My name is Guylo. I’m eight years old. That’s right. I’m a full blown adult now! Of course I haven't had my festival rites read yet. But that doesn’t bother me. Not anymore. Nope that’s because I get to leave the Village without scen cream!

They must think I’m special. Or... well, maybe not super special, since I've heard a lot of my buddies are going too but still this is a big deal. Everyone has been chattering since the chief announced it last night.

‘An ally of the Goblins who lives amongst the humans.’

Such a thing should be impossible. It’s unheard of. But the chief can’t lie. And he said it would help us recover the traditions of the tribe. At that point how could anyone say ‘no’?

I follow the group leader through the maze of tunnels. This area feels new, the ground is still soft and warm. It branches off from the main entrance it seems. Quickly we arrive at an inverted T in the tunnel and each of the group peer up at the night sky through the hole.

"Hurry up, hurry up." The Squad leader says urging one of the front most Goblin upward.

The elder nods and scrambles up the hole carefully. Arriving at the top he gasps.

He really gasped!

Was the surface so amazing that even a veteran would be amazed?

I took a place in the line as soon as it began forming. I was the third up. The third gasp.

Around the hole there was a pile of stones and a large tree trunk but other than that it was barren for a few hundred feet in every direction. It’s strange, but even stranger is the human building in the distance.

I’ve heard about them. They, like us, build houses from nature. Other than being more violent they seem to be fairly similar to goblins in my opinion. They also seem to require a lot of materials for their homes.

Our job is to drop small pebbles into the ground at equal distances.

It’s easy. I felt disappointed at first but then the Chief’s daughter and Goin appeared and praised our group. They said this work was only for the strongest and smartest of the village. That this work would lead us goblins to new heights.

And from Goin’s description it really would. It could lead to growing food? It’s a crazy thought. Sure we harvest nectar from dirt sows but this is totally different.

I return to work more excited after that.

Drop a seed take a step, drop a seed take a step.

We made a song but the group leader yelled at us not to be loud. The humans are sleeping apparently.

As we neared dawn the work was finished and we began to walk back towards the hole.

Only for a drowsy human to appear.

He walked casually towards us without fear or any sign of ill intent. Still many of my brethren began to grow tense.

I understood though.

This is our ally who lives amongst humans.

It was almost like I could feel it. This person resembled the forest around him. In reality he is probably more creature than human.

"Thank you for your hard work. I hope we have success and I hope you enjoy your meal."

The man says only those words and then turns back towards the fallen stump in the distance.

‘Meal’ I couldn’t help but ask in my mind.

But returning to the tunnel my sense of smell immediately pieced it together.

I was the last one down and the last in line around the wide pot. Goblins gulped down soup like water and sighed loudly with puffs of steam blooming from their nostrils.

My anticipation was growing exponentially. This food must be something special!

Maybe life really will change for the goblins!