Bab 28: Chapter 28: Wolves(2)

With the goblins gone, the place had once again returned to peace. Not a sound could be heard, as those left behind could never make another.

But the peace did not last long, as rugged snarls and enraged growls came from not far away. Soon, the bushes parted, and the ones responsible for the broken peace appeared.

Running on their four uneven limbs, the creatures arrived with a gait not too different from how a gorilla would.

Their steps halted as they were greeted by the sight before them. First, they were shocked, and then they were angry.

Not far from them, one of their own lay in its own puddle of blood. A terrifying wound was on its stomach, with its internal organs spewed around, no different from the leaves on the ground. As for its head, it was nowhere to be seen. Only the decapitated body was left.

He looked around the body and sniffed all around. Their sensitive noses did what they did best and searched for another.

And another they found. Although this time only the smell and blood were left behind, Unlike the older, the whole body was gone; only its smell and the blood were proof of it ever being here.

But it was proof enough for the kobolds, as their angry growls soon arose in the forest.

"Argh!"

It was a simple bark from one of the kobolds that silenced them all. This kobold did not look much different from the others other than the way it carried itself and its grayer fur. Unlike the others that stood hunched with their arms hanging low, this one stood tall with its back nearly straight.

Its bark not only got the other kobolds to shut up, but it also brought their attention to the kobold.

With the other kobold's attention pulled, the kobold started barking out orders in a language unknown to none but themselves.

After a few seconds of growls and barks being thrown out, the kobolds finally spread out. According to their senses, there are five directions that their enemies have run in. One ran to the left, where it could sense the smell of the youngling. While another ran to the right, where the smell of their dead companion lingers greatly. As for the others, blood trails, which they figured to be the dead kobold's parts, were on the ground.

As there were nine kobolds in total, the kobolds divided themselves into three teams: one went left to find the younglings, another went right to where their companion's head may be, and the last followed the three trails of blood left over.

And since there was a possibility that the younglings could still be alive, the leading kobold went to the left.

...

While the kobolds grouped themselves, deep within the forest, a pair of hobgoblins and gremlins ran further away from them.

The hob-goblin huffed and puffed as each of its steps took too much of a toll on its stamina. The strenuous exercise, coupled with the spear and the small but heavy kobold, made one exhausting workout for the hob-goblin.

It could not be helped; hobgoblins were not made to do such a tiring task after all. When they were made, the child had the intention of just making them stronger. But although they have become stronger, their stamina has not improved much. Leading to their not being made for long and dextrous battles. It was clear from the beads of sweat patterning its head that the hobgoblin was already tired.

But contrary to the hobgoblin, the gremlins were still doing fine. It was, after all, able to keep a horned rabbit running for a few minutes. A feat not many—even the kobolds in daylight—can claim to have done.

On its four limbs, it ran no different from a wild animal. But one must not be fooled by its form, as this creature may likely be the smartest in the whole world.

As minutes went by, the sun finally set, ridding the world of the beautiful red sunset hue. Thus plunging it into darkness. With the moon looking quite thin that night, barely any light was shed into the darkness. But for the gremlin, the little light was still enough to navigate the darkness.

Sadly, the same could be said for the kobolds. Behind the two, growls and dog-like barking sounded.

It seemed that the kobolds had caught on to their scent trail. But although the enemy drew near, the Gremlin did not once fear.

When a plan is in motion, there is no reason to worry. So the two kept their constant speed. Even if the hob-goblin grew tired the further it went, the child's orders made sure it kept its feet moving.

But even the child directive orders had a limit. The hobgoblin's stamina was even greater. As such, there came a time when it could no longer go forward.

Luckily, though, the pair had already arrived at their destination. Not far away from the two, a herd of wild boars prepared for the night.

They grouped together and formed a circle around their young. From a single glance, one would estimate their numbers to be around 60 or 70. Excluding the young, each boar stood at a height of at least 1 meter. Compared to the 1.4-meter hob-goblin, a single boar was a tad bit too small. But what the boars prided themselves on was not their individual strength. Once more than 10 of them start charging, nothing in the forest can stop them. Plus, with the long tusks protruding from their mouths, anything that tries to stop them would be poked with many holes.

The child was counting on that belief. From what he has seen, there are not many creatures on his side of the forest that could be considered a threat. At least to the kobolds, that is. So why were the kobolds only staying in one part of the forest?

The child liked to believe that it was these boars that drove them out. But even if it wasn't, these boars should be enough to push his own agenda.

Hearing the huffing and puffing of the tired hobgoblin, the herd of boars started to get restless. So the child sent out orders to his two goblins.

...