He is evils.”

A pounding started to echo through the cave. The goblins parted in half as a ten foot tall man with one eye in the middle of his head appeared between them. His dark green skin shined like a emerald. He had a bulbous nose and wore only a loincloth. His belly was enormous.

“Trespassers! In my humble feeding grounds? Why are they alive?” The ogre swung a spiked club that hung from his side into the air. He smashed the closest goblins around him. “Who dares enter the feeding grounds of Yarg from the one eyed?”

His yell lingered in the air. A goblin approached him.

“We was takins care of thems Yarg.” The goblin was visibly shaken. Yarg reached down and popped the goblin into his mouth.

“A tasty snack for sure. But tonight I have a feast!” Yarg strode towards us. “Ezog has missed out on all the fun. Next time I see here I will wear the crown.”

“Yarg! I’ve been looking for you!” A green ogre in all black started pounding through the goblins. She was just as tall but more lanky. She was just as green with dark hair. The most striking feature was her clear green eyes. Not one like Yarg but two.

“Ezog?” Yarg was almost at a creak as he said this. “You’re supposed to be asleep.”

“Asleep? You’re a fool. Yarg I have been tasked with slaying you for my trial.” Ezog lifted a giant battle axe off her back. She was large enough to wield it with one hand. “The three eyed ogres will have glory finally!”

“Ezog you can’t do this now! I’ve finally found a meal worthy of my status.” Yarg was starting puff out his chest and straighten his back. He grew by another foot at his full height.

The two wound up clashing weapons right in front of us. I could smell them both and see the sweat already on their brows. Then Ezog opened a third eye on the middle of her forehead. The white was black and the pupil white. She had been touched by nature’s magic!

“Yarg it has taken us to many moons to finally have this battle. I have had to kill poor humans for hunting you. No more goblin wars. It’s time now for us to fight.” Ezog swung here axe. She took a chunk out of Yarg’s club.

“Goblins!” Yarg bellowed. “Kill the humans! I want to feast tonight!”

The goblins started to swarm us. We kept Shino and Snell in the middle of us at all times. Snell pulled out a bow from his sack. As he strung it he had Shino pull out a dozen arrows with fancy heads. As we battled off the goblins and defended ourselves I noticed the battle between Yarg and Ezog was still going on.

The noise from all the fight filled my ears. I heard snippets of arguing from Ezog and Yarg. Many times Ezog would swipe the goblins away from us. I had a feeling that she didn’t want to see us die. I could almost sense her worry for us.

I noticed in the crowd of goblins one smaller than the rest. The little goblin was pushing farther back against the tide of the surging goblins. It got to the point that the little goblin was thrown back towards us. I barely heard his whimpers and cries for help.

As the little goblin got closer I called for his hand. He reached out to me and grabbed on. I pulled while slashing away the other goblins. As I pulled a goblin grabbed his little foot. I pulled harder. Suddenly the surge of goblins lapsed as Ezog swung her axe through them again. The two goblins fell onto of me.

Shino and Zoran both jumped. Shino put the second goblin in a headlock as Zoran chopped of his hand. The little goblin scampered behind Shino. It was at that moment I heard Yarg let out a horrendous laugh.

“You care more for the mere humans than you do for a rival tribe.” The laugh grew heavier. “I know how to kill you now Ezog. Prepare for this.”

Yarg swung his giant club at us. We all ducked to the side in unison. We all got separated when we rolled out of a downward slash from his club. He swung again in my direction. Ezog stopped the blow from his club. She glared at him.

“All children of nature are honorary to my clan. Who do you think shared nature’s touch with man?” Her green skin was turning a ruby red. “We just know how to harness it’s powers. And someday this child will too. I won’t let you bring harm to the humans!”

“This is the problem with you three eyed clan.” Yarg was generally amused. “You care to much for more than just your own life. This is why we need to destroy your clan! You shame the name of ogres!”

Yarg took another swing at Ezog. As she dogged I realized to late that his club was about to hit me. I felt someone shove me out of the way. Wait who shoved me?

Crunch

I slowly turned my head fearing the worst. There right where I had been was the body of Shino. He was laying on the ground.

“Shino?” I felt tears welling up in my eyes. I could hear a ringing in my ears. “Shino? Can you hear me?”

I crawled over to him. I picked up his slumped head. I looked into his lifeless eyes and let out a sob. I couldn’t hear anything, the ringing in my ears was to much. My vision was starting to go a deep red. It was closing in. The base of my skull started to ache, then blackness.

I felt something on my forehead. It was the same spot that Albert had pressed long ago. I felt something flowing out of that spot. The ringing in my ears turned from a ring to the dwarven hum. I could see again. Not with my saturated eyes but with my mind. A second sight almost. The spot on my head had a mist coming out of it. All but the tiny goblin, Zoran, Ezog, Snell, and Lucy were frozen.

I could see fear and on all the faces around me. Even more so I could smell it. How could I smell it? I watched as Ezog took the chance and sliced Yarg in two. The goblins along with Yarg’s split form started to crumble. A wind picked up and blew away anything that was frozen. As the wind faded so did my consciousness. All I knew is I had an ache that would never be filled.

Here today I learned blood is not always blood. Who your family is for to you decide. Shino was my brother even though our parents were different. He will remain with me. A part of me.

I can’t tell you how long later I finally came to. All I know is that my head and heart ached. Snell, Lucy, and Zoran all sat around a fire. Ezog and the little goblin were talking a little way away. I looked down at my lap where Shino still rested. Lucy noticed I was awake.

The three of them came over to me. They laid a blanket over Shino. They had yet to say anything. I felt the tears welling up inside me again. Lucy gently lifted Shino off my lap. Snell grabbed under my armpits and picked me up while Zoran stayed beside me to help keep me steady.

“This is all my fault. We should have taken the right path. I should have insisted more.” I couldn’t help but feel that I was to blame. “Maybe if I had tried harder to convince everyone.”

“This is not on you Zen. I chose the left path. I took the logical route.” Zoran’s voice was only a hoarse whisper now. “I didn’t know. I wish we could go back and change it.”

None of you could have changed a bond formed from love.

Everyone but me glanced around.

“Guardian you called me here today! I finally bested Yarg as you said I would.” Ezog called at the top of her voice.

“You know the guardian too Ezog?” I was curious.

“Zen do you understand Ezog?” Snell was starting me down. “You also talked with that little goblin.”

“You can’t understand them?” I looked at the three around me. They were all shaking their heads.

Ezog cleared her throat.

“Sorry humans. Hopefully now you can understand me a bit better. Often I don’t use your tongue.”

We all glanced at Ezog in shock. It was then that I could tell I hadn’t heard her in our language. How had I understood her then?

“Ezog how do you know the guardian?” I stared up at the ogre. “Better yet how can I talk with you and that little goblin over there?”

“Soon we will all know the guardian for she approaches young one.” Ezog let out a long sigh.

Out of the tunnel materialized the guardian. She looked at us all with a sad face. Snell started looking at his feet then clambered into both knees and bowed. Zoran and Lucy followed suit.

“Saint of the light. Guardian of the beyond we are blessed by your presence.” All three of them said aloud in unison.

Humans. No need for such high standings. Some of the forgotten lands would be amused. But I the guardian of trials think that you deserve more dignity than this. Stand up.

Her voice yet again was inside our heads but also the air in the cavern itself. They all clambered to their feet.

It has been a successful trial. But on this day the worst hardship has happened. I am sorrowed by the breaking of hearts. But today you have gained two allies. The forgotten and the orgers of three. Let’s bring forth the happy memories of the lost and learn from our heartache. Sadly both paths would have had suffering for to the right rested Yarg the hungry.

“Guardian? I have lost my brother. Or I considered Shino a brother. How am I supposed to go on after this?” Tears stained my face.

Zen when someone we loves sacrifices themselves for us it’s out of love for who they saved. Don’t waste this chance he has given you. You have a tough road ahead of you. I feel like someday you may meet him again. But for now I can give you a shrine for your brother.

The guardian touched the middle of Shino’s forehead.

Lay the child down here. Think of your happiest memories with him.

Lucy laid Shino where he was told. The guardian started to hum a beautiful melody.

If anyone knows the dwarven hum please help me. This is the magic of many. We need to help guide him into a life filled with love and laughter.

The guardian went back to her melody. I joined in along with Snell. When hummed the dwarven hum, the hum mixed perfectly with the guardian’s melody. As the notes rang and I remembered my journey with Shino I felt my eyes misting over yet again. The notes started to hang in the air. A spire of white light was cutting through the cavern.

The longer the notes hung around the more I noticed the spire break through the earth above us. It twisted like a stair case into the air. I watched as it consumed Shino. I noticed it carry his body higher. The column finally stopped about a hundred feet in the air.

The guardian looked around at all of us.

Zen you have passed the trial of the forgotten. You saved a goblin who could not save themselves. As of today Zen your task from the forgotten lands, or as you know it is to travel over the dark mountains and end the blight here. Ezog will help guide you when it is time. You will meet her here three years from now to travel to her home. The demons run wild there. Literally. I must go to the next testing grounds children. Remember a memory can keep a thousands lives alive.

With those final words the guardian disappeared. Ezog glanced down at all of us.

“You will be in for the roughest three years of your lives little ones.” She slowly shook her head. “The land of demons lie beyond the black mountains. It’s a totally different world altogether. I fear for you.”

Snell had blanched in color. “I fear that this is going to be a crazy trip. Now first we need to get out of here.”

“Follow me little ones. For no tunnel is forever collapsed when an ogre is around.” Ezog went to the collapsed tunnel. As she touched the rocks she gave a little chant under her breath. The earth moved itself into a staircase leading right up to the ogres plains.

“I will rest here little ones. In three years I expect to see you again. If not then I will assume the worst has happened.” Ezog gave us all a wave and smile. Somehow it suited the three eyed ogre.