I knew she was serious, and I was stunned by the First Mother's willingness for brutality. The goblin culture was centered around who was the strongest, and it was essential to ensure that the rest knew their place in the tribe. It seemed like the First Mother understood this very well.
"First Mother, Ertil's painting is done," said the Second Mother, bowing her head toward her superior.
The First Mother licked her lips. "Good. You may go."
I quickly nodded and turned to leave.
"Oh, and Ertil, don't you dare lose in your first night challenge, consider your life lost if you do," said the First Mother.
She was now kneeling on the ground, her thighs pressed around Sixth's face, suffocating her. Despite the obvious pain and lack of air, Sixth seemed to be smiling strangely.
I swallowed hard. "Yes, First Mother."
I left the tent with quick steps, leaving only groans behind. Besides the children, the Mothers were the only ones who didn't participate in the night challenges. So, in addition to being the matriarch of the tribe, the First Mother basically had a group of lovers for herself. Not even the chief dared challenge her authority.
Looking ahead, I saw a large bonfire and most of the tribe standing around it. I took a deep breath; first, I would have to win the challenge before me.
The sun was almost gone from the horizon, bathing the village in a soft brown light. I reached the blazing bonfire and stood a few meters back. I tried to ignore the spectators, straightened my back, planted my feet apart, and turned to face the chief.
"I, Ertil, son of the Blood Tooth tribe, greet the chief," I did my best to keep my voice from shaking.
The chief looked at me, noticing the painted markings. "You come bearing the marks of our tribe," his voice resonated in a deep tone that belied his size.
The chief stretched out his green arm, pointing at me, and looked at the crowd. "The marks, not of a boy, but of a man. Tonight, Ertil turns eighteen; he is no longer a child. But!" He raised a finger and paused, "To truly become an adult, he must prove that he is one of us. How?"
"Challenge!" The crowd shouted in unison. "Challenge, challenge!" they chanted.
The chief slammed his spear into the ground. "Then we shall have a night challenge!" The crowd applauded in approval. Several female goblins stepped forward, forming a line, while the rest of the goblins stepped back and spread out to form a circle around them, the chief, and me.
I tried to ignore the fear in the pit of my stomach. I had to focus; this was my moment. I couldn't fail. Like other goblin tribes in the Carnage Woods, the Blood Tooth tribe followed the tradition of the night challenge.
Every night, the adult goblins gathered around a bonfire and had the chance to challenge each other to a hand-to-hand battle in order to prove their worth as potential partners. If the challenger lost, they would be humiliated and lose the right to challenge anyone for some time. If they won, they would prove themselves a worthy partner within the tribe.
The goal was to eliminate the weak and ensure that only the offspring of strong parents survived. Although, over the years, this evolved into a way to determine who wanted to sleep with the most beautiful or attractive goblin, still, goblins never wanted to sleep with a weak goblin, but with a strong one.
The chief spoke while looking at the line of women. "As the shaman of the tribe, Pril should be here to give a blessing for your initiation, but he left early this morning and has not yet returned. So, I will give the blessing."
The crowd grunted in affirmation.
The chief turned to me. "Be strong. Be fast. And above all, take what is yours." The crowd applauded, eager to see the bloodshed.
He leaned in toward me. "It seems you're ready." He patted my back and shoved me. "Choose!"
I staggered forward and looked at the group of ten female goblins in front of me. I was surprised that so many had stepped up. Normally, this would mean they were all interested in sleeping with me, but I worried that they were all just eager for the chance to beat me up.
They were all under twenty, so they were from my generation. At least I wouldn't have to face any of the older goblins. It was my first night of adulthood, and I was expected to challenge someone. Moreover, I couldn't afford to lose, because if I did, the First Mother could kill me and eat me as goblin stew. I had to be careful with my choice.
On one side was Bria, as tall as any male goblin, at 4'1". She was quite beautiful, with smooth skin and a large bust. She was also one of the tribe's most skilled hunters, definitely the best hunter of our generation. They said she had a sadistic streak, which was saying something coming from the Blood Tooth tribe, known for its ferocity.
Bria was known for challenging the handsomest male goblins, sometimes even attractive women, and easily defeating those who accepted her challenge. In the morning, the goblins who slept with her were always covered in bruises and scratches that weren't from the fight.
Bria wasn't interested in ugly goblins, and although I wasn't ugly, I was different, and that was enough to put me in the "ugly" category. So, she definitely just wanted to fight me. She didn't even bother to look at me as I walked past the line of women. We both knew why. She would beat me until I bled if I tried to challenge her.
I looked at another, her name was Lindel. With subtle voluptuous curves, she was undoubtedly the most beautiful of the younger generation. She was also a fairly skilled hunter and knew how to hold her own against all but the strongest.
Lindel bared her teeth at me, her small fangs gleaming in the firelight. That only made me want to challenge her more, but I controlled my lust and focused on trying to find someone I could actually defeat.
After looking for a few more seconds, I made my decision. I raised my finger and pointed. "Pluta."
Pluta wasn't particularly beautiful, but she was a gatherer and, as far as I remembered, not a very skilled fighter. The crowd cheered as I spoke. The other women stepped back into the crowd.
Now, only Pluta and I were inside the circle. Pluta, crouched down, with her arms spread to the sides, her claws trembling in anticipation. She snarled, "So, I should be the weakest?"
...
1203 Words