Chapter 35 Improvised Distraction

When I regained awareness, Slasher was gone, leaving us lying beaten and broken on the cold ground. Kaka lay motionless, his face a gruesome mask of dirt and blood, his eyes packed with filth, his nose and mouth stuffed full of dirt. The tiny hatchlings, no bigger than Kaka's fist, looked on in terror as their beloved caretaker suffered before their eyes.

With a stirring of courage, the hatchlings sprang into action, darting toward Kaka's face with fright shining in their tiny eyes.

One group of hatchlings rushed to Kaka's eyes, their small fingers gripping his eyelids and pulling them wide open, exposing his dirt-filled sockets to the dim light of the shed. They began to scrape away the packed dirt with grueling effort, their tiny bodies straining with the effort, their tiny fingers scraping and clawing until Kaka's eyes were clear.

Meanwhile, another group of hatchlings focused on Kaka's nose, their tiny hands working tirelessly to remove the clumps of dirt that clogged his airways. With each tug and scrape, they fought to clear his nasal passages, their small forms coated in the filth that covered Kaka's face. They tugged and scraped at the clumps of feces until Kaka sneezed violently through his sniffer, expelling a bloody torrent of mucus that splattered all over the hatchlings, covering them in his filth from head to toe.

At the same time, a third group of hatchlings tackled the task of clearing Kaka's mouth, their tiny bodies wriggling as they pried his jaw open wider and wider. With determined resolve, they began to dig and tunnel inside, their small hands scooping out the dirt that had become lodged in his throat.

Despite their valiant efforts, the task was overwhelming, and Kaka gagged and choked as he struggled to breathe. But the hatchlings refused to give up, their tiny forms working tirelessly to free their beloved caretaker from the suffocating grip of the dirt.

Finally, with a violent retch, Kaka expelled the dirt from his mouth, his body convulsing as he vomited up the vile contents of his stomach. The hatchlings were covered in his filth, but they paid it no mind, their only concern was for Kaka's well-being.

Kaka, now able to breathe, coughed and sputtered, tears mixing with the dirt on his face. The hatchlings, their tiny bodies covered in his vomit and filth, huddled close to him, seeking his warmth and protection.

I barely held to my consciousness, my body aching from the brutal kick. The smell of urine and feces clung to me, a reminder of my helplessness. I looked over at Kaka and the hatchlings, my heart aching at the sight of their suffering. Despite the pain and humiliation, Kaka managed a weak smile, his eyes filled with gratitude for the hatchlings' efforts.

As I gazed at Kaka and the hatchlings, my vision blurred and faded to black. I didn't know how long I was out, but suddenly a gentle tug on my body roused me from my sleep. Startled, I recoiled in fright, my mind still muddled from the beatings and my vision seeing doubles. I scrambled backward, my scrawny feet kicking up dirt until I hit the corner of the shed. There, I huddled into a tiny ball, chirping and hissing in a desperate plea for mercy.

"Wreeeee! No more! Reeeeeeee! No more, please! Mercy! Wreeeeeee! Mercy! No more beatings! No more beatings! Eeeeeeeeeeek! No more!"

But then I heard a gentle voice, a familiar voice, whispering calming words.

"Shuuuuuu... shuuu, little gob, shhhhhhhhh... shhh, it's Grub, little gob. I'm a friend. No hurt."

The soothing tones penetrated my fear, I looked toward the source of the voice, my vision gradually focusing, and the stupor and confusion of sleep fading. I saw Grub standing before me, his eyes filled with concern. Recognizing it was Grub, I sprang to my feet and dove into his arms, hugging him and whimpering, clinging to him as if he were my lifeline. Grub wrapped his arms around me, returning the hug with warmth and compassion. He gently patted my head and showered me with little kisses, murmuring comforting words to ease my fears, if only for a little while.

"Grub... friend," I whispered, my voice trembling.

"Slasher... he hurt Kaka... he hurt me... he hurt everyone."

"Shhhh, I know, I know, little gob. I saw. I saw him leave your shed," He whispered.

"It's okay. I'm here. Shhh, little gob, it's okay. He is gone now. No hurt, no fear. Grub here, friend." His presence brought a sense of safety, a tiny flicker of hope in the otherwise bleak and merciless world we were trapped in.

After a few moments, Grub pulled back slightly and looked into my eyes.

"I looked after Kaka and the hatchlings. They are fine, Kaka is a bit beat up but he is fine as well. Let me help you up to Kaka, lay down, and get rest. Maybe the next day will be better for you, who knows," he said softly.

With gentle care, Grub helped me to my feet, supporting my weight as we made our way over to Kaka. The hatchlings looked up at us with wide, scared eyes, their tiny bodies trembling. Grub knelt beside Kaka, putting me to rest next to him.

"Have a good dream, little gob. Rest well."

"Grub," I called out as he was about to leave, "what if we tried to escape this place? What if we sought freedom, a life without pain or suffering? No more beatings or torture, no more hunger or humiliation. Would you run away with me and Kaka? Together, we might have a better chance of finding a place where we can live happily."

Grub's expression shifted, his features contorting with a mix of sadness and fear.

 "Oh, little gob, If only there was such a place, but unfortunately..." he sighed heavily, "I wish I had your courage. But the forest... it terrifies me. This is my home, as dreadful as it may be. I dream of a life without suffering, just like you, but I'm not brave enough to face the dangers beyond these walls, not again, not after I was granted entry back. Even if it means enduring beatings and starvation, I'm afraid I must stay. I'm sorry, little gob. I want to stay, no matter how hard it gets."

It was clear that Grub had grown accustomed to the harsh reality of life within the breeding farm, and the thought of venturing out into the unknown filled him with fear. Despite his longing for a life without pain and suffering, the safety and familiarity of the farm walls offered a sense of security that he was unwilling to leave behind. Or maybe he had some other reasons he didn't want to share.

"Grub, I understand... It's okay. I know the forest is a scary place, especially after what we've been through. But... if you ever change your mind, if you ever feel like you want to leave, know that I and Kaka would be glad to have you. You're a true friend, and we'll never forget your kindness."

Grub's eyes softened with gratitude, and he reached out to pat my head gently. 

"Thank you, little gob. That means a lot to me. I'll keep that in mind. You're a good friend. Now rest, you will need your strength. Good night."

As Grub turned to leave, a surge of sadness welled up within me. Despite his reluctance to join us, I knew that Kaka and I couldn't give up on our quest for freedom. We owed it to ourselves, and to Grub, to keep looking for a better life.

I turned back to Kaka, who lay still and silent beside me.

 "We'll find a way out of here, Kaka," I whispered, "We'll escape this place and find a place where we can live without fear or pain. I promise."

The new morning came, bringing with it the harsh routine that had become our daily existence. As always, I went to the fields to work while Kaka stayed in the shed to recover and look after the hatchlings. The day seemed to proceed as usual. I kept a close eye on Slasher, tracking his movements around the camp to ensure I could warn Kaka in time. Fortunately, Slasher appeared busy gossiping with the guards, leaving me hopeful that we would be spared his cruelty for the day. 

With the sun high in the sky, warming my weary body, I noticed Kaka peeking his head out from the shed. He began to sneak towards the adventurer, using every available cover to stay hidden. This was part of the plan we had discussed the previous night. My heart pounded with anxiety as I noticed a goblin guard heading towards his post, directly in Kaka's path. Panic surged through me. If the guard saw Kaka, he would surely be punished severely.

Desperation fueled my actions. I had to create a distraction. My mind raced as adrenaline pumped through my veins. I let out a loud, piercing squeal, "Wreeeeeeeeee!" 

The sound echoed through the silent field as I collapsed to the ground, writhing in feigned agony. The sudden noise drew the guard’s attention away from Kaka, giving him the precious seconds he needed to reach a safe hiding spot.

The overseeing orc stormed towards me, his massive hand grabbing me by the neck and hoisting me into the air. His eyes blazed with anger.

 "What's the big idea!? What is the matter, you shity runt? Stop messing around and get to work!" he bellowed.

I trembled in his grip, begging for mercy.

 "Oh mighty master, please, forgiveness! I got bit, by a giant bug. It bit my finger! It was nibbling the crops and then took a bite out of me. Oh, it hurts, it does."

The orc glanced around the crops, his expression skeptical.

 "And where is this bug now, runt? You better get rid of the pests that eat our crop, or I will squish the bug and you all together."

In a panic, I squealed again, "Wreeee! Master, I got rid of it, I did. I ate the bug! I did! Bug no more, no more!"

The orc sneered at me, his grip tightening around my neck for a moment before he roughly dropped me to the ground. 

"Pathetic runt," he growled.

 "Get back to work and don't waste my time again."

I gasped for breath, my neck throbbing from the orc's brutal grip. But the distraction had worked. I glanced back towards where Kaka had been, and he was nowhere to be seen. Relief washed over me. He had made it to Loran, the adventurer.

I hurried back to my task, busy with the crops while my mind raced. I knew Kaka would be telling Loran about our situation and discussing the possibility of escaping. We had to be careful, though. If Slasher or any of the guards found out what we were planning, it would mean certain death for us all.