Recovery

All the goblins that were followers of Tama were lined up facing the crowd. My brothers and I were standing on the back. We could barely see the front. Cala, the chief of the tribe, raised his sword and pointed at us. "A grievous crime against me was unearthed today! A traitor would dare bare his fangs towards me!" The goblins began to jeer at Tama's followers. The chief was more eloquent in his speech than the previous time I witness it. But that could have been because I was a baby. While I was watching, something tugged on my coat. Behind me was Flute. "Come on. You hurt, must heal." She told my brothers and me.

We left the square following Flute. I turn my head to look at the crowd one last time. I saw a head tossed up in the air. It looked like Cut, but I could be wrong. The crowd cheered even louder, but I did see some goblins leave after the first execution. I guess they got bored. You see one execution, and you've seen them all. Cala is a strong chief, and if we are to free are mothers from their cage, then a fight against Cala will be inevitable.

We reached a small cottage. The caretakers were outside, bringing in linens and buckets of water. The inside looked like a small kitchen, and there was a pile of leaves, hay, and some sort of foamy material in the middle of the room. Flute held my hands and lead to a chair. "Sit here." She said. I sat down. The rest of my brothers were situated on their chairs. Flute left to get something up the cupboards. "Do you need any help reaching up there?" I asked

"No. You stay and wait."

She came back with a bowl of purple mush. She rolled up my sleeves and placed my hands on her lap. "What is that stuff?" I asked.

"Horny Toad blood."

Did she say horny toad? I was going to ask what kind of animal is that, but then a sudden, painful sensation came out from my hands. "Stay still." Flute began to massage my hands and my forearm, hitting every aching muscle. My arms started sweating like a geyser despite how cold it was in the cottage. I gritted my teeth and closed my eyes as I try to bear the pain. After the massage, my arms felt lighter and my hands felt numb, but I can still move them. "Next back. Take off coat." I put my hands on the back collar and pulled my coat over my head. Before taking off my sleeves, Flute splashed the purple mush all over my back. My back trembled from the cold.

She rubbed the stuff all over my back. Then she used her elbow to apply pressure around my spine. I could hear clicking noises almost every time she moves her elbow up and down. Some goblin women entered the cottage while holding baby goblins. They came there to wash their babies. That explains the buckets and linens. "Um, Flute, is it alright if I ask you a few questions?"

"Ok." She answered back.

"Why did those goblins that attack us told us that we were weak? Because we were halflings? And what's the difference between purebreds and halflings anyways?"

"Purebred born from goblin woman and man. They grow very slow. But always strong. Halflings born from goblin and other race. They grow fast. But always weak. Well, not always. Not anymore. You four strong. Beat them, you did. When four halflings live, Flute scared. Thought no one live to hunt. Six halflings live after growing, and only three live after first hunt. But you four so strong. Rock so big, you and Smoke hard fighters, and Stick, well, he live too. Flute wish you no hunt tomorrow, though. Need time to heal."

"Maybe the chief wants us to hunt before the deers disappear."

"Maybe. But deer always here. First winter so many deer leaving."

Maybe they're disappearing due to overhunting. From what I can tell, this tribe is pretty big. "Flute, another question. How did Tama turned red and big like the chief?"

"Flute, don't know. Tama kill troll attacking hunting party." She paused, then, after a few seconds continued to talk and massage my back. I yelp a little from the pain. "Flute no answer that question no more. Chief say keep secret. Sorry child"

"It's ok. I understand that its a sensitive topic." Across to my right, I saw Rock talking to one of the goblin mothers. She seemed very annoyed with Rock, but that dense meathead couldn't tell. He kept going on and on about his battle with Tama, exaggerating every punch he landed on Tama. I started to get embarrassed for him. I can't believe Rock is interested enough with that woman that he would socialize with her and attempt to impress her.

Across from me was Smoke. The caretaker covered Smoke's eyes with a blanket. His eyes were so red after the fight because his opponent used underhanded tactics during the fight. Luckily, his opponent was to busy torturing him rather than trying to win and ended up having his balls pop. I would say Smoke's opponent was cheating asshole, but this wasn't exactly a boxing match in the ring. And besides, Stick had to use similar tactics to win against his foe.

Still, something else was bugging my mind about Tama. One more question shouldn't hurt. "Flute, was Tama alone when he fought that troll?"

It took a while for Flute to answer that question. Finally, she removed her elbow off my back and turned my body around. She placed her hand on my shoulder and looked at me with concern. "You thinking of killing troll to become conqueror?"

"No. I was just curious about Tama, and his strength is all."

"Hunt party of twelve goblins. That many goblins fight troll. Only one live. Tama."

It took twelve goblins to win a fight against a troll! And from what I witness in the barn, the chief isn't happy about Tama becoming a 'conqueror.' I also wanted to ask how the chief managed to get close enough to Tama and slashed his arm off. The distance between the door and Tama was at least 20 feet. Not only that but, Rock told me he moved so fast that when you blink, it seemed like he teleported to Tama. I doubt Flute knows, so I didn't bother her about the question.

Stick sat on top of the counter across to my left. The caretakers were wrapping his hands up. From what I can tell, he tore a couple of layers off his skin. He also shattered his left knuckle. It should take two weeks for him to recover fully. It happened to me as well. One time in my past life, I started punching the punching bag without any gloves. I ended up breaking my fist. Stick also had a few missing teeth and a swollen right eye. But those were just baby teeth, and a pack of ice is enough to for the swollen right eye.

After the caretakers finish taking care of our injuries, they started cleaning up. The goblin mothers also finished bathing their babies. Rock's crush left along with the other mothers. Flute told us we would be sleeping here tonight while they move our mothers to a safer location. We decided to help them clean up, despite their protest. Rock carried the buckets out off the room, Smoke dried the floor with a cloth, and Stick carried a few garments out the back. I noticed Stick had a painful expression. Using your hand could stretch and pull the skin around the knuckles, causing a stinging pain. I hope he'll be ok.

I carried jars full of purple mush up the counter. Flute opened three drawers where I would place the jars. After the second drawer, I had no more jars to put inside. I went over the third drawer to close it, but before closing it, I noticed something peculiar. Inside the drawer was a hardcover book.