I walked around the cage and

  started towards the goblin camp. The moment I stepped out of the

  small clearing that as my home however, my ears perked up and I

  smelled something. Instantly my dagger was out of its sheath and

  swinging. A light hand caught my wrist effortlessly and I jerked

  away. The owner of the hand made no move to stop me and I blinked

  back a few feet before turning to face my assailant.

  A

  young appearing elf woman with long green hair, green eyes, and

  wearing a dark green robe stood by the tree I had just walked by. I

  sighed and put my dagger away before turning to continue onto the

  camp. “Please do not ignore me Tama” Mantheria the green dragon

  said politely as she appeared next to me and started to walk with me.

  “Tama

  doesn’t want to deal with you today Manna!” I snapped as I tried

  to blink forward, only for Mantheria to appear next to me again like

  she was some kind of illusion. I knew she wasn’t all to well

  though. I blinked to a nearby tree branch hoping she wouldn’t see

  which one. It was in vain and a moment later, Manna flapped her wings

  and landed gracefully on the branch before they retreated back into

  her lithe form.

  I

  sighed and glared at her “What do you want Manna! Tama told you she

  doesn’t want to be the chosen one!” My tail snapped irritably and

  I crossed my arms raising an eyebrow.

  Manna

  sighed and looked at me pleadingly. “It is your destiny little one,

  you must vanquish the darkness where your master has failed.” My

  eye twitched and I instinctively punched her, she made no move to

  block my punch and it simply hit some kind of barrier.

  “Sensei

  didn’t fail and neither did Tulip! They sealed her away!” I said

  angrily. She shook her head sadly.

  “You

  know as well as I do Tama that sealing her away didn’t defeat her.

  She only grows in power.” Manna said as she took my arm and held

  it. I looked away and said nothing. After a long moment I heard Manna

  sigh and whisper “One day Tama, you will understand why you must do

  what you must. I only pray that day does not come to late.”

  I

  turned and looked at Manna, our eyes met and I saw fear in her eyes,

  terror of what could be if I didn’t step up. I pursed my lips and

  pulled my arm away. She nodded slowly before pulling out a small

  pouch and handing it to me. “Please Tama, if you change your mind…

  When you change your mind. Use what is in this bag. Know that I can

  be there at a moments notice.”

  I

  said nothing and accepted the bag, hoping that was the end of it.

  Manna grew out her wings again and flapped once, nearly knocking me

  off the branch with the sheer wind force. She then turned and flew

  away, gone before I had time to blink.

  Sighing

  I stood and jumped from the branch to another and another, all the

  way two hundred feet down. I landed smoothly on the dirt and looked

  at the bag. For the briefest moment I considered throwing it away.

  Then I opened the bag and pulled out its contents. A single amulet,

  it was golden except for a very pretty emerald. The emerald glowed

  gently, showing magical properties. I put the amulet I my pocket. I

  learned awhile ago that putting on strange artifacts always led to

  curses.

  “Tama

  should have brought her bag, she will get one from Grok!” I said

  with a cheer I didn’t feel.

  After

  Mantheria was gone and I had stashed the amulet away, I continued on

  my path to the Grub’Tera goblin camp. I saw some wolves, but they

  fled at the sight of me. The wild animals in this area learned long

  ago that I was the thing that went bump in the night or something

  like that. “Why are sensei’s analogies always so weird?” I

  asked myself quietly.

  I

  made note of the landmarks I had made so I would not get lost.

  Passing by a tree with a large T carved into it. I wasn’t able to

  read super well, but Sensei had managed to get the basics across to

  me. I especially loved the letter “T” it was for Tama! And Tama

  was the greatest after all! Technically my full name was Fuyuki

  Tamaneko. But I didn’t use that name, who goes around calling

  people by their full name?

  I

  passed by a boulder that was cracked in half and had the drawing of a

  goblin being eaten by a wolf on it. I smiled at the memory, that had

  been hilarious.

  I

  took a right at the cracked rock and after short period of walking, I

  made my way into the goblin camp. I was instantly attacked from all

  sides. I smirked and blinked into the air. The goblin on the right

  swung and hit thin air, the arrow aimed for me went through air and

  hit the goblin that had been behind me. I blinked again and appeared

  behind the goblin that had been behind me. I pulled out my dagger and

  stabbed into his kidney. His short little body couldn’t take it and

  he collapsed dead instantly. I stepped to the right as another arrow

  whizzed by. I blinked directly in front of the archer in question and

  she fell backwards in surprise. I stepped to the left, allowed the

  goblin on my right to miss me with his dagger again and then stepped

  in and stabbed him in the eye, directly into his brain. He went thud

  and I turned to face the last girl on me left. She had a spear and

  had frozen, paralyzed in fear. I stepped forward and took the spear

  from her before knocking her hard on her head with the blunt side,

  she was knocked out but not killed. I stepped back over to the archer

  who had managed to get up and grabbed her bow before she could do

  anything. I snapped it in half and punched her hard. She went flying

  and rolled on the ground up to a small throne. I looked up at the

  large muscular goblin on the throne and smiled playfully at him “Good

  morning Grok!”

  Grok

  sighed heavily and stood before stepped down from his little throne.

  “good morning Tama, did them even surprise you?” His words

  sounded slightly hopeful and I gave him a sad smile. He shook his

  head and kicked the unconscious archer girl. “Weak, my people are

  meant to be warrior but they are so weak Tama.” He said sadly

  before turning to me and smiling. “But I be bad host if I talk bad

  stuff. Please, tell Grok what Tama need!”

  I

  nodded and said “Well Grok, Jiggle is denting his cage again, it

  wont be long before he can break out again.” Grok nodded in

  understanding before speaking with a sigh “That boar, he is strong,

  strongest boar ever seen. Many strong goblin die to him, many more

  may yet this day.” I nodded sagely back at him. After all, he was

  right. Jiggle was quite the powerhouse, and he had killed his fair

  share of goblins when they tried to invade home. The goblins were not

  a true threat to us. To the local wildlife and nearby monsters?

  Definitely. To me or sensei? They were less cannon fodder and more

  friendly pets.

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Grok

  snapped his fingers and more goblins came from around the camp.

  Despite how many goblins died, there were always more goblins. I idly

  wondered the lifespan of the little guys, maybe it was a long time

  but no one knew because of death casualties? Then again, I had never

  left this forest, maybe there was an official book for monsters or

  something. The goblins swarmed, they dragged away the dead and they

  brought the injured to a nursing tent. Another few came up to Grok

  who looked down on them and said “Demigod Tama need new

  enchantments and metal for her pet Jiggle.” Two of the goblins

  paled and looked terrified, the third one simply sighed and nodded. I

  mused at Grok’s title for me, he had been calling me that ever

  since we worked together to kill his previous chieftain. Claiming to

  his kind, I was a demigod of war and chaos, that I should be praised

  as such. I didn’t agree of course, Sensei was the hero, not me. But

  Grok was insistent and his tribe seemed to fully agree with the

  sentiment so I let it go. The three goblins scattered off to

  different areas of the camp, no doubt to put together a new cage or

  at the very least repair Jiggle’s current one. Grok stepped up to

  me and we met eye to eye. He asked quietly so no other goblin could

  hear. “Tomorrow is Tama 16 giving yes?” he asked curiously.

  I

  nodded and he smiled before patting me on the shoulder. “I has gift

  for you! Please take as present for everything.” He snapped his

  fingers again and another goblin ran up carrying a small box. He took

  the box and held it out to me, opening the lid so I could see what

  was inside.

  I

  looked in at the object and my eyes went round. “Grok you didn’t!”

  I said as I teared up at my old friend and pet.

  Grok

  grinned at me and said “Take it! Try on! It fit, I sure!” I wiped

  a tear away and took the small bracelet from the box. It was perfect

  sized for my wrist and I slipped it on. Grok was many things, but he

  would never curse me. I looked at the bracelet on my wrist, it had a

  small blue gem in it that gleamed gently. I looked up to Grok and

  said “Thank you Grok! Tama loves her gift!”

  Grok

  nodded sagely and said “You have not seen best part yet!” He

  stepped back and grabbed a spear from a nearby goblin and rammed it

  at me. I was surprised and went to dodge, but I didn’t need to. An

  energy left the bracelet and popped up around me, protecting me and

  deflecting the attack. I looked in awe at the barrier, which after a

  few seconds dispersed.

  “Demigod

  Tama not get hit often, but I make sure she never get hit with this.

  It only protect for few seconds, but that all Tama need yes?” He

  said in a knowing tone. I nodded before punching him hard enough to

  send him flying into his throne. To his credit, he managed to blocked

  most of the blow with the spear, but it wasn’t enough and he was

  still sent flying.

  “Next

  time warn Tama!” I snapped before giggling. Grok picked himself up

  from the throne and called out “Warrior must always be ready for

  fight! Tama is demigod of war and chaos, she know this!”

  The

  goblins nearby rushed to pickup the pieces of the now shattered

  throne and began putting it back together but Grok waved them off

  “No! Grok fix throne himself. Go train, get strong!” He said as

  he did so.

  I

  looked around before turning to Grok “I have to get back now,

  Sensei is probably already missing Tama.” I said as I looked

  between him and my bracelet. “Tama is very grateful for the fancy

  bracelet Grok! Tama promises she will use it in combat!”

  Grok

  nodded and replied “Good, you safe with bracelet. Big world outside

  forest.” After a moment he sighed and said “Tama, be safe please.

  We miss you, please visit.” Tears were in the big goblins eyes and

  he looked away. I smiled and blinked over to him, wrapping him in a

  big hug. Grok tried to push me away but I held on tight. “Grok is

  goblin war chief! He not child Tama! Get off!” Despite his words,

  he didn’t try very hard to remove me.

  After

  a few moments I let go and Grok stumbled back, surprised at my sudden

  movement.

  A

  few goblins came up to me with a large bucket and handed it to me. It

  was empty, but after a moment it filled with a familiar pink bad

  smelling liquid before It was sealed. On the side the bucket had a

  familiar phrase on it ‘Tama’s Wood Mending stuff.” I smiled at

  the goblins as they scurried away. I turned, and with a final wave,

  left the camp and started heading back home. Sensei was waiting for

  me after all, and it was dinner time!

  I

  left the camp and walked until I saw the broken rock, taking a left I

  walked back down the path I had come, carrying the bucket with me. I

  made it about halfway down the path home when I smelled something. It

  was horrible and memories of a long time ago resurfaced. My eye’s

  narrowed and watered. I knew that smell… I sped up trying to get

  home quickly. When I reached the cabin everything seemed fine, even

  Jiggle was in his cage, though he had made quite a few more dents. It

  looked like he might get out before the goblins could come fix the

  cage. I sighed in relief as the smell from earlier vanished. Even so,

  I looked out into the forest and made a mental note of it. I would

  make sure sensei knew, I would also scout out the area for it.

  I

  made my way over to the tool shed and put the new bucket in the pile

  of them. Always good to have extras! I then turned and blinked

  quickly over to the house. I opened the door and walked in, for a

  moment I feared everything would be destroyed. But the house was

  untouched. The sound of writing on a piece of paper came from

  sensei’s study and I headed in that direction. I entered the study

  and spotted sensei at his desk writing something. I crouched and

  began sneaking up behind him, I quickly blinked to the roof and

  brought out my dagger before launching myself from the roof towards

  him. My dagger was inches from him when he vanished and I was

  suddenly hanging by my shirt as he held my in the air like I was a

  misbehaving cat. I turned to face him and he gave me a raised eyebrow

  smirk. “That was a lot of noise for such a small cat Tama” He

  said calmly, his eye betraying his amusement at my antics.

  I

  smiled back at him “Tama got super close this time!” I said

  haughtily. He just laughed at that and nodded “That you did little

  one, you are getting better. Or maybe I am just getting senile in my

  old age. Either way, well done.” He gently put me down as he spoke

  and walked back over to the desk where he sat down and continued

  writing.

  I

  looked over his shoulder by climbing onto the back of his chair,

  using my wind to make myself weigh almost nothing. He wrote super

  fast and I didn’t understand everything, but certain words and

  letters jumped out. “The gift arrived safely, once again I….

  There is… your way…. of her.” I frowned and tried to look

  closer but sensei finished what he was writing and put it in an

  envelope before sealing it shut. He turned to me and smiled “So,

  Tama, were the goblins doing good?”

  I

  climbed down off the chair and nodded before saying “Grok is doing

  good, the goblins have gotten a little better at fighting! One even

  managed to get an arrow off!”

  Sensei

  smirked at me and asked “Did they? Or did you let them think that

  to make them feel better Tama?” I winced at his casual calling out.

  He crossed his arms and leaned in looking me in the eyes. “Don’t

  give them false hope Tama, it will get them killed.” He said

  simply.

  I

  replied instantly “But goblins die all the time anyways! And it was

  a small praise!” I knew my words were defensive, but I tried

  anyways.

  Sensei

  just sighed and shook his head before stating simply “Pride gets

  you killed little ninja, and kindness can be even worse sometimes.”

  He turned to leave the room but I stopped him.

  “Um,

  Sensei, Tama smelled something bad on the way back home.” I said

  quietly. Sensei turned and looked at me before asking “Was it

  another dead beast rotting?”

  I

  shook my head and made eye contact. “It was something from before.”

  I said quietly. Sensei tensed for only a moment before he slowly

  nodded to himself. He took a deep breath and said “Tama, I need you

  to go make dinner. I have something I need to do. I will be back by

  tonight, do not leave home. Do you understand?”

  I

  nodded and dared not ask, if sensei didn’t want me leaving the

  small clearing he had a good reason.