Saki

  The first thing I felt was pain. A deep, throbbing ache in my skull, like I'd been thrown into a vortex and spun until my body forgot which way was up. I tried to open my eyes and was met with blinding light. My head pounded harder in protest. Maybe I should just go back to sleep... probably Tama's fault anyway.

  

  Tama...

  My breath caught. The memories crashed into me like a tidal wave. I bolted upright, ignoring the stabbing pain as I reached for my head. My fingers brushed over something dry and caked onto my scalp. Blood? Dirt? Both?

  I forced my eyes open again, this time letting them adjust. Bars. Sturdy, wooden. A cage. My heart pounded. I had to find Tama. She had to be okay.

  I remembered the previous night, I had tried to run, to leave everyone behind. It was true that I wasn't thinking clearly, but the shame still sat heavy in my chest.

  I hadn't even considered Tama. On one hand, I knew she would have been fine. On the other hand, I had abandoned her without hesitation.

  I truly am the worst, I thought bitterly as I managed to climb to my feet.

  I took a step toward the edge of the cage and stepped on something soft. I looked down and saw Tera. She was lying on her back, her head tilted to the side. Caked blood and dirt clung to her temple.

  I leaned in and pressed my hand against her chest, holding my breath until I felt the steady rise and fall. Relief washed over me. She was alive. Battered, torn clothes, but alive.

  Stolen story; please report.

  I scanned the rest of the cage. No Tama. No David. My pulse quickened. Which meant David wasn't here either. A small seed of hope bloomed in my chest. Maybe they had escaped?

  "Nya! You're awake! Tama is so happy Saki is alive!"

  The voice rang out, far too loud for my aching head, but I couldn't bring myself to care. I turned toward the sound, and there she was, Tama, standing just outside my cage. Next to her was a small goblin, one of the lesser ones.

  Tama looked down at the goblin, arms crossed impatiently. "Open the cage! Your chief said so too!"

  The goblin scowled. "Quit yer yapping, girly. I know what my chief said, and I'm working on it. Go be a pest somewhere else!"

  I stood frozen, my brain struggling to process what I was seeing. Tama... was talking to the goblins? Like it was nothing?

  The little goblin fumbled with a ring of keys, muttering under his breath as he tried each one. Finally, with a soft click, the door to our cell swung open.

  I gaped at Tama and the goblin, every instinct screaming at me to stay put. Was this a trap? A trick? Or had Tama truly found a way to talk to them?

  "Nya! Good goblin, now go tell Grok for medical supplies, my friends are hurt!" Tama said in a lighthearted, playful tone.

  There was a moment of silence as the goblin stared at her, and then, without another word, he turned and walked toward a large tent.

  The moment he was gone, Tama's expression shifted. The cheerful energy melted away, replaced by fear and sorrow.

  "Saki, it's terrible..." she began, her voice trembling. "The goblins have created a massive horde to fight the undead Lich! Tama tried to warn them against this, but they wouldn't listen! They say the Lich must pay for his crimes against their people..."

  "Wait, wait, wait, hold up! How are you talking to goblins?!" I said, my voice incredulous, my headache forgotten in the insanity of what I was seeing.