It was a nice day, the sun was bright, the forest quiet, the chief was not in one of his moods, all in all.

  [Kow] “A perfect time to hunt and check the traps with Las and Has, they both gotten pretty close this days, a small getaway with them and i can get me some more favors”

  Kow was a normal sized Kobold, no matter what the evidence of the contrary said, with greenish skin and a very rounded appearance, that gave him an almost ‘Cute’ look, that he exploited with all of his sharp wit.

  As a seasoned hunter of the Tribe, and one of the best combatant’s they had, Kow had a lot of privileges that even the Chief could not take away, one of them being his freedom to roam.

  *Kow walked around the small tribe, looking for his two few true companions, another two misfits*

  “Where is that big lug ? … I still can’t understand how something that big can be silent …”

  [Kow] -Tik, have you seen Has ?-

  Random kobold NPC that will probably never appear again

  [Tik] -Has ? … i saw him going to the forest with that lassy of his, both were going to collect fruits and herbs, you know the drill, Chief said that the big lug was eating too much again, so he needed to find his own food -

  Kow nodded, a frown on his face and a quicker spring on his steps.

  [Kow] -Tanks Tik, will find some nice crickets to pay ya back-

  *Tik waved a claw at him*

  It was a common occurrence, both for Kow and for Has.

  Kow would always pay someone back, no matter how small the help given, the Kobold with the Bold title hated someone having leverage over him, so he made sure to always pay back even the smallest of favors.

  And the Chief would always pick on Has, afraid that the Young Gigant of a Kobold would dethrone him and his sons in the future via sheer size, not that it mattered for Kow.

  Kow walked out of the Hill where the village was located and got to the forest, going in a well known path where he was sure to find his two companions.

  And to find them he did.

  The Forest Groove was a small Valley filled with all manner of trees bearing Fruits and Nuts, a perfect place to collect food for the Village, but there was only one small problem, the Kobolds weren't the only ones that knew of the place.

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  [Kow] -LAS, BEHIND-

  *Mana flowed from his center towards his arms and bow, his claws digging a small wound in his paw, a thin line of blood took place of a Arrow nocked in his bow, and in the span of a single heartbeat, Kow was shooting a deadly arrow with pinpoint precision*

  The skill that made him feared in the Tribe, the HeartBeat Shoot.

  The line of blood flew true, strucking a Tiger in the throat mid lunge. It dropped to the ground missing the small female kobold and losing a lot of blood, it was preparing to flee, when a Tree branch smacked its cranium, finishing it for good.

  Around them, other critters got back to taking what they needed from the Groove and moving out, other predators interested in the Fight stepped back, wary and looking for easier marks.

  From the Grooves ground, grass started to grow into the Tigers wound and slowly pull him in, the Groove taking its due.

  *Kow approached the pair, a preoccupied look on his face*

  [Kow] -Las, what did I taught you ? … -

  *Kow gave the sheepish female a slap on the head*

  -Always look behind, this big lug deals with the front-

  [Has] -Come on now boss, she was helping me deal with the damn geese, i could feel they getting in my head … -

  The Big kobold holding a thick tree branch tried to explain, only to get ‘the look’ from his boss.

  *Has sighted and bowed his head*

  *Kow, now with his paws in range, delivered a sounding smack on the presented head*

  [Kow] -Ouch … did you learn how to keep that passive hardening up ? This was supposed to hurt you, not ME-

  *Kow said shaking his paws with mirth*

  *Has got up and puffed his chest a bit, smile on his face*

  [Has] -You got it boss, she helped me out figuring how to do it with less focus-

  *Has looked at Las like the love stuck fool he was*

  [Las] -You were close, i just gave you the final push, i didn't do that much, you were already perfecting it, you just needed to not think and let the mana flow-

  *Las looked back at Has, the same look on her face*

  [Kow] -I’m sure that a personal intimate touch helped him figure it out how to make himself harder without thinking about it-

  *Kow joked, expecting the same back and forth as always, but when the silence stretched, he could only open and close his mouth, speechless, seeing both blushing brightly*

  [Kow] -Wait, are you serious ? … that’s what made you figure it out ?!-

  *Kow gave himself a slap on the face and a loud groan*

  [Kow] -Did you guys get our meal ?-

  *Las raised a bag, trying not to look Kow in the face*

  *Seeing Las raising a small stomach bag that was appearing to be filled, Kow nodded*

  [Kow] -Alright, we got the day out, so let’s check that river where we put that fish trap and relax a bit, last moon was murder on us, the Bastard put us through the ringer against the goblins, bt i got us a hefty deal out of that, starting today, no Village duties for the next Week.-

  *Kow puffed his chest, and bowed to his audience, said audience, used to his antics, gave him the applause he was looking for*

  [Kow] -Thank you, thank you, and hey, you both don't worry, I'll figure something out alright ?-

  *Kow said with in a less joking tone*

  Last week was the prelude of the war that was long brewing between the Village and the Goblins close by, nothing that could be done, both Chiefs did not see eye to eye, which made sense seeing that both were basically the same person but of a different race, warlords trying to grab as much power as they could.

  [Kow] “I need to find more people … maybe some of the greenskins also want an out ? … something to look out for”

  [Las & Has] -We know boss-

  *Both looked at Kow with a face full of trust, one that warmed the heart of the Bold Kobold, but at the same time filled it with dread*

  [Kow] -I’m great like that, i know-

  “I have to figure something out and soon, I'm almost out of ideas and with just the three of us, there is no way we can find another safe place … but the Village won't be safe and I'm not keen on my chances against the Big Bastard …”

  *Deciding to think about it with a fresh head, Kow waved for his colleagues to follow him, his sharp senses and his developed danger sense making sure that the walk on the forest was a pleasant one*

  Hey, another bigger(ish) chapter, is almost like … I'm getting better at this with practice, who knew ?

  Quick note, I'm still not sure where I'm taking this story … at all, still winging it.