Orn stared up as the goblins widened the growing hole in the roof. I wonder how long before they can make it in? He turned his attention to the bodies of the goblins lying broken on the hut’s floor.

Two more had tried since he ran out of arrows. The first had landed in a similar way to the first dying instantly. The second though, bounced off the bodies of the other two. This left it badly injured, but alive. Thinking back to the goblin pulling its broken body toward him Orn tightened his grip on the axe. One swing had been enough, but it was only a matter of time. Soon enough of the roof was gone, or the pile of goblins large enough, and they would be able to pour into the hut. As if hearing his concern, another goblin threw itself through the hole hissing.

It tumbled awkwardly through the air and landed with a sickening cracking sound. Its body shuttered, then lay still. The goblins above were frozen in place silently watching the goblin now lying dead the hut floor. Then, as if the force holding them had let go, they began to tear into the roof again.

“They are slowly gathering on the roof,” Kao said, looking up at the growing number of goblins looking down at them through the damaged roof. “They will probably rush for the hole when they realize they can get in.”

“So I should run, then?” Orn turned to Kao, but she seemed as frozen as the goblins had been. She has been acting strange since this started. She is really worried. I have to keep going. I have to do this. I promised her...

“I guess that would be the best time to make a break for it.” Orn forced a smile he did not feel. “When I run, can you help me get to where the hunters are?”

Kao’s only response was a mechanical nod. She is doing it again.

As if her nod was a signal, two more goblins chose that moment to jump through the hole in the roof. The first landed hard on its side, but the other tumbled onto the pile of bodies and stood up unharmed.

Seeing the uninjured goblin stagger upright, Orn raced forward. He swung the axe, splitting the creature’s head, before racing around the edge of the hut to the second goblin. As he moved, the other monster stood. One arm hunging uselessly at its side, but it opened its mouth to let out a high pitch call. The sound changed into a whistling gurgle as Orn’s axe caught it in the neck. A second swing caved in the goblin’s head completely silencing it.

Orn retreated to the walls of the hut to prevent a goblin jumping on him, but once again they were frozen staring down at him. Then as a group they all turned their heads upwards and let out a shrill cry. The call was echoed by goblins outside the hut and he could hear clawing sounds from all around him.

“They are going for the roof,” Kao said, moving to stand next to him.

Orn glanced a the door. “Should I go now?”

[Kao’s POV]

Finally! Kao could feel the restrictions on her lessening. Orn asked her to help, and now he was getting ready to run. She could still feel her nature limiting her actions, but she was no longer just a puppet!

“Not yet.” She gently squeezed his shoulder. “They are still many outside. You have to wait until they are on the roof. I will let you know when to run. For now, drink your goblin’s bane you will need it.”

Kao cringed as the bindings tightened on her, at her last words. It was not a direct violation of her nature, but the warning was clear. If she overstepped she would be a puppet again.

Fortunately Kao could see Orn was busy digging out the bottle from under the kitchen knives he had shoved in his bag. A quickly placing them handles out again he emptied the bottle, and scrunched up his face a the bitter taste.

The seconds stretched into an eternity as they waited. The goblins on the roof stared down at them eerily unmoving. All the while, more goblins raced toward the hut. The damaged roof was already groaning under their weight, but more were still comming.

Beside her Kao could feel Orn tensing. “Not yet.” she whispered looking around at the goblins still heading for the hut. Just a few more…

Unfortunately, the goblins we not interested in waiting. Despite the force holding them back, the goblins were crammed too tightly together on the roof. Kao watched them begin to squabble ta the edges of the roof. The struggle caused a rippled through the packed group causing two of them to fall through the hole. These fell awkwardly and landed had on the floor.

Not waiting for them to gain their feet, Orn raced forward swigging his axe. One died before its face left the floor. Another was knocked backwards with a large gash across its snarling face. Orn was lifting the axe to strike again when a goblin jumping from the roof nearly landed on him.

Orn jumped back to avoid the goblin, striking it from behind as he backed toward the door. Kao watched him lift the axe again breathing hard. He cannot keep this up for long. Any more and he will be making a last stand here.

Already the goblins were beginning to throw themselves into the hut with reckless abandon. Many hit the floor, but many were rising uninjured. The only thing stopping their forward rush was the force of other goblins landing on those struggling to rise. “Now Orn! You have to go now!”

He nearly jumped at her yell, but he adjusted quickly throwing his axe a the nearest goblin. The axe went flying end over end, before knocking a falling goblin into the goblins closest to Orn. She caught a smile appear on his face as he saw the axe knock them down in a tangle of snarls and claws. She was about to yell at him to keep moving, but he surprised her by immediately turning to lift the board barring the door.

The board came free easily and he threw it toward the rising goblins. Not waiting to see the board to land, Orn grabbed a knife from his bag and raced through the door.