Mikael looked down at the now lifeless corpse, unsure how to proceed.
He held his weapon loosely, the head resting in his grip.
Heavy breathing and shoulders shaking, he turned his head towards his companions.
They came walking over, Sophia storing away her slingshot.
"That was quite the show. Everything alright? Didn't look like you got hit other than that tackle." Leon began, after he saw the scratch.
"Leave that, it can heal on its own."
Mikael said, guessing he would like to threat that, too.
"Of course. Hand is a different story, and not that I have some paste for scratches. Or should I wrap up your face?"
His eyes had the same vibes as always, kind and good natured, but now his smile was less radiant, Mikael perceived.
Sophia walked past them, hitting him a couple of times on the shoulder. She began evaluating his fight.
"Solid execution, could have been faster, and after observing the foe your actions would have lost unnecessary moves."
She bent down towards the fallen creatures, taking out her knife and beginning to collect their ears.
When she came to the buried one, she couldn't completely suppress a snicker.
"This is such a frightening way to finish someone off. I mean, look at that" she took a stick laying around, poking into the mushy mess that was one the Goblins head.
"Can you stop that?" Bjorn asked, brows furrowed and already backing of half a step.
"When we killed all these Kobolds you were also okay, what's the problem now?"
"They at least were a real threat, you fought to get us shelter. And most of them were killed fast, not like this. This is pretty over the top."
Sophia stood up from her crouch, handing Leon the ears to store them, before walking up to another intact corpse.
They wondered what she was up to, but she remained silent, raised her boot and stomped in the head.
"If I have only my Shoes as weabon, I may need to be brutal, too. Or should I only do it so they loose not to much blood."
She shook her foot, clearing the bigger chunks.
Mikael was like petrified, and Leon quiet.
He stood there, guessing where her explanation will go.
"You are also a young boy, I get that you have remorse to use such violent means.
But for one, these are monsters, our enemy's. They would have killed him if he didn't retorted. Second he has a blunt weapon, either it breaks bones or it straight rips things of, there is no clean cut. And what he may not now, his approach has also a intimidating effect. When other see how brutal he act, they often enough choose to flee."
She stood next to Mikael, a hand on his shoulder.
"What he did was neither excessive nor unnecessary, but what he deemed appropriate. And I approve his action, and not because I myself got a loose nail."
Mikael didn't expect for this Sophia, who he felt liked him not a bit, to stand up for his action.
She lowered herself down to his ear, her hair tickling his cheek and warm breath on his skin.
"Between us, Iove that move you did. Keep it up."
"Okay, let's forget about that. Mikael, you held your own against four enemies. Quite the feat for someone so young, and to remain standing after that even better. I can trust you more now, without having to keep up a eye tonight."
He clapped once, gathering their attention. We still have a bit of distance to cover, and daylight is finite."
"I also need to process some of my findings tonight. They'd loose to much of their properties if stored too long."
Bjorn said, calmer than before.
"Sorry Mikael, can't put myself in your position, am no fighter. But guess it's also my fault for taking you with us. I presented myself far more confident than I am. I won't question your actions again.
He held out his hand, but saw that Mikael still held his hammer ready.
"Right, I'm between hunters."
He closed his palm to a fist, holding out his arm, and Mikael received the act of reconciliation.
"Was never offended. Thought myself it was maybe too much."
'Still, a great stress reliever.'
They then continued their way back to the cave, no further complications on the way. When they returned, Leon began setting up the fire place, so it had only to be lit. Bjorn made himself comfortble between the stone walls, still visible but sheltert from wind and rain.
He began using a mortar, grinding down herbs into paste, or laid out flower to let the water evaporate before further working on them.
"You come with me!" Sophia said to Mikael, dragging him by his backpack.
"We two here are trying to get some game, we won't be far!" she reported, receiving only a quick hand signal from Leon.
"Why should I come with you? Maybe I have better things to do."
"No you don't. We have shelter and water, so food is next. And one can never have enough. Additionally keeping yourself busy is a good way to handle your mind. I guess your head is still neat, maybe not. So you will debate if what happened back there was okay. And some time away from others is necessary, too."
"I think I'm fine, after all these were just monsters. And isn't our mission to protect Bjorn?"
"It is, but we secured a wide area today and the day before. And if there are only Goblins and Kobolds around, we can get back fast enough."
She held her hand before Mikael chest, stopping his path. "It's perfect if you think so. Keep it that way. Even in the future." her voice had some hardness to it he couldn't understand.
He looked down to her as she knelt down, wiping her hand over some leaves and round pellets.
"See this?" she held one up, giving it to Mikael.
"Are these feces?" he sniffed on it, "Yeah, and still soft, sadly."
"Not sadly, on the contrary. Keep your eyes open for a hare, maybe a burrow. If we're lucky tonights meal is fresh meat."
She took out her slingshot again, and together they slowly walked through the undergrowth, looking for any tracks or signs.
"There!" she whispered. Mikael followed her outstretched finger, and in some tall grass next to some trees a pair of ears were seen.
"A bit to far for a clean shot. Walk over to the opposite side, maybe you can lure it towards me."
"Is it that easy?"
"Of course not. If you behave like a troll then it may notice us. So be silent, no more words. Animals know nature's sounds, so other than stepping on leaves try to keep low."
Her last words were accompanied by hand signs, her eyes glued to the prey.
Mikael then went his way, careful to not trail apart too far, having mostly sight contact with the hare's back.
He nearly was by his position, amazed he was apparently quiet enough. He crawled under a fallen dead tree, before he ripped off a branch he used to support himself.
'Damn.' he thought. He softened his little fall, looking towards the ears that began shacking.
The small head arose, nose twitching and eyes darting to the noise.
Inwardly Mikael prayed that it would not flee immediately, leaving him a chance to make their plan work.
And it seemed to remain. His small stature and dirt covered face concealed him somewhat, so the hare only hopped some paces, nibbling on another leave.
'I hope Sophia did not notice.'
He dared not to stand up, on all four sliding a few meters, until he was in line of sight with her.
After that everything went on fast. Sophia gave a signal, Mikael broke out from his cover and altered his path so the hare would flee roughly towards her path.
It hopped in big strides, and without leaving her position, when the prey jumped again and was in the air, she let loose her tense sling.
The pellet hit it dead center on the chest, and Sophia made a fist bump into the air.
She emerged, and held it up by the hind legs, slicing of the head toet it bleed out.
Mikael also joined, happy their hunt was successful.
"If this big guy here would have escaped because of you, your smile would be gone faster than an arrow can fly."
She said, walking towards the direction of the cave, Mikael following.
On their way back Sophia managed to behead a snake that crossed their path.
It passed before Mikael, scarring him in this moment that instead of backing away or standing still, he stepped on it, pressing down the body.
He remained in that position until Sophia stopped laughing.
"Who's first reaction is to step on that. Haha, my side. You can be glad this thing here isn't venomous. Huuu, you are a weird one."
Still, thanks to that they got enough meat for everyone, the limp headless body dangling down from Mikael's hand.
When arriving, the fire was already started, Leon putting some branches into it and preparing a stone to use as a stove.
Bjorn dried the flowers close to the fire, massaging his legs and fanning the fire.
"Guys, we got some game." she called showing their prey as well as Mikael.
The prospect of meat again they couldn't even get every day back in the village made their stomach growl.
Leon took over the skinning while Mikael and Sophia maintained their weapons.
When evening came, the roasted meat vanished into their bellies and all were satisfied, Mikael addressed what bothered him.
His experience with the Goblins prior was different than today, and they didn't cross much wildlife also was weird.
"My friends before told me the game here got thinner, and hunts proceed often with meagure results."
Even if their success spoke differently, Sophia supported him.
"True, I saw much fewer tracks, many old ones as well. And this Kobold lair... I thought they would gather in larger groups."
Leon nodded approvingly.
"Seldom saw a lone group of Goblin. And they were all slim, as if something either scares away most animals or a greater predator chased these creatures away. Anyway, we have to report that back in Chrysalis. Nodan woods gets already scouted frequently, but maybe we encountered something useful. We have to be more vigilant tomorrow when we go to the other direction. Don't really want to find out if there is a bigger fish in here."