Nine young goblins, bonded through what appeared to be just a whim of the Chipped Ear Tribe's great chief, now walked side by side. With excited voices, they whispered excitedly about the promised reward, assuring one another that they and only they would be the one to get their hands on the grand prize in the end. Even still, one of the goblins distanced himself from the group, seemingly lost in thought. This particular gob was seven years of age, wore a pair of green human-made trousers, and at least for goblin standards, was quite the handsome individual.

  One of the less depressed and also less good looking goblins out of the group named Krakka came over to check up on him. Whether he did so out of goodwill, or rather to make him feel even more miserable is most definitely up for debate.

  '’Why are you so gloomy, Throg?’’ snickered Krakka as he walked right up to him. ‘’I guess you already gave up on the reward, considering your competition!’’

  Throg, ever the buzzkill, sighed while running his dirty fingers through his somehow not-dirty hair. The goblin's amber eyes unstuck themselves from the blue sky and slowly wandered towards his disruptor. His mouth hung open for a while before he spoke.

  '’Tell the others to come here. I have something to tell you all.'’

  Krakka narrowed his eyes and looked the slightly taller goblin up and down. Though he appeared to be unbothered by his squadmate’s arrogant demeanour, he fumed in anger behind his calm facade.

  Who the fuck does he think he is? Shit, you can’t let him get on my nerves like this! You’ve got to stay cool.

  ‘'Pfft. Do it yourself, pretty boy.'’ Krakka chuckled and turned to leave, muttering to himself as he twirled around the dagger he held in his hands.

  Throg clicked his tongue in frustration.

  Idiots. God knows how they've even survived until now. I probably can't carry out this plan by myself because of that old hag, though - I guess I'll just have to grit my teeth and do everything myself. !!

  Taking a deep breath and putting on his most serious expression, he strode over to the cheery group.

  ‘'Hey, y’all!'’ He called out.

  No fucks were given.

  ‘'HEY, Y’ALL!'’

  Still no response. The group's attention was gathered on the new celebrity of the tribe, Gromp, who was waving his lanky arms around and explaining something with great vigour.

  Shit, not this guy. He must be a decent fighter if he had truly brought down an orc one on one… but that isn't enough to make up for his enormous stupidity. Marching into the main cavern with the corpse of an orc – had the chief's mood been just a little different, his head might have been cut off then and there for starting a war.

  'Will you guys fucking listen to me!?' He yelled out once more, now thoroughly irritated.

  Krakka, standing closest to him, turned around with disdain in his eyes.

  '’Can't you see Gromp's talking? Show a little fucking respect and wait for him to finish!'’ He spat out, poking him in the chest with his finger to further accentuate his message.

  The two goblins glared at each other as Throg repeatedly clenched his jaw.

  '’And don't look at me with those fucking psychotic eyes of yours, either.'’ Added Krakka, still twirling the dagger in his hand.

  As they both grew silent, Gromp's loud, eager voice reached them.

  '’… and then, the one who collects the grand prize can appoint the rest as elders, and we all win!'’ He laughed, his voice so loud it reached many tribesmen it probably should not.

  The rest of the ragtag group of young goblins looked at each other, seeking to tell who agreed with Gromp's new bright idea.

  ‘'Shit, sounds like a good plan to me!'’ One of the goblins finally said, patting their impromptu leader on his back.

  A few more moments of nodding and looking at each other passed before the group started to collectively agree on following the genius plan.

  '’Damn Gromp, I always thought you were as dumb as a rock, but I guess I might've been wrong!’' Spoke up another youngling, snickering to himself.

  Throg watched as Gromp basked in the compliments, either ignoring or completely missing the not-so-subtle jabs at his lacking intelligence. He slowly turned and walked away from his brethren. His face turned cold as he relaxed his previously clenching hands. Moving even further from his team than before, he walked forward in complete silence, tilting his head up towards the heavens like before.

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  Unknowingly, the young goblins had made a crucial mistake. Throg no longer looked at them as brothers – he looked at them with pity, as if looking down at an animal struggling to survive.

  I have decided. I will not help them. I won't tell them anything. In fact, I will watch as they helplessly die at the hands of the one they call chief.

  Throg spat on the ground, and fell back into deep thought.

  As night fell upon the forest and its varying inhabitants, the day-long march finally came to a halt. The tired tribesmen unpacked and sat down to recover their lost energy. No fires were lit, for they were already in close proximity to the orc territory, and as such, most of the goblins merely took out the modest amount of dried meat or fruits they had brought with them. Additionally, since it only took about a day and a half to reach the orc tribe's base, no tents were being put up. Except one.

  '’So you're saying they ate all that shit up?’' the chief asked, holding his stomach from laughing too hard.

  He was sitting on a rather comfy rock some of his underlings found in the forest, while the elders' behinds had to be satisfied with good ol' dirt and leaves.

  '’Yup.'’ Elder Taruk answered. ‘'I even had one of my guys listen in on their conversation today, and they suspect nothing.'’

  The goblin upper class were drinking wine, eating food from a giant plate dominating the centre of the tent, and smoking herbs from pipes too masterfully crafted to be made by goblins. So much for a strategy meeting. A wicked smile spread across the chief's face as he finally calmed down, massaging his abdominal muscles.

  ‘'Fucking idiots. Just like their fathers, I guess.'’ He stated, reaching for his drink.

  He took a sip of wine from his gourd and looked at every single goblin in the room, one by one. His eyes stopped at the shamaness.

  ‘'We've pretty much won already. Our only weakness was that we had no one dumb enough to lead the attack on that village of theirs. But now, even that is taken care of. Other than that… you will make sure to cut down those flimsy walls of theirs, won't you, Yaga?'’ He probed, gently leaning forward.

  The old shamaness looked away, breaking eye contact.

  ‘’You really think I can't break down a wall made by orcs?’’ She snorted, thick smoke billowing from her nostrils.

  ‘'Whatever you say. I'm just checking.’’ The chief affirmed her, flashing a court smile.

  He continued to gaze at her for a moment or two more, before he turned back to the rest of the elders and raised his drink.

  ‘'To victory, ay?'’

  Gromp watched as the elders' silhouettes danced around on the fabric of the tent. Most of the goblins had already gone to sleep, but his pounding heart stubbornly refused him the needed shut-eye. He looked at his hands, illuminated by the bright full moon. They were shaking.

  ‘'My first battle, huh?'’ He whispered to himself as he clenched them in resolve.

  ‘'It's very likely it will be your last, as well.'’ Unambiguously declared a voice from behind Gromp’s back.

  He sprung to his feet, turning around and unsheathing his dagger in one smooth motion. The moonlight glinted off its sharp edge.

  Throg chuckled. '’Calm down, it's me.'’

  '’What the fuck are you doing? I could've stabbed you just now!'’ Shouted Gromp in distress as he lowered his weapon.

  The slightly shorter goblin pressed the tip of his fingers against his lips.

  ‘'Don't talk so loudly. You might wake them up.'’ He whispered, tilting his head in the direction of the pile made of sleeping goblins.

  The front liners seemed awfully unbothered by their role tomorrow, slumbering without a care in the world. Krakka smiled in his sleep, perhaps dreaming of the promised reward.

  '’Follow me,’’ said Throg. ‘’I have something important to tell you.'’

  ‘'How important? I'm quite sleepy, you know?' Gromp shot back, narrowing his eyes. He still had not sheathed his dagger.

  Throg gave him a deadpan stare, before unenthusiastically replying to the lanky goblin’s provocation.

  ‘'It's a matter of life and death. Feel free to stay here and ignore me, but do not expect to live beyond tomorrow.'’

  Gromp raised one of his eyebrows, his playful smile gradually disappearing.

  ‘'Lead the way.’' He replied with an uncharacteristic amount of certainty in his voice, slowly tucking away his blade.

  I'm absolutely certain I can kill this guy in a one-on-one, anyway. It wouldn't hurt to listen to him.

  He followed closely behind the older goblin, making sure to not step on any twigs or branches as it was more than possible some would think of them as deserters, sneaking away in the middle of the night like this. The moon cast blue light on the forest, giving a mysterious yet calming effect to their surroundings. Finally, after about five minutes of walking, Throg judged they were far enough from the others and stopped by an old oak tree.

  '’The chief is trying to kill us.'’ He bluntly stated with a steady tone of voice.

  ‘'Fucking straight to the point, huh?'’ Gromp quipped with a laugh, unsure whether to take his brethren seriously or not.

  Throg wasn't amused.

  '’This is serious, Gromp. We’re talking about our lives here.'’ He groaned, stretching his tired legs.

  ‘'Alright, alright.'’ Gromp sighed as he waved his hand around. ‘'Explain.'’

  With a grunt, Throg sat down on a nearby log to rest. He intertwined his fingers and rested his chin on his hands.

  '’Tell me this. What do I, you, and every single member of this group elder Turak put together have in common?'’ He intently questioned.

  ‘'All of our asses are green, I guess?'’ Came the sarcastic reply.

  ‘'Please, Gromp.'’ Throg said, massaging his forehead with one of his hands. ‘'I want you to really think about this. It's very obvious and frankly, I am amazed that not a single one of you idiots figured this out yet.'’

  The two stared at each other for a little while, before Gromp sighed in defeat. He leaned on the old tree, and let his gaze wander across the starry night sky. They stayed like that for quite a long while before Gromp slowly recognised that the other goblin truly intended to wait for him to come to the conclusion himself. Shortly, Gromp switched from pretending to think to actively trying to actually solve the puzzle presented to him, and shortly, his mind had quite the worrying realisation.

  '’Oh, Fuck.'’ The leaning goblin muttered.

  '’What's that supposed to mean? Did you figure it out?'’ Gromp muttered in a yawn, nearly having fallen asleep.

  ‘’Your… your dad was Big Throg, right? Old chief Apo's right-hand man?’’ He asked.

  ‘'That's right.'’ Swiftly arrived the response.

  ‘'And that guy Krakka… his old man used to craft all of those spears, arrows and stuff right?’’ Gromp continued.

  ‘'Yeah. Elder Kuzza.'’ Throg responded.

  ‘'Right, right. Yeah, his name was Kuzza. Remember that cool tattoo he had?'’ The taller goblin gently laughed.

  'Yeah, on his right arm right? Some kind of dragon or something.'

  '’That's right, it was a dragon.’’ Reminisced Gromp. ‘’I think I remember when he let me touch it back when we were little kids. Great times.'’

  The two enjoyed the silence for a brief while.

  ‘'You think something like that would look good on me?'’ Finally remarked Gromp, flashing a toothy grin.

  ‘'The dragon would look like it's starving on those lanky arms of yours.'’ Answered Throg, barely containing his laugh.

  The two playfully cursed each other out for a brief while before staring off into the distance once again.

  Gromp relaxed his left hand, which had been unknowingly gripping the dagger's handle ever since Throg suddenly approached him. He repeatedly tapped his foot on the ground as he tried to find something to say, the gravity of the situation gradually settling upon him. He took a deep breath and looked down at his friend who was observing the constellations watching over them.

  ‘'We're fucked, aren't we?'’ He finally dared to say as he scratched his chin.

  Throg softly chuckled before looking directly into his new friend’s eyes with a burning passion.

  '’You've got that right. But I've got a plan.'’