Chapter 14: Interlude: Kobold

Truth-Seeker ran through the forest, his steps sure on the familiar terrain. Even one of the orc warbeasts would have trouble moving as fast as he did. He was a Grey Lupus Kobold after all, the fastest evolution that he knew of for his lesser Kobold brethren.

And so he practically flew through the forest, leaving barely a trace. The sight of the goblin city brought him a spark of hope, something that had slowly been fading ever since the orcs had discovered his people hiding in the mountains.

He had fought the orcs, seen the devastation they could cause, and when his pack of warriors had all died in front of their might, he’d been the one to hide under the bodies of his fallen brothers while Chief Loklok was informed of the High Goblin Risha.

Now it was up to him to convince his people to join hands with the goblins, to put aside their old beliefs and create an alliance. Truth-Seeker knew that it wouldn’t be easy, but he also knew that if they didn’t, no one would survive the war to come.

He traveled without rest for three days and three nights, only stopping for water and to hunt a small rabbit that he then ate raw.

Eventually he passed the hunting grounds of his people, and returned to his home. Howls sounded out ahead of him, alerting the alphas of his presence.

Truth-Seeker did not stop his running until he was in the cave where the leader of his people rested.

The Kobold leader was a large Black Lupus Kobold, nearly doubling the size of Truth-Seeker. Scars covered his body from the many fights he’d fought to achieve his position. Next to him was a Red Vulpes Kobold. She looked the part of an old fox, her large tail fluffier than his, and her fur sleek. She was the true power behind the Kobold leader, the one who made sure that his power was not questioned by any upstarts.

“Truth-Seeker.” The Kobold Leader said in a growl. Despite his aggressive voice, his tail wagged slightly at the sight of the other kobold.

“Earth-Shaker.” Truth-Seeker greeted the leader, then nodded to the fox. “Sun-Chaser.”

“Where is the rest of your pack?” The Kobold Leader asked, but there was little hope in his voice.

“Slaughtered by the orcs.” Truth-Seeker paused, some of the weight of what had happened settling in before he shook himself. “I alone escaped, and only thanks to Bear-Claw’s protection.” Truth-Seeker barely managed to get the words out, but he continued. He told the leaders of the numbers that the orcs wielded, how thoroughly they were defeated, and the dire situation their people faced. The expressions of his people grew more and more tense as he continued.

He paused as soon as he was sure that he’d gotten the worst of it across.

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“But I have a solution.” Every head turned towards him, including the other pack-leaders who had filtered in as he gave his report. “There are high-goblins who stand against the orcs in the south. They are led by a strong pack leader named Risha, with their help, we could stand strong against the orcs.”

Silence greeted his proclamation.

Eventually, another Black Lupus Kobold stepped forward, his large frame barely smaller than Earth-Shaker’s. “This Risha. Did she have purple eyes and carry a sword?”

Truth-Seeker slowly nodded.

The Black Kobold growled, its ears going back. “This is the same High Goblin who slaughtered Strong-Claw and his pack.”

Truth-Seeker was shocked by the news, then remembered the way she’d looked at him, and her talk of a goblin village that had been attacked by his people. He’d had no knowledge of this attack before she told him, but he suspected that these two things were related. “Strong-Claw attacked a village under her protection.” He guessed, but the look on the Black Kobold’s face confirmed it.

“Is this true?” Sun-Chaser, the fox-like kobold asked.

The Black Kobold hesitated before answering, “He attacked a goblin village that gave the orcs their warbeasts. Do you mean to say that this Risha allies herself with the orcs?”

Truth-Seeker growled. “She does not. Any grievances of yours against the goblins will just get more of our people killed! We cannot win this war on our own.”

Many of the kobolds howled and argued at this, their voices drowning out any kind of conversation until a ball of fire flew between the alphas.

“I see an easy solution.” Sun-Chaser said, her voice quiet. “If you truly believe your words, Truth-Seeker, then you will have no trouble standing as a champion for this… Risha.”

Truth-Seeker had not fully rested in a week’s time, as he pushed himself to first reach the goblins, then to return home. But he knew that he couldn’t back down here.

“I will gladly stand as her champion.” He said.

The Kobolds slowly backed off, leaving just him and the Black Kobold who argued against him. Looking into his eyes, Truth-Seeker slowly came to realize that one of them would not be leaving this fight alive.

Truth-Seeker growled, refusing to back down in front of the larger Kobold.

That was all it took for the wolf to attack.

Truth-Seeker danced around the claws of the other Kobold, his muscles aching as he pushed them once again. But he refused to give up, every wolf that had died for his people, and every pup that watched, relied on him in this moment, and he would not fail them.

The two wolves were familiar with battle, both of them having killed numerous orcs, and their experience showed. Truth-Seeker landed only scratches on the arms of the other kobold as he dodged, knowing that all it would take would be a single hit for Truth-Seeker to be permanently out of the fight.

Truth-Seeker slipped on his own sweat, falling to the ground as a large clawed hand came at him.

The larger Kobold smiled in victory, only for his claws to hit nothing as Truth-Seeker moved faster than any wolf present had ever seen.

He twisted under the clawed hand of his enemy, and leapt at the throat of the Black Kobold. His teeth bit down and he tore out the kobold’s throat, leaping back with what little strength he had in his body.

The Black Kobold fell to the ground, bleeding out. Truth-Seeker spat out the meat in his mouth, and growled, showing his bloody teeth. The wolves around him howled.

“It seems…” Earth-Shaker’s words commanded silence from his people, and even Truth-Seeker’s blood crazed growl quieted. “That we join hands with goblins.”