Long thick fingers emerged from the darkness to slowly wrap around a pair of trees. The trees creaked as the hairy arms, larger around than Orn, came into view. The arms seemed to strain as it dragged the monstrosity in to the light.

The only part of the creature that resembled a goblin was the mouth full teeth hanging open as its pupilless yellow eyes stared forward. Whereas the goblins had spindly necks, their mother’s head seemed to grow straight from the muscled shoulders propelling it forward. As the monster came fully into the light, he could see that it was dragging its grotesquely oversized stomach along the ground. What remained of the lower half it had as a hob was lost to the shadows behind it.

The creature suddenly lurched forward a few feet, stopping perhaps two dozen paces from Orn. The creature slowly released the tress before digging its long nails into the ground. The large hands pulled against the ground moving the creature ever forward. Each time the arms came forward the queen slid slightly forward. Her torso rocked up and down as she moved accompanied by cracking sounds as her bulk broke branches or small trees. Yet even as she stretched forward, her shoulders never fell below the height of a grown man.

Orn swallowed, the hunting knife in his hand seemed a comical weapon to face the creature. Everyone of her nails must be longer than this.

“Orn,” Kao’s voice was strained. “do not give up.”

His limbs were shaking as Kao held him. Even leaning on her he was barely standing. He did not know how long he could conscious, much less keep hold of the knife in his hand.

The queen’s motion stopped a dozen feet away and it stared down at Orn. Her jaw hung limp revealed rows of teeth dripping with venom.

“She will come forward all at once. Do you think you can jump out of the way?” Kao’s expression was pained and she tightened the hands helping him stand tighten.

He shook his head, and instantly regretted it. Even the small motion caused his vision to swim, and he could feel his knees threatening to collapse. “Thank you, for staying with me. I can barely see just let me know when...”

Orn tightened his grip on the knife and stared at the monster slowly stretched forward to dig both hands into the earth.

“Now!” Kao’s voice cracked as she shouted.

The monster’s arms flexed ripping at the ground, propelling the queen toward Orn. She was close enough that he could feel the ground shake as her bulk momentarily left it. All but blind he could not see the jaws rushing forward. But, he could feel where her shadow fell on him momentarily blocking the harm sunlight filtering through the trees.

The words from one of the fairy tales his mother used to read to him flashed through his mind. ...but a knight does not quietly wait for death. So he raised his sword to meet it with honor.

Orn grit his teeth and grabbing the knife with both hands. Then with the last of his strength he thrust the blade forward and up. As he moved the shaking in his limbs momentarily disappeared replaced by a warm feeling that raced to enveloping him.

Orn felt hot fetid breath rolled over him, as something pressed on the end of the knife. The force raced up his arms and drove him backwards. A split second later, something tore into his arms. The pain was excruciating, and a scream came unbidden from his lips. But, as suddenly as it started, the scream was cut off; and Orn felt nothing at all.

[Hunters]

A scream echoed through the trees, spurring everyone forward despite their exhaustion.

Seconds later and Uncle ran into a goblin knocking the creature prone. The flailed around searching confused for what hit it. He ignored it, trusting the hunters behind him to deal with it. Orn! Please hold on!

Time seemed to slow as he threw everything into getting to the boy. He knew it was hopeless, but he had to get to him.

He was half a dozen steps away when he saw the hulking outline of the queen. Her back was to him, clearly intent on something in front of her. Without thinking he raised his large knife and charged forward. The knife dug deeply into the creature as he jumped on her back and kept stabbing as he pulled himself toward her head. The queen shifted under him, and he slammed the knife down again, this time between her shoulder blades.

He braced himself for her to try throwing him off, but instead she just seemed deflate. She is dead?

Shaking the thought away he used the knife to pull himself over her shoulder. Letting go of the knife he slid past the lightless eyes and searching for any sign of his nephew. Come on boy where… Orn!

The boy lay at his feet his back against a tree a couple paces away. As he rushed forward he tried to imaging the boy could somehow still be alive. The unmoving form looked like a broken doll. Orn’s clothes were shredded rags covered in blood, and the state of his arms caused Uncle to shudder.

Reaching Orn he fell to his knees, and cradled the boy’s head in his arm. Quickly pulling a bottle from his bag, he popped the stopper and tried to ease it down the boy’s throat.

“Please, Orn Please…” he begged the still form as he laid Orn’s head down in the grass and attempted to tend the other wounds as he was able.

Around him he heard crashing and clicking sounds, but he paid them no mind. I have to stop the bleeding… Merciful goddess! Your arms!

Spurred on by his horror he dumped all the blood stop he had on the boy, and rummaged through his nephew’s pack for more. As he reached over he heard a thud and a gurgling sound from behind him.

“Darn it Narak, pay attention! You almost…” His brother in law’s words were cut off with a sharp intake of breath.