Ark had gone without eating and drinking for three full days if not counting the small pittance of purple berries he had shared with Berry. His body felt like it was on the verge of starvation, and dealing with that insanely powerful being had stressed him out immensely the rest of the way. Though his eyes opened into darkness, he could tell the body that was lying next to him belonged to Prima. Why was she there? Ark didn't have the energy to make sense of it yet, but also felt no need to move away.
Prima wasn't his enemy.
Ark knew this by the very merit that he was still alive. She was also eventually going to be one of the many mothers of his future goblin children. Ark couldn't afford nor wanted to hate Prima over a problem he was the one to cause in the first place. So, he draped an arm around her body and pressed his body against hers. If he was going to die again, it was nice that he wouldn't be alone this time.
While gritting his teeth as his stomach rumbled in protest over a lack of nutrition, Jewel had convenient timing when it came to visiting Husband in the breeding cavern. She knew Prima was lying next to him, and in fact had been patiently waiting for her to collapse after having stayed awake on vigil for days until the Great Protector had come and gone.
"Husband?"
It took effort, but Ark could still speak.
"Jewel. Are you and the other goblins okay?"
"That Jewel question! Husband not eat fire meat in many days. Want Jewel bring fire meat for Husband eat?"
"Is there any point to feeding a dead man?" Ark asked, not knowing what came of the matter after he said his piece to the immeasurably powerful being.
"Husband listen Jewel. Great Protector let Husband dig wall with magic stone. Husband not use magic without Jewel see. Have topaz stone also."
"..." Ark exhaled. "I'm… not going to be killed?"
"No. Husband still want die?"
"Not anymore if I'm allowed to dig the wall in Berry's cave-hole with magic. But, I might really die if I don't get something to eat and drink soon."
"Husband not die before come back. Jewel bring fire meat, stream water."
"Thanks, Jewel."
Jewel departed from the cavern, returning first to her room to grab her bow and arrows and an extra waterskin. Husband no longer wanted to die, and that was the best news to happen in the last couple of days. She was elated that the Great Protector didn't kill Husband, and that he would probably be willing to waste seed again with Jewel after he ate. Her fuckhole had felt itchy and she wanted to spend time with him again simply because he was Husband. Her curiosity about how he would use magic with the topaz stone might have been third on her list of reasons for wanting to make sure he lived.
Lily had passed by the breeding cave as well in time to see Jewel running out of it. Peeking in, she saw Husband lying down next to Prima. That was something she wanted to do very much herself, and she felt a bit jealous seeing Ark holding Prima the way he would any goblin after giving them big seed..
"Husband?"
"Lily?"
"Lily lay with you?"
"Yeah."
Lily got down onto the ground and pressed her runt body against Ark.
"Prima…".
"I know." Ark answered without letting Lily explain. "Jewel told me, and I figured out the rest already."
"Saw Jewel leave."
"She offered to bring me something to eat."
"Lily also want Husband eat. Not worry Berry. Last two days Lily hunt rabbits for Berry and Diana eat."
Ark rolled over and gave Lily as much of a crushing hug as he could with his diminished strength.
"Thank you, Lily."
"Husband… give big seed goblin tribe again?"
"Once I get some food and water in me, I'll get back to giving seed again."
"Not say big seed or cursed little seed."
"Keep it a secret, okay? But I can't give anything but big seed."
"Husband trick Prima and rest of goblins?"
"Yep."
Lily giggled.
"Lily not tell. Keep Prima trick. Great Protector listen goblins. Goblins talk about Husband care."
"Now, now. I know Prima was just doing what that thing probably commanded her to. I wasn't really angry at her for saying no to my using magic. But I'm a stubborn person, Lily. Humans care for their children, and I'm no different, even if the children you all give birth to will be goblins. I can't help being human any more than you all can help being goblins. Isn't the whole point of me being here to help bring many more goblins into the world? Shouldn't they all have a chance to be strong and healthy?"
"Husband really want make goblin tribe strong?"
"Can't call myself a good Husband or father if I don't want my kids to be better than I am."
"Lily also thinks that. Want strong ones never be runt. Be big strong ones like Diana."
"I'm sure they will be. But even if they turn out to be runts, then they just have to be clever instead. It might even be better if they are."
"Still rather have big strong ones." Lily said stubbornly.
"Well, if you don't have big strong ones this time, I'm sure there will be more chances."
"Husband keep give Lily big seed until have big strong ones?"
"I'll give you all the seed that can fit inside your body."
"Mm… Lily like idea." She growl-cooed pleasantly.
"Lily isn't the only one who likes that idea." Ark said as he kissed the top of her slightly less matted hair.
Ark continued resting in the cavern while Lily filled him in on most of the goings-on he had missed over the last three days in goblin-home, and how she, Jewel, Berry, Tree-chopper, Bone-taker, and Mushroom-picker were all prepared to leave if he had died because of Prima. As far as goblin friendships went, which historically weren't very far at all, the six of them had become pretty friendly now.
That surprised Ark considerably.
"I will pick Bone-taker and Mushroom-picker next."
"Want Lily tell both clean body?"
"That would be nice, but you don't have to do it right now."
Lily, like the other goblins who have been able to meet with him, simply enjoyed spending time being next to their Husband. Jewel had returned with food for him and herself along with some fresh torchlight. The meat was yet another burnt leg of something, but Ark didn't give a shit what it was. He went at it like a goblin, for lack of a better description, and his healthy appetite was respected by both Jewel and Lily.
Jewel also handed over a waterskin with fresh water taken from the stream where she had hunted earlier in the day. Jewel knew Lily had been hunting rabbits for Berry, so she only bothered to hunt for enough to eat for herself and Husband.