The Goblin and Their Shinies

Aroc Says Goodbye

Deep in the forest lives Aroc. Aroc is green with long pointy elf ears. But make no mistake, they are no elf, they are a goblin!

Aroc wears a brown cloth dress that reaches their knees and has string as sleeves. They are very small, even for a goblin, with a fluffy body and messy brown hair. 

They wear no shoes. Aroc does not believe in wearing such foot prisions. They much rather let their little toes be free and feel the mud, grass, and moss under them. 

Today is a very big day for this special little Goblin. They are going to leave their home in the forest and adventure to what is beyond. They cannot wait, but first, Aroc has to pack up their collection.

What Aroc called home is a small clearing between trees. With a moss bed in the middle and a river right outside the home. A pine tree is on the other side as the river, and it has a wide whole in its trunk. This is where Aroc the Goblin hides their collection.

Their collection is made of different bits-and-bobs Aroc has found in the forest. They are very proud of it. It has rocks and coins and crystals and somethings that the Goblin is not sure what they are. And Aroc loves each of them dearly and equally.

Gently and carefully, they set their collection into a cloth drawstring pouch as big as both their hands. They do this in such a manner so they don't damage or harm their friends.

Now, Aroc is ready to go. They say goodbye to their home, and walks by the river.

Aroc hums softly, feeling nice in the breeze. 

 "It is very nice outside today, isn't it, clouds?" Aroc is correct. The sun is casting a spell of light over all before it, and the sky is a pretty blue with friendly clouds. But, the clouds do not answer him, clouds don't talk.

 "I need to make some friends," the little Goblin decided, "But, with whom?"

 They looked around. A frog croaked on a Lillypad flowing in the river. Aroc noticed that the Lillypad flower was slowly breaking under the frogs chubby build.

"Help!" Cried the frog.

 "Oh, no! I must save that frog! Hold on, I'll help you!" Aroc say down their pouch on the dry land and dove into the water. 

Just as the Lillypad broke into three and the frog almost fell into the water, Aroc saved it. They held it in their hand high above the water and swam back to shore.

Aroc say the frog down. "Are you okay, Mister Frog?"

"Mister Frog?" The frog exclaimed,  "I am no mister, Green Elf! I am every gender, but today I am a she."

"Green elf?" The Little Goblin exclaimed, "I am no elf, I am a goblin. An ashamed goblin. I am very apologizes, I am a they/them goblin. Are you okay, Miss Frog?"

Miss Frog nodded, "yes. Thank you for saving me, I am afraid of the water. I am also sorry for calling you an elf. You are a very brave goblin, what is your name?"

 "Aroc is my name. I am going to explore, would you like to come with me?"

 Miss Frog smiled, "yes. But, we must pass through the cemetary, and pick some daises."

Aroc didn't know what a cemetery was, but they knew daises. They liked daisies, the flowers smelled nice. "What is a cemetery?

"You will see, now come on."