Chapter 04 Harsh Reminder of the Danger

In the next few days, we watched our hidden garden with anticipation and anxiety. The veggies, nurtured by our hard work and the hatchlings' tender care, began to show signs of maturity. Tiny green shoots grew into leafy stalks, and small buds transformed into edible vegetables. Despite the crude conditions, our efforts bore fruit, and the garden's first yield was ready for picking after a few days. The soil was rich with mana and fertilizing it with our goblin feces accelerated the growth making it easy and quick for us to grow vegetables.

Early one morning, just as the first rays of sunlight filtered through the dense grass, we gathered around our garden. Grill was the first to step forward. With careful hands, he reached down and unearthed a small, yet perfectly formed, carrot from the soil.

“Look! Look!” Grill yelped, holding up the carrot for all to see. 

“It’s small, but it’s food. Our hard work paid off! We have veggies! Tasty veggies! We do, no more empty belly, no more rumbling in our bellies!”

The rest of us eagerly joined in, harvesting our meager bounty. Each vegetable we pulled from the earth felt like a small victory. Among the crops, we found a few tiny carrots, some small but vibrant green beans, a handful of potatoes, and a couple of small, slightly misshapen tomatoes. There were also some leafy greens that, though a bit wilted, provided much-needed nutrients.

We sat in a circle, examining our modest harvest with pride and relief. Grub and Grill, who were the oldest, took the lead in dividing the food among us. Each goblin, no matter how small, received their share.

“This is just the beginning,” Grill said, his voice filled with joy.

 “With this yield, we can harvest the seeds. We can plant more and expand the garden. With little time, we’ll have enough to keep us fed and then some.”

The hatchlings, their faces smudged with dirt but beaming with happiness, eagerly bit into the fresh vegetables. For them, it was the first taste of something other than the brutal life they had known since they hatched on the goblin breeding farm.

As we enjoyed our first meal from the garden, Grub leaned against a tree, his eyes filled with tears of relief and joy.

 “We did it gobbie friends,” he said softly. 

“We have food. We can survive. No more starvation. No more broken bones. Brutal beatings. No more punishment or torment. We are free. This is the taste of freedom! Oh! How sweet it is! If my body didn't ache so much, I would say it's just a dream, but no, it is real! It is! We can be happy here, we can.”

I sat beside him.

 “Things will get better for us. We’ll harvest more seeds, grow more food, and stay hidden. We’ll make this place our home. A safe home.”

With our first yield successful we quickly replanted the seeds, working tirelessly to ensure our garden would continue to grow. Grill, with a beaming smile and a hearty chuckle, observed the hatchlings as they enthusiastically dove into their gardening tasks. Their tiny hands, though small and delicate, worked with surprising skill as they patted down the soil and gently watered the newly planted seeds.

"Careful there, little ones," Grill said, his voice rich with warmth and encouragement. 

He crouched beside them, his eyes twinkling with a mix of fatherly pride and earnest concern. 

"You see, these little seeds are like the heartbeats of our new life here. They’re not just plants, they’re our lifeline, our hope, and our future all wrapped up in tiny, green bundles."

He paused, looking around at the vibrant, burgeoning garden.

 "If we mess this up, it’s not just a few plants that we’d be losing. No, no! We’d be risking everything we’ve worked so hard for. Think of these seeds as the means to our survival. Without them, we'd be left with nothing but bare soil and empty bellies."

Grill leaned in closer, lowering his voice to a dramatic whisper, "So, handle them with the utmost care! Treat them as if they were the most precious treasures you’ve ever held. If you drop them, don’t just drop them anywhere. Pick them up gently, like you’re cradling a newborn. Give them a loving pat and a sip of water, and talk to them if you can. I hear plants like to be talked to. It’s like telling them bedtime stories - except they’re not going to sleep. They’re growing, right before our eyes. And remember, every little bit of care you put into these plants is a step towards a better future for all of us. So let’s make sure they grow up strong and healthy, just like the rest of us will."

As the days went by, our garden began to expand. We worked from dawn till dusk, nurturing the crops and ensuring they were hidden from prying eyes in the tall grass. The garden slowly grew bigger, its green leaves blending seamlessly with the surrounding vegetation.

By the end of the week, our garden had become substantial enough to provide a more reliable food source. The constant care and attention paid off as the plants flourished. We harvested more veggies: plump carrots, larger tomatoes, more beans, and a greater number of potatoes. The leafy greens were healthier, providing a much-needed boost to our diet.

"This is amazing," Grub said, holding up a particularly large carrot. 

"We did it. We have enough food and then some. We will need to dig a chamber to store the precious yield, a storage. We can't leave it outside or to rot away! We need a storage and quick."

 The hatchlings, who had grown so much over the past few weeks, eagerly joined in the harvest. They were no longer the tiny, helpless creatures we had first carried through the forest. Some of them now reached up to our shoulders, their youthful energy and enthusiasm bringing a sense of joy and pride.

"Big and strong. We grow good!" one of the hatchlings, named Grit, yelped as he held up a bunch of radishes. 

Grub chuckled, patting Grit on the head.

 "Yes, you do. Soon, you'll be as big as us. No more a hatchling but an adult goblin!"

We spent the morning harvesting our veggies, filling makeshift baskets with our precious bounty. The sight of the hatchlings working alongside us, their faces lit up with joy and pride, was a reminder of why we had to keep pushing forward.

As we gathered around our underground cavern later that day, enjoying a modest feast of fresh vegetables, we reflected on how far we had come. The hatchlings, who once depended on us for everything, were now almost fully matured. Their growth brought us immense joy and a renewed sense of purpose.

"I never thought we'd make it this far but here we are, together and thriving."

Grub nodded, his eyes misty with tears of joy. 

"We've come a long way, Hermit. You are right, yes you are! And we'll keep going, for ourselves and the future. This place is good, so far no real threats have come close to us. We are well hidden, we have food, and we are safe. I just hope it will last forever."

Grill raised his half-eaten carrot in a toast.

 "To our hard work and our future. We'll make it, no matter what. We will live another day!"

The hatchlings cheered, their voices echoing through the cavern. 

"To live another day!"

Over the next few days, we continued to tend to our garden, ensuring it remained hidden and safe. The hatchlings, now more capable and independent, took on more responsibilities, helping to secure our food supply and fortify our shelter. We also began teaching them essential survival skills, knowing that their strength and knowledge would be crucial for our continued survival.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the plains, we gathered together to discuss our next steps.

"We need to think about expanding our shelter," Grub said, his voice steady and thoughtful.

 "Our garden is a good start, but we need to gather more resources. We are out of sturdy vines and strong sticks. Without them, we can't reinforce our cave. If we dig further we will collapse the cave. I don't feel safe going toward the forest, not after what we saw. But I'm afraid we will have to."

Grill nodded in agreement. 

"Forest not safe, forest scary. We should explore more of the plains. There might be other hidden spots where we can find what we need. If we fail to find what we need in open plains only then we dare to go toward the forest."

I added, "And we need to stay vigilant. The danger isn't over. We have to be ready for anything. Open plains seem safe but who knows what may be lurking in that tall grass. We need to move slowly and carefully."

With our plan set, we continued our work, fueled by the hope of a better future. The hatchlings, now more like young goblins, were eager to look after things at the cave while we were gone. 

In the early morning light, Me, Grub, and Grill slipped out of our hidden cave, moving cautiously through the tall grass of the open plains. The air was cool, and the dew on the grass soaked our feet as we ventured further from the safety of our shelter. Our mission was simple but crucial: find sturdy sticks and vines to reinforce our cave.

We searched the grasslands meticulously, our eyes scanning the ground for anything useful. The morning sun climbed higher, casting long shadows that danced around us. Despite our efforts, we found nothing notable only some rocks which we had plentiful. Our frustration grew as the sun reached its zenith, its heat warming up our naked bodies.

Finally, we met up, gloomy and empty-handed, ready to return to our cave. Just as we turned to leave, our meaty ears perked up simultaneously, shooting into the sky like ship sails in a storm. We heard distant chatter - the unmistakable voices of humans.

"We have to hide! Danger! Danger!" I whispered urgently, my voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart.

We dropped to the ground, our bodies pressing into the cool, damp earth, and sheepishly peeked through the tall grass. There, in the distance, we saw them - adventurers. They were a group of four, clad in gleaming armor and wielding weapons that glinted in the sunlight. Their laughter and casual conversation reached our ears, a stark contrast to our silent, desperate hiding.

"Stay low, everyone," I repeated, my voice shaking with fear. We couldn't afford to be seen.

The adventurers moved on, oblivious to our presence. Each step they took away from us was a small relief, but it also served as a harsh reminder of the dangers lurking just beyond our hidden cave. It was a close call, too close. We remained in our hiding spot until their voices faded into the distance.

"We need to stay alert," I said to Grill, as we huddled together in the safety of tall grass.

 "People are nearby, and we can't afford to be discovered."

Grill nodded, his face serious.

"We have to be more careful. If they find us, it could mean the end. They kill us all, with no mercy."

Grub took a good look around and signaled for us to leave.

"The humans are gone, we should leave. We did not find anything of use but at least we know that adventurers pass by sometimes. This is valuable information to have. Now we know that we need to keep a lookout not only for predators but also humans."