Chapter 45

The idyllic glade was warmed pleasantly by the summer sun, golden light bathing the air and highlighting the multitude of colourful flowers peeking from between the blades of grass. Azure winged butterflies flitted from flower to flower.

A wobbly clawed foot lifted into the air and slowly, carefully, came back down.

Red looked down at his foot in amazement. “I- I did it!”

The sheep girl holding his clawed hand up in the air looked down kindly at the shaky legged Kobold who was on the verge of collapse for what was perhaps the twelfth time.

“Okay, now you have to take more than one step you know. I don’t think stepping only one foot forward is going to be very useful.”

The Kobold gave her a frightened look, the very idea of taking another step! Madness! But then he grit his teeth, leaned forward and lifted his other foot. His foot slowly sailed through the air before coming down with a carefully placed step. Red let out a gasp of delight. Then he made the mistake of paying attention to the sky once again, the endless blue void of the sky framed by ten-mile tall clouds that slowly sailed through the air like unimaginably vast galleons.

He squeaked and his legs turned to jelly. Lyra grunted as she caught the suddenly floppy limbed Kobold.

“Hah, he’s just a little scaredy lizard, he can’t do anything!”

Lyra turned and glared at Opal who had spoken up. Only the Goblin’s face was visible, tucked below Rain’s arm where he sat cross legged, her entire body wrapped in wolf with only her head sticking out.

“Oh you’re one to talk, you can’t even leave Rain’s lap!”

“Yes I can, I totally can!”

Lyra squinted at the Goblin. “I don’t believe you. Goblins are all cowards.”

Opal gasped. “No they’re not!”

Lyra gestured at the ground. “Well, care to prove otherwise?”

Opal eyed the grass, then her eyes slowly shifted upward to the sky. She whimpered and pulled back into Rain so that only her amber eyes were visible between Rain’s black fur.

“That’s what I thought. Goblins are known as dungeon rats for a reason, they scamper off and hide whenever there is even the slightest hint of danger. It’s no wonder Half-goblins have such an easy time dominating you.”

Opal’s eyebrows drew together and her eyes narrowed as she spoke, the only part visible of her. The Goblin became increasingly agitated toward the end until with a yell she burst from Rain’s fur to stand on the ground and point an accusing finger at the sheep girl.

“You don’t know anything! Gobbo’s are one of the top tier monsters of the dungeon, we just get unlucky! We’re- we’re really strong!” said Opal, her voice quavering a little.

Lyra put a hand on her hip. “Unless you intend to walk around up here the entire time wearing a blindfold you are going to have to take your hand off your eyes. Yes, no, now your eyes are closed. Open them.”

“I ... I can do that.”

She stood there awkwardly, eyes still closed.

“Come on little Goblin, going to be a little scaredy cat forever?”

“You’re afraid of everything! Shut up!”

“Well? I’m waiting.”

Opal scowled and made a rude gesture at Lyra. After a moment she cracked an eyelid, then slowly opened her eyes. An expression of triumph crossed her face. Then she looked up. Her knees buckled and her breathing hitched. With a cry she turned and dived back into Rain’s arms, curling up in his lap and returning back to where she was with just her eyes visible. She glared daggers at Lyra who had a hand over her mouth trying not to laugh.

As the sun crawled across the sky Red and Opal gradually began to get used to the outside world and the blue infinity above, Opal through pure outrage at Lyra’s increasingly pointed taunting and teasing.

By the time the sun was setting Red was frolicking in the grass chasing butterflies while Lyra watched from the shade of the tree. Opal was standing with her hands on her hip, glaring at the sky, daring it to scare her anymore.

A large paw wrapped around the Goblin’s stomach and drew her close. She gasped as Rain put his head next to hers.

“I knew you would conquer it.”

“Was nothing to conquer, I was fine from the start, I just liked how comfy your lap was is all.”

“I do have a very comfy lap, but still, I’m glad you are okay now.”