My eyes snap open to total darkness. All these violent vibrations in the mud nearby must have awoken me. What a strange dream. Where has my wonderful teacher gone off to? If the dreams don’t sing, then what use are they? Rubbish. Although, I suppose they do provide an insight into the big ones’ behavior. Properly understanding their psychology will certainly be an asset when it comes to skillfully betraying them later.

  Calmly swimming my way to the surface, I lift myself out, shake off the excess mud, and then re-adorn all my leathers, cloak, and pack. Lastly, the pot goes back on top of my head for safe keeping. It’s too awkward when attached anywhere else. Really must find the time to repair all these. Tch, my education ventures have distracted me for far too long.

  Lying facedown nearby, gasping, and grasping tightly at the mud, I discover that Ha’koff has also made it up. Oh good, he must have figured out not to breathe during his submersion this time. It’s really a lesson that one only needs once. The fact that the mud breathes for you isn’t exactly obvious. Can’t blame any of us during the panic of our first time. It’s as if some distant, reflex memory demands that of the young. You’re alive, so open your eyes and breath.

  “Agob gud?” I casually ask, checking in on Ha’koff.

  “Wat?” he explosively spurts, spasmodically repositioning his head to see who’s speaking. “Wat? Wat wat? Non spak. Non! Wat?!”

  Ah yes, a new babe’s first experience with our limited speech. Why, it feels like only yesterday that I was raging against that very same frustration. First, you fail at simple expression. Then you start a big forest fire in a furious rebellion. Eventually comes peaceful acceptance and choosing to live within your tiny limitations. After all, we all have limitations, and these are uniquely ours. It makes us special, not stunted.

  Better watch after Ha’koff to assure that he doesn’t do something as wildly stupid during his adjustment period as I did. He’s a second mud now, which may help with his adaptation? Without having experienced it, I can’t say. Also, my instinct to enact a buddy system wasn’t wrong. In fact, it’s imperative! However, the first day’s experience absolutely needs to be rethought. Maybe shackles would’ve helped him to not cast himself from the pit and into the void? Oh!

  Taking off my pack, I riffle through my belongings to locate the extra leathers, a knife, and other assorted tools. Cutting a series of long strips as I would for the pouch straps, I then join them all together with my adhesive potion. On one end, I leave a split pair of the straps that can be tied together into a lovely collar.

  Perfect! Creeping slowly towards Ha’koff, I hold my body low with my hands out and speak soothingly to him.

  “Gud Agob. Gud gud. Non gew. Gud gud. Non gew…”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  The severely agitated goblin doesn’t move an inch, clinging tighter and tighter to the mud as if terrified of being spontaneously flung back out into the void at any moment. His bloodshot eyes desperately lock onto mine, meticulously following every tiny shuffling motion in his direction. Don’t run, little one. I’ll protect you.

  Slowly reaching down, I carefully tie together the straps of the collar snugly around his neck. Tying the other end tightly onto my belt, I proudly stand up tall in triumph.

  “Gud! Agob Ha’koff,” I declare, pointing at him and then myself. “Gob Gok. Agobs gew. Tak fud. Awk!”

  Tugging at the leash, I head towards the gangway. However, Ha’koff resists, stubbornly dragging while still lying prone. Tutting at his foolishness, I bend over and carefully pry his fingers free from the mud. At first, he anxiously objects, frantically trying to re-dig his little hand holds. After repeatedly swatting at his hands and forcing him to stand, he sullenly relents and timidly gets up to his feet.

  It’s slow going, but I finally managed to get him to crawl along the gangway behind me. Every now and then he’d panic after accidentally looking down. Or up or left or right, really. However, a few tugs on the leash and calm words gets him to set his eyes back on me so that we can make more progress again.

  Back on the mound, the locals have all returned while we slept. However, they’re no longer lounging anywhere near my big circle. I guess you can only watch the sparring for so long before it gets boring. Wonder what the new game will be? No, no, I promised Ha’koff food. Let's go up top first.

  There’s already a few goblins up there waiting when we arrive. I recognize Aieek, Hiss, and Urk, but oddly they all shy away from me to the opposite side of the stone circle. Maybe they’re tired and don’t want to talk? Although, didn’t they just wake up from resting? Regardless, there’s a permanent buddy of my own physically tied to my belt now, so I don’t technically need them anymore.

  Turning to face Ha’koff, I give him a big, toothy smile. Cowering in terror at the sudden display, he shrinks down into a tiny squat and covers his head with his hands. Oh well. Add proper social etiquette to the list of things to teach.

  The portal’s light appears, and the precious food of heaven falls down from the sky. Fresh meat, always delicious. The others viciously descend on the feast immediately, ferociously tearing everything apart in the usual fashion. However, Ha’koff only peeks through his fingers, watching in horror at the rabid mayhem.

  No, no, no, this won’t do. Trotting over to pile and dragging my companion, I grab a smaller piece of meat and hand it directly to him.

  “Fud,” I declare, pointing to the flesh. “Tak een. Gud.”

  Taking another chunk for myself, I slowly chomp on it to make it clear. Smiling at him again, I clearly affirm this to be the proper behavior. This is good, buddy. You should do it too!

  Ha’koff stares at the bloody piece of meat in his hands, dampened eyes reflecting the deep and twisted existential crisis occurring within. Is he resisting the mud’s urges? Good! These guys get absolutely crazy when only surrendering to it all the time. Moderation is key!

  However, the conflict ending ambiguously, Ha’koff falls flat onto his stomach, making muffled, sad noises directly into the dirt. At least he’s become much more comfortable with the mud. Have to take the small victories that we’re given.

  Wondering what to do next, I scratch at the back of my head with the leftover bone in my hand. Such a handy tool. It hurts when I do this with a dagger. Wait no, that’s not right. This is hurting too. It burns? Ow! What’s happening?!