Risha: Chapter 47

Risha luxuriated in the furs of her bed as she slowly woke up. She opened her eyes to find that the world was darkening with evening, just as she liked it. 

She took her time as she got up from bed, stretching with every movement to limber up her stiff muscles. Her training with Klu had continued after Aliya had healed her, and the Mystic was as demanding a swordsman as ever. 

Risha placed leather and fur clothes on, then grabbed her usual cloak. Summer was in full swing, but this close to the mountains, the nights still had some chill to them. 

Only three of her spiderlings were with her, the rest busy doing their own things. Kliks, as always, happily rested in Risha’s hair, which she let loose down her back, too lazy to pull it up like she might before battle.

Risha placed a singular knife on her leg, then made her way to the door. A High Goblin Spearwoman and a Gray Lupus Kobold stood straight as Risha stepped out. 

Risha frowned, then sighed. Ever since they’d returned, Glo and Sun-Chaser had increased the number of guards who followed her around. It was nice feeling so protected, but Risha was used to freedom, and unused to the ways of the city they rested in.

“You, stay.” She told the goblin, then motioned for the female kobold to follow her. The two guards shared a look, and then the kobold fell into step behind Risha as she made her way through the large building that was her home in Orctown. 

“I don’t recognize you,” Risha said, her senses focusing on the kobold as she kept her eyes on the stone in front of her. As she approached level 50, her hearing and sense of smell had been improving beyond even what was normal for the large-eared goblin. The wolf’s gait didn’t sound right, but Risha couldn’t place why.

“I’m the Second of Wind-Whisperer’s pack.” The wolf said.

Risha thought back to the strange kobold named Wind-Whisperer, she vaguely remembered him as one of the first kobold’s she evolved, but not much beyond that. “What’s your name?” 

“Mist-Prowler, Grand Mother.” The wolf answered. 

The name tickled Risha’s memory, but she couldn’t remember a Gray Lupus by that name, no matter how she tried. “It’s good to meet you Mist-Prowler. Risha has a very secret mission today.” Risha smiled wide as she slipped into a room. 

On the walls of the room were all kinds of medicines, and strange concoctions. Risha giggled, catching the kobold off-guard with the sound. Risha hurried over to one of the tables, and pulled down a piece of cloth that might normally be used for wrapping a wound. Risha was glad that she remembered where the old Healer Tya had kept her medicines when Risha had been recovering from the old Kobold Alpha’s claws. 

She used one of fingernails, sharp as a claw, to cut through the cloth, then wrapped it around her mouth and pulled the hood of her cloak up. 

Risha turned to Mist-Prowler, “What do you think?” 

The goblin preened under the confused kobold’s gaze, excited about her super secret plan. “It’s an interesting look, Grand Mother.” 

“Would you recognize me?” 

“Yes, Grand Mother.”

Risha drooped in sadness. She’d thought the disguise was quite ingenious. 

The kobold paused, realizing what the Grand Mother was trying to do. Then she smiled wide, “Anyone will recognize your cloaks, Grand Mother.” 

The kobold motioned for Risha to follow her, and Risha curiously fell into step behind the kobold as they left the room. 

Mist-Prowler walked through the building with experienced steps, leading Risha into a section she didn’t recognize. The kobold looked both ways, before stepping into a small closet-like room. She emerged a second later, holding a gray cloak. Risha stared at it for a long moment, noticing only after a few seconds how the cloak seemed to blend into the background.

Risha smiled, “It’s perfect.”

Risha traded cloaks with the Kobold, then froze as the kobold stepped closer to Risha with a strange paste in her hands. 

Without fear, the kobold applied the paste to Risha’s cheeks, forehead and ears, then stepped back with a wide smile. 

“Your eyes are impossible to hide. But I wouldn’t recognize you.” Mist-Prowled declared proudly.

This lack of respect was… refreshing. Risha liked this kobold! Risha grabbed the kobold’s arm, then pulled them through the building. “Here’s my super secret plan. I want to go through the city, and into the forest, not as Risha, but as Arish.” 

The Kobold snorted, but then quickly hid the expression. “Do you have money?” 

“What’s money?”

“The humans introduced it.” Mist-Prowler said, “Shiny things that you use instead of trading.”

“Oh! Like gambling. I have lots of shinies.” Risha smiled proudly, then the smile fell. “They're back at my room.” 

Mist-Prowler looked both ways, then handed Risha a shiny rock. “Use it carefully.” 

Risha was not above having her affections bought with shinies. Mist-Prowler was now her favorite Kobold. 

Risha slipped the stone away with hands practiced from sneaking treats that were meant for her older siblings. 

Risha followed Mist-Prowler as she led the way out of the building, somehow avoiding any other monsters that might’ve wandered the halls. 

As they approached the front door, Risha had her first test of her disguise, but the two kobolds standing there didn’t even look twice as Mist-Prowler led her out.

The sun was setting, and the orctown was just beginning to come alive. Mist-Prowler led the way through the people and streets into an impromptu bazaar. Goblin Farmers called for creatures to trade for their products, while Orc hunters offered the meat or trophies of their latest hunts. Risha had the new experience of having to thread her way through hundreds of people. She’d grown used to monsters moving out of the way for her.

Honestly, she enjoyed it. Her feet stayed steady as she danced through the crowd, watching for the gaps which allowed her to move through them. Mist-Prowler stayed next to her the whole time, acting the part of the guard while enjoying the excitement that Risha seemed to hold.

Risha admired the way all of the races interacted. What she first thought to be orc hunters turned out to be a group of orcs and goblins that sold their items together. Spiders made their way through the crowd, Spider Tamer Goblins and orcs accompanying them to negotiate with the merchants. Kobolds too, seemed to mingle with the crowd. The Black Lupus Kobolds hulked over everyone but the spiders, while Gray Lupuses and foxes slipped through the crowds. 

Risha stopped in front of one of the stalls, recognizing one of the dwarves they’d rescued from slavery. He carefully drew a knife across a block of wood, surrounded by bows, arrows, and carvings, while a Goblin negotiated with his customers. 

Risha saw shinies of all kinds exchanging hands, and was amazed that she hadn’t learned about “money” already. It made sense considering how much goblin instincts craved the shiny and sparkly stones. They were much easier to carry compared to the large pieces of meat or furs that Risha would trade with other goblins when she was younger.

Risha walked up to the dwarven wood carver, her eyes caught by one of the more beautiful bows. Goblin bows were beautiful in their own way, but the one that caught her eye had the experience and care of someone who had learned to make them over generations. A leather grip, with dark brown carvings making their way down its length. 

“It’s one of my favorites.” 

Risha looked over to see the dwarf beside her. She held out the stone Mist-Prowler had given her. No matter how much it ached to give the shiny away, something about the bow called to her. 

The dwarf smiled, then held the shiny up to his eye. He whistled, “You goblins, always giving away fortunes without realizing. What happened to good ol’ gold?” The dwarf reached up and pulled the bow down and held it out to Risha. “This’ll get you the bow, and I’ll throw in some arrows as well.”

Risha took the bow, ignoring the dwarf’s comments as her hands went over the smooth wood, “Do you have any flowers?” 

The dwarf paused, then nodded, “You know? I do. Give me a moment.” 

Risha watched as he shuffled towards the back of his shop, and returned a moment later with a quiver of arrows, and several purple flowers. 

Risha tied the quiver to her waist, then took the flowers, then she was off. She walked through the market like she was on a mission, with Mist-Prowler following close behind. 

Risha made her way through the crowd, and out the main gate. 

The night quieted as she made her way farther from the camps of the various races outside the city. 

Eventually she stopped on a low hill overlooking the river, far from the festivities of the night.

Risha stared at the river, lost in thought. It moved languidly through the trees of the forest, deceptively cold from mountain runoff. 

Yes, she’d wanted to see the city, and she’d return to it soon, but this was why she’d wanted to leave quietly. 

She wanted to be alone here. 

Mist-Prowler watched from nearby, but seemed to recognize the mood and didn’t disturb the goblin.

Risha held up the flowers, then walked down to the edge of the river. 

“We didn’t have time,” Risha said as she stood at the bank.

Mist-Prowler realized after a moment that the Grand Mother was talking to her, “Time for what?”

“To say goodbye.” Risha pulled out a purple flower, and set it in the water, watching it as it made its way down. “I don’t even know many of their names.”

“You’re talking about the fallen warriors.”

Risha nodded, as she pulled out another flower, and set it into the slow current. “Were you there?” 

“I was.”

“I said that we would be stronger. That next time….” Risha pulled a third flower, half of the six the dwarf had given her, “I hold their deaths on my shoulders, and I must stand tall.”

Mist-Prowler stepped up beside Risha, and placed her own flower in the current. It was a different variety, a white one, but it brought a small piece of comfort to see the flower join the current.

“They died for a reason, Risha. You gave them purpose, and every single one of them faced their ends with teeth sharpened.” 

“I know.” Risha picked up the fourth flower and held it up to the sky. “I know,” she repeated, as she kneeled down to the river.

The flower floated off. 

“Mist-Prowler,” Risha stared at the disappearing flower, her gaze lost, “The reason I’ve made it this far, was because I too was driven by purpose. But now- now the orc clans have been defeated, and I’m expected to be more than a hunter. My hatred has been sated with blood and death, and now I need to turn our people into something more.” 

“You are the Grand Mother. If anyone can do it, if anyone can turn that purpose into something greater, it’s you.” 

Risha let the last two flowers go at the same time, the current taking them apart and bringing them together as they floated downstream. Her gaze turned to the sky, as someone called her.

“Catch me,” Risha said, as her eyes closed and her ability activated. 

“Huh?”

[Council of Grandmas]

***

Risha opened her eyes to the tent she’d designed for herself in this strange space. The call continued, drawing her somewhere.

Risha stepped out of her tent, into a void of stars. 

Space shifted, and Risha was surrounded by darkness, underwater.

Fear clutched at Risha’s heart as the water filled her lungs, drowning her.

She needed to go back! She needed-

“Calm, young one, you can breathe if you will it.”

Risha’s mind latched onto the voice, and she forced her heart to calm in an effort of will. Then breath by breath, she breathed the water, letting it be air within her. “Who are you?” 

“Turn around, young one.”

Risha did, and stared into two large eyes, each one bigger than any creature she’d ever seen. Long limbs extended through the darkness, strange and alien looking to Risha. Suckers covered them, and they twisted as if they had no bones.

The creature of the ocean pulled back from Risha, the water shifting with it. “So you are the newest Grand Mother.”

***

A/N: I've changed Kolo's name to Rilok. Kolo (now Rilok) is the orc who pleaded with Risha to save his people against the humans. Later he went and gathered his people to her cause, and Klu took him as an apprentice. I made this change because Klu and Kolo (now Rilok) are gonna be in a lot of chapters together and their names were super similar. (I have the same announcement on the last chapter)