Dirk and Felix stepped out of the cave and into the clearing, positioning themselves side-by-side with their backs to the entrance. The dank scent of damp earth and decaying leaves filled the air as the two adventurers faced the goblin gang and the snarling mountain lion, weapons at the ready.
Drawing himself up to his full height, the bard cleared his throat, the sound echoing slightly in the stillness, and delivered an impromptu limerick with surprising vigor:
"Though goblins surround us today,
And a mountain lion blocks our way,
We'll fight with such might,
Put these vermin to flight,
For heroes we are, come what may!"
Dirk's eyes lit up at his cousin's poetic declaration. A rare smile cracked across his stubbled face.
"Bugger me sideways, cousin. That's more inspiring than your usual pile of horse ploppings." He twirled the spiked head of the flail, the weight of it building momentum like a drunk parrot working up the courage to ask a hippogriff to dance. "You know what might help more than your fancy words? That grease spell of yours. Slick up the ground underfoot."
Felix nodded, reaching for the components in his pouch. "A fine idea that might turn the tide, with slippery ground they can't stride."
Before the bard could begin the incantation, Wolf Boy's patience snapped. With a feral snarl that started deep in his chest, the small half-breed sprang forward, knife clutched in his tiny fist. He darted between Dirk's legs and galloped straight toward the nearest goblin.
"Balls of a bear!" Dirk shouted as he charged after, moving like a charging rhino defending its territory. "The mutt's inspired too! Cover my back, he's going to get himself killed!"
***
Wolf Boy's feral charge caught more than Dirk and Felix by surprise. The goblins hesitated, momentarily confused by the small half-breed rushing toward them with a knife and murder in his eyes. The air thickened with the sweet stench of sweat and fear as the mountain lion's rider barked commands in their guttural language, spurring his minions forward.
Dirk watched as the canine lad ducked under the first goblin's wild swing and slashed his knife across the creature's knee. The splatter of blood hitting leaves like sprinkling rain met his ears as the goblin hopped on one foot, howling in pain, a sharp and desperate sound, as Wolf Boy darted past to slash again at another target.
"Well, I'll be damned," Dirk muttered, a new understanding dawning. The boy wasn't just some wild child; he was a natural-born fighter with the ferocity of a wolf pack behind every strike. His small size made him nearly impossible for the clumsy goblins to hit as he weaved between them, slashing and biting.
"Felix! The boy's a berserker! We can use this!"
Without waiting for his cousin's response, Dirk stepped into the gap with shield leveled and swung down his flail to smash the hopping goblin to the ground. He positioned himself to prevent the goblins from surrounding Wolf Boy, who continued his frenzied assault.
"Come on, you festering piles of troll snot!" Dirk bellowed, stomping his boot into a goblin's face, splattering its nose flat as a dire rat stuck on the bottom of a storm giant's boot as he drove its head into the dirt. "Your mothers were so ugly even orcs wouldn't touch them!"
The goblin leader screeched commands from atop his mountain lion, pointing at Dirk.
"That's right, focus on me, you rat-faced toad licker!" Dirk taunted, bashing another goblin with his shield, a dislodged tooth flung through the air. He glanced at Wolf Boy, who had just hamstrung another enemy. The boy's eyes met his for a brief moment—wild, fierce, but unmistakably intelligent.
In that instant, Dirk realized the truth. The lad wasn't some burden they'd picked up. He was a warrior who deserved their protection and a respectable fighter who'd lost everything but still dared to face his enemies.
"Stay close, lad!" Dirk called out, swinging his flail in a wide arc. "We'll make these lil buggers pay for what they did to your family!"
They had managed to thin the horde by a few rather quickly in the rush.
Felix maneuvered into position at Dirk's back, rapier drawn and ready. A goblin tried to flank them, but the slender bard's blade flashed, opening a crimson line across the creature's chest.
Brandishing the thin blade left and right to force the ugly foes back, the bard called out, "I've got your back, cousin, these goblins think they're cunning, but as soon as we kill enough, the rest will go running!"
Wolf Boy darted between two attackers, ducked low, and sank his teeth directly into a goblin's groin. The creature released an ear-splitting shriek, dropping its weapon and clutching at the wounded area.
Dirk roared with laughter that echoed through the clearing like thunder in a cave. "That's the way! Right in the family jewels! He'll be singing higher than a pixie with its arse on fire!"
"Perhaps we should not encourage such unsanitary behavior," Felix cautioned, kicking at a goblin's ducking head, knocking it backwards. "Those creatures haven't bathed in years, I do fear their flavor!"
"Good point," Dirk admitted, grimacing as he swung his flail upwards to connect under another goblin's chin, the impact knocked its head nearly off as its body flipped backwards. "Probably tastes like rancid swamp arse. Maybe find someplace cleaner to bite, boy!"
Dirk's flail whirled back through the air, its heavy spiked ball smashing into a goblin's chest with a sickening crunch. Blood sprayed across the clearing's grass as the creature crumpled. That made six down, but too many remained.
"We're exposed out here!" Dirk shouted, switching the flail's handle to hold it with his shield hand. Then he reached down with his freed right hand to grab Wolf Boy by the back of the ragged hide covering his loins. The child snarled and thrashed as Dirk hoisted him up, dangling him like a misbehaving puppy.
"Back to the cave mouth! Felix, stay behind me!" Dirk bellowed, backpedaling toward the entrance while keeping his shield leveled and brandishing the snarling frenzy with a knife.
To Dirk's surprise, the half-wolf child didn't fight against the manhandling. Instead, the feral child kept slashing with his stolen knife at any goblin that came within reach, his small body twisting with unexpected coordination while suspended in Dirk's grasp.
"Look at that! He understands tactics quite neat," Felix remarked, parrying a goblin's crude spear. "A clever little warrior, even when not on his feet!"
Wolf Boy growled in response, his knife finding a goblin's eye as Dirk continued falling back.
***
Their fighting retreat proved effective, the sounds of clattering weapons and the frantic shouts of goblins fading behind them. With his back to the cave entrance, Dirk set Wolf Boy down beside him, the cool breeze carrying the scent of moss and damp stone.
"Stay here, pup. We fight together."
Wolf Boy growled his understanding, crouching in a fighting stance with his bloodied knife. The coppery smell of blood lingered in the air around him, mingling with the earthy scent of the ground beneath them.
Felix positioned himself just behind them, kneeling inside the cave mouth, watching as the goblin leader barked harsh commands at his troops. The smaller goblins scrambled to form a tighter wedge, preparing for a coordinated charge to rush the defenders all at once.
"I've got something for this, just keep them at bay," Felix muttered, his fingers beginning to trace complex patterns in the air. "While I prepare this spell of mine, without delay."
Dirk nodded, crouching with his shield interposed against the rush. "Make it quick, cousin."
The bard's voice rose in a rhythmic chant as arcane energy gathered around his fingertips. With a final gesture, he released the spell toward the forest floor directly in front of Dirk and Wolf Boy.
A slick, translucent substance materialized across the ground just as the goblins charged. Their momentum carried them forward onto the magically greased surface, where their feet immediately lost traction. Goblins toppled like bowled-over wine bottles, weapons clattering as they crashed into each other, flailing wildly.
"Well done, Felix!" Dirk shouted, his face splitting into a savage grin. "Slicker than orc snot! You two finish these grease-trapped maggots while they're down!"
Felix managed a theatrical bow, his feathered hat sweeping low. "Twas a simple spell, no cause to distress. Yet it works quite well, just look at the mess!"
Wolf Boy's eyes gleamed with predatory delight at the sight of the helpless goblins. He snarled and darted forward to leap onto a struggling goblin's back; the added weight pushed its face into the greased dirt. The boy stabbed the wicked knife into the squished goblin's neck a few times, ending its struggles.
Dirk's attention shifted to the goblin leader, who remained mounted on the snarling mountain lion at the edge of the magical slick. The beast paced nervously, refusing to step onto the strange substance while its rider barked furious commands at its slipping and sliding troops.
"You two handle those pathetic turds," Dirk called over his shoulder. "I'll take care of the big bastard."
He skirted the perimeter of the patch of greasy fluid coating the ground, shield raised and flail twirling in loose, deadly circles. The mountain lion's ears flattened against its skull as Dirk approached, its massive paws kneading the earth in anticipation.
The goblin leader sneered, brandishing the gleaming broadsword over its head; the large sword looked to be at least as tall as the ugly one wielding it. He spurred his mount forward, trying to flank Dirk and catch him off guard.
Dirk pivoted, keeping his shield between himself and the beast's claws. The mountain lion lunged, powerful muscles bunching beneath its tawny coat. Dirk barely managed to block its slashing paw with his shield, the impact nearly knocking him off his feet.
Behind him, Felix dispatched fallen goblins with precise thrusts of his rapier while Wolf Boy leaped from one to another, using them like stepping stones, a small feral whirlwind of stabbing and slashing abandon. The goblins' attempts to rise only sent them sprawling again on the greased ground, making them easy targets.
The mountain lion's claws raked across Dirk's shield, leaving deep gouges in the wood. He stumbled backward, barely keeping his footing as the beast's weight crashed against him. The goblin leader cackled, swinging his oversized broadsword in a vicious arc toward Dirk's exposed shoulder.
"Rutting son of a goat's arse!" Dirk snarled, trying to twist away and avoid the blade. He was only partially successful as the sword managed to slice through his leather armor, drawing a thin line of blood.
Behind him, Felix and Wolf Boy made quick work of the fallen goblins, their bodies piling up in the greased area. The wolf child moved with surprising efficiency, his small knife finding vulnerable spots with uncanny precision.
But Dirk couldn't spare them a glance. The mountain lion circled, yellow eyes fixed on him with predatory focus. Its rider yanked harshly on improvised reins, preparing for another charge.
Dirk adjusted his grip on his flail, blood trickling down his arm. He was hurt, but the wound wasn't deep.
This fight was far from over.
Dirk's patience evaporated like morning dew. The mountain lion's yellow eyes tracked him, muscles tensing for another pounce. Instead of retreating further, Dirk let out a bellow that would have made a berserker proud.
"Eat shield, you overgrown alley cat!"
He charged forward, shield first, catching the lion squarely in its snarling face with all the subtlety of a drunken ogre at a gnome tea party. The impact sent shockwaves up his arm, but the beast's head snapped back with a yowl of pain. In the same fluid motion, Dirk swung his flail in a vicious arc, the weighted ball whistling through the air before connecting with the goblin leader's side with a sickening crunch.
The goblin flew sideways, dislodged from his feline mount, and landed in an ungraceful heap several feet away. His oversized broadsword clattered to the ground beside him.
Dirk spun away from the disoriented lion, keeping his shield pressed against its face to block its vision while pivoting toward the fallen goblin leader. The creature was struggling to rise, one arm hanging uselessly at its side where the flail had shattered bones.
"Back to the pit you crawled from," Dirk snarled, bringing the spiked head down with brutal force. The goblin's skull split open with a wet crack, ending its miserable existence instantly.
The mountain lion, now riderless, backed away with a rumbling growl. It crouched warily, tail lashing as it reassessed this unexpectedly dangerous prey.
Dirk bent his knees, taking a wider and lower stance with his shield raised, ready to counter any attack. From behind him came the distinctive crack of Felix's whip, the leather tip slicing across the big cat's flank. The beast yowled in pain, turning its head to face this new threat.
"That's right, you mangy beast, there's plenty more in the least!" the bard called out, readying another strike.
The mountain lion's ears flattened against its skull as it suddenly became aware of Wolf Boy approaching from its other side. The feral child moved with predatory grace, bloodied knife clutched in his small hand, eyes gleaming with the promise of violence.
Faced with enemies on three sides, the mountain lion's survival instinct finally overrode its aggression. With a final snarl that sounded like a complaint about poor service, it turned and bounded away into the forest, disappearing among the trees faster than gold coins at a thieves' convention.
***
The mountain lion's retreat marked the end of the battle. Dirk wiped blood from his flail with a grimace as the metallic scent of blood filled his nostrils. Felix surveyed the scattered goblin corpses with distaste. Wolf Boy darted between the bodies, sniffing and pawing each to make sure they were all dead, the smell of blood and entrails hanging in the air.
"Well, let's search them. Maybe they have something of value for our troubles," Dirk winced in pain from the injury to his shoulder as he started checking the pockets and belt pouches of the dead leader.
Felix knelt beside a fallen goblin and extracted the contents from a similar pouch on its belt. "Not bad for a day's work, though the smell's an unwelcome perk."
They gathered the spoils—several pouches of mixed silver and gold coins, a tarnished silver bracelet, and a small jade figurine that Felix tucked carefully into his pack. Wolf Boy followed them around curiously, not quite understanding what they found so interesting.
"Hold still, you stubborn brute, your struggle bears no fruit," Felix muttered, examining the gash on Dirk's shoulder. He placed his palm over the wound, murmuring arcane words that made his fingertips glow with soft blue light. The flesh knitted together under his touch, leaving only a faint pink line.
"This is the last of my magic for today," Felix sighed, moving to tend Wolf Boy's scratches. "These wounds weren't deep, just messy, I must say. You're lucky they didn't hit something vital; or we'd be in trouble, now that's no recital!"
Wolf Boy squirmed under Felix's healing touch but seemed to understand its purpose, growing still as the magic sealed his cuts.
Meanwhile, Dirk retrieved the goblin leader's massive broadsword, testing its weight with an approving nod. Wolf Boy watched with undisguised fascination; his bloody knife still clutched in his small fist.
"You want this instead, pup?" Dirk asked, noticing the boy's interest.
Wolf Boy dropped his knife and reached eagerly for the sword, which was nearly as tall as he was.
"Careful now," Dirk said, offering the blade hilt first to the boy's eager hands. He removed the scabbard from the goblin leader's body and adjusted the straps to fit Wolf Boy's small frame. "This'll keep it from cutting your legs off when you walk."
The gentleness in Dirk's hands surprised even himself as he fastened the makeshift harness across Wolf Boy's back.
"You fought well today," Dirk admitted gruffly, ruffling the boy's tawny hair. "Got the heart of a warrior, even if you're no taller than a gnome."
Felix smiled at his cousin's unexpected affection. "We could teach him our ways, you know, help him be both wolf and man, and grow."
They watched as Wolf Boy examined the goblin leader's body; he circled it twice, sniffing cautiously. Then, with a triumphant yip, he lifted his leg and urinated on the corpse, marking his victory in the most primal way possible.
"By a fairy's teeny arse," Dirk chuckled, turning to his cousin with an expression as bewildered as a centaur in dancing shoes. "We need to housebreak this cub before we take him anywhere civilized."
Felix chuckled and slung his pack over his shoulder. "I'll train him in table manners, so refined and proper, unlike your etiquette to bed an innkeeper's daughter."
"Start with 'don't pee on boots' and 'don't sniff strangers' crotches,'" Dirk muttered, adjusting his armor with the delicacy of a cave troll arranging flowers. "Those lessons might actually be useful in town, unless we want to be as welcome as a skunk at a perfume shop."
Despite his complaints, Dirk's eyes softened as he noticed Wolf Boy sitting on his haunches expectantly looking up at him.
"Come on then," Dirk said, nodding towards the forest the way they came. "Town's still a few hours away. We'll find you some proper clothes and food that isn't raw goblin."
Wolf Boy yipped in agreement, falling into step between his new companions as they headed back into the forest.
After they returned to the road and cleared the woods, the setting sun painted the sky in brilliant oranges and purples, casting long shadows ahead of them on the forest path.
Every few minutes, Wolf Boy would drop to all fours, scampering ahead to investigate an interesting scent or sound. But he always returned, walking upright between Dirk and Felix, his small chest puffed out in an unmistakable imitation of the muscular warrior's confident swagger.
Felix caught Dirk's eye over the boy's head and smiled. Dirk shrugged but couldn't hide the small grin tugging at his lips. The unlikely trio continued down the path, silhouettes merging into one as they walked toward town—and whatever adventures awaited them there.