It had been a full moon cycle since the Goblin Nest was carved into the shaded glen behind the war barn, and in that time, something remarkable had taken root.
The babies weren’t babies anymore. They still tripped over their own feet sometimes and argued about who got to carry the big spell jar, but they also cleared war maps, stacked stars, and started calling out each other’s missteps with sharp eyes and sharper tongues. They were undefeated. Five wars in a row. Perfect streak.
So Ma figured it was time for a little field trip.
“I wanna bring the nestlings over,” she told Pa one evening.
He didn’t look up from the scroll in his lap. “What for? I just got used to no crying around here.”
“Showcase. Let the big boys see what they’ve been missing.”
“They ready for that?”
She raised an eyebrow. “They’ve been steady. Five perfect wars so far.”
That perked Pa up. He looked up from his scroll, interest finally catching in his eyes. “They’re undefeated?”
“Not a star dropped,” she confirmed. “And it’ll give our big guys a breather for upgrades.”
Pa grunted. “Fine. But they better follow directions. And….they’re ALL yours.”
“It’ll count toward our main stats if they win,” Ma added, like it was just a bonus. “And given their record… they likely will.”
“All yours.” He mumbled, going back to his scroll.
When the nestlings crossed into the main holler, they moved like pilgrims entering a holy place. Wide-eyed. Twitchy. One gasped, “That’s a real war barn,” and another whispered, “That’s Pa. THE Pa.”
They clustered together near the sparring circle, fidgeting and elbowing each other like they couldn’t decide if they were terrified or thrilled.
“Look at all the huge bases!” one exclaimed in awe.
One of them spotted the belt hangin’ off Pa’s hip and whispered, “He really wears it…”
Another gulped audibly. “I thought that was just a story.”
A third murmured, “Krypto wasn’t lying,” as Pa’s eyes scanned the group with that same hard stare they’d been warned about.
Pa stood near the war map, arms crossed, the familiar leather belt hanging off his hip like a silent warning. He didn’t smile. But he didn’t scowl either. He studied them all.
“They’re just here for a visit,” Ma said quietly, giving him a pat on the arm as a gentle reminder to look less threatening. “They’ve earned it.”
He nodded once, uncrossed his arms. “You want me to fight in this one? Help ’em out?”
She shook her head. “Would mess up the matchup. They’re undefeated. Gotta keep it balanced.”
He turned slightly, voice low. “Just tryna help out.”
She heard the pride under the gravel and smiled. “You did.”
The war was posted. The Nestlings got their assignments. And then the big cousins gathered around like they were watching the county fair’s hog wrestling finals.
JT leaned on the fence rail, arms folded. “We lettin’ the babies do all the hits this war?”
Ma nodded. “That’s the idea. Gonna show ‘em off. They’ve been doing really well.”
“They’re fun to watch,” he said, and Sloth behind him added, “Let ‘em do one more war after this. Kinda enjoyin’ it.”
One of the nestlings looked up at Ma with concern. “Are we going back to the Nest after this one?”
Before she could answer, a voice called out from the crowd. It was Slaughter, leaning heavier on the fence now, his tone half amusement, half challenge.
“You’ll stay right where you’re at, baby boy,” he drawled loudly, “until we’re finished with you.”
There were a couple of hiccups. Ma had warned them when they arrived that they were to follow instructions exactly as they were expected in the nest, but the two brothers, Ravi and Jatin, had other plans. One went rogue, not liking that he was being bumped to hit a higher target. So he stole someone else’s.
Ma sighed and shook her head after doling out spoon justice. “Now I’m gonna be accused of not raising them right,” she complained. But Pa never mentioned it although she was sure he noticed. They were all hers, he had said, but she also knew that her handling of such situations would be on display.
After Ma had left the camp circle, Nickie took it upon herself to also give the brothers a chastising, although it went in one ear and out the other. One liked to play dumb. The other just simply didn’t seem to care. She was of the mindset they should be tossed out the holler immediately.
“You know how Ma is,” Ellie told her. “Gives too many chances.”
But the nestlings fought like fire. Every spell placed with care. Every troop sent with purpose. They’d trained for this.
They were nervous being on display for all the big cousins, but not afraid.
And they won.
Then they did it again.
Two wars. Two victories. Still undefeated.
And maybe, Pa watched a little longer than he let on.
Final Night of the Nestling Field Trip
It was the last night the nestlings would spend in the main holler, two wars, two wins, perfect record, and they were finally starting to feel proud instead of petrified with the attention and praise the bigger cousins were showering them with.
Which, of course, meant it was the perfect time to remind them that pride goeth before the belt.
The older cousins gathered by the fire, all smug grins and shifting shadows. Ma was off gathering scrolls. Krypto had taken a walk to cool off after reviewing every replay twice. And the firelight flickered just right, long enough to make the trees look like they were leaning in to listen.
Ellie Mae clapped her hands once, sharp and sudden.
“Right then. Story time.”
Nickie leaned forward, eyes gleaming.
“This ain’t no snipe hunting, babies. Tonight? We’re telling Papa Goblin Horror stories.”
That got every nestling’s attention. One dropped his mug. Another scooted just a little closer to Ma’s empty rocking chair.
Looty cracked his knuckles dramatically. “Y’all feel that breeze?”
Ellie Mae dropped her voice low. “That ain’t no breeze… that’s the belt comin’.”
The littles froze.
“You ever mess up a war plan so bad Ma don’t even yell?” Nickie whispered.
A couple of heads bobbed, unsure.
“That’s when he comes.”
“Who?” one goblin breathed.
“Papa Goblin.”
(Dramatic lightning. Somewhere in the dark, a hog squealed.)
Slaughter grinned like he’d been waiting for this all week.
“Y’all know that belt ain’t just for show, right? You think it’s decorative? No sir. That’s generational discipline passed down through leather and fear.”
“Remember the time Looty, Cletus, and RG tried to sneak into the war barn?” Ellie Mae asked sweetly.
Looty groaned. “Aw, come on….”
“No no,” Nickie said, waving him down. “Let the babies learn.”
Ellie leaned in, eyes wide, voice hushed. “They thought they were bein’ slick. Just gonna peek at the scrolls, maybe swap a target. Eavesdrop on Ma and Pa and Uncle Kinxy like Bacon the pig ain’t got supernatural senses. Little midnight mission.”
“They got in, alright,” Nickie added, “but what they didn’t know…”
Eri picked up the thread, slow and ominous: “…was that Pa was already sittin’ in the dark corner behind the training barrels.”
The fire popped. Every baby goblin jumped.
“They said the sound of his belt sliding free was the loudest thing they’d ever heard…” Looty muttered, defeated.
“Well, until they were behind the woodshed,” Ellie finished, and a few cousins oofed in sympathy. “Could hear Cletus clear across the holler.”
“RG didn’t sit right for a week,” Looty confirmed. “Kept wincin’ every time someone walked behind him.”
The babies were huddled up now, big-eyed, clutching their knees. One had his hands over his ears.
Krypto had wandered back and taken a seat quietly behind them, not saying a word, but the smirk on his face said he approved of this lesson plan.
Nickie wasn’t done. “They say if you even think about stealing a mirror target, the belt knows. Just unbuckles itself in the night and starts lookin’ for you.”
“One time,” Alexis whispered, “Pa didn’t even say anything. Just tapped the belt on the porch rail twice… and four goblins turned themselves in, confessin’ to all sorts of mischief.”
Looty piped up from the shadows, voice small. “That second tap echoes in my dreams.”
Then, silence.
The wind dropped.
The fire dimmed, like it knew what was coming.
And just like that… Pa appeared, Ma not far behind him.
Not a sound. Not a warning. Just belt, boots, and that steady stare.
He didn’t take a seat. He didn’t speak right away.
He just stood there, backlit by firelight, eyes scanning the circle like a war map. The baby goblins just stared up at him in wide eyed anticipation.
Then finally: “You fought well.”
The nestlings jolted like lightning had struck the fire itself.
“No foolishness. No wasted spells. You followed orders.”
A pause. A sweep of his gaze. “Well… mostly.”
One of the braver babies, the one with ears too big for his head, sat up straighter.
“Yes, sir.”
Pa gave a single nod.
“Keep it up,” he said. “And you’ll earn your spot here. But not yet.”
Nobody breathed.
Ma just shook her head with a smile. “Y’all’re gonna give ‘em nightmares.”
“Good,” Pa muttered, “Fear builds discipline.” Then he turned and walked into the night, belt swinging at his hip like a period at the end of a sermon.
Krypto stood and stretched like nothing had happened. “Y’all sleep tight now.” Then he wandered off to his own cabin for the night.
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