In a strange world as a Doppelganger

Chapter 12

Unsure what to do, I found my way back to the tree where I had spent the night. I could stay here for another day and do my best to pick the goblins off in small groups in the woods. Still I feel that could be risky if I have just about recovered from being near deaths door. Have they sent more goblins to the clearing maybe, is the rat okay? I worry for its safety as much as my own in these circumstances. The rat probably has little chance of defending itself against more than one goblin and that's also if it gets a surprise attack on them. Fine, I'll go back.

I want to eat something heartier than berries, nuts and seeds but that's all I can find for now. I stay off the path but near enough where I can check my location by finding it again. Very few goblins are out and about, I think they retreated back home in anticipation of me going there. If that's true then the clearing should be safe for today. There is a one goblin in front of me. It's stepped off the path to do its business in some bushes. As soon as it's done I come up from behind and swiftly taking it out with one knife in each of my hands. The rusty one is very dull, I need to fix that. This must have been a runt of some sort, it has nothing on it except for a sharpened stick and a smelly tunic. 

That last goblin boosted my confidence a little bit and I allow my self to sacrifice some stealth in order to get back faster. A group of three goblins are sitting and eating a badger. two of the goblins look like they took some hits, they're bruised here and there. Even though they are distracted currently I decide to ignore them and keep going. Three is a risk, even if they have sustained damage already. 

The clearing looks fine. I am currently still among the trees a few feet back from where the clearing opens up. Don't want to be captured in some trap, I'll stay away for a little bit and see if anything suspicious happens. I speed from tree to tree, keeping an eye out for anything moving. The rat sleeps most of the time. Usually it only goes out to eat or relieve itself. Some days it just stays in the hole and eats small roots and worms that it can dig out from the walls of the burrow. 

An hour so goes by, nothing happens. I risk coming out into the open, very carefully. Constantly turning around and staying alert, I walk towards the hole. It looks undisturbed and fine. A final look around and then I crawl down, angling myself in such a way that my arms and head are nearest to the entrance. The rat acknowledges my presence and puffs me with its nose softly. For the rest of the day I lay there in the burrow with a knife in each hand, ready to stab at anything that pokes its head in. 

Somewhere I fall asleep without really noticing. I dream about goblins running around in a forest chasing animals and laughing. When I wake up the sun is setting, I slept through the afternoon then. I can tell that my body has healed somewhat. That confirms, yet again, that sleep is key to recover from injury. I shimmy my way out of the hole, trying to be quiet. There isn't much light left that makes it into the clearing. Can goblins see in the dark? I know I can't. I place some moss over my burns and hold it there while walking around the open area. If the goblins are here they are making sure to stay hidden. Do I lure them out? Unsure what to do I walk as if heading to the river. When I have gotten some way in among the trees I turn around to see if anyone is following me. Nothing is moving besides the leaves in the wind. 

The cool water of the stream feels so nice against my still sore body and it's been almost three days since I had a proper drink. I made sure to walking further down the river and keep my eyes out for the frogs. They don't seem to hang around at night. The moon and stars give a tiny amount of light to navigate with. I am starting to think that the goblins all stayed back for the night. There's been no sign of them and even as I make my way back to the burrow I feel like there's no one around. 

The lack of ambushes actually make me anxious as I climb down the hole again. Knives at the ready I stare out the entrance. The stars are really beautiful tonight, though I can't seem to name any constellations. Different sky I suppose, different stars. The rat startles me as it pushes past me and climbs out of our home. I poke my head up slightly to make sure that it's fine. A few minutes later it comes back, nothing happened. This is stressing me out something crazy. I almost wish they would attack. 

As on cue, after the rat has settled down and gone to sleep, a pair of big yellow eyes peek down into the hole. I do not hesitate for one second, I thrust the good knife up toward my onlooker. Piercing the goblins right eye, I pull the knife out and here the creature scream out in agony. Poking my head out again I can see it writhing on the ground, holding its hands over its eye. That must be painful. After a moment the goblin falls limp. Waiting, I look around and listen for anymore that might be near. There's a slight rustle in some bushes and two goblins come scuttling out into the open. They give their friend a quick glance and then they proceed to strip it of everything it has and scurry back to the trees. 

Now they definitely know where I live.