Fleas - Songs of the Gnolls I

WHAT MANY HANDS PAINT 9.3

His father looked at the serrated machete in his hands. A machete that had belonged to Kkrya. He must have felt uncomfortable because he had never used a weapon before. He also seemed nervous, looking in all directions at every sound, even though no human had shown his stinking face since they had left. There were two entrances on the outer wall, but many more inside, so most of them would have hidden in. The Distant Teeth would sneak into the locked houses and come out with clean spears.

"Don't worry, I'll protect you if anything happens," Kkelea told him.

Her father smiled.

"You are very brave, little one."

They came to a place where the buildings opened up around a circle of tents, similar to the ones they used to protect themselves from the shy rain of the savannah. There was a strange smell in the air, one that told them there was life present. Kkelea picked up her axe and motioned to the hyaenids. They all nodded silently and dispersed in groups of three to check the area. She decided to stay with her father and some of the males, as they were less likely to be attacked in an open space.

A delicious scent filled her nostrils. She hadn't eaten all day and couldn't help but lick her lips at the smell. She let her nose lead her to a huge creature, similar to a goat but the size of a horse, chewing on some herbs from the road. The animal stopped and looked at her, unafraid but respectful. Kkelea clenched the axe in her hands and slowly approached. If she got close enough, She might jump at it.

"Daughter, no."

The animal pricked its ears and stepped back. Kkelea gestured to her father not to move. She took another step; the animal didn't move. Why didn't it run away? It was common for herbivores to shy away as soon as they sensed their presence, even horses. Then Kkelea thought of another possibility: that it already knew her scent. She lowered the axe and held out her hand. The creature opened its eyes and raised its head, but stayed where it was. When it sniffed her, it bawled, hit the ground twice, and fled. Kkelea followed it until it reached an open barn. The animal jumped in without hesitation. She sniffed from the threshold. There didn't seem to be any horses around, but the smell of manure didn't allow her to make out anything else. She took in as much fresh air as she could and stepped inside. The animal stared at her. Kkelea blocked the only entrance. There was no way out...

"No!" She heard a high-pitched scream and turned around. It was a human girl, trembling and holding a stick. "Don't hurt him!"

Kkelea hesitated for a moment. She sharpened her ears. There didn't seem to be any other humans hiding. Being alone and small, she had nothing to fear. She remembered the first orc she had killed. She remembered that forgiveness had been a mistake. Those big, watery eyes, the snot dripping from her nose... If they found her, the others would probably make her suffer. Yes, it was the best, a quick, painless death. She approached with slow steps. Suddenly she felt movement to one side; the animal lunged at her, thumping her chest before she could defend herself. Kkelea flew, her left paw striking one of the wooden pillars and she heard a terrible cracking sound. She screamed and began to cry out in pain, then crawled back, but could not escape the suffering. The animal, roaring with rage, tried to sink its hooves into her head, but the girl stopped it. She calmed it and stroked it until it stopped shaking its head violently. The girl looked at her, a mixture of pity and curiosity. Kkelea was breathing hard, and every time her chest expanded, it stung because of the headbutt. But her paw... Her paw was hell itself. It was swollen and she couldn't move her fingertoes. Let alone stand up straight.

She heard a familiar sound from beneath the ground. It was troll magic. A tunnel opened and one of them looked out. Then two adult humans ran up to the little girl and hugged her tightly.

"Oh, daughter, thank the gods you are safe," the father kissed her forehead three times. "I told you we had to leave."

"Mikan didn't want to go underground," the little girl explained.

The troll heard this and made the hole bigger so the creature could get through. So the humans were hiding underground? Why did the trolls help them?

The mother lowered her eyes and was startled. She immediately noticed the axe at her feet, picked it up, and approached.

"No, mommy, no," the little girl struggled to free herself from her father's arms.

"You are one of those creatures, one of those who want us dead. Were you going to kill my daughter?"

"They said not to confront them," the father objected.

"If we let her live, they'll know about the sewers. Look at her, she's hurt, it'll be quick."

Kkelea took a breath to try to scream, to warn the others, but in doing so she made the blow hurt even more. She coughed. The axe went up...

"No, Mommy, let's take it. Please!"

The woman made the mistake of looking into her daughter's eyes, bared her teeth, sighed, and lowered the axe. She turned to her.

"If you scream, bite, scratch, or move a muscle, I will kill you. Do you understand?"

Kkelea nodded. Perhaps if she saw the sewers they spoke of, she could alert Scourge and the others. Yes, that would do it.

As the man lifted her up, the pain in her paw became unbearable. She fainted before she entered the underground darkness.