@Aristocles
As soon as Edra heard the younger goblin was willing to do this task, she quickly grabs a small piece of parchment and a thin piece of charcoal from the back of the hut. She begins to scrawl down the nearest location a group treants were located by a hunting party a couple of days ago. She hands the hastily drawn map to Taurl. The map, albeit hastily done, clearly points to a small grove not too far from the village.

"That's the area where the hunting party saw a group of treants two days ago. The fruit doesn't have to be from an adult treant, even the fruit of a sapling will do. They didn't specify the number but please stay safe...and take some of these."

She offers Taurl three small leather pouches containing bright stone powder.

"I hope to the ancestors and gods above it will not come to it but if things go awry...you toss these pouches at the ground as hard as you can and close your eyes. It's gonna cause a very bright flash that can even blind and disorient a horned grizzly bear. I'm sorry if it seems to be a meager aid to you."

The Treant groaned loudly it moved through the area guarding the place as he should. The elder Treants were out in the borders and they made sure to keep the saplings safe as they are closer to their oldest and strongest of root family. The one that noticed a goblin getting closer it had its roots planted deep and glared at the small goblin. It had an old tree trunk as it used it as a cane while its leaves and branches above its face were filled with fruits. Mostly apples and acorns to give birth to more saplings but if the goblin tried to move past it then it would crush the tiny goblin like an insect.

(Finally got some time now. Let's get this back into gear!)

@Searat@Jangel13

Taurl reached out and took the pouches, bowing to the shaman as he did so. He recognized them as being filled with flash powder, a rare and hard to acquire substance, especially for the goblins. Doubtlessly, these were bought at great price from a human alchemist, or a merchant selling alchemical goods. It was possible that these were seized on a raid, but somehow, he doubted that such a thing was just lying around to be easily taken.

"I thank you, great shaman. Rest assured that I will put these pouches of flash powder to good use, and only if I need to use them."

He turned around and ran off, knowing that he had only a limited amount of time to save his friend, keeping the map in mind.

The raid had not gone well for Bok. When Taurl began to be lead off deeper into the woods and into rival territory, a blinding light struck Bok's right eye. Squinting, he saw a metallic glint in a nearby river. Taurl, Tovo, and Nabi continued walking. "Hold on...I've uh...got to tie my shoe!" Bok said. He looked down at his bare, green, thick-skinned feet and cursed at his foolish lie. Luckily, no one seemed to mind.

Bok went off, searching for the source of the glint. It farther away than he first imagined. A minute or so of walking later, and he found the source. A burlap back of gold coins was resting in a stream, the clear water running over the precious disks of metal, reflecting and keeping them clean. The stray goblin's eyes went wide as saucers, and he scrambled over to get a closer look. He made an appreciative noise, and slowly extended his claw towards the treasure, dropping Basher to the side as he became enraptured by the bag of coins. Picking one up between his middle and index finger, he held up it and the sun glinted off the precious metal.

"Ooooh..." Bok said.

"Oi!" A gruff, deep, and loud voice rang out. Bok yelped, dropping the coin, and scampered off into the trees and blended in with the foliage.

"Yeah, bugger off!" A... human called out. He picked up the bag of coins and fastened them to his belt loop. Bok saw this as he peaked from around a tree, and cursed. Large, overweight, with a thick black beard, wearing a red gambeson strapped on with studded leather armor, the mysterious stranger made sure the coins were on his belt. Apparently, they had come loose and fallen free.

"Knew there were goblins 'round these parts...shoulda been more careful." He grumbled as he scanned the forest, looking for Bok. Satisfied that the goblin wasn't going to ambush him, he tromped off into the trees. Bok, scared, clutched Basher close to his chest as he hid behind the trunk of a nearby tree. Once again, his eyes went wide.

"The raid! The raid!" Uncoordinated, he scrambled to his feet. He had lost track of his comrades who, as it turned out, probably didn't need his help anyway. He stumbled around in the forest for a good half hour before, defeated, returned to his camp, convinced that all of his friends horribly died without his help.

When he made his way back to camp, he saw the back end of Taurl. Secretly elated, he went over the tent and appeared behind Taurl as he heard Tovo's plight. Mortally wounded? Treant fruit the only cure? Well, this was certainly a chance to redeem himself after his embarrassing escapade.

Taurl, determined, began to make his way out of the camp.

"Taurl! Taurl! Wait up!" Bok said, running up behind him. "I heard about Tovo- we gonna save 'im, yeah? Sorry about missin on the raid. I was...kidnapped by three humans, I had to kill them and got lost in the woods. I only just now made it back." He lied, nodding rapidly.

"But, it won't happen again. Promise. Tovo, he's gonna be fit as a fiddle once I-...we, get this magical fruit."

@Stekkmen

Taurl stopped suddenly, his feet skidding across the soft dirt. "Bok, I'm glad to see you and I welcome your help. Just don't give me more nonsense about shoes." He started off into the woods again. "Seriously, I can pretend to believe that you were kidnapped by humans, but not that you wore shoes. I'm not even sure what those look like. Some kinda human thing. Maybe the same thing as a sock... doesn't matter. Tovo's life depends on what we do, so we must find this fruit. Doesn't matter what you did on the raid, as long as you help me now."

A couple of hours later, the two goblins were deep into the forest, heading in the direction of the treants. He saw one in the distance, swaying as it moved around that corner of the woods.

@Aristocles @Stekkmen
Even at a distance the two goblins could hear every heavy step and even feel every light tremor caused by the tree-like creature. The grove provided sufficient cover for the two approaching goblins. If they managed to sneak up on the trent unaware, the collection of the fruit would be as simple as climbing a tree and taking an unripe one without being noticed by it.
That is if they manage to succeed sneaking up to the lone monster.

@Jangel13

Gabi used a wet rag to wipe sweat from her brow. As much as she liked being here in the forge. All of the sounds and smells appealed to her, as well as the company. But it was hot. Maybe a little too hot. "You haven't seen Nabi around lately, have you?" Gabi asked Olric. "I needed her to help me with some crops today and I haven't seen her. I'm starting to get worried. I know I shouldn't be. I mean she does this kind of stuff all the time, but I don't know . . . I just have a bad feeling this time. Like maybe something bad happened."

@Pandalope@Jangel13
Kittim's hit the turn too hard, her feet slipped and her arms flew out, scrabbling at the ground in an akward recovery. She rolled, registering a paniced squeak as she found her feet beneath her. Forward Motion continued she cooked a tongue, both a call and a chastisement.

The small goblin glanced behind her only long enough to see a small brown lumb hurtling itself over the darker brown 'street'.
Eyes forward she turned herself toward the smoke that indicated the blacksmiths.
Forcing a gasp in-between her labored panting, she called out, "GABI! GABBERS!" along with a dozen bastardizations of the pregnant farmer's name.

She whipped around the smithies hut seeing her target holding a hoe.
Her mouth flapped open wide enough all of her teeth and stumbled to a stop leaning grasping the other females arm. She shook with exertion and the baubles hanging from her ear clinked. "Cousin, Gabin gaarbin. Ah!" Her voice faltered and raised as she tried to speak, "Why are you SO HARD TO FIND?! Shamas hut, big crowd- your sister on a - raiders hurt - ah oh, we - we got a pig. " She sunk as she continued still holding the plant tenders arm. "Thought you should- "
Now sitting on the ground the tiny goblin paused as a rat with a woven grass collar ran over her legs and circled her in excitement.
For the first time the little rumorey acknowledged the male with a nod of the head and fixed the tattered bow in her black hair before sapping her forehead.
" I-I shoulda heard more fore hunting ya -ah, huh- down" She looked down at the ground, wondering aloud "Tink.. we'll get da pig tahnigh?.. Don't wanna build ah pen.."

Gabi spun around when she heard her name being called. She had not been expecting anyone to come looking for her here, which was part of the reason that she liked coming here so much because she didn't have to worry about being disturbed. It was a nice sanctuary from her daily duties. When she turned around, she noticed a tiny female goblin come rushing into the forge. It was Kittim, and she looked like she had gotten herself all worked up about something.

"Hey, what is it? What's going on?" Gabi asked when Kittim grabbed her arm. Then when she picked up something about Nabi and raiders, her ears perked and her heart skipped a beat. "Slow down. What exactly are you saying? Did something happen to Nabi? Is she hurt? And what is all of this about a pig?"

@Zanderkvothe@Jangel13

@Zanderkvothe@Pandalope

Olric shrugged ands said "not since this morning" he admitted when her sister came asking for a change of pace and went hunting. Soon another young female came in and she was spouting jibberish. I Think she is just telling you what I know about your sister glowing on the raid and sobering about her finding a pig during a hunt. Though for the life of me I can't be sure

@Jangel13@Zanderkvothe

"What?" Gabi spun around to face Olric when he spoke. Her eyes opened wide and she felt her stomach tighten at the thought of Nabi out there raiding another goblin tribe. What the heck was she thinking? Why did she always have to make such stupid and rash decisions? "She went on a raid? Why would she do that? Doesn't she know that females are not supposed to do things like that? Especially females like her who have no experience in hunting or fighting at all. I can't believe this . . ."

@Pandalope@Jangel13


Her fingers snapped and she pointed at Olic, noding her head she turned to Gabi, "T-that, near bout. Yer sister-oh- came back with a.. raiding party, an one of em is hurt bad." She mannaged a few more deep breaths, and pulled at rope and hook she ever had wrapped round her shoulder. There's rat sniffed a scrape on her knee and the ran off to sniff round the base of the furnace, seemingly undaunted by the heat or larger mammal precense.
Kittim crossed her legs, letting go of Gabi. " There were only four of them what wenr on de raid, see? An' after coming back two gents left to get some kinda fruit to heal one of the others. Odds being what they are, and yer sis being as she is. . Thought - well-" she looked abbashed, watching the farmer worry. "If it were her and I didn't fetch ya..

Gabi listened closely to everything that Kittim told her, feeling like she had a pretty good idea what happened now, with the exception of one very important detail that she wasn't a hundred percent sure about. She placed her hands on the younger goblin's shoulders and then looked her right in the eyes. "So it wasn't Nabi that got hurt then? Right?"

@Zanderkvothe@Jangel13

@Pandalope@Jangel13


Kittim leaned away from Gabi wide eyes darting from to the corrners as she searched her memory. "Ah, um- " She refocused, her face scrunching up in uncertainty.
She shrugged.
"Gabi, I got no way to figure that." Both palms came up in appology, l " One o two things, either she's a successful raider now, or she's damseling it out under the shaman's eye. Thought ya should see her either way. I'd dig a trench through dragon dookie ta find Kadim if he was sitting so." The appologetic concern fled from her face as an amuseing revelation hit her. Her crooked teeth bit her lip and she snickered, "Course mosta de stories like dis end in a mating, kehehe"

@Zanderkvothe@Jangel13

Gabi's face fell when Kittim admitted that she didn't know whether it was Nabi who was hurt or not. "Oh no . . ." Her knees suddenly felt weak and she had to steady herself against the wall to prevent from falling over. "I have to go. I have to go to her. Can you lead me there?" she asked Kittim impatiently. Then she looked over her shoulder at Olric. "And can you come with me? I'll feel better if you're with me."

@Pandalope@Zanderkvothe

Olric listened to it all as the new female explained that Gabi sister may or may not be the one in trouble. Olric wished he could deduce what the girl was saying since he could barely understand her. When Gabi asked if he could come he nodded and went to grab a sword one that he made himself with his own name etched into the blade letting others know it belonged to him. He didn't feel safe without a weapon on hand. He then went over to Gabi wrapping her arm over his shoulder to help steady her as he said "of course, if it helps I will do what I can" he offered

@Pandalope@Jangel13

As the mother-to-be buckled the small goblin yelped in alarm, rolling up to her feet hands stretched in case Gabbi toppled. Ahuhh uf - of course, why I came running!" She clicked her tounge and the rat came running back, it took hold of the hem of her tiny dress struggling till it's rodent hands found the rope. She absent mindedly pet the brown furball, while staring at the sword.
Were those some kinda runes? Did the blacksmith have a magic sword?! Maybe Kadim was right to fear Olric. (Though he'd never admit it.)
The two adults stood more than a head taller than Kittim, still she tentatively inched around in front of them as if expecting one, or both, to topple, ready to (attemp) hold them up.
"Ya got 'er oldie, OliOli?" She asked as they moved.

@Zanderkvothe@Jangel13

"Alight," Gabi was glad to have Olric there to steady her. "Let's go, Kittim, lead the way to where Nabi is. Please." Following the little goblin, she walked with one hand on her lower back and the other on the budding bump between her hips, allowing herself to lean into Olric a little as she walked. Partly to help her, and partly because she wanted to.

@Searat@Stekkmen

Taurl looked at the massive treant and wondered for a moment what he had gotten himself into. Climbing a tree was no problem for him, given how he was used to spending time in the woods and how his feet had toughened up to the point that rough bark barely bothered him at all. The fact that it was sentient and mobile meant that it probably wouldn't take kindly to someone picking fruit from its body. Still, his friend needed it badly, so there was no choice.

He squatted down behind some bushes and spoke to Bok, keeping his voice down.

"Alright, listen up, Bok. I can climb that thing and get the fruit, but I need you to cause a distraction. Once I start running away from the treant, it means that I have the fruit and you should follow after me. Understand?"

@Zanderkvothe@Pandalope

Who are you calling old kid?" He said with a smirk as he helped Gabi in walking her after the small female. He started to wonder if the little female was still just a younglings. If so that would explain her small stature and might explain the way she talked. For now olric focused on keeping Gabi safe and upright as she walked.