Holler Chronicles:
He’d already had his grace.
For his first war in the holler, the new goblin, Joseph, snatched a target that wasn’t his. Stole it right out from under one of the others. And this was Territory Wars, one of the most important wars of the month.
Didn’t ask. Didn’t look.
Krypto complained, “Hey GOOBER, that was MY target. Learn to follow instructions.”
Ma pulled him aside, calm but clear.
“We don’t do that here. Pay attention to instructions.”
She let him stay. Gave him grace. Mistakes happen.
Next round of Territory Wars started, and before the plan was even pinned for everyone to see, that same fool barreled in again
Ignoring explicit instructions to wait, ignoring her, ignoring the whole damn clan and the structure they went by.
Ma could’ve kicked him right then, had some of the cousins drag him to the gate and toss him out.
But she hates being the bad guy.
And Pa knows it.
So, she stepped out on the porch, found him sittin’ with his peach tea, and said in frustration:
“He did it again. How hard is it to follow directions?”
Pa didn’t ask who. Didn’t ask details. Didn’t say a word to her in response or even look in her direction. But he heard her and he responded the way that he often does. Just stood up slow, adjusted his belt, the one that meant business, and walked straight into camp and found Joseph.
“Last time you make that mistake,” he told him. Not loud. Not angry. Just final.
The goblin scoffed. “Okay, princess.”
A minute later, he was seen storming out of the holler.
Pa didn’t flinch.
“I’ve been called worse,” he muttered, completely unbothered. Ma stood in the doorway of the cabin and watched him as he walked back to the porch, his boots heavy on the cabin steps.
Then he sat back down and picked up his glass of peach tea like nothing had ever happened, duty done and silence once more.
And Ma?
She grinned.
Just that little smirk she gets when Pa handles business so she doesn’t have to.
“Nice work, Princess,” she said, soft enough not to carry.
(He acted like he didn’t hear her, but she knew better.
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