Chapter 2: The First Challenge (Part 2)

  He left the tent with hasty steps, leaving only the whimpers of Sixth behind. Despite the sacred nature of a Mother’s position, no one would come to help Sixth. First was the matriarch of the tribe, not even the chief challenged her authority on matters concerning the Mothers.

  Looking ahead, Stryg saw a large bonfire at the center of the village. The majority of the tribe stood around the fire, except the children. Besides children, the Mothers were the only ones who didn’t participate in the night challenges.

  Stryg took a deep breath, this was it, what he had been training for. Tonight he would become an adult.

  The sun had almost disappeared from the horizon, bathing the village in soft maroon light. Stryg reached the blazing fire pit and waited patiently. He tried ignoring the onlookers, instead he straightened his back, planted his feet apart, and turned towards the chief.

  “I, Stryg, son of the Blood Fang tribe, greet the chieftain,” he tried his best to keep his voice from breaking.

  The chief looked him over, noting the painted symbols on his skin. 

  “You have come bearing the marks of our tribe,” the chief’s voice boomed in a deep tone that belied his size. 

  The chief stretched his green arm out, pointing towards Stryg, and looked at the crowd. “The markings, not of a boy, but of an adult. Tonight, Stryg turns eighteen, he is no longer a child. But!” He raised a finger and paused, “To truly become an adult Stryg must prove himself as one of us. How?”

  “Challenge!” The crowd yelled in unison. 

  “Challenge, challenge!” They all chanted.

  The chief slammed his spear into the ground, “Then a night challenge we shall have!” 

  The crowd cheered in approval. Various female goblins walked forward forming a line. The rest of the goblins backed away and spread to form a circle around the women, chief, and Stryg. 

  Stryg tried to ignore the fear in the pit of his stomach. He had to focus, this was his moment. He couldn’t fail. Like other goblin tribes in Vulture Woods, the Blood Fang tribe followed the tradition of the night challenge. 

  Most nights adult goblins would meet around the village fire. They each had the chance to show off their skills in a night challenge, a hand-to-hand battle against another, to prove their worthiness as a warrior, a potential mate, and most importantly as a member of the tribe.

  If the challenger lost, they’d be humiliated. If they won they would prove to those around that they were strong, worthy of having a place among the tribe. And if they impressed the right person, then perhaps they might even win another’s favor.

  The original goal of the night challenges was to breed out the weak from the tribe. Although, through the years it had devolved mostly into an act of grandstanding. A goblin trying to impress the most pretty or handsome tribemate. But a goblin’s first night challenge was different, sacred even.

  The chief cleared his throat, “The tribe’s shaman, Crovor, should be here to give a blessing for your initiation, Stryg, but he went out early this morning and has yet to return. So, I shall do the blessing in his stead.”

  The crowd grunted in affirmation. 

  The chief pointed the spear at Stryg, “Honor and glory stand in front of you. Be strong. Be quick. And above all, take what is yours.” 

  The crowd cheered, eager to see bloodshed. Stryg swallowed and smiled, less certain than he wished.

  The chief patted Stryg’s back and pushed him forward, “Choose your opponent!”

  Stryg stumbled and tried quickly to regain his composure. He took a deep breath and looked at the array of ten goblin women in front of him. Stryg was surprised that so many had volunteered. Usually, it’d mean they were all interested in him, that they wanted to test him, to see if he was a worthy mate. But Stryg had the sneaking suspicion that they all simply volunteered because they were interested in the chance to clobber and shame him in front of the tribe.

  The women were all under twenty, so they were his generation. He grew up around them and none of them had ever shown any interest in him. Well, at least he didn’t have to face any of the older, more experienced goblins, he supposed. 

  This was his first challenge, his first step into adulthood, he was expected to challenge, moreso he couldn’t afford to lose, unless he wanted First Mother to kill him. Stryg had to be careful with his choice.

  On one side stood Srixa, she was as tall as any male goblin, standing at 4’1”. She was quite pretty, with smooth skin, and a large bust that most men couldn’t keep their eyes off of. She was also one of the most skillful hunters in the tribe, definitely the best hunter of Stryg’s generation. But she was also said to have quite the sadistic streak, and that was saying something coming from the Blood Fang tribe, who prided themselves with their ferociousness.

  Srixa was known for challenging the more handsome goblin men, sometimes cute women too. She would then beat them with ease, impressing everyone around. Many goblins wanted to be her mate for the evening. By morning, the goblins who had slept with her were always covered in bruises and scratches that weren’t even from a night challenge. 

  Stryg knew Srixa wasn’t interested in ugly goblins, and while he wasn’t ugly, he was different and that was enough to put him in the ugly category for most goblin women. So, she definitely just wanted to fight him. 

  Srixa didn’t even bother glancing at Stryg as he walked down the line of fighters. They both knew why. She’d beat him bloody if he tried challenging her.

  Stryg looked at another, her name was Bril. With voluptuous small curves, she was undoubtedly the prettiest of the younger generation. She was also quite the skilled huntress and could handle her own against all but the strongest. 

  Bril bared her teeth at him, her small fangs glinted in the firelight. Curiously, this only made Stryg want to challenge her more, to prove his mettle, but he reigned in his lust and injured pride. Tonight wasn’t about trying to impress the prettiest goblin in the hopes that she might sleep with him. Tonight was about proving himself as a strong addition to the tribe, a goblin worthy of respect. He could only gain that respect if he won his challenge. 

  The first night challenge was the most important in any goblin’s life, if they failed, then it proved to everyone that they were not worthy to be a member of the tribe. Stryg would not let that happen to him.

  He turned away from Bril and looked at the others. After looking past a few more of the challengers, he made his decision.

  Stryg raised his finger and pointed, “Gathi.”

  No one would have called Gathi particularly strong. She was a gatherer and therefore not a very skilled fighter. There was not much honor or praise to be won by defeating her. However, impressing her, the other women, or the tribe, wasn’t even on Stryg’s mind. All he cared about was having an actual shot at winning. Bril and Srixa would have pummeled him into submission. But, Gathi? There was someone Stryg had a chance against.

  The crowd cheered as Stryg announced his challenge. The other women backed away into the crowd. 

  Only Gathi and Stryg stood within the circle now. Gathi crouched, her arms spread to her sides, claws shaking in anticipation. 

  She growled, “So, you think I'm the weakest?”