---

Darkness everlasting. It is all that could be seen and while it is very unsettling it is also somewhat calming. Anything from the darkness is forgotten or buried deep in the back of their minds. They don't know what is going on but soon they realize that they were dead or rather that something is happening.

Soon a soft shuffling could be heard getting closer and closer to them. When they opened their eyes the light was blinding for a brief moment before it was revealed that they were in a cave and that their skin was green. While they were very tiny one word came to mind immediately

Goblin

They knew it the second they opened their eyes. The elder goblin shuffled closer to them seeing the goblin that would be soon be known as Goblin Grandpa. "Come little ones time to wake up" The goblin said in a raspy voice looking over each and every one of the baby goblins with a discerning eye gently waking each one to see the world around them and to see which one will become the strongest...

~Isurta~

---

Burning. An intense heat. Like a miniature sun burning away everything, body and soul. Pain. What was going on? She didn't have a clue. She had no idea where she was or what she was doing. There was just pain, heat, and a bright light bearing down upon her. She wished it was over. The burning and brightness would go away, fade into the background. But even then, there was one question she wanted desperately to know. What was it? She attempted to reach out...at least, she thought she did. But she didn't have arms.

...that couldn't be right, could it? Where did...

Suddenly the light flickered out, darkness giving her blessed relief from the burning and intense light. The cold sensation becoming quite welcoming to her. However, with the darkness came only more questions. She had arms...but...no matter how hard she could, she couldn't move them. Why? She tried moving the rest of her body, but it was a fruitless effort. why? Some might have panicked, but only more questions plagued her. Where? Or even when was this? She couldn't think of how she got here. In fact, try as she might she couldn't answer a single, very important question.

....who?

Tried as she might, she couldn't answer any of these questions. Annoyance. Then exhaustion. She felt exhausted. Thinking became difficult, despite the questions pounding in her head. Maybe...maybe she should rest...sleep. Yes, that sounded good. Maybe if she slept, she could answer the questions when she woke.

"Come little ones time to wake up"

Then a voice. He sounded old. A bit tired like her, maybe? Raspy at least. Curious, was there someone else in this darkness? Sluggishness and exhaustion still plagued her mind. Like she was on a bad drug trip. What? She had no idea what that was and the thought was quickly lost to the recesses of her mind. There was one more very important question she wanted answered at the moment. Who was speaking in this vast darkness.

Wait.

It wasn't dark.

She had her eyes closed. Odd. She could have sworn she had them open. She attempted to open them, but they felt heavy. Like weights were holding them down, making it difficult for them to open. She wasn't one to back down from a challenge if one presented itself though, was she?...she didn't know. She couldn't remember. Wherever the odd thought came from, she forced her eyes open. Blinding light again as her eyes adjusted. She quickly shut them again, somewhat fearful of it, but the question remained unanswered and she opened them again slower this time.

She was...in some sort of rocky structure. A cave? The word seemed appropriate. She was laying down too, it seemed. She was sleeping then? Well that would explain the lack of being able to move then. It was silly to attempt moving during sleep. Even now she was awake though, her entire body still felt slightly numb. Like it was still asleep. Well, she'd have to wake it then. She forced herself to a sitting position, slightly unbalanced on her numb limbs. She looked down, a bit surprised at what she saw. The ground was incredibly close, and she was sporting green skin. Before she could even ask the question, a word entered her head like a bell answering it.

Goblin

...She didn't know what she was expecting, but she was a goblin. She tilted her head towards the sound of the voice that had spoken. It was an older looking goblin. Maybe he could answer her questions.

...what were her questions again? She couldn't recall but she wanted to get the older goblins attention so she could ask something regardless. Violet eyes stared over at the older goblin in a sleepy manner.

"...goob?"

Wait...that wasn't right. That was not words.

...what were words again?

---

Confusion, a word he could easily use to describe the first few seconds of his life. Confusion was on the forefront of his mind, mostly because of the stinging brightness that currently encompassed all of his physical and cerebral senses.

His eyes had instinctively opened whenever the old, worn voice had spoken, and he immediately knew that going the motion so fast, so instinctive, was easily one of the worst mistakes that he would ever make within this life, and the next. Crimson-peaked irises watered and burned, as the sensitive corneas were exposed to light for the first time in what felt to be an eternity. He could only lie there, eyes wide and unseeing, as his body fought to adjust to the earth's most natural gift.

It took mere seconds for the stinging to go away, and with it, the dredges of confusion began to fade, replaced with a curiosity that forced him into a sitting position, despite his body protesting such a familiar usage of the movement.

He turned his neck from side to side, eyes wide as they soaked in every detail of his surroundings. Now that he looked on without fear and confusion, it was simple to note that the light wasn't as overbearing as he thought. Rather, the rocky formations around him seemed to soak in the light, giving his current location a dreary, almost groggy appearance.

A cave. He was in a...'cave'.

Torches lit the wall, the source of the light. It was not the sun, or some other natural light-bringer. No, it was the source of fire....Fire, the word sounded familiar, just like 'cave'. Where was he? What was he? In a cave, with fire - with torches. He pressed a hand to the ground beneath him, his body instinctively bending forward to get within a standing position, and that's when he noticed something.

Small, small hands, a dark green in color, tipped off with nails that were eerily close to a sharp tip. His eyes immediately honed in on his legs. Small, dark green in color, and this pattern went on for every other body piece he could see. Confusion and curiosity warred, before one word entered his brain. Goblin.

He was a Goblin, that much he knew for certain.

"...goob?"

Sensitive ears twitched, and he knew that he wasn't alone. In the moments where his inquisitive nature took a hold, he hadn't even entertained the thoughts of others. He had even put the old voice to the back of his mind. Now, however, with his confusion and curiosity somewhat sustained, he began to take notice of the bodies around him. Small, and green.

Ugly.

The word popped up in it's lonesome, much like before. The voice that had spoken the...word 'goob', however, was already awake, unlike the other small bodies around him. It was a Goblin, a 'she', he knew instinctively. His instincts were a major part of his function, apparently. What was 'goob'? Was she attempting to say...

"...gobble."

What. No. Almost.

"..."

No more words.

...his tooth hurt.

Light.

A light that is neither warm nor comforting.

Painfully blinding light.

Much like waking up day after a heavy night of drinking…

Wait, drinking what?

Everything was just so fuzzy and painful.

“Come…”

The silence was breaking by a sudden, harsh sound “K” that formed the beginning of the word. He could recognize the sound as some sort of speech, but how did he learn this language? It seemed so familiar and foreign at the same time. Lothar looked over at the source of the sound as his eyes finally adjusted to his surroundings. It was a queer, green man who stood and towered above green babies that laid on the ground. He had the appearance of a proud grandfather, watching over his grandchildren. Lothar took the opportunity to look around the area. It was clear that they were in some sort of clearing in a rock formation. What they were doing there… who knew, but did it really matter to him right now?

There wasn’t anything that Lothar could seem to do. He had come to realize that he was also a green baby as well as his stubby green arms and legs betrayed his identity. It was then that he realized exactly what he was, a goblin. He tried to reply to the elder, but he could only babble some bastardized words. “Gum” that was the closest that Lothar could imitate the elder. It was rather frustrating. Lothar wanted some answers, and at the moment only this old man had them. What could Lothar do to somehow get his attention or get him to talk some more? He tried to flip over to his side as he prone on his back, but this was no easy feat as he found it hard to control his body. Lothar was determined to try to use his small arms and legs to crawl towards the elder.

- Skubli -

---

Vanishing umbrage.

The crimson shadows pulsated around the small consciousness, warping and surrounding the primal mind before receding back to a safe distance. The deep red veil continuously wove themselves around the tiny mind before them, overpowering any thought that attempted to enter the mind they tormented.

An archaic chorus of dark, powerful voices permeated the shadows as the small creature slowly blended into the oblivion.

This was the way it will be. This is the way it was. This is the way it is.

Crimson shades and deep crescendos carried on for eternity.

A shudder traversed the darkness as the deep echoes became piercing screams. The shadows swelled and burst with an insurmountable amount of chaos as a single voice penetrated the oblivion.

"Come little ones. Time to wake."

It could hear.

The miniscule consciousness shuddered as the elder voice pierced the crimson veil of shade. The ancient consciousness was not undying, such as the shadows were, but was instead ancient. It had aged throughout time and spoke with the weight of the experiences it had endured.

The tiny consciousness followed the voice into the darkness, slowly drifting behind the ancient one.

The voice had given the creature a clarity of existence.

Goblin.

"...goob?"

As a second voice spoke, the creature became aware of the cold stone beneath its back, of the sharp claws it possessed as they dug into its skin. It could feel.

A vile taste entered the goblin's mind as his mouth processed the putrid combination of saliva and dust. Ever so slowly, the consciousness began to emerge. He could taste.

"...gobble."

With the arrival of the third voice came the dull, musty scent of the cave the small goblin presided in. He was unsure of how he knew this concept, but it was certainly present within his mind. He could smell.

As the presence of the others' physical bodies came into his senses, the tiny creature gained his final sense of sight.

He could see.

With all five senses complete, he was now a sentient being.

Skubli was.

Even though he was now floating in the darkness he could remember light, a strange pain in his chest and the word gardener, nothing else though not even what gardener meant. While the darkness seemingly took the pain away it was boring and he wished he could leave it behind.

An eternity or maybe ten seconds later, he had no definition of time, he realized his body was laying on something hard and cold.

"...goob?" It was a strange sound but he somehow knew it came from some other being that was pretty close to him even though he could not see it.

"...gobble." Another one of these strange sounds, he became curious as to where they came from.

“Gum”. A third sound, by now he had become determined to see where the sounds came from. As soon as the word "see" popped up in his mind he instinctively opened his eyes. At first he was blinded by the light but slowly his eyes adapted.

Eventually he saw several small green skinned creatures which he immediately identified as Goblins, but what was he, a "gardener", doing in a group of Goblins?

No that wasn't right he was a Goblin too, all of a sudden he was sure of that as sure as he was that he liked the color green. Wondering if he was green as well he checked his body out. Not only was he green but a very nice light green, other than that he looked pretty much the same as the other Goblins who he now realized were the source of the sounds.

Maybe if he could make "Gardener" into a sound he would know what it meant. "Grdnor." Well that was a total failure, it not only didn't make him remember anything, it didn't even sound like what he was trying to say. Wait, that was it the sounds were words that the other Goblins "said".

Hunger. A burning, all-encompassing hunger consumed him. Darkness surrounded him, rendering his senses useless.

Where was he?

Who was he?

It doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is getting rid of this hunger. It consumed every atom of his being, greedily trying to sate itself. But slowly, it began to be replaced by the cold and numb blanket of darkness. This isn't so bad... he thought to himself.

Every part of his being faded away into nothing, abandoning his physical shell.

But then, a light destroyed the comforting dark.

And the hunger returned.

...

He opened his eyes to see a massive creature, easily 5 times his height. His mind raced, looking for a way to esape this monolithic monstrosity, before he suddenly calmed, his mind being eased by the creature's appearance. Wrinkles covered nearly every inch of skin, very little of which was covered by a small strip of cloth that circled the creature's waist. A large beard of white hair also alluded to this creature's age. As he observed the creature, a word came to the forefront of his mind.

Goblin

A strange word. A foreign, alien one. One you wouldn't want to be in the same room with. But it also felt... right. It fit like a glove in his mind, latching on like a parasite. He attempted to move his body to rid himself of the word.

Green

A small slab of meat, light green and weak, was held out in front of him. Arm... This is my arm... The old goblin smiled down at him.

"Come little ones. Time to wake."

Somehow... He could understand the old goblin's words. He had never heard these strange mutterings... He didn't even know what that strange flesh hole was called-

Mouth

Once again, his mind echoed back a wordfor the old goblin. The elderly goblin dropped a small object next to him. Soon, darkness surrounded him, blinding him... But it didn't deaf him.

Words, far more garbled than the old goblin's, filled the dark space. As these words reached his ears, his see places-eyes began to adjust. The words were coming from several small green beings. He look at the object that the old goblin gave him. A small, blue rock, perfectly featureless and round sat beside him. This time, the word that his mind supplied slipped out of his mouth and into the dark cave.

"Mwine..."

His mind turned in mechanical rhythm, generating countless words as he looked all around.

The Goblin Grandpa watched as each of the children started to wake up and some even went on trying to speak when they just woke. He had to admit he has been around to see a few generations and he had to admit that he knew this batch of younglings had some real potential. The Grandpa had done it regularly always waking the young ones a day after they are born. He knew that Humans could grow up much slower because they didn't have to worry about war but goblins like them were born weak and were easy to kill and as a result he knew that they wouldn't take long to grow up till they were strong enough to walk and talk properly.

Grandpa stroked his beard and soon he spent the next 3 days feeding them as they quickly grew up. On their first day they were able to crawl and sit up properly. Grandpa had some food in their storage so that he could feed them and make sure they didn't starve because he was by no means strong enough to hunt anymore at best he was a care giver to the young ones and could give them advice as they grow up.

On their second day they were able to walk for short distances and were finally able to speak a few words with clarity. This was when Grandpa taught told them about what was waiting for them once they were strong enough to stand on their own because he couldn't feed those that didn't hunt he gave each one their names and he told them that they were to just call him grandpa. He fed them each once more but was able to just give them bowls and let them go to town.

---

The third and final day was when they were finally ready to strike out on their own. Grandpa waited by the cave for each of them to wake up on their own and once they all got up and came over to the entrance of the cave grandpa then said "Alright little ones, you have finally gotten big enough to hunt on your own. From here on out no more hand outs you live and die by your own choices. If you want some advice though that's free, their are some horned rabbits not far from the cave be careful" Those were the last words Goblin Grandpa told them before he sat down by the entrance of the cave watching them.

He had to admit that the entrance of the cave was like the entrance to their adulthood for them to be treated with respected. Of course it was understandable if they were scared but they weren't going to get any food from him anymore they needed to learn how to hunt and he couldn't show them how. It was survival of the fittest in this world and if they cant hunt for their own food then they didn't deserve to be a part of their tribe...

---

Over the past few days, hundreds of thoughts had flown through his brain. The main thought process, however, centered around one thing - Goblins grew at a very fast pace. In mere days, his mind had grown from that of a toddler's into what it was now - a centerpiece of willpower, focus, and planning. Within the first day of his birthing, he had spent the majority of his time observing.

Eating, observing, and thinking. The first few hours were tough, as he could not even say 'Goblin' without a lisp or a major butchering. But, as hours waned, and darkness bloomed, and he ate, thoughts began to surface - some hypothetical, some practical, and some rhetorical. Who was he, exactly? Why did he feel so...out of place amongst the other green-skinned baby goblins? Why was he so damn hungry all the time?

Another instinctive word...'damn'.

It was around this time, where he awoke on the second day, that he realized something. He could actually stand up and move. His first foray into 'walking' was a bit...shaky. He had watched the Old Goblin waddle around, hunched over and leaning on a wooden club, but that didn't feel right. So, he had straightened his back, and began to move at a faster pace, a fair distance away from the viciously eating group of Goblin kids he had been born alongside. Sadly, walking took a lot of energy, and within minutes he had collapsed on his butt, a scowl marring his lips once he realized that he reached his walking limit for the moment.

It was around this time, that the Old Goblin began speaking in his worn voice. The Old Goblin told them that soon, they would have to hunt on their own, and kill for their own food. The Old Goblin told them of the monsters and dangers that laid outside of the cave, and how they would have to fight to survive - nothing was given. They had to rely on themselves, and their own grit. It was that minute, as he sat there grasping his legs, that the young Goblin decided that he would do better than survive. He would survive, and thrive. Let the dangers come...he'd take them all on. The newly dubbed 'Grandpa' gave them each their names, and the young goblin felt a smile - or was it a smirk? - form on his face.

He was Xaal, and he'd show 'em all.

And now, at this moment in time, he was about to go out on his own Hunt. The young Goblin had grown since the second day, now standing at a respectable height of 4'2". His eyes, a shockingly vivid crimson, were sharp and shrewd, even as he calmly looked around the forest ahead of them. A long shard of rock, scraped endlessly against the cave's wall to end in a durable and sharp point, was gripped in his right fist, sending a rush of confidence into Xaal's dark green body.

He was ready - and, he was rather hungry. He gave a quick glance over his Goblin brethren, all of them the same age as he...three days. Xaal hadn't spoken to any of 'em, other than a few words. Too preoccupied with eating and thinking, he guessed. But now...maybe they should stick together for the hunt?

Screw it.

"Thanks, Grandpa." He hadn't spoken much since his birth, so his voice was rather rough as he took a step out of the cave, and into the blinding sunlight. Xaal would be the first to cross that barrier.

Without a look back, he made his way into the underbrush. If any of his brethren wanted to come with him, they were free to do so. He really just wanted to get some food at this point, and Horned Rabbits sounded very delicious at this point in time.

~Isurta~

@Wasted Ink - Following after Xaal.

---

Over the next two days, Isurta grew used to her body. On the first day, she was already crawling around their home cave. She made a point to explore every nook and cranny of it she could find. After all, this was the extent of her world right now and as much as she'd love to go exploring beyond the mouth of the cave, the bright light scared her. It wasn't something she was going to show the other goblins, though. Besides, the cave was so much fun to explore!

Oh, and the food! It wasn't the best tasting stuff, but it was interesting to eat nonetheless. After all, she had never eaten anything before so how could she not enjoy it? Besides, Grandpa was nice. The rest of the first day consisted of crawling around the cave, bothering the other goblins and trying her best to get to know them a little. After all, they were living together so they might as well be friendly! Besides, they looked like tons of fun to play with anyways.

When she slept on the first night, her mind couldn't quiet down any. Her mind was too plagued with questions that wanted answering. What was the cave outside like? That cruel light she didn't like prevented her from going there for now, but she would eventually go beyond it when she could walk. She imagined a field of green. A place with tall, brown pillars with many creatures she didn't know the name of. Everytime something new popped up in her dreams, she had to simply ask what it was.

Isurta's second day meant the coming of her being able to walk. Unlike the others, she had almost no problems with getting her legs to move at all, and within a few minutes she was running all over the cave with only a few hiccups and tripping here and there. She ran all the way to the entrance of the cave, observing the land outside. The 'sunlight' as she was told it was called still intimidated her. Its bright incandescence scared her. She had no reason to, of course, but for whatever reason it felt as if it would burn her skin. Not yet, then. With some reluctance, she'd venture out the third day. She made a vow for that, even if she would do it alone. It seemed though, she wouldn't have a choice. Grandpa said that he couldn't feed ones that couldn't hunt. As harsh as it was, it felt right. After all, he was old and useless. She was young, spry, and liked to think she had a good head on her shoulders.

So after waking on the third day, she would set off, explore the forest and bring back food for everyone.

Soon, the third day came, and with it the first of many dangers Isurta and the other goblins would likely face.

Standing at the entrance of the cave again, she stared out at it. Violet eyes, observing the lit area outside silently as Grandpa explained what lay ahead for them. Nothing was free in life, and everything had to be worked for. It was survival of the fittest and those who couldn't keep up, would die. A grim reality as it was, it was one the young goblin couldn't argue with. A small grin formed on the goblins face. She couldn't help but to be a bit excited. She was finally moving outside of the cave! She was going to explore what laid beyond, get stronger and then go even further! She wanted to learn so much about this world she was born in. She would learn, gain knowledge, and anything that tried to get in the way of that, wouldn't find her to be such an easy target.

Violet eyes looked over to Grandpa, a small giggle coming from her as she gave him a smile. She stood at roughly 4'0, a bit smaller than your average goblin, with skin erring on the lighter side of the spectrum, a lighter shade of green, almost a turquoise blue color.

"Thanks Grandpa!" Her voice was clear and a bit on the loud side. Unlike a few of the other goblins, getting Isurta to shut up was about as difficult as trying to cook food without a fire. Indeed, she spent quite a lot of time trying to talk to the other goblins, trying to get to know them and what made them tick. A few were less than responsive to her friendly advances, but she did her best to ignore that and file them under 'Silly buffoons that she'd use for stuff later'. What stuff? She didn't know, but it seemed appropriate. Now wasn't the time to be thinking about that. "We'll bring back some delicious food and stuffs!"

So following after one of her brothers, Xaal, Isurta began her first hunt.

"Hey hey, Brother Xaal! Wait up!" Isurta called out after the slightly taller goblin, quickly running after him. "Going hunting on your own? Hehe, it'd probably be easier to hunt as a group, wouldn't?" She'd explore a bit later on her own time, after securing some food.

Grandpa smiled and no sooner that he finished his speech about no free rides did the two young ones who had very strangely colored eyes ran out first. He had to admit those two were odd ones but if nothing else they were both smart and friendly he only hoped that they wouldn't die so soon, to often the ones that are still alive by the end of the month were the harsher ones that felt cold and dead inside. Grandpa had to admit he did see something with that goblin he named Xaal when he was barely able to walk he already created a crude dagger made from the rock in the cave himself, no question those brains would take him far. He then laughed a bit as the violet eyes one he named Isurta went saying that she would bring back delicious food stuffs he would hold her to it if he believed she was so lucky. Now he watched and looked at the others who were still in the cave either growing cold feet or waiting to formulate a plan. Either that or they were just waiting to latch on to whoever would be the leader of this group which was still anyone's guess.

---

@Wasted Ink@Rune_Alchemist

-on the hunt not far from the cave-

Waiting a few feet in front of them was a horned rabbit as the old goblin promised. The horn looked very tough and was about as big as the rabbit itself. However the fact was that the rabbit itself looked very cute with white fur and a bushy tail as it was eating some leaves nearby obviously not aware of their presence. This was a prime opportunity to see if they had the skills to sneak up on the rabbit or were quick enough to avoid its horn in a straight up fight...

Hunger. The all-consuming hunger was a constant for Kishi's three days of life. Pain gripped his stomach, a constant gluttonous desire permeating his being. But, as Grandpa fed him, he began to recognize more... The world around him was small, a cave consisting of many goblins and a single hole... It was worrying. So... open. As if any creature could just wander in and slaughter all of them...

Just as the words appeared in his thoughts on his first day, something in Kishi's mind triggered, filling itself with mental blueprints of how to protect the defenseless cave mouth. Spiked barriers, trip wires, boulder traps, and dozens of defensive measures fluttered in front of his vision. It... it scared him. But this mental function displayed it's value when he looked at the rocks littered throughout the cave floor. Once again, his brain gave him a construction that very few, if any, of the other goblins had...

Kishi gathered sturdy sticks that the others seemed to have an infinite number of, pointy stalagmites covered in a strange red liquid (blood, his mind chimed in), and abandoned loincloths from the more scandalous goblins and, after numerous trials and failures, created several small pointy sticks- Spears. Kishi smiled at his work, carefully hiding it in a small hole in a nearby wall for... protection.

As Kishi began to walk towards the sleeping area, he saw hsi reflection in a puddle that dripped from overhead. Looking back at him was a goblin with plain facial features and light green eyes, the same as the skin around them. Oily, dirty, and unkempt hair littered the goblin's head, slicked back to make a hairstyle similar to a pompadour. Small muscles, more lean then bulging, surrounded the goblin's body, demonstrating just how quickly Kishi, and by extension all goblins, had grown. A loincloth, carefully chosen for it's single pocket, circled Kishi's waist, with the stone's bulge barely noticeable.

With a job well done, Kishi laid down to sleep, hoping to have a hearty meal tomorrow.

Kishi woke up just as soon as Grandpa announced it. Their... Their wasn't going to be any more food? The hunger inside of Kishi awoke, rearing it's ugly head in anger. He nervously began to finger the rock once more, envisioning himself slowly fade away, becoming vestigial and paper thin. Wait... He just said no handouts! Kishi jumps from the ground, immediately running to his storage. I'll just bring all of them... I'll get people to help me! I don't care if it's hard, I need food! Besides, the more people, the less likely I'll die again... Wait 'again'? Kishi shakes his head at this thought, and quickly retrieving the spears from their earthy container. He saw a slightly shorter goblin with a large, frightening scar etched across his chest, whom he recognized as Brother Xaal. Standing next to him was a smaller female with a near blue coloration of skin, meaning that she was almost definitely Sister Isurta.

"W-wait! Let me come with you guys! I... I can help you! I have weapons, and we can watch each others backs!

... Sorry if I'm coming on strong, I'm just really hungry...

... You guys have any leftover grubs you don't want?

Kishi holds out two of the spear he was carrying, but noticed a small, sharpened stone in Brother Xaal's hand. Kishi smiles lightly, attempting to mask the hunger he felt. He looks scary, but maybe he'll help me get food... That would be nice... Besides, Sister Isurta can probably make hunting super easy. She learned to walk real quick after all.

Kishi looked to the outside world in a strange mix of terror, excitement, and hunger.

First day, all these goblin babies around him had grown significantly as their bodies developed quickly. Most could move, albeit, clumsily around the day. It was tiring to get used to moving around so much, but it seemed that by the end of the day most could crawl around and babble freely. The second day was even stranger as everyone could now stand and walk around. They were masters of their bodies, and could now begin to talk a bit. Their new names seemed to be the topic of a lot of attention. Lothar seemed to be the one to quickly grasp the concept of language as he found himself being able to communicate with short phrases. Still everyone else wasn't too far behind, and everyone managed to learn each other's names pretty quickly.

The third day everyone woke up to a surprise. It seemed that everyone had officially grown up enough that they could start taking care of themselves and that's exactly what Gramps wanted them to do, to go out and hunt their own food. Two of Lothar's sibling seemed to be very eager and began to leave to go hunting in a pair. Lothar took this opportunity to say out loud "Hold on. We should take a look around the area first instead of heading straight into hunting. You know... I don't think it'll be easy enough that we can do it with our bare hands. We should probably look around for some sizable rocks and large sticks at the very least and if there's time we should learn what the terrain is like around here. Anyone who wants to can feel free to join me." as he began to head out as well, but to look around the area first instead of going straight into hunting.

That said, some of the old man's words still lingered in his head. The way that he spoke seemed to indicate that he did have some supplies remaining even though he was no longer willing to share them. Where were these supplies and exactly what was he hiding? Surely they had some basic equipment that they could afford to give out if it meant that more of the new goblins would survive to grow stronger. Something seemed very illogical and inefficient about this entire situation, but as of now he wasn't someone who could do anything about it.

@Rune_Alchemist
@Duoya

---

Before he could go deeper into the underbrush, Xaal was stopped by the cheerful voice of Sister Isurta. She was one of the more excitable Goblins that he grew up with, and was pne of the first who mastered the art of walking and running. Within the first couple of days, she had been exploring every inch of their home cave, ignoring the disgruntled stares of the older, and more gruff Goblin hunters. She was definitely smarter than the standard ilk, that was for sure. He knew that she'd be a decent help in the hunting department, and maybe she learned some things that even he did know at this time? It wouldn't hurt to trust her.

He turned around, getting ready to respond to her 'group' comment, but paused when the rest of his brethren began heading out of the cave. There weren't too many, so he wasn't too worried about a lack of food for himself, but it did remind him that time was relatively precious, and that he should probably head out soon. Another goblin came over to the duo - a bit taller than Xaal himself, with what seemed to be two spears gripped in his hands. This one was Brother...Kishi. Definitely Kishi. Xaal's eyes lingered over the rudimentary tools the goblin held. They were simply, but effective, like his knife. For Sister Isurta, it'd definitely be an improvement over her fists. An approving tilt of his lips formed upwards, as he listened to what Brother Kishi had to say.

"W-wait! Let me come with you guys! I... I can help you! I have weapons, and we can watch each others backs! ...Sorry if I'm coming on strong, I'm just really hungry... You guys have any leftover grubs you don't want?"

Hunger. 'Course that'd be the driving factor, wouldn't it?

"No, nothing on me at the moment." He stated dryly. Xaal's eyes glazed over as he half-listened to what another goblin, Brother Lothar he believed, was saying, about observing their surroundings. Smart, but not really necessary for an area so close to home.

"Let's go. I don't wanna think on an empty-" As he began to step, once more, into the underbrush, Xaal's eyes sharpened. In the clearing ahead of them, hidden from the entrance of the cave itself, was what he could only assume to be a Horned Rabbit. And horned it truly was. The horn looked as sharp as the stone knife he currently held, and even more deadly. The rabbit's cute, furry body didn't even cross his mind. He wanted that horn, and he wanted that rabbit...in his gut.

He instinctively crouched, moving quietly to the side, in the bushes, so that his two companions could see what he was seeing. Question was...how would they kill it. The rabbit had to be fast - no other way it'd survive in the wild, otherwise. Plus, the horn was an obvious danger. As he watched, eyes sharp and focused, a plan began to form within his mind. The rabbit would be surprised by the sudden attack, and would most-likely attempt to flee. By dividing it's attention three-ways, they would be able to strike at it's moment of weakness - a fresh kill. The grip on his dagger tightened. The muscles in his legs became taut, as he got ready to lunge.

And then, he realized that he hadn't communicated his thoughts with his brethren.

"You two ready?" Xaal spoke, crimson eyes turning towards Isurta and Kishi. If there wasn't a giant, sharp horn on the rabbit's head, he would have leaped at it already. However, with two other lives to account for, he didn't feel...comfortable going at it alone. Decisions, decisions.

~Isurta~

@Wasted Ink
@Duoya

---

As she was just about to get to hunting with brother Xaal, brother Kishi decided to join them carrying some very interesting...tools with them. Spears it looked like. Was that what they were called? Whatever, they looked like very effective stabby weapons. Perhaps a bit awkward to use without a bit of training, but with a bit of practice using one well would be easy enough, and what better way to get a feel for something than by using it in a practical scenario? This would be a good test run, yep.

"W-wait! Let me come with you guys! I... I can help you! I have weapons, and we can watch each others backs!... Sorry if I'm coming on strong, I'm just really hungry... You guys have any leftover grubs you don't want?"

"Hehe, of course you can join use Brother Kish." She giggled. "We can share the spoils among ourselves!" She wasn't too concerned with Brother Lothar's assessment that they needed to immediately scout the area. Certainly it would be a good idea to get to know the land immediately around them, but on an empty stomach? No, you were just asking to get in trouble. First food, then scouting and discovery. Knowledge was power, but knowledge was useless if you were to weak to properly use it.

"Thanks for the weapon Kish!" She replied, taking one of the spears for herself. She ran her hand along the haft of the crude weapon, admiring its crude craftsmanship, trying to take in every detail she could and already imagining all the applications and ways she might be able to maneuver the weapon in order to use it effectively. Even a crude weapon as this could be deadly if used right...but her body was small and weak. She would need to fix that as soon as she could.

Before she could think much more though, Brother Xaal quieted himself and the reason why became readily apparent. What could only be a horned rabbit was standing before them not too far into the underbrush. Isurta's eyes sparkled as she saw the horn adorning the rabbits head. It was certainly something that would be useful. She wanted it. It would make for a nice stabby weapon. She wouldn't be the only one who would want it though. Chances were, Xaal wanted it as well...hm. Well, she'd be satisfied with only the food for now if someone beat her to it. She'd hunt her own later when she was off exploring.

"Hmhm..." She hummed quietly to herself, crouching next to Xaal, resting the butt of her spear on the ground as she observed the rabbit. She wasn't particularly strategically inclined, but she knew attacking head on at the moment would be pure folly. The spears had range over the rabbit, but their skill at using them was something that left much to be desired. "How are we gonna do it?" She asked after he asked if they were ready, muscles in her legs tensing. She was ready to pounce at a moments notice, and likely would faster than Xaal as well. She was confident in her agility for the moment.

"I don't think I'd be fast enough to get it on my own." She hummed, tilting her head curiously to the side as she observed the rabbit, attempting to study it the best she could from a distance. "If one of you distract it for me, I could leap on it from behind."

- Skubli -

---

The first few days of existence were challenging. Skubli was by far the smallest Goblin in the cave, as it was called, and while all the over Goblish folk grew in strength and capabilities, Skubli was left small and neglected.

Some Goblins practiced walking; others scoured the cave for materials. A few of Skubli's brethren even fashioned weapons for them selves, but the small goblin merely cowered in the corner and observed them.

During the first day, Skubli had managed to crawl away from the hoard of ugly green bodies to the deepest corner of the cave. Once there, a small tattered black mantle was discovered. The runt had donned the cloth and hid under it, blocking out of the the strange new world with familiar shadows.

A couple of exploring goblins had approached Skubli as he huddled in the corner, however they had either not noticed his presence or deemed him unnoteworthy and moved on.

It wasn't until the second day that Skubli was forced from his hideaway by an unavoidable enemy: Hunger.

When the tiny goblin could no longer withstand the gouging fangs of the longing for food, he was forced to succumb to his desires and search for sustainance. The Grandfather Goblin had smiled warmly upon Skubli as his tiny, tormented frame had slowly dragged itself, drained of vitality, into the center of the cave. Skubli's nearby siblings gave him a glance or two, however none of them cared enough to approach him. Grandpa gently pushed forward a hunk of a strange substance Skubli hoped was edible towards the quivering frame underneath the black mantle. A small, clawed hand had reached out and drug the food underneath the mantle before noisily devouring the morsel with great delight. Grandpa and Skubli continued this routine two or three more times before the tiny goblin's hunger pains were sated and he returned to his corner, dragging along a small piece of food with him.

After the third day when Grandpa announced that he would no longer be proving them food, Skubli forced himself from his corner. Without the source of food in the center of the room, Skubli would soon starve unless he found another form of sustanance.

The small creature hadn't spoken another word to the creatures in the cave. He had formed no friendships or allies of any kind. He was weak and without a weapon aside from his wicked claws.

Skubli crawled to the entrance of the cave as a trio of colorful-eyed goblins rushed off into the woods, hunting for food. Crouching near the cave's mouth, Skubli looked over his shoulder at the indistinct, shuffling forms of this brethren. Skubli opened his mouth to speak to the nearest Goblin, however his voice failed him and all that emerged was a small, quivering wail.

Skubli immediately shrank back from the other Goblins and cast his gaze back out into the world of light. There were so many potentials, and that scared him. He had no one to defend him or fight for him, and he was too small to do it for himself.

Skubli faced the fear that he might die before he ever left the cave.

While the other Goblins mastered walking and talking he spent most of his free time trying to figure out what a gardener was. He instinctively made sure not to fall too much behind the others when it came to walking and talking, but his near constant quietness and stillness would no doubt give the illusion he was lazy. It was only at the end of the second day that he could walk more than five steps without hugging the cave wall.

Stegs as he was recently named did talk to some of the others a bit, though that was more to imitate what words they could say than it was to get to know them. There was plenty of time for that after all. Mere seconds after he was finally able to say gardener, which when spoken out loud briefly made him envision things called plants and strange tools, Grandpa told them that the next day they had to provide for themselves.

The young Goblin spent the rest of the day near the entrance of the cave imagining all the different plants he would see and then grow in the cave for food and to make it look nicer, until he eventually fell asleep.

The next morning when he woke up he nearly ran outside, until he remembered about the dangers Grandpa had warned him about. so he waited and watched other goblins go first. Including a trio that brought weapons along. After some deliberation he decided to follow them and maybe team up, but he tripped on something as he headed towards the entrance. On closer inspection the "something" turned out to be another Goblin, one he had never seen before.

"Sorry about that." Suddenly he got an idea a Goblin that was that good at not being seen might be a real help. "Wanna hunt together?"

@Wasted Ink
@Rune_Alchemist

Thank goodness!

Kishi silently thanked the universe for being allowed to join the two other goblins. As he hands a spear to Sister Isurta, he realized just how crude and cumbersome it would be to use. The shaft was sharp and splintered and the head was haphazardly attached with a basic knot. Despite this, it had more range over fists, and even if it has horrible durability, the most expensive thing used to make it was time. He hands one of the three spears he made, hoping she wouldn't comment on the shoddy construction.

"Thanks for the weapon Kish!"

Sister Isurta seems thankful, at least. Kishi awkwardly hands the weqpon to her, not used to the spear's length and grip. He heard Brother Lothar make a remark about scouting the area first, and while Kishi would normally agree... He was not about to argue with the hunger. Kishi pretends to ignore Lothar as he walks out of the cave. Gripping his weapon tightly, he stumbles into the bright sunlight.

The three of them traveled a few steps when Brother Xaal quickly fell to the ground. Kishi rushed to help him up, but he soon noticed that it was a crouch instead. When Sister Isurta did the same, Kishi attempted to copy the movement, falling silently on his behind. In a clearing barely out of view from the cave's mouth, a small furry creature with a massive horn protruding from it's skull was resting. Kishi licked his lips, not only for the anticipated meal, but also of the possibilities he saw with the horn.

Kishi lightly poked the spear on the ground to test it's integrity and listened to the others. Brother Xall wanted a direct assault, while Sister Isurta wanted a distraction to assassinate the rabbit. Kishi was astonished with Brother Xaal's bravery. Never in his short life would he have thought about jumping in to his possible death so quickly. Sister Isurta, meanwhile, surprised him by demonstrating tactics and planning he wouldn't think of for days. Kishi, having never been hunting before, didn't have any idea which tactic should be employed, but he did see a compromise.

"Brother Xaal and I could charge the beast when ready, leaving an opening for Sister Isurta to attack."

Kishi was terrified of the rabbit, however... The promise of meat and the horn persuaded him into gambling his life with the rabbit. Kishi gripped his crude spear in anticipation.

- Skubli -

@Duthguy

---

A surprising force collided with Skubli's side, causing a small, panicked noise to escape his throat before he instinctively curled into a small ball, trying to disappear underneath his mantle. After a few seconds of silence, a voice apologized to Skubli.

"Wanna hunt together?"

The smaller goblin looked up at the figure standing over him. He was a typical Goblish creature, standing at average height and weight, however the one thing that drew Skubli's attention was his skin. The bright green hue of the newcomer's skin was remarkably distracting.

Pausing for a moment, Skubli considered his options. The bigger goblin's skin drew attention away from Skubli, so that could be a possible way to avoid danger. Additionally, he was the first Goblin to speak to Skubli, and he was offering exactly what Skubli needed.

[color=aba000]"Hunting with you good." Skubli croaked. /color] The lackluster grammar of Skubli's speech didn't go unnoticed by the tiny goblin, but he was proud he had managed a semi-complete sentence on his first try.

Grandpa soon watched as the others were left behind. The two that were left were the odd ones of the group and he knew that those two could have a hard time surviving but that was because the scrawny one which he named Skubli was by no doubt the runt in the litter as their was always one after all. He had to wait for him to come out of his corner as he was fed enough to last so that he could go back into the corner and hide away. No question that he was sneaky but Grandpa also knew that sneaky wasn't the same as smart or strong.

The other one though which he named Stegs was something of a mystery to Grandpa as he seemed to be lazy at first but he could sense it was a ploy. What he couldn't figure out is if he was a leader or a follower or if he had the brains to survive out in the world. He couldn't interfere though he couldn't coddle the young ones or they will never thrive. He laughed a bit when Stegs actually tripped over Skubli and soon he was left inside the cave waiting till nightfall when the young ones would soon return after all it gets much more dangerous at night out their.

---

@December@Duthguy

-on the hunt-

As the two would set out together in a different direction from the trio before they would soon come across a horned rabbit drinking in a nearby stream where fish were sure to live...

---

@Duoya@Rune_Alchemist@Wasted Ink

As they got hidden within the brush the rabbit poked its head up as it heard the rustling of leaves. It ran its paw over its long ear as if trying to see if it was just hearing things. When he saw no movement it hopped a few inches away to another brush and started eating the berries on it. The small clearing they found themselves in was perfect for hiding around the rabbit to ambush it however if they made any noise above the whisper the Rabbit will take it as a threat and either attack head on and skewer them or run off as quick as possible making them loose their first target.

It was up to how they approached the rabbit that will determine a successful hunt...