12 Recovery (1/2)

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.”