Chapter 35 Looks like Hermit found some family after all

I gulped, feeling my stomach flip. As if I needed more pressure. Still, there was a strange warmth in Lyn’s tone, a hint of something more than just casual teasing. As we continued deeper into the village, I couldn’t help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, Lyn was starting to see me as more than just a clumsy goblin. Maybe… she actually liked me?

But before I could dwell on that too much, Lyn gave a wave to a few passing villagers, greeting them with friendly banter. They all seemed to know her well, returning her greetings with wide smiles and casual remarks. And though some of them shot curious glances in my direction, none of them seemed hostile. In fact, a few of them gave me nods or even quiet chuckles, as if amused by the odd sight of Lyn leading a goblin into their village.

Despite my nervousness, I couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of belonging. Maybe, for the first time in my life, I wasn’t just some filthy goblin. Maybe, just maybe, I had a place here - by Lyn’s side.

As we strolled through the village, my eyes widened as I caught sight of a group of fellow goblins darting about. They were unmistakably like me - goblin slaves, their little bodies toiling under the guidance of the Cat People, scurrying to complete tasks. 

But unlike the breeding farms where we labored with tears in our eyes, they had wide smiles on their faces instead. 

My heart leaped in my chest, a strange mixture of longing and hope swelling up inside me. The sight of them, their familiar hunched forms and scruffy appearance, tugged at my very soul. I had been so far from my own kind, and now here they were.

Without even thinking, I broke into a sprint. My feet pounded the muddy ground as I scampered toward them, arms outstretched, tears already streaming down my face. I could feel snot dribbling down my nose, but I didn’t care - this wasn’t a time for dignity. This was a reunion, a chance to feel that warmth I had been deprived of.

The goblins noticed me and froze for a moment, their eyes wide in confusion. But as soon as they recognized my green face, something shifted. Their faces softened, and they opened their arms wide, just as I launched myself into them. With a pathetic, emotional wail, I crashed into their embrace.

We clung to each other tightly, tears and snot flowing freely, all of us shaking with raw emotion. There was no need for words; the warmth of their bodies pressed against mine said it all. The familiar stink of goblin sweat, grime, and filth was like a soothing balm to my soul. We rocked back and forth, our small forms wrapped in a tangled, tight hug that only goblins could share.

One of them, a stout goblin with crooked teeth and wide, watery eyes, patted my head like a mother soothing her child.

 “There, there, little one, we gotcha. Calm, calm down, you will make us cry too,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.

Another goblin, thinner and taller, wiped at his own eyes, sniffling loudly. 

“Ain’t seen a face like yours in ages. A youngling! What a blessing. We are always happy to see fellow gobo!” he croaked, his voice catching on the words.

I was a blubbering mess, my face buried in their shoulders, crying like a newborn hatchling. 

“I... I thought... I’d never see a happy fellow goblin!” I choked out between sobs. My words were muffled, but they understood. They hugged me tighter, their grimy hands squeezing my arms and back with familiarity and comfort.

For a moment, we were just goblins - just slaves, just kin who had suffered the same cruelty and injustice. The weight of that shared experience hung heavy around us, but for this brief instant, we had each other. It was the warmth of home, even in a strange place.

Behind us, Lyn stood with her arms crossed, watching the scene unfold with a half-smile on her face. She didn’t interrupt or try to break the moment. Instead, she tilted her head and murmured, “Looks like you found some family after all, Hermit. I'm happy for you.”

We stayed there, wrapped up in that comforting embrace, until my tears had dried and my snot was no longer dripping. We pulled away, but only slightly, still huddled together as if the world outside would try to tear us apart again.

One of the goblins sniffed loudly and gave me a reassuring squeeze.

 “It must have been hard for such a youngling like you, out there, in that cursed forest. But don’t worry, friend. You got us now. This place is amazing and safe!”

I smiled weakly, my heart swelling with something I hadn’t felt in a long time - hope.

Lyn walked over, her footsteps light and graceful, her eyes twinkling with a hint of amusement. She glanced down at the little huddle of goblins with a teasing smirk. 

“You goblins sure like to huddle,” she said playfully, her voice carrying a familiar lightness that made me smile despite the heavy emotions.

 "Anyone would think you lot haven't seen a fellow goblin in years."

The goblins chuckled, and one of them, the stout one with the crooked teeth, looked up at Lyn with a grin. 

“Master Lyn. That’s because we’re family, ain’t we? Even if we’re all scattered around this forest like dirt on the ground.”

Lyn raised an eyebrow, her tail flicking behind her.

 “Family, huh? Well, let’s hope you’re all better behaved than the evil goblins I’m used to.” She winked at me, her tone playful, but there was a warmth in her words that didn’t go unnoticed.

As soon as Lyn asked her question, the three of us convulsed in unison like we'd all been struck by an invisible whip. Panic flashed across our faces as we scrambled to answer, voices overlapping in a frantic chorus.

"Yes! Yes! We are good goblins! Not evil! Not evil!" I stammered, my hands flailing in the air as if to prove my innocence.

"We behave! We serve our masters well!" added the stout goblin, his crooked teeth chattering nervously.

"We don’t do bad things!" the lanky one squeaked, his knees wobbling like they were about to give out. 

"We're not like the evil goblins! No, no, not us! We’re the good ones!"

"We are very good!" I squeaked, feeling sweat trickle down my back.

 "We think of nothing bad! Nothing bad at all! We only like happiness! And..."

"And tasty food!" The stout goblin chimed in, nodding so fast his head was a blur. 

"Yes, food! Delicious, tasty food! That's what we like!"

"Y-Yeah," the lanky one added, wringing his hands.

 "Just tasty food, being good, and making everyone happy! That’s us!"

We all stood there, fidgeting, eyes wide and anxious, waiting for Lyn’s response as if the fate of the world depended on it.

"Oh, really?" she said, dragging out the word with exaggerated skepticism.

 "So, just to be clear - no secret plans? No evil plots brewing? You’re telling me all you care about is being 'good' little goblins and stuffing your faces with food?"

She leaned in closer, her golden eyes narrowing, but there was a glint of humor in them.

 "Because, let me tell you, that sounded way too rehearsed. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’ve had to give that speech before, huh?"

The three of us froze, wide-eyed and trembling, unsure whether she was serious or not. Lyn chuckled, straightening up. 

She waved her hand in mock dismissal. 

"Relax, little greens beans. I’m just messing with you. You lot probably couldn't plot your way out of a paper bag, could you?"

She winked at me, adding with a teasing grin, "But don’t worry - I'll make sure you get your tasty food, just like good goblins deserve."

As soon as Lyn said she was just messing with us, all three of us let out a collective sigh of relief as if a big weight had been lifted off our scrawny shoulders.

I was the first to speak, my voice shaking a little.

 "Oh! Thank you, thank you, Miss Lyn! We thought... we thought you were serious! We are good goblins! We do not do anything bad, nope!"

The other two goblins quickly chimed in, their voices overlapping in their rush to reassure her.

"Yes, yes! We only want food and happiness! No bad plans, no evil plots!"

"Only tasty food, lots of food! Maybe a nap too! No evil things!"

We all nodded furiously, our heads bobbing up and down like eager little chickens. The three of us even started nervously laughing, wiping the sweat from our brows as if we had narrowly escaped disaster.

One of the goblins, with snot dripping down his nose, added, "We never plot! Plotting is too hard for us! We just want to be happy!"

The rest of us agreed wholeheartedly, nodding even faster now. Lyn’s teasing had clearly worked - because none of us wanted even the tiniest hint of trouble.

"Food! Happiness! Nap!" became our little goblin chant, as we kept reassuring Lyn of our pure, simple intentions, looking at her like she was a goddess who had just spared our lives.

Lyn chuckled, clearly amused by our over-the-top reactions. She raised her hands in mock surrender and shook her head with a smile.

"Alright, alright! I get it, you three are fine goblins. Best-behaved little fellas around, huh?" she teased, still grinning. Then her golden eyes flicked over to me.

"Hermit," she said, her tone turning just a bit more serious but still playful, "I feel a bit bad tearing you away from your fellow goblins, but we really should go meet my dad and talk about this whole Rakrak situation."

She tilted her head, her smirk returning. 

"I promise you'll see them again. But we’ve got big plans to make, Little Green. And, who knows? Maybe with my dad’s help, your fellow goblins will be happier than ever - tasty food and naps for everyone."

She gave me a wink, clearly enjoying herself, before motioning for me to follow.