Bab 23: Goblin everywhere! (II)
Name: Berry Drakel
Title: Greedy Gaming Dragon
Race: Dragon
Blessings: Blessing of the Ancient Dragon, Double Trouble, Great Sage, Curse of the Dragons
Abilities: Transform, Magic absorption, Metal Manipulator. Ice and Fire Magic. Coder.
Fire Magic- Fireball.
The fight with the goblin scout helped me grow, but I still had difficulties with them in my human form. Does that mean that in my dragon form, I will also struggle? I did not know, nor did I want to test such theory out. Right now, our priority was to survive.
"Young mistress," Moca called out towards me. I turned towards him, wondering what he had to say.
"Tart and I will go behind and watch for any goblins. If they do come near, we will kill them."
I nodded. That would slow the Goblins down, but I did not want them to die. "Don't die on me. Runaway if you are surrounded. You're not invincible."
"Yes, young mistress. I understand. It is truly an honor to know that you worry about us." Moca seemed to be moved by my words.
"Why wouldn't I be?" I asked quizzically. Isn't it a reasonable thing to worry about them when danger is near, especially now that Coco, Tart, and Moca have become her family?
"You are our mistress. Our lives are just pebbles by the river."
"I seriously think that you are thinking about this incorrectly. You are not mere pebbles. You guys have become my family since the day you received your name."
"I-" Moca did not have anything else to say and instead went quiet. A single tear fell from his eyes.
"Young mistress!" Tart cried out in tearful joy and was just about to glomp on me, but Coco bulked, throwing Tart off. Her hind leg kicked him enough to send him flying towards Moca, who caught him. Dangling in the air, Tart was injured as he glowered towards Coco with disdain. "That's not fair! How come Coco gets to stay with a young mistress!"
"Because she is her transportation. You should know better than that."
"I'm a better and faster transport than Coco." Tart folded his arms.
Coco whinnied out loud in disagreement. They both yelled or neighed, trying to prove a point until Coco snorted and showed her rear to Tart, stating that she was not going to entertain his gibberish.
"Just be safe."
"Yes, young mistress." Moca bowed and galloped towards the back.
"They're quite a handful, aren't they?" Don asked.
"You don't say, but they are not bad people. Wait, I mean monsters?" I wasn't sure what to call them.
A monster or a human? It was a delicate line that I could not tell.
"Get some rest, Berry. I'll keep watch." Phil got off his horse. He walked over towards a wagon and pulled out a large blanket.
I slid off of Coco's back and landed with a slight stumble. Coco transformed and caught me just barely before I could fall onto the ground face first.
"Please watch your step," Coco said worriedly. "I do not want to see your skin tarnished with scrapes and bruises.
"Thanks, Coco."
"It's my pleasure serving you, young mistress."
Coco walked over towards the wagon and also pulled out a blanket. She spread it out for both of us to lay on. "Young mistress, please lay down." Patting her hands on her lap, she gently smiled, telling me to come over and lay down on her lap.
I didn't know how tired I was till it finally hit me. Sitting on the back of a horse for an extended period was a painful experience. My legs were shaking from the long ride. I didn't complain a single bit and went over.
Phil came over with his blanket in hand and sat down next to me. Spreading out the sheet for all three of us to share, he leaned back onto the tree. Sleep washed over me until finally, I blacked out.
#####
"Young Mistress," Coco shook me awake. I groggily got up, wondering where we were.
Coco brought over a nice warm meal in a wooden bowl. She brought two dishes over for both of us to eat. Taking it off her hands, I gladly accepted it. How long has it been since I last ate? Two days? My stomach grumbled in a riot.
I was so tense in the past couple of days that I completely forgot that I was hungry. The dreaded oppressive emotions bottled up tightly in each people's mind made it more challenging to think about even eating. It was not until now when I slept and rested, did I remember that I was hungry.
"Are we going yet?" I asked. Placing the bowl on my lap, I slowly ate.
"No, we will shortly," Coco replied. She was finished with her soup and was putting things away.
"Young mistress, it seems that there is some kind of disturbance from the back."
Turning towards the back, I saw the people running towards the front. Quickly getting up, I handed the soup to Coco.
"What's going on?" I ran towards Phil. He was up on his horse.
"I don't know, but I'm going to find out."
"Take me with you." I reached up towards him. Without a second thought, he pulled me up behind him. Before I could even settle down, the horse galloped to the back.
"Kyahhhhh!" A woman's scream broke through the silent camp, causing people to become panicked.
"Goblins!"
"Run!"
"Damn," Phil swore under his breath. "I knew we shouldn't have rested." He clicked his tongue.
Phil's grandmother was also near the back, helping out the wounded and the scared.
"Phil!"
"Grandma, are you alright?"
"I'm fine. Don't worry too much." Grandma Mary waved her hand as she got up like it was nothing, but one could tell that she too was exhausted to her bones. "These rickety old bones have a couple more uses."
"Young mistress!" Moca came running forward on his horse. "The goblin scouting party will be on us at any moment!" His hand was covered in green goblin blood.
"How long?" Phil called out. He was thinking of a solution quickly in his head.
"In less than an hour. The first goblin dispatch has been just killed by Tart."
A bush rustled, and a goblin jumped out towards Moca. Without even thinking, I fired off a fireball straight at the Goblin. In a matter of seconds, the Goblin fell dead.
"Are you alright?" I ran over towards Moca in worry. I prayed that he was not seriously injured.
"I am a fine young mistress." Moca softly spoke. He patted my head to reassure me everything was okay.
I sighed in relief that Moca did not get hurt, nor was the blood on him his.
"I told you to be careful." I frowned towards Moca.
Moca chuckled. "I knew you would save me, young mistress. I did not doubt at all."
Ugh, these monster human idiots. They are putting themselves in harm's way too much, even though they were reliable. I don't know when they will collapse or get hurt if they push themselves so hard. They were the only family I had in this world.
Quickly pulling in his reign, Phil quieted his horse. "Everyone quickly! Head North!"
The people busily put away their items in a rush and pushed off towards the direction that Phil had shouted. Moca stood silently watching the mayhem unfold.
"At this rate, we won't make it to the so-called city," I spoke. "We should head into the Forgotten Forest."
"I cannot go against my grandfather's orders."
"But your people's lives are at stake here. You know as well as I that we won't make it."
Phil knew what I had said was true. There was no time to get to the city without losing a good portion of the civilians.
"Everyone, go towards the Forgotten Forest! There is a haven located there!" Phil spurred his horse forward.
The people stared at Phil as if he was crazy.
"What are you talking about? That's the Forgotten Forest! Are you trying to kill us too?"
"No, you can either die now by the goblins or start walking. We will not be able to make it to the nearest city at this rate. Our chance of survival is through the Forgotten Forest. I know the nearest place that we could rest."
"But they are monsters there."
"There are monsters everywhere. Choose now. Die here today by the hands of Goblins or take a chance to live another day." Phil chortled, pulling in the reigns as his fist tightly clenched. He knew that there was nothing he could do but try to persuade his people.
Phil pushed his horse forward towards the direction of the Forgotten Forest. It was a gamble to run through the Forgotten Forest while the Goblins were chasing us. I didn't know what other monsters could be inside the Forgotten Forest, but it was a better chance to get to the castle than to keep running forward towards the city. I understood that not even half of the people would survive if we continued.
The people reluctantly followed behind Phil either out of fear of death or hope for survival. They all knew in their heart that they would not survive the long trek towards the nearest city.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone