Read Adventurers of the Forest :: Only One Small Goblin

Samantha and Julian

Julian only tripped twice on roots sticking out of the ground since leaving the wailing man. However, one of those times he fell into Samantha who didn't look too pleased. She said nothing but the look she gave him was enough to tell him to be more careful.

Julian didn't dwell on it for too long as he watched the ground with every step, as he received a sharp tug on the sleeve of his chainmail. Samantha had halted beside him, bringing his attention to what was 10 feet ahead. On the right side of the path was a small, sinewy creature - it couldn't have been taller than three feet. It had brown, scaly skin and was sitting on a log. It had a sullen expression on its face as it tossed a black shiny rod on a leather cord back and forth between his hands.

"It might be one of the goblins we are looking for," Julian whispered.

Samantha nodded and whispered back, "Could be the handle of that hammer we need in his hands."

Julian nodded to Samantha as if to say that he was thinking the same thing. Both of them tried to stay as quiet as possible, looking at each other, trying to think of what they should do. Julian looked back at the goblin. His curiosity got the better of him this time and he wasn't going to let Sam stop him. After all, it could be one of the goblins they seek did have something around its neck that may be part of the hammer.

He stepped forward and spoke softly, "Hello, good sir! Are you alright? Are you looking for any company?"

The Goblin looked up, not startled by their sudden presence, and simply smiled. A smile that the pair would soon realise was not a kind one. As the goblin started to metamorphose before Samantha and Julian's eyes. Becoming taller, growing to a height of 12 feet, and turning a bright but sickly shade of green. A large spiny tail extended from its back, its arms thickened and its hands grew sharp claws. Its face started to distort and became reptilian; with red eyes, a wide mouth, and dozens of razor-sharp teeth. It was not a Goblin, but a shapeshifter and Julian knew they now MUST fight him.

The creature stretched out its giant clawed hand to grab Samantha but she avoided it by retreating slightly, readying her Bow as she did. What she wasn't prepared for was the flick of the creature's tail, sending Julian hurtling through the air into her. Samantha was knocked off her feet with a dwarf now sprawled across her legs.

With the palm of her right hand, she shoved Julian aside. "Ugh, get off me, Dwarf."

"Ouch. Don't use my race in vain," he snapped. "But thanks for the soft landing." He was sluggish, being a dwarf, given his much stockier frame compared to an average human's size. Although, he could still be fast when he needed to be, which was good since Samantha was just out of reach to thump him.

Julian jogged up to the giant goblin-like reptilian creature and started circling its feet while Samantha pulled an arrow from her quiver. But it was much quicker than expected, and before she could notion the arrow, it sent Julian flying again and backhanded Samantha's entire body.

It wouldn't get her a third time, however, and she stood quickly and aimed. Firing her arrow, she hit her target. The arrow lodged itself in the side of its neck. The creature roared. Not just from the arrow but from Julian, who was also back on his feet, whacking away at its right leg with his hammer and clambering upward.

"Good work, Julian." Samantha notched another arrow and yelled at the creature, "Oi, Ugly!"

It faced her briefly, which was long enough to release another arrow.

The arrow soared threw the air toward the creature. Before it could bat the arrow away, it stuck in its throat like a very thin pin cushion, where the arrowhead could be seen out of the other side. Samantha was disappointed since she had been aiming for between its eyes. Still, it started to choke and gasp for air. With every gasp, more of its sickly blood spat from its mouth. Julian backed off, not wanting to be covered in any of it. Then on its final and most bloody breath, it tumbled backwards.

"TIIIMBER!", Samantha jokingly yelled. THWACK! The creature hit the ground like a fallen tree, and in the blink of an eye, the body disappeared.

Julian collapsed on the "Goblin's" log exhausted after the long battle. If he had noticed the body was no longer there, then he didn't seem to care. Samantha didn't care or sit, her focus was on one thing. She wanted the handle of the hammer and searched the area where it could have landed. Sadly, the black rod was just part of the Shapeshifter's illusion and it existed no more. "Where did that thing go?", Samantha called out, making her way over slowly.

Julian shrugged. "I don't know. One minute I was hanging from the back of his leg, the next I'm here."

"And now you just sit there feeling sorry for yourself. Why don't you get up off your arse and help me search, dwarf?!"

"Why Don't You Mind Your Manners, Sam?!"

"Don't call me that!", Samantha snapped before storming off to search the surrounding trees alone.

The trees just off the path were as tall as all of the others they had passed so far along the path, at least 16 metres in height. Thick too; each one's wide enough to have things hiding behind. Samantha was careful there, prepared for ambush around every trunk. Nothing did, however, and nobody of the goblin giant either. She cursed, returning to the log to find Julian hadn't moved. "That's just stupid. How can it disappear like that?! Something so huge, just gone."

"I've always thought this forest was weird. Even before entering it," he responded absentmindedly, not looking up from the ground.

"Tell me about it." Samantha's gaze fell to something near the log, on the other side of it, something violet. She stepped closer to Julian to look over his head. Violet mushrooms were growing in a cluster. "What do you think they are? They look strangely tasty."

Julian twisted his head around to look. "I don't know. I wouldn't risk it. I think we should just continue north and leave them there."

"I have an anti-poison potion," Samantha suggested, seemingly in a trance as she walked around the log and crouched beside them. "You know, just in case."

Hearing the subtle difference in inflection in her voice, Julian watched her get closer to the mushrooms. Something was different. They were having a hypnotising effect on her. Dangerous, he thought. He needed her not to touch them, because who knows what they could do. The only hypnotising plants he knew of in the northern parts were Mix-Up Mushrooms. OH NO! "Samantha! I would go near-"

TOO LATE! Samantha had plucked one of the medium-sized ones out of the ground and popped it into her open mouth, starting to chew on it.

Upon eating them, Samantha felt great turmoil inside her body almost immediately. At first, she worried that she might be turning into something similar to that shapeshifting goblin, but that thought soon died when her stomach stopped somersaulting and she hadn't grown any larger.

Pleased that all was fine, Samantha smiled and turned to Julian. That smile disappeared when she saw the look of horror on his face. "What is it?", she asked sharply. "You seen a ghost?"

Julian shook his head slowly, his jaw still hanging open. "I believe these are Mix-Up Mushrooms."

"What on Earth does that mean?" Samantha was looking frustrated now.

He sighed. "It means that you may be feeling luckier from now on-"

"That's good then," she interrupted.

"-But you lose some of your skill. You may not be as accurate with your arrow next time you use it."

"Yeah, okay." She laughed abruptly. "I'm probably still greater with my bow than you are with your axe and you know it. Don't be jealous."

Julian ignored her insults. "Did you feel odd after you ate it?"

"Yeah. So what?"

"Point proven." Then with that, he picked himself up and continued along the path they were heading.

Samantha knew he was probably right. Even before he told her what the mushrooms were, Samantha had suddenly felt even more confident but also like a black cat had crossed her path. It was odd but was the best way to explain it to herself. She still hoped he was wrong as she followed him along the path.

Though it's not long before they reach another junction.

Desiree

After splitting ways with Roxanne, Desiree was doubting their decision. Carrying the handle of her flail in her right hand, her left was free to reach up and twist the tips of her hair around her fingers. A nervous habit of hair. Although, with her new helmet, her blonde hair which was usually loosely half up and half down, now stuck closer to her neck. It remained brushing on and around her shoulders, but only three inches of it could be seen or even played with that wasn't under her helmet.

With regret crawling quickly from her thoughts, she turned back to look for Roxanne. She couldn't see her. The junction was maybe 20 metres back, but beyond that - to the east - was nothing, not even the path. It must have gone immediately in a different direction. Knowing she couldn't change her mind now, Desiree looked forward again and kept walking west.

This path was rather plain and uninteresting, compared to the paths before. The trees around her were looser, not strangling each other for the small glimpses of sunlight. No, here the sun broke through more often. The early afternoon sun brought more warmth and lowered her fear that something was closely watching, waiting for the opportunity to jump out for the ambush.

Soon the path came to another junction. It split two ways, to the left and the right. Though this decision was easier than the last; she ignored the southern path and headed north. That's what the map had said - head north, which she wished she had a hold of right now.

North continued to look much the same, with no immediate dangers or menacing-looking trees. Nothing out of the ordinary. Not for at least eight minutes, that's when something odd appeared on the right side of the path. Something not usually found in a forest, just sitting there by itself. It was an old oak chair covered with moss, and tall too, a perfect fit for someone who stands over six feet.

Although it doesn't look that inviting, Desiree still went in for a closer look. Nothing out of the ordinary, she thought. But I don't know what would happen if I sit. No, I don't think I'll be sitting on that chair. It just seems so random for a chair to be there, it must be a trap. I don't want to knowingly bring harm to myself when I'm out here alone. Besides, the quest is more important than sitting right now. Without another thought, Desiree turned away from the chair, back to the path and continued north.