Panting after running all the way back, the two collapsed near Erik's home.
"Get up," Erik gestured for her to rise as he climbed to his feet. "We have to warn the village."
"Yeah," Aya breathed, standing as well. "I've never seen them this far north until today. Have you?"
Erik shook his head, glancing back apprehensively toward the treeline. "Rarely—and not this close."
"Boris should be at the river," Aya said.
He swallowed before grabbing Aya's arm, and together they hurried on until they found Boris.
Because of his age, Boris acted as the village Elder and Sage.
"Boris!" Erik shouted.
Boris slowly turned toward them, frowned, and rose to his feet. He still held his fishing rod despite their obvious distress.
"What's the matter?" Boris asked, concern creasing his expression.
"Goblins! They're within five kilometers of the village!"
His expression tightened, his body trembling slightly. Boris's eyes drifted back toward the village, his head shaking before slowly returning to them.
"A-are either of you hurt?"
Aya shook her head. "No. Erik killed one before it got me… We need to warn the others!"
"N-no need," Boris said, drawing a deep breath. "R-return home. I-I just need to call for a council gathering."
Aya and Erik exchanged confused glances before Erik snapped, "Didn't you hear us? They're going to be here soon!"
Boris flinched but continued to nod. "I heard you, and I said don't worry. The council will handle it."
"What?" Erik asked, baffled.
Aya continued for him. "How? They were on our heels before and—"
"They didn't kill you," Boris cut her off, pursing his lips as he stared directly into her eyes. "T-they are faster than us. You are alive… which means we have time to solve this."
"Time for what?" Aya asked.
Erik stepped forward, raising his axe slightly. "If we're forming a combat party, let me join!"
"What? Erik, no- stop!" Aya protested, but Erik shrugged her off. Still, Boris shook his head.
"You two are young," Boris breathed, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "Neither of you understands the way of our land. And after today, you may never…" A resolved expression crossed his face. Bitter but firm, he continued. "Erik, can you stay at Aya's home tonight? Just for tonight."
A brief silence followed before Erik nodded. "Yes."
Aya, however, looked dumbfounded and threw her hands up. "This is stupid."
She saw Erik flinch, his grip tightening on the hatchet, but he didn't respond. She continued to stare at him, her bafflement growing before she scoffed.
"I need to warn my mother."
----------
"You grew up here," Hillaria, Aya's mother, scolded. Her hands rested on her hips as she glared. "How can you not know how they handled goblins in the past?"
Like Aya, her hair was blonde and her eyes blue. They looked strikingly alike aside from age beginning to show. Aya sat at the table across from her mother, equally unhappy, and glaring at Erik as he paced nearby.
"I just don't! They handled it quickly," Erik replied earnestly. "I'm serious! I never questioned it because it's been over a decade since one was spotted!"
"How did they resolve it?"
"What do you mean?"
"For crying out loud, boy! Missing food or did they go out on an expedition? Was a ritual performed?"
Erik nodded and gestured toward his axe.
"They went out on an expedition. All of the council members and a younger lad so he could gain experience. That's how I learned they attack in groups, too. But…" Erik paused before sighing. "He never came back. They said the goblins killed him and dragged his body off during their retreat."
Aya's gaze slowly shifted to her mother. Hillaria wore a troubled expression and was shifting her weight uneasily.
"That's not how goblins where we're from behaved," Hillaria said quietly. "They committed horrendous deeds and they always soaked their caps in the blood of their victims. Did this one have a red cap?"
Aya nodded when Hillaria's questioning gaze turned toward her and Aya's eyes widened.
"That boy didn't die from goblins," Aya breathed.
Erik immediately stepped forward, raising his voice angrily. "What are you two suggesting?! That we gave up one of ours? There's no way we'd do such a thing!"
"Nor would the goblins accept such a thing," Hillaria replied. "But something else happened that day. And from the sound of it… it's going to happen again soon."
----------
Erik's frosty breath hung in the air as he stepped outside with his axe, checking the surroundings beneath the full moon. There was nothing except a series of torchlights approaching. Boris stood at the center of them, surrounded by a dozen older faces from the Council.
"Erik," Boris nodded, glancing past him toward the house before returning his gaze. "Are they safe?"
Erik nodded, looking between each of their grave expressions. They all carried axes, wooden clubs, or spears alongside their torches. "What are you guys doing?"
A silence followed before Boris let out a heavy sigh. "We're going on a late expedition. You wanted to join?"
Erik paused, shifting his weight as Aya's and Hillaria's doubts echoed in his mind, but...
There's no way they'd do something like that. They're paranoid and shaken.
"Yes! Count me in!" he said quickly. "Is that why you're here? Did they attack?"
Boris nodded silently and gestured for Erik to join them. "Come along. Let's deal with those bastards."
Stepping forward, Erik grew excited, his words tumbling out faster. "So how are we going to do it? What's the plan? Are we—"
A heavy blow from a wooden club struck his head, and he crumpled to the ground. Their expressions darkened further as several of them briskly moved past him and kicked in the door to Aya's home.
Screams followed.
And then, there was silence.