Chapter 22 Word of Advice

The next morning, we awoke to the soft, eerie glow of the mushrooms. Grub was already up, peering cautiously out of our shelter’s entrance. He turned to me with a grim expression.

"The morning is nice, little gob and the path is clear for now. We gotta move quick, there is a lot of walk to be done." 

Kaka, though clearly in agony, managed to push himself into a sitting position. His face was a mask of pain, his breath labored and eyes half-closed. Grub sat nearby, his face etched with concern. The atmosphere was heavy with the unspoken reality of our situation, but despite the pain and exhaustion, there was a determination to survive.

Kaka stirred, his voice a raspy whisper.

"Gobbie friend... where... where are we? What h-happened? Hurts everything..."

Grub leaned in closer, trying to catch every word.

"The bear... it got you good but forget that for now, we need to find a safer place, friend. This forest is too dangerous. I... I came from a goblin breeding farm nearby. It ain't great, but it's a place with walls, a small chance for food, and maybe even some rest."

Kaka's eyes flickered with a mix of confusion and fear.

"Breeding farm... goblin masters... they're cruel... beat us... kill innocent hatchlings."

Grub nodded solemnly.

"Yes, they are. But the forest... it's worse. Monsters and predators are everywhere. At least at the farm, there’s some protection. We might even find some fellow goblins who could help us."

Kaka's body shivered with pain, but he forced himself to sit up slightly, his eyes locking onto Grub's.

"Tell me... about the farm... what you endured... what's it like in there..."

Grub's face twisted with the memory of his past.

"It’s a place of horrors, Kaka. Every second day, goblin masters beat us, whip us. They force us to work until we can’t move. No rest, no mercy. We’re tools to them, nothing more."

Kaka's eyes were glazed, and he seemed to drift in and out of consciousness, but he still managed to whisper, "Tools... nothing more... but... but there’s food...?"

Grub nodded, his voice filled with a mix of bitterness and reluctant hope.

"Yes, there's food, just a little bit. They feed us just enough to keep us alive, keep us working. It’s a miserable existence, but it’s a step above being hunted down by the creatures out here."

Kaka's head drooped, but he forced his eyes open, his willpower shining through his exhaustion.

 "And... you were scouting... sent out here...?"

Grub's face hardened.

"Yes. They kicked us out to scout the forest, naked and unarmed. They didn't care if we came back. Just another way to torment us, keep us in line. I dug this hiding hole for myself, knowing I’d need a place to escape to."

Kaka's breathing grew more labored, but he clenched his fists, his voice stronger than before.

"We... we go to the farm. Better chance... than out here. We might find others... get help... We go now. No more wait."

The decision made, Grub and I carefully lifted Kaka, supporting his frail body between us. With our meager belongings strapped to our hunched backs and Kaka leaning heavily on us, we ventured out of the cramped shelter, the forest looming dark and ominous around us.

Every movement was a struggle for Kaka, but he pushed through with sheer willpower. Grub and I supported him as best we could, our hearts aching at the sight of his suffering.

As we ventured deeper into the forest, the shadows seemed to grow longer, and darker. Every rustle of leaves, every crack of a twig sent shivers down our spines. We moved cautiously, keeping low and hiding in the tall grass whenever we heard something. The pungent smell of feces clung to us, masking our scent and repulsing potential predators.

Hours passed, the sun barely breaking through the thick canopy above. The forest seemed endless, a labyrinth of trees and undergrowth that offered no escape. The oppressive atmosphere weighed heavily on us, each step feeling like a march towards doom.

Just as the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting the forest in an ominous twilight, we stumbled upon a small clearing. At its center stood a large, pile of fallen trees. Under the pile was a tiny hole, hidden under the tangled roots of the trees.

"This is one of my hiding holes. We can hide here for the night." Grub muttered pointing a trembling finger at the hole in the dirt.

We crawled into the cramped hole, the scent of damp soil and rotting wood enveloping us. The space was barely big enough to fit us all, the walls soft and decayed. It wasn't much, but it offered some semblance of safety.

As we settled in, Kaka collapsed onto the ground, his body curling into a miserable ball of broken limbs and flesh. His breathing was ragged, each breath a struggle. Grub and I lay beside him, our faces etched with exhaustion. 

As we lay on the damp ground, Grub kept up the conversation, trying to keep Kaka alert and focused.

 "Kaka, the farm’s not far. At this pace, maybe a day’s walk. Just hold on, okay?"

Kaka groaned, his eyes barely open.

 "Day’s walk... I can... manage..."

I squeezed Kaka’s hand, trying to offer what little comfort I could. 

"We’ll get there, Kaka. We will! We will!"

As night fell, Grub and I took turns keeping watch, our senses heightened by the fear of what lurked in the darkness. Kaka slept fitfully, his body wracked with pain, but his breathing steady.

In the dim light of dawn, we continued our journey, the forest gradually thinning as we neared the breeding farm. The thought of the goblin masters and the atrocities that awaited us there was terrifying, but the forest had proven to be an even greater threat.

By midday, the farm’s crude walls came into view, a mix of dread and relief washing over us. The decision to seek shelter there was a desperate one, but in the face of the forest’s dangers and Kaka's brutal injuries, it was our best chance for survival.

As we approached the grim, imposing gates of the goblin breeding farm, Grub's demeanor shifted. His posture became more guarded, his eyes darting nervously as if expecting danger at any moment. He pulled me aside, his voice a low, urgent whisper filled with the weight of experience.

"Little gob, listen carefully now," he began, his tone serious.

 "First, you need to hide all of your belongings. We, slaves, we are not allowed to have anything, they will beat you and take away all you got. Hide your things under that tree," Grub pointed his gnarled finger at a nearby tree, I quickly gathered our belongings and hid them under tree roots. Grub continued after I returned from hiding my stuff.

"There are things you gotta know about living here if you wanna survive."

I nodded, wide-eyed and attentive. Grub's words carried the gravity of a life spent under the harsh rule of the goblin masters.

"First thing," Grub continued, "always keep your head down. Don’t look the masters in the eyes. They see it as defiance, and they'll beat you for it. We’re beneath them, dirt under their boot and you have to act like it. If he tells you to lick his feet, you drop on the ground and start licking, no matter how filthy they are, you just lick and kiss until you are allowed to stop. If not, beating or worse punishment is in order."

I swallowed hard, the reality of our situation settling over me.

 "Got it. Head down. Don’t look 'em in the eyes. Lick and kiss. Just like in our previous farm."

Grub nodded approvingly.

 "Good, good, that's right. Now, never speak unless allowed to or make a loud noise. They don't like noise unless it's them making it. If they ask you something, answer quickly and clearly, but keep it short. The less you say, the better. If you stumble or stutter they will beat you."

I shuddered, imagining the punishment for breaking these unspoken rules.

 "O-okay, Grub. What else?"

Grub leaned in closer, his eyes intense.

 "Don’t be seen standing around doing nothing. Always look busy, even if you’re not. Find something to do, even if it’s just moving dirt from one place to another. Idle hands get whipped. Whipped I tell you. And the guards do not hold back, they enjoy it. Guards always watching, looking for a chance to beat us just out of boredom."

I nodded, committing his words to memory.

 "Stay busy. Got it."

"Listen closely, very important. If they beat you," Grub said, his voice dropping to a near whisper, "don't fight back. It only makes it worse. Take it, curl up, and cover your head. Squeal as loud as you can, show them that you are in pain. They like it and will not stop until they hear you scream. So you better make them happy fast do not try to endure, it only gets worse. Show them you’re not a threat, and they might get bored and leave you be."

My stomach churned at the thought, but I forced myself to nod.

 "Take the beatings. Don’t fight back. Squeal loud. Got it."

Grub sighed, his expression softening slightly. 

"And Hermit, I'm afraid for Kaka. He's in bad shape. They’ll see him as weak and target him. Master goblins do not like those who can not work. You will need to work and take the beatings for both of you if you want Kaka to get shelter. But even then there is no promise that he will get shelter."

I glanced at Kaka, who was barely conscious, his body ravaged by the forest and the bear's attack. 

"I will, Grub. Kaka did so much for me and saved me so many times. It is my time to help Kaka. I’ll take care of him. I will take the punishment and I will work as hard as I need to."

Grub gave a grim smile. 

"Good. One last thing: try not to get attached to anyone else here. We, goblin slaves, come and go, and attachments only bring pain. Focus on Kaka and yourself. Survive."

I took a deep breath, the weight of his words pressing down on me.

 "I understand, I will try, Grub. Thank you."

He nodded, his eyes hardening with resolve. 

"You’ll get through this, Hermit. Just remember what I said, and you’ll have a chance."