The Goblin Nation 39 Lover Boy

Rock ran out of the barn and into the town square. He was spinning around looking for Dawn, or at the very least someone that knows where Dawn could be in the town. It was dark outside, with only a few torches lighting the night. He managed to find the mother that babysits for Dawn. Rock often finds her sitting next to the well with her child and Dawn's baby. Her name was Mabel.

Mabel was sitting outside her porch while a small pit of fire, keeping the darkness away. Her home was a large boarding house that houses thirty families. She watched her child swinging on a wooden plank hanging on the porch roof. Dawn's baby was not with her, which means Cala is not with Dawn. That could also mean that Sum is with Dawn.

Regardless, Rock wants to confess his feelings to Dawn before its too late. He walked up to Mabel and asked, "Hey Mabel. Have you seen Dawn by any chance?"

"Sorry, but no. Dawn runs away. Rumor says Sum give Dawn to Cala to play."

"What!" Rock yelled out loud, startling Mabel.

"Mabel sorry. No mean to anger Rock." She said, shielding her face with her arms.

Mabel's son got off to the swing and ran up to Rock. He started to kick Rock on the leg. "No, hurt Mama. I kill who hurt Mama." The kid continued to kick and punch on Rock.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to yell. I just got surprised." Rock tried to calm down Mabel, but the closer he got, the more defensive she gets. While shifting her arms around, Rock noticed she had bruises under her left eye. "Woah, what happened to your eye? Ouch!" Rock looked down at the kid hitting his leg. He raised his hand and placed it on the kid's head.

"Wait, no hurt!" Mabel cried.

"You're a strong boy, aren't you." Rock giggled while petting the boy's head. "Bet you'll grow stronger than me."

"I grow stronger 'cause I pure blood!" The boy boasted. He stopped hitting Rock's leg and started showing off his muscles.

Rock turned to Mabel, who finally lowered her guard and calmed down. "Mabel, are you calm now?"

"Yeah," She whispered.

"Good. I need to know where I could find Dawn. Do you know where she could be?"

"Dawn run to meadows. Down south, there is tree. Mabel play with Dawn there."

"Thanks!" Rock jumped off the porch and ran.

"Wait!" Rock stopped and turned around. "Sum ask Mabel earlier where Dawn is, so Rock needs careful." She said while hiding her bruises.

"I'll be careful!" Rock yelled while running into the dark of night. While traversing the town, Rock overheard goblins gossiping about Dawn and Sum. The more he heard, the more he got angry. But he knows well that anger alone will blind him. He has another emotion that he needs to convey.

Dawn was leaning on the tree in the middle of the meadow. The moon and stars painted the sky over her head. She held her baby close to her chest and wiped her tears with the baby's clothes. A warm orange glow could be spotted from a distance. It got closer and closer to Dawn and her son. The light was warm and inviting, but Dawn knows that the cold is the safest place for her. The goblin carrying the torch was Sum. His face looked colder than the winter breeze passing by Dawn.

Dawn turned her back, hiding her son between her body and tree. The baby began to squirm around her embrace as it tries to break free. His tiny hands wiggled through the binding and out into the cold. Dawn pressed her baby closer to keep it from getting exposed to the cold. "What Sum want?" She said while facing the tree, "Sell Dawn to Cala? That what Sum want?"

"The Chief wants you to service him to the night." Sum's voice was cold and metallic. "And address him with his title. I had enough rebels calling him by his name." Not a single hint of emotion but frustration in his voice. Dawn glanced at him only to see the face she wants love looking like a mindless slave, only following orders. The slaves that gave birth to Rock and his 'brothers' had more life in them.

"Dawn give love only to Sum," Dawn turned and faced Sum. "Dawn forced to service Cala. But now you here! Sum protect Dawn and Sum's son," Dawn's rocked to the left. The baby started to cry.

"I told you to show some respect, didn't I!" He yelled, "That Mabel girl you hanging out with has been a bad influence on you. Cala is our Chief. He knows what's right for the tribe, he works his ass off for the tribe, and he is willing to die for our tribe. Now come with me! The Chief is waiting!"

"I don't want to go!" Sum grabbed Dawn by the hand and pulled her. She pleaded and begged to Sum, but he did not answer. "Do Sum love Dawn at all?" Still no answer.

Suddenly, the alarm bell from the town square was rung. The two gazed at the horizon and saw the wall shake. An intruder breached the wall. Sum released Dawn and ran towards danger, but from the dark came out a fist hitting Sum's left cheek, and he fell to the ground. The torch he was holding fell on the snow.

Dawn quickly picked it up before the fire got extinguish. She shined the light at the aggressor, and she was shocked to see Rock come out of the dark. "I told Sun that will never sucker punch someone," He said while looking down at Sum. "But for you, I'll make an exception."

Sum bounced back up. His cold expression turned into anger. "Stay out of this halfling!" Sum's arms were shorter than Rock, so to get close, he took a step inside Rock's legs and threw a straight jab. Rock took the punch straight to the chest. The sound of a rib breaking was audible.

Sum pulled his fist back, storing his punch's potential energy. Meanwhile, Rock stumbled back after getting pushed by the force of the blow. Sum sidestepped closer to Rock and launched another jab. Rock planted his lead foot in the snow and countered with an equally devastating jab.

Rock's punch was the last one to hit between in the engagement, but it had the most strength. Because Sum was moving forward, his momentum was used by Rock to deliver a much stronger punch. Sum's head rocked back, and his whole body followed. He fell on his back, but he recovered immediately afterward by rolling back on his feet. "Was that it? Tama was far stronger than that!" Rock yelled. Sum wiped off the blood coming out of his nose.

"Stop fighting!" Dawn yelled. The baby's cries got louder.

Sum ran through the snow, keeping his body low. "Bring it on!" He screamed out. Sum stopped with the left foot outside Rock's stance. He swung his left arm and delivered a strong liver punch. Rock retaliated by punching him across the chin.

The ground Sum was standing on began to shake uncontrollably. He was losing his sense of balance. But before falling to the ground, he delivered another straight jab to his chest. He used his fall to extend his punch further and with more energy.

Rock tripped and fell on his butt. He got on his hand, trying to push himself back up. The pain from his liver continued to fester inside. The snow he was facing turned pink from the blood he coughed out, trying to get back up. Rock's pain was nothing compared to the damage he dealt to Sum. He got up first, but his legs were still shaking. Sum's body struggled to keep its balance as he sways back and forth like a drunkard. Rock took his time getting up. He got on his left knee and pushed himself with the right leg.

Sum lowered his body and charged at Rock. He pulled his right arm back while keeping his fist parallel to his shoulder. Rock instinctively moved his left guard to his liver. "Rock dodge it!" Dawn yelled out, but it was too late. Rock got hit with a clean shot to the face. Rock was too busy looking at Sum's left arm, allowing Sum's right fist to travel in an upward arch, flying over Rock's blindspot and hitting him. The baby wailed at the sound of impact.

Blood and a tooth flew out of Rock's mouth after getting blasted by Sum's downward swing. Rock's head flew back and his body fell to the ground and sank deep in the snow. Sum turned to Dawn. His cold gaze penetrated through Dawn's coat and into her chest. She got her answer.

Before Sum could take another step, Rock rolled on his belly and grabbed Sum's foot. He looked at Dawn and said, "I love you, Dawn. But it's okay if you don't love me back. Just don't love someone like him." Blood was leaking out of his nose and mouth.

Sum kicked Rock's hands off his ankle, "And I thought you could be of use for our Chief." He walked over to Dawn, "Let's go."

"No," Dawn said, but Sum did not hear her because of a large explosion erupting in the middle of the town. Fire rise to the sky. The light and heat from the flames lit the night and brought warmth to the cold night.

The warm orange light blanketed Dawn's face. Sum looked at the explosion with a panicked expression. "No, no, no!" He cried. He tried to run back to the town, but he was held back by Dawn. She held his right hand and pulled him towards her. She ducked her head and raised her fist parallel to her head. She closed her eyes as her fist connected to Sum's jaw. A thunderous sound boomed out from the impact.

Some of Sum's teeth embedded themselves in Dawn's knuckle. Blood splattered on Dawn's face and coat. He fell on the snow after Dawn's fist completed its arch. He lost his conscious and his jaw dislocated. The baby stopped crying.

Chapter end