The small squad of four Goblins eventually made their way into the forest. Their guards and weapons were already up and at the ready because they knew they could be attacked at a moment’s notice. Such were the dangers of the Nameless Forest.

  Rick and Dran seeing their approach, began to cautiously make their way over in slow movements from the front in an effort to not startle them.

  The small squad eventually spotted them, and it took a few moments for them to recognize that the two beings in front of them were also Goblins.

  It wasn’t that rare to meet Goblins from neighboring Tribes inside the forest, but it was the sight of Rick’s massive frame that caused them an immense shock.

  It was common knowledge within all of the Tribes in the Plains that all Goblins who evolved to Tier Two, would immediately be taken by the Orcs. A Tier that Rick appeared to be at in their eyes.

  Which is why they all wondered how could there be a Goblin so strong standing right in front of them. Their first thought after that was to assume he evolved in the forest.

  They couldn’t help thinking that he was going to die once he made it back to the Tribe. The thought of him escaping or him not being from the plains didn't even cross their minds once.

  In their minds, it was pointless to escape since Goblins couldn’t survive in the Nameless Forest. That same thought process also unconsciously eliminated the idea of Rick being from somewhere in the forest and not possibly being a Goblin that wasn’t born in the Tribes.

  Eventually, the two sides came face to face, and it was the Maglin, who upon closer inspection, turned out to be a female, who spoke first.

  “You know what awaits you once you return to your Tribe, right?”

  Rick remembered the information told to him by Dran, so it only took a couple of seconds for him to realize what the Maglin in front of him meant with that question.

  And sure enough, his response made all four members of the squad look at him as if he was crazy.

  “That’s no way to greet a fellow Goblin, but my name is Rick. It’d be nice to know yours.”

  “Your right… I apologize for that. My name is Teeja.”

  “That's better. My Tribe is not here. I came a long way from far deeper inside the forest. And thanks to Dran here, I know what you're talking about, but I won’t be stepping foot inside the plains. I’m here now for very different reasons.”

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  “That can't be true now, can it? Do you expect me to believe you really came from inside the forest? We all know Goblins aren’t strong enough to survive for long if they go too deep inside the forest.”

  It was then that Dran started speaking to support Rick’s claim.

  “It's true. He really did come from deeper inside the forest. I am from the plains, and I just happened to find him in the forest. It was then he told me about where he was from.

  “He wasn’t even aware of the plains, let alone to be actually from here.”

  It took more than just a few moments for the squad in front of them to process that information. You can’t blame them. They had gone their entire lives thinking no Tribe of Goblins could survive in the Nameless Forest.

  A life forever under oppression inside the plains was all they knew. No one ever thought of changing that, but there was a Goblin in front of them who did not suffer from the same fate as them.

  It was quite a shock for her and the rest of them to receive, but eventually, the Maglin began speaking again.

  “Okay…let’s say I believe you, and you are not from these plains. What are you doing here? If that TinkGoblin by your side has told you anything about life here, then you should know this is no place for you.”

  “Of course it isn't, and it's no place for you either, or any Goblin anywhere for that matter. No Goblins should live a life of oppression just because we start out a little weaker than other races.

  “You asked what I’m here for. It’s to help all of you escape to a life better than the one you have now and to make the Orcs who caused this regret their decisions.

  “So, whether or not you believe me, let's not waste any time. Go back and bring a representative from your Tribe who can make decisions. Dran and I will wait here.”

  “Listen, I still can’t really wrap my head around the fact that you aren’t from the plains like the rest of us, but I also believe that a fellow Goblin should really have no need to lie to me. So, I'll do as you say. Someone from our Tribe will be here shortly.”

  After she spoke, she immediately left, and the other squad members quickly followed. Dran and Rick just stayed in their position as they watched them leave.

  “In the end, only the Maglin spoke to us the whole conversation, huh?”

  “That’s how it usually goes. Only Maglins and TinkGoblins can speak as well as this from birth. Your type of Goblin won't become proficient speakers until the second evolution, but they usually die soon after.”

  “I see. That will change soon enough. I don’t know when exactly it will change, but I can promise it will.”

  “Hopefully, it does.”

  After their little conversation, Rick and Dran sat in silence as they waited for people from the Tribe to come back. Their wait only lasted for a little under two hours when the same squad of four came back, along with one extra.

  The one extra was another Maglin, except this time it was a male.

  Rick and Dran both stood up as the group got closer, but before they could enter talking distance, the original squad of four broke off and entered the forest at a location not too far from them.

  Only the additional male Maglin actually made their way to Rick and Dran.

  Once the Maglin reached in front of Rick and Dran, he immediately greeted them.

  “You really are a Goblin on his second evolution I see…name is Jala. It’s nice to meet you Rick.”

  Rick waking up in the cave lol It's a bit weird but it works for now.