Chapter 07 Curious Ape

 With a surge of primal fear, I turned over my shoulder to look at the wolf, its dark fur bristling with menace and its razor-sharp claws threatening to tear my goblin flesh apart, fangs painted with the blood of its recent prey.

My heart pounding in my chest, I turned and bolted, my tiny goblin legs pumping furiously carrying me with surprising speed through the dense forest's undergrowth. The wolf pursued relentlessly, its hot breath scorching my heels as I darted through tangled bushes and overgrown thickets. With every step, I risked stumbling over gnarled roots or tripping on unseen obstacles, but I pushed onward, driven by the desperate need to escape the predator's clutches. I was small and nimble, able to dart and weave through the thick foliage with surprising agility. 

Darting through a thicket of bushes and tall grass, I burst from the undergrowth and skidded to a halt at the edge of a ridge - a sheer drop that plunged into the abyss below. With the wolf hot on my heels, I had no choice but to gamble on a daring plan.

With a surge of adrenaline-fueled courage, I hurled myself over the edge of the cliff, my tiny body plummeting through the air like a leaf caught in a gust of wind. I hung clinging to the edge of the cliff, holding for dear life clutching a root as I saw the wolf's snarling visage following close behind.

But fortune smiled upon me at that moment, for the wolf, in its blind pursuit, followed me too closely and lost its footing on the edge of a cliff. With a startled yelp, it plummeted over the edge, its form disappearing into the darkness below. I heard a sickening thud as its body met the unforgiving ground, silencing his squeals for good.

With painful effort, I pulled myself over the edge of the cliff and rolled onto the ground. Breathless and trembling, I lay on the ground for a few minutes, my heart still racing with the adrenaline of the chase. Slowly, I pushed myself upright, my limbs quaking with exhaustion.

Gathering what little courage remained within me, I approached the edge of the cliff and peered over, confirming that the wolf was indeed beyond saving. The wolf lay motionless at the bottom of the cliff, its body broken and lifeless. Its eyes stared blankly into the distance, a haunting reminder of the danger that lurked within these woods. I shuddered at the sight, grateful for my narrow escape.

With the wolf dispatched, I heaved a sigh of relief. Casting a wary glance over my shoulder, I scanned the surrounding trees for any sign of further danger, but the forest remained eerily silent as if holding its breath in the aftermath of the encounter. I took a moment to catch my breath, my chest heaving with exertion, before gingerly getting to my feet and dusting myself off.

It was clear now that the forest was not as safe as I had hoped, and that staying in the cave might no longer be an option. If I and Kaka were to have any chance of survival, we would need to leave this place behind and venture out into the unknown.

Gathering my wits, I turned and made my way back to the safety of the cave, my mind reeling from the harrowing ordeal. Once inside, I collapsed onto the ground, my entire body wracked with exhaustion and relief. Still feeling scared, I crawled over to Kaka and nuzzled by his side, his presence a comforting reassurance in the face of danger. Nestling close to him, I closed my eyes and let out a shaky sigh, grateful for his silent companionship in the aftermath of the attack.

As I lay beside Kaka, seeking solace in his presence, my brief respite was shattered by the sound of his awakening. With a jaw-breaking yawn that echoed through the cave, Kaka stirred from his slumber, his limbs outstretched in a languid stretch.

I watched with a mixture of relief and joy as he blinked his eyes open, his gaze unfocused as he adjusted to the dim light of the cave. Slowly, awareness dawned in his eyes, and he turned his head to look at me, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Little Hermit," he murmured, his voice hoarse from sleep, "how long have I been out?"

"Ummm... three days and nights... and... and a little. You were awake this morning. But you fell asleep again." I replied softly. 

With a grunt of effort, Kaka pushed himself into a sitting position, wincing as he shifted his weight. I moved closer to him, offering my support as he struggled to find his footing after so long in a state of unconsciousness. He looked at me with tired eyes, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips despite the pain.

"Ouchies! My body hurts. A lot of owies and ouchies. I got banged up good this time. I didn't think I would make it. That adventurer clobbered my noggin badly."

"Ouchies indeed," he muttered, his voice rough with exhaustion.

 "I feel like I've been trampled by a herd of stampeding evil goblins. But thanks to you, little Hermit, I'm still here. And even my head is fine. Did you nurse me back to life?"

I nodded, my heart swelling with relief at his words.

 "I did, I did. Yes, Kaka, I did!" I replied softly, "I did my best to nurse you back to health. It wasn't easy, but I couldn't bear to lose you. I fixed your open noggin and sew it shut! No brain leaking out of your skull. Kaka live!"

A faint smile flickered across Kaka's lips as he looked at me with gratitude shining in his tired eyes. 

"Thank you, little Hermit. You're a good gobbie, an amazing gobbie, a smart one. I am proud of you. You saved Kaka's life, thank you."

Kaka's gaze wandered from my face to the scattered items and provisions strewn about the cave, his eyes widening with curiosity and interest. With a grunt, he shuffled over to inspect the makeshift tools and supplies I had gathered.

As Kaka gingerly explored the makeshift tools that I had fashioned, his movements were clumsy and hesitant, like a curious ape cautiously picking through unfamiliar objects. His wrinkled brow furrowed in concentration as he inspected each item, turning them over in his gnarled hands with a mixture of awe and suspicion.

"What's this?" he muttered, his voice gruff and gravelly as he examined a crudely made hammer.

 "Looks like somethin' a human would use. Never seen anything like it before."

I watched with amusement as Kaka prodded at the makeshift tool, his movements awkward and uncertain. Despite his initial skepticism, I could see a glimmer of curiosity flickering in his eyes as he continued to explore the assortment of tools that I had assembled.

But Kaka's attention quickly shifted to the pile of food and resources that I had hauled into the cave. His nostrils twitched with anticipation as he caught the scent of ripe berries and fresh mushrooms, his stomach rumbling with hunger at the prospect of a hearty meal.

"By the great goblin gods," he yelped, his voice tinged with excitement as he surveyed the bounty before him.

 "Look at all this food! Where'd ya find it, little Hermit? And what's this?" He reached out and plucked a handful of berries from the pile, popping them into his mouth with relish.

He surveyed the makeshift loincloth I had fashioned from the leftover pelt and spider silk, his eyes squinting as he examined the crude stitching.

"What's with all these things, where did you get the pelt?" he mumbled, scratching his head with a gnarled finger.

Overflowing with joy, I told Kaka, "I ventured outside the cave and found it, it was draped on a pile of bones, just lying on the ground. With a little effort, I dragged it back to the cave and made a warm blanket for us to stay warm." 

 "Looks like you've been busy, little Hermit. Making clothes outta scraps and whatnot. Reminds me of the time I tried to fashion myself a hat outta a cabbage leaf. Didn't turn out too good, but it kept the rain off my noggin for a while, it did. But you must be careful little Hermit, it is dangerous outside, no wandering too far from the cave."

Kaka's gaze went back to examine the makeshift basket I had crafted from vines and leaves, his fingers tracing the intricate patterns with a childlike wonder. With a cautious sniff, he leaned closer, as if trying to decipher the secrets hidden within its woven strands.

"Lookie here, little Hermit, what ya got here?" Kaka's voice was gruff, tinged with a hint of excitement as he poked at the makeshift basket with a gnarled finger.

"Got me a fancy basket, Kaka! Made it myself, I did. Ain't it nice?" I chirped, my voice filled with pride. 

 "Nice indeed, a fine basket. It will serve right in collectin' berries and carryin' stuff," he muttered, scratching his chin thoughtfully. 

"Aye, that's right!" I nodded eagerly. 

"Perfect for gatherin' berries and mushrooms, it is. And look, I even added straps so we can carry it on our backs!"

"Ain't that clever," he murmured, a hint of admiration in his voice. 

"You've got a real talent for makin' things, little Hermit."

I beamed with pride at his words, puffing out my chest in satisfaction. 

"Thanks, Kaka!"

But his attention quickly shifted when he caught sight of the obsidian knife resting nearby, its sharp edge glinting in the dim light of the cave. With a curious gleam in his eye, Kaka reached out and picked up the blade, his fingers trembling slightly as he held it aloft.

He gave it a tentative sniff, his nostrils flaring as he took in its earthy scent. Then, with a swift motion, he flipped the knife around, examining it with a keen interest. The knife felt cool and smooth against his skin. Kaka's eyes widened in wonder as he ran his finger along the blade, marveling at its razor-sharpness. But as he pressed too hard, the blade bit into his flesh, drawing a thin trickle of blood.

With a startled yelp, Kaka recoiled, dropping the knife as if it had burned him. His eyes widened in alarm as he watched the blood welling up from the cut, his heart pounding in his chest as he scrambled backward, his movements frantic and panicked.

"Ouchies! Bad knife! Bad knife!" he shouted, his voice trembling with fear.

In a blind panic, Kaka kicked dirt onto the knife, as if trying to bury the source of his pain. He scooted away from it on the ground, his eyes wide with fear as he cast wary glances at the discarded blade.