Orn kept low as he moved. Orn was surprised that any of the shepherds had traveled this far west. But the areas closer to town seemed overgrazed, so it might not have been by choice.

Orn did not want the shepherd to see him and start asking questions. Fortunately, the sheep did not like the bushes scattered through the area and Orn was able to move between them as the shepherd nervous gaze was directed elsewhere.

Once he felt he was safely past the shepherd’s view, he began to look for signs of the goblins he was searching for.

...

It took the rest of the morning, but he eventually found the small corps of trees in the area the monsters were supposed to be. Orn searched the area eventually finding the remains of a small campfire. Something about the site seemed odd but he could not quite place what it was. Lacking any other ideas he slowly began to search the area.

Eventually, he found a patch of grass growing through a chunk of wool. Time and weather had scattered any tracks, but the occasional piece of wool told him he was headed in the right direction. A couple hours later later he found the remains of the shepherd and his dog. The bones lay scattered around a large bolder.

At its base Orn noticed the end of the broken end of the shepherd’s hook sticking out of the ground. Suddenly he recognized what happened. “The fire had burnt itself out. They must have startled him and he ran.”

“Orn,” Kao spoke of the first time since they left the town, and pointed at the bolder.

Orn dragged his attention away from the signs of the struggle to a set of deep scars in the rock. These were not goblins, these were hobs. Worse yet based on the height of the scars on the bolder, one was very close to becoming a goblin mother.

“That is not good.” He muttered to himself.

“That is an understatement.” Kao replied, flatly.

Orn scanned the area again.. “I cannot argue with that. I know you have been holding back to let me practice my skills, but can you see anything? It would be nice to know how how much trouble I am in.”

Kao’s eyes seemed to loose focus for a few moments, before she closed them and shook her head. “It appears that my ability to see monsters is limited to the forest as I suspected. Outside of it, I can only see them if they are standing in front of me. I could go scouting but that would leave you alone, and that usually ends badly.”

“Not always, but I would rather not tempt anything with a potential goblin mother out there,” Orn said shaking his head. “Those marks are rather fresh. How close do you think that one is to becoming a mother?”

Kao considered the scars on the rock. “It depends on how much there is to eat out here. I am assuming they got the shepherd and his dog first. If they went for the rest of the flock afterwards, then it is very close. I am sure you will find out soon either way.”

Orn was about to ask how she knew that, but she answered him before he could get the words out. “This is their hunting ground and they have been eating a lot of sheep. But your problem is right now,” her nose wrinkled, “you smell like a wet sheep.”

“What?” Orn sniffed at his sleeve, and noticed she was right. “it is not that bad.”

“Keep telling yourself that,” Kao said rolling her eyes, “I am sure your opinion will deter the hobs. But personally, I will stay upwind.”

Orn was surprised by the response. She also stopped at the door to the inn instead of entering the yard with the sheep. I know I have smelled worse around her before, I wonder what that is all about? Orn shook his head and decided that was a question better left for another time.

“I can probably make a run for it,” Orn said turning his attention back to the marks. “I can outpace the hobs, and definitely outpace goblins now.”

“True,” Kao said stretching the word. “but wherever you go they would follow. I doubt Mutton could handle it. You already know that though.”

Orn sighed as he nodded. “Yes.” With a quick motion he made a shallow cut on his forearm and rubbed the blood onto the rock.

{hob]

The hob’s nostrils flared. It looked up from the water and breathed deep again. The smell was there again. It plunged through the creek heedless of the chill on his skin. On the far bank the smell was stronger. Stronger and fresher. The wind carried the smell of blood.

The creature’s eyes glowed as it felt the hunger gnawing at its stomach. It did not know how long it had been since it ate the tall creature, but it knew it wanted more. It had changed after it ate the tall thing. The others had as well, but they did not seem to notice. They were stronger or could eat more, but acted as if nothing changed. It did not know what was different about itself, but it must have been changed as well.

It started forward seeking to follow the smell before the others. Suddenly something struck it form behind. It rolled as a stick smashed against the ground where it had just been. A hob with a swollen stomach stood over it staring at the broken stick. The hob on the ground scrambled back knowing it was about to die. The standing hob smiled, when a large claw appeared from behind it. The claw wrapped around the other hob’s head and a wet cracking sound could be heard over the other hob’s scream.

It scrambled to its feet and ran. The others were falling on each other. Cries of anger and pain rang out behind it. After gaining what seemed like a safe distance it turned back and saw the large hob surrounded by bodies. Even as the other hob seemed to grow as it watched, the scar across its head was clearly visible. The one that ate one of the legs. It had seemed faster afterwards.

The scarred hob roared into the air, and the hob shivered. Spurred by fear the hob ran. If it did not hurry it would face the same fate as the others.