Four hours into the third day, they found it. For the Kobolds, it was a new cave, a new shelter, but one that smelled of fear and death. Yet, Grimpaw knew better. The fear and death was the stench of Adventurers who had sought Rarity's head and paid the price.

"Stay close behind me. If Rarity sees you before she sees me, she'll treat you as intruders." Grimpaw said to the Eldest, who kept the Younglings from wondering off.

The group of ten entered the cave. It did not take them long to see the first statue. A creature that struck fear into the hearts of all that saw it: an Orc.

The 8 foot beast was frozen in a permanent state of Berserker Rage. Swinging a war club made into a sword by the row of boar tusks that ran down the length of the weapon. The monster's own tusks were not dissimilar as it bared its teeth at an opponent that had long since slain him.

Grimpaw snorted in disgust at the sight of the Orc. To him, they were Adventurers of a different clan, nothing more. "Rarity leaves this one at the entrance to warn those hunting her. To say 'I have killed Orcs, so I can kill you unless you are greater.'"

"The Serpent has carried the world around the sun 100 times since the last Orc crossed the bridge. This Gorgon, she is ancient." The Eldest muttered in fear and respect of the creature responsible for this.

"Rarity was an Elf before she was a Gorgon. Elven lives can be far longer...and their magic far stronger." Grimpaw stated.

"But you saved her once. She has a weakness?" The Eldest asked.

"She says I saved her. In truth, I joined the battle beside her. I don't think she needed my help, but was grateful for it anyway." Grimpaw explained.

The group pressed on. Eventually coming to the true lair of the Gorgon. A great garden littered with numerous statues, some of which were all but swallowed by vines and roses.

Movement caught the group's eye, but what emerged was not a Gorgon...it was something far more frightening.

"GOBLIN!!" shrieked the Eldest as he took up a defensive position between the Younglings and the bat-faced she-beast who scowled angrily at him.

The Goblin's yellow eyes drifted almost lazily from the Eldest to Grimpaw. "I thought I told you to stop bringing strays to Mistress Rarity."

The Gnoll snorted at the comment. "You were the last 'stray' I brought here two years ago."

"I know...it's rude." The Goblin retorted.

The Eldest couldn't believe what he was seeing. Goblins were the devoted servants of the Orcs. Kobold Younglings are told to beware them more so than their masters, as the Orcs cannot fight effectively within a Kobold's cave. And yet, this Goblin appeared to be...friends with Grimpaw...and it spoke Kobold like Grimpaw as well. "You...you know this creature?"

Grimpaw looked down to the Eldest. "Goblins are slaves to Orcs. Humans offered this one and others freedom, but it was a lie. It is not my place to say what humans did."

The Eldest could hear the Goblin snarling now. She did not seem happy that Grimpaw had said what he had and implied more.

Now that he saw the Goblin as more than another Goblin, he realized she looked...different, more swollen in places. Goblins were small and slender creatures, but this one had abnormally large breasts, like those of a human, hidden beneath her leather armor and black fur, it was the same with her buttocks. The Eldest couldn't comprehend why humans would do such a thing or what it meant.

He was torn from his observations by a newcomer. It was her. The Gorgon appeared from a passage to the party's left in a bright white dress offset by a golden trim and a similarly colored veil obscuring her fatal face. "Do behave yourself Rainbow Dash, you know that any friend of Grimpaw is welcome for as long as they need."

The Goblin, Rainbow Dash, bowed her head in reverence. "My apologies Mistress...but you shouldn't concern yourself with creatures Grimpaw leaves behind so he doesn't have to take responsibility for saving their lives."

The Gorgon put a clawed finger on her veiled chin in thought. "Perhaps, but Grimpaw is not a savior, he is an avenger. Do you still wish he would return you home?"

Rainbow Dash let out a snarling laugh. "Hrrraahahahahahahaa, Home? I have a never known a home. My home is a Master's cage. I serve as all Goblins serve, you simply have no need for my service Mistress."

Rarity didn't press the issue further and instead looked to Grimpaw. "So, what brings you, or rather, them here?"

Grimpaw snarled. "Adventurers, they slaughtered all but a single scout and these younglings. He is not ready to lead them. And I do not know where to find another Kobold den."

Rarity smirked. "And if I told you that there was one a week's travel from here?"

Grimpaw shook his head. "Too far, you know that I am hunted."

Rarity snorted in amusement. "As am I Gnoll. We all are, that is life on the Road to Hell."

Grimpaw paused to consider his words when he noticed the Eldest cautiously approached the Gorgon. "...You...Grimpaw...and the Goblin all have the same enchantment? You...speak to us in our tongue?"

Zade was amused by the Eldest's astonishment. "But of course we share the enchantment little one. I'm the one who cast it. Would you like to be enchanted too?"

The Eldest trilled in thought. "...yes."

The Gorgon extended a green scaled hand with inch long slashing claws. Light coursed between the claws before shooting out in the form of a bright ball that splattered against the Eldest like an overripe fruit before the light sunk into his body.

Rarity clapped her hands together. "Now then, I'm sure the little ones are exhausted by now. Let's see if we can't find a place for them to rest."

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. "Alright mutt, you're excused."

Grimpaw snorted and turned to leave. The Eldest stared at him slack jawed. "You're leaving us...already?"

Grimpaw spared a moment to look back at him. "I walk the warpath. Only death awaits at the end of my journey."

The Eldest wanted to say more...but there was nothing more to say. "...Thank you, and good hunting."

Grimpaw bowed his head and resumed his exit...until he stopped, ears up and a hand on his sword.

The blade sprang from its sheath as something burst forth from the cave's entrance and slammed bodily into Grimpaw.

The younglings screeched in fright and the Eldest was quick to corral them behind Rarity and Rainbow Dash, both of whom moved to help Grimpaw with...whatever was attacking him.

More attackers came from the cave, and at last the Eldest knew what was happening. Adventurers!

An Elf and two humans watched as Grimpaw wrestled with the creature they had set upon him. The Elf notched an arrow to his bow, but an inhuman shriek drew his attention...right to Rarity's uncovered face.

The Elf turned to stone in an instant, his expression frozen in shock. The two humans, both sorcerers from the look of them, reacted in unison. One casting a blinding flash of light towards Rarity, and the other placing his hand upon the Elf and, to the Eldest's unfiltered shock, bringing him back to life.

Grimpaw had at last thrown off his attacker. He had thrown it towards Rainbow Dash, and the Goblin wasted no time drawing twin daggers and stabbing the creature numerous times.

The blades had no effect on it and it threw off the offending Goblin before attacking Grimpaw once more. As it did, the Eldest finally realized what, and who this enemy was...it was the Dwarf girl that had assaulted his nest...the one that Grimpaw had killed.

"...Flee deeper. Stay hidden." The Eldest hissed to the younglings as he readied his spear and charged.

Arcane lightning flew between Rarity and the humans as the Eldest ran past them, the Goblin shouted something he didn't hear as he drew closer, and the world appeared to cease to exist but for the Gnoll and Dwarf and the pounding of the Eldest's heart as he pulled back his spear.

The world returned as pain toppled the Kobold head over heel. Looking to the source of the pain, the Eldest found an Elven arrow in his leg.

The Eldest turned his eyes to the mouth of the cave. The Adventurers had poured into the garden proper. The two sorcerers continued their duel with the Gorgon, but the Elf was training another arrow on the Eldest and shaking his head.

The Eldest couldn't believe it, the Adventurer...was showing mercy?

The Elf turned his arrow to Grimpaw. The Eldest shouted a warning, but it was unnecessary. Grimpaw saw the Elf and pulled the Dwarf over his body as the arrow flew.

The arrow pierced the Dwarf's skull and protruded out her eye, but the vengeful undead didn't stop. Rainbow Dash threw one of her knives at the Elf and struck him in the stomach as Rarity managed to throw back the humans with a blast wave.

Beaten and bleeding, the Adventurers fled. Grimpaw howled in hatred as he threw off the Dwarf and tried to pursue them. Immobilis Rarity said in a calm but stern voice as she immobilized the Gnoll and the Dwarf both.

"Release me! I'll have his blood on my teeth!" Grimpaw shouted as he strained against the sorcery holding him in place.

"Calm yourself Grimpaw, they are likely to have traps ready for you." The Gorgon warned.

"I don't care! He must PAAAY!!!" The Gnoll shouted in fury.

"What's the big deal? It's just another wannabe glory hound." Rainbow Dash stated.

Grimpaw, more from exhaustion than rationality, finally calmed himself as he took greedy breaths of air. "...No...that Elf...he is the one who killed my father."

Author's Note

And that is the last of my prewritten chapters. I'm two fifths finished with the next, so that'll be my next update. And yes, my Goblins are not greenskined creatures, but rather hobbit sized bat people. Thought I'd be a little original.

That's all I got for now, I'll see you all next time.