《From Weak to Strong: A Goblin's Journey》


 Chapter 1: The Hunt

    As I awaken I find myself in a cave, the stench of rotting meat and an earthy damp scent invading my senses. I sit up and take in my surroundings. Around me lie skinny, green, and filthy humanoids. While most are still passed out on the damp cave floor, some of the more diligent creatures are already up and preparing for another day of hunting and foraging in the forest that lies beyond this cave.


    I feel the sharp pangs of hunger in my abdomen. I stumble over sleeping forms on the floor of the poorly lit cave as I make my way over to the exit of the cave. None of the creatures pay me any mindwhilst I slip out of the cave and into the cool dusk of the forest. My kind are nocturnal, we use the cover of night to ambush our prey and avoid any would-be predators. As I slink silently through the bushes, I carefully keep an eye out for any potential prey or dangers.


    After a couple of hours, I finally catch a whiff of something. A powerful and musty scent of iron. Something is bleeding. Following the scent I find cloven tracks and splotches of blood on nearby trees and bushes heading towards the south. Carefully following the trail, I make sure to stay aware of any potential threat that might also be following the same tracks. As the trail becomes fresher, I begin to see the makings of a clearing with a brook bubbling through it.


    Peeringthrough the fronds of a bush on the edge of the clearing, I see it, a wounded doe. There is a deep wound stretching from it¡¯s stomach to its thigh. It must have been separated from its herd in an attack from a wolf or maybe a human hunter. No matter what happened, it doesn¡¯t matter. It is my prey now. The young doe carefully sips from the brook, knowing that is vulnerable in the clearing, but desperately needing water after its escape from its previous ordeal. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Drawing my crude stone dagger from my cloth belt, I prepare to pounce on the fawn. About twenty-five feet away, it is wounded and too tired to continue - hardly a difficult prey. When it bends down to get another drink, I make my move. Rushing out of the bushes, I sprint towards my quarry. As I rush out, the doe hears the rustling and quickly attempts to bolt in the opposite direction, however, its wounds prove to be too much for it to handle and it stumbles and collapses on the ground. Falling to theground it attempts to get back up, but it is too slow. As soon as I reach the creature I use my dagger to slice its neck, slitting the carotid artery.


    Before the pitiful creature even bleeds to death, I quickly begin to devour the deer raw. My kind can wield the power of fire, and understands the benefits of cooking meat. However, out here it is dangerous to start a fire, and I am starving. Eventually, the doe bleeds out and stops moving. After eating until my stomach bulges, satisfied, I start to butcher the remaining meat on the deer. Taking as much as I can carry, I begin to make my way backto the cavethatI call home.


    When I eventually arriveback at the cave, I find the place in full-swing. People heading out to hunt, and some of them bartering for food and tools.Stepping past the vines concealing the entrance into the cave, they all see me. All of them see that I have meat, and a lot of it. They are unable to hide their covetous looks and the greedy glints in their eyes, but it doesn''t go beyond that. As I begin to set up shop, they come up to me they offer odd-ends, berries, and weapons in exchange.


    After a half hour, I¡¯ve finished my trading and made off with a new dagger, who knows where he got it - maybe he looted it from a dead bandit or stole from an unsuspecting caravan, a shortbow, that was probably made for a human child but fits me quite snugly, some new clothing made up stitched together cloth, and also a variety of berries to snack on. Feeling invigorated after my obtaining my new gear, but still needing a rest after a long hunt I head over to my corner of the cave and hit the hay.

 Chapter 2: Setting out into a New World

    Awakening from my short rest about five hours later, I find most of my clan back in the cave and asleep. Sunlight creeps in through the vines that conceal the entrance to our cave, giving away the fact that the day has begun. Normally, our kind avoids the sun like they were vampires, but I am unusually curious today and ready to explore a new world.


    Stepping out of the dank cave and into the daylight, I feel the warmth on my wrinkly green skin. Grinning, I swing my dagger around, enjoying the invigorating feeling of the sun¡¯s rays. Adapting quickly to my new environment, I snap out of my gleeful stupor and begin to take in my new surroundings. Differences between the usual cover of night, and the vibrant spring of the day are quite clear.


    Birds chirp out tunes, life is abundant and full of vitality, and the creatures of the night no longer await silently in ambush. Although much is different during the day, not everything has changed. Still taking in my new surroundings and keeping an eye out for possible dangers, I stealthily creep through the forestry, avoiding any powerful creatures that could easily snap me like a twig. Bears, big cats, and other unusually sized fauna being some of the many threats to watch out for.


    After wandering around for a good amount of time, I begin to hear voices. The mirthful laughter, the complexity of their speech, and the absolute disregard for stealth can mean only one thing. Humans. Humans are hated amongst my kind for sending out subjugation squads to slaughter tribes of our people. Most of their kind are careless, weak, and stupid. But some of them are powerful and they have a scary ability to organize and an unending capacity for revenge.


    There are many of them, from what I can make out from a safe distance, almost two dozen. Some of the humans are armed with large swords and axes, and protected by leather hides. With them are unarmed humans driving carts of wood, full of meat, flour, and other essential supplies, pulled by beasts of burden. Caravans such as these often travel through this forest¡¯s rough dirt paths, heading from one town to another. As they pass by, I quickly make the decision to follow them, hoping to get my hands on some of the overflowing wealth of the humans. They are slow and loud and easy to follow, but I would be courting death to attack a group of humans this large in broad daylight. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    I follow them for the entire day, stealthily concealing myself in the foliage of the forest and staying a safe distance away. As dusk nears and the sun begins to fade, the human caravan stops their movement and begins to set up camp. Setting up their carts in a circular fashion, they secure a perimeter around the camp and light a fire. Lighthearted and festive, they all gather around the fire and converse with one another, feasting and drinking.


    After a couple hours pass, the majority of the humans go to sleep and leave only two heavily intoxicated men to keep watch over the perimeter. Using the cover of night, I begin my plan to infiltrate the caravan. Easily slipping past the two lookouts who are barely awake, I enter into the inner circle of the carts.


    Sleeping humans and trash from their earlier festivities litter the ground. The sounds of snoring and the low crackle of dying fires fills the camp. Without a sound I make my way towards the cart filled with food that I saw earlier. When I arrive at the wagon, I jump up and pull myself inside. Delicious scents and varieties of meats and other foods I¡¯ve never seen before surround me. The others back at the cave would kill to have some of this food. After gorging myself on the enchanting smorgasbord of meats and cheeses, I decide that my best course of action would be to stay with the humans and continue stealing their stuff. Concealing myself at the back of cart, behind some barrels and under some tarps, I pass out.