The Strength of Silence

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

"Voila!"

"Not voila. Goblin."

"Ruthless tricksters.", Blinky explained as the group circled a disgusting puddle of goblin guts, "Petty street vandals who leave a wake of destruction. This is not good."

Jim stood up from his crouching position next to the substance, "Well, justice was served. We should get back and train for Draal.", he then looked around in concern, "Where's Gemma?"

Toby shrugged his shoulders, "She said something about taking some medicine from Vendal; probably got caught up or kidnapped by Bagdwella again."

The four armed mentor cringed, "Hopefully it's not the latter."

Aaarrrgghh furrowed his brows as his stomach twisted and turned; an uneasy feeling settling in his stone heart.

"So," the ravenette started, "can we go train now?"

Blinky gawked at him in disbelief, "I think not! Where there is one goblin, there is many. And, as for the unfortunate soul who ran over this small fellow, may Skaargen's swift blade have mercy!"

"And why is that?"

"Naturally, goblin payback is ten-fold."

Jim fidgeted nervously, "Are you saying whoever ran this guy over is in serious trouble?"

Toby ran towards the house and snatched the sticky note from the door, "A delivery truck left this on Eli's house! Wait for it... the goblin might have gotten squished by the vehicle."

The blue eyed teen took the note from his friend as his expression turned serious, "If the driver's returning tonight at eight, then we have to be here too! I'm not gonna let some poor civilian become goblin chow on my watch."

Blinky smiled widely as he cheered, "Master Jim answering the call!"

Toby brought his hands up in the air, "So cool! Stakeout and past my curfew!"

꧁☯︎︎꧂

A pained groan left Gemma's mouth as she stirred from unconsciousness; eyes fluttering open as her blurry vision became clear. She turned her horned head left to right; noticing the familiar abode belonging to Vendal. The brunette went to lift herself up but quickly regretted it as an explosion of pain erupted all over her body; causing her to lay back down.

"Bout time you woke up, scales."

Gemma's tail twitched and her eyes squinted in irritation as she glanced at the one and only Draal. She slowly sat up while clutching her sides before signing, 'Since you can't understand me, I'm going to go ahead and get this shit off my chest; you are a Sonic impersonator that's been a real pile of dung lately.'

The blue spiked troll couldn't stop the amused smirk from forming, "I'm a pile of dung, huh? Is that anyway to talk to the one who brought you here in your time of need?"

If the dragoness' face could go any paler, it would.

'When the fuck did you learn sign language?'

Draal's blue cheeks darkened as he avoided eye contact, "I borrowed the book that you lent Blinky and Vendal..."

Gemma's jaw dropped in shock, 'You can read?'

The male scowled while exclaiming, "Of course I can read! It might have taken a bit longer since my English is a bit rusty..."

The tricolored Dragon Folk's eye sparkled curiously, 'What made you want to learn sign language?'