Screw keeping track.

Waking up I felt odd.

I didn't know how many days it had been.

The goblin seemed starved which was also a key clue to the "it been quite a while" factor.

It turns out that the eye that was gouged out had been healed as in the goblin had mostly healed to peak condition.

It began to regrow the eye and skin around the wound which looked sicker than the gouged-out version.

Almost zombie-like but I still stared at him in glee it was rather cool it was almost like it could regrow an entire limb with time.

Most of my body was extremely sore and it seems that I have been out of it long enough to piss myself a few times.

I felt dirty so I used a few bottles of water to clean up and change into the clothes I found in the wagon.

Thankfully I didn't crap myself...

The clothes were not so well made and were certainly well used the bottles had also become weaker.

The clothes were also females clothes.

I decided to feed the goblin since it seemed to be more docile feeling a bit bad I fed it a lot of the cans of cat food.

After the rifts opened it was one of the few things left besides the trash left to blow in the wind inside the store looters must have had a field day.

That is with what wasn't trash, dust, or taken by me... I gave him twelve cans before it finally buried its head into its corner and rested.

The goblin was tough but it was weird it didn't try to attack anymore, nor did it attack the people who ripped a hole in the wall and looted the leftovers in the store.

Granted it had been left so long the fellow had his hands free.

I took out a ration and ate it since I too was starved.

Noting that I was impressed with my hideout, No one found me.

I ended up eating a bunch of the MREs with that I laid back down contemplating the structure of things and I passed out waking up sometime later that night.

I fell asleep while the goblin was freely able to move.

I didn't care about it anymore I was just tired and had too many questions.

I mean how can the structures of certain things have changed?

Again waking up feeling a bit odd...

I couldn't shake these feelings in my guts.

looking at my wrist I noticed I didn't have my watch and had no clue what time it was.

I already had a bad skew on time and without a clock, it got worse I now had no clue what day or time it was.

Which in my heart I felt butterfly... but in my stomach, I felt hunger now.

Upon forcing myself to get up.

I thought about my future and what I would do.

Mainly since I needed to finish my plans.

I thought I would continue my experiment with the goblin but it didn't attack me or show aggression.

It had all this time to kill me yet, even though it was free it just sat there.

When I looked at it, it just stared at me like a sad dog waiting for a meal.

I felt an extreme guilt pang through my chest and again that odd feeling swelled in my gut.

Almost as if telling me to change my thoughts.

I am not crazy I left the nails covered and had a few ways to block its mouth.

I just cut all the other bindings around its hands and feet, also allowing it to roam free as I encouraged it to move about.

It stared at me than the ropes then me and repeated that before sitting down.

I then gave it a few ways to escape and an open can of food.

I didn't hide my disgusted look nor did I pretend like we were companions.

This was my apology of some sort or was it my way of getting rid of the guilt?

I guess it was more of a stretch it seemed interested in the can and the can opener so I showed it to open it then gathered my stuff.

Just to address the problem with the can you don't need the can opener but it is a habit for me to use one.

After about seven minutes it got bored of playing with the can opener dropping it the goblin just sat there.

I caught it looking at me.

It's probably thinking we were on equal footing.

The Probabilities that it's waiting to strike like an animal chasing its prey was high.

So what else could I do except speed this annoying process up?

I tossed it a sheathed dagger and the goblin dropped it as if it was a hot potato it looked at me as I packed up my stuff.

I motioned it to pick it up and go but it just stared at me blankly.

It picked the blade up and set it in the wagon like copying me packing up.

It grabbed its can opener as it slouched over and waddled away from me slowly.

Then it went back to a corner and sat down.

It looked at the floor than me and again it just stayed there.

The can opener was not that special, yet it treated It like a new toy it just played with it making the motion of opening a can?

It was sad to me somehow it felt like how I felt lost or maybe confused.

It seemed to have smiled a bit perverted thus I decided on a whim that I wouldn't harm it but that doesn't mean I trust it.

I mean I was going to make it an experiment of gore and pain.

But right now... I don't have it in me instead I can use it like a pack mule.

We sat there and ate silently checking my body I realized I was recovered to a certain point.

The smaller wounds were completely closed and just scars remained although I was extremely sore.

The larger life-threatening wounds were closed no longer bleeding yet, still needed to be wrapped up as.

Figuring It was time to move on and scout out some people or an encampment I finished loading everything.

I have quite a bit of stuff

I froze stiff after turning around...

Looking at the goblin I figured maybe I shouldn't find other people.

It was best not to scare others and especially when there aren't that many survivors mainly because of this creature's kind.

I have no hard feelings about them, my family wasn't killed by creatures...

I was now at a loss for ideas.

When an idea came into my mind a bit evil it was but well it had to be done.

This way I can see my competitors.

I grabbed the goblin by Its arm and drag It along.

It stared at me like a wounded duck with its one eye and almost full-grown eye.

While it ate I smeared it with some stew meat from my MRE and with the old elbow grease I decided.

YEP BAIT!

Bait and pack mule, I got a two for one deal!

I could get it to draw out what was around the area to see what it is I am facing.

Hanging him on the ladder I waited.

It had food to eat and a seat fashioned out of a board and some shirts.

It sat there nicely as it has its entertainment with the cans and the opener.

After about an hour I had a gaggle of bugs and small animals most of what came forth was mainly bugs or rats that were much bigger than they used to be.

Some birds and some goblins came but they all lost interest fast as the goblin was not an interest of theirs.

They wanted easy prey or leftover prey it seems.

Almost all the sizes have changed dogs and cats normally they are cute and lovable.

Now they have certainly gotten bigger and so did everything else.

That was one Question crossed off the list.

What's wildlife like? well, it's freaking crazy!

We found supposed to be normal-sized dogs that are mastiff sized and bigger and other goblins.

The color of a goblin spoke a little about them.

Red was super weak.

Grey had a bit more speed than red but was still relatively weak.

Brown was special they did weird things that I can't explain they certainly didn't fight but commands one other red or grey goblins.

Blue was magicians they could use magic which was neat but they were rare.

I have only seen two of the blue goblins and they used lightning, fire, wind, earth, water, black, and blood magic.

Their smart also the first one had noticed what I did and used me for its gain.

Green Goblins had various things that they specialized in but they normally had a group of goblin followers.

I killed a few green goblins and they are tougher than me it was clear that the perverted goblin liked watching me struggle.

I used them as my go-to for fighting.

They sometimes overwhelmed me making me do a strategic withdraw.

Anytime this happened this perverted smiling goblin made it to the ladder faster than me so we pulled it up and waited it out.

I mean a small group of green goblins, not even a big group of three or four, and I wouldn't be safe.

No big groups oh please no big groups and dogs they are fast and big and strong and toothy!

I got okay at tossing knives as I found I picked up a few.

They were In the wagon rolled up I didn't think I would need them but I am glad I kept them.

They were handmade and had a small shine like looking at them and tossing them felt great!

That Is I am just okay though im not so good that I land a hit every time I can certainly kill a big bug or two out of every group we find.

Plants that had survived have also gotten aggressive as they shot poisons, or were inedible.

I could guarantee the trees were moving...

When it came to rats, rabbits, or squirrel I stabbed them all without prejudice every animal that we came across was extremely aggressive.

bigger, faster, stronger, wilder, and smarter.

We both got comfortable enough that I stopped using this pervert as bait.

This was because on our sixteenth true outing as a team, we got surrounded by five big dogs that were at least two times the size of a normal dog.

Damn hellhound looking dogs I had a battle but it only truly started when I dodged but stepped right into a dog maw.

The bigger dog barked catching my surprise making me lose my chance to retreat.

They all latched on to me with deadlocks they decided I was easy prey for the boss.

That first one though It grabbed my arm biting deep into a wound already there.

I mean come on someone, please tell these bastards my arms are off-limits I stabbed it with my knife as the other two grabbed my legs.

I swung my arm back and was trapped by the fourth dog.

I was attacked and completely immobilized by a fourth dog leaving me wide open for the fifth and final dog which was the boss.

I had my daggers in hand I was never going to make a mistake like dropping them.

I had dropped them once before with a rat and had to sacrifice my arm there also.

It gave me a good bite and I flinched dropping my knives.

I had to struggle with all my power just to get my knife back losing a chunk of meat as it tore a nice mouth full off.

I made sure to never let them go again after that.

Once In a pinch, I had one body part left leaning back I moved my left arm down some.

The dog backed up one step when it went to step forward I yanked hard!

Throwing my head at my forearm I connected with the dogs snout making it reel back in pain.

Either way with my one right arm free now stabbing wildly I forced the blade into the dog on my left leg.

I had no hope when my mind went blank I think one's life is supposed to flash before the eyes but nothing just blank like serenity.

I was just blissfully stabbing wildly in the dog.

When in-between stabs a short green flash passed me grabbing at my belt both my spare daggers on my left were taken.

I draw both blades from my right since the blades are set on my hip above that by a bit is the other.

Likewise, I keep a second set on my left, the reason is in case of bad situations like if a blade breaks, or someone may need an extra set right?

I took time to try to pry the dog off my left leg with a shear stabbing which helped none.

Noticing that I got careless the goblin snagged both those daggers!

Damn it knew I would never be able to trust It.

Although to my sure gape of shock thinking it was waiting till I was weak.

Preying on me when I was at my weakest eh wise little goblin.

I closed my eyes for a split second which felt like ten minutes but it was empty no pain other than the dog bites.

I felt the weight of the dogs on my left loosen up.

It stabbed two of the dogs at the base of the skull killing them instantly leaving only one that was attached to my right leg alive.

The fourth one on my right regained its posture and jumped at me again.

Forcing me to offer up my arm again!

The goblin grabbed the biggest dog swinging on its jaw the dog was forced to turn with its lumbering body it toppled over.

The goblin then took on the biggest one's attention while I stabbed the one on my arm to death it took four stabs to the back of its neck for it to fall dead leaving only the last one.

The goblin fought the biggest dog rustling with it the goblin lost one dagger in its side leaving him with only one.

I let the blackish dog in front of me bite into my leg while I aimed and stabbed its skull where the goblin did and instantly it died.

I followed where the goblin aimed and did the same making no mistake unlike with the dog on my right arm.

The only issue is that I guess it only applied to this one stab.

Yeah, it died although when it died I had no idea I stabbed it wrong and it had a death grip on my Leg!

I learned this the hard way with the dog tightly attached to my leg realizing the longer it is there the tighter it's getting.

Its bite is annoyingly tightening and the bastards dead!

It would not let go, so it took me time to pry it off as I watched the goblin gather wounds it was hit hard being knocked away from the dog.

Its blade got lodged in the dog's side my blood began to boil for some reason.

Instead of trying to finish prying the dog off, I sliced it jaw meat then grabbed its top jaw and bottom jaw.

I then ripped it off my leg.

I saw red as i took steps feeling a bit lighter I crashed forward into the big dog and yelled: "get at him."

I felt like a beast I just roared that for no reason I had no other thoughts but the bliss and anger made me feel primal.

This goblin saved my life so sure I was going to repay that in kind.

The goblin seemed to understand and jumped at the dog's leg slicing with the only blade he had.

I grabbed onto the dog's neck but the dog was so big even my arms couldn't fit around it.

I was on its neck making the angle awkward.

Using the daggers as cliff pikes of a sort to hold on to the mutt it took us five minutes of struggle slicing and stabbing.

I mean just blindly yet, meaningfully stabbing and slicing this dog was so tough that I had to put full force into it.

Although We finally killed it I didn't feel accomplished.

We gathered our blades, but I didn't feel like celebrating still.

I was going to let the goblin keep Its self a trophy and the daggers but to my dismay, It walked over and put the blades back into my stolen sheaths.

I grabbed three of the dogs one on my shoulders and the other two I drug them.

I was sad to walk away from the last two.

I figured that was enough but as if to copy me.

The goblin grabbed the other two smiled like a pervert and followed me rather with a bothersome giddiness.

Its strength was uncanny for such a small frail-bodied-looking thing but oddly enough it's the same as me.

I am a bit thinner than before but look equally frail.

Although at this point, I have nothing but a wholehearted trust in this goblin.

It had a greasy grin like a pervert, and thus that's how It got its name Perv.

After going back to our hideout the new one that is... Since I found us a nice home at the bank.

It is in the center of town my idea was smart because it was a giant key safe and it was mainly just a jail cell inside of a vault.

It had two entrances one leads to a dead end as the building around it collapsed but only air or water was getting out or in.

The second one was to the front of the building where the service is provided by employees.

I could close that side off and have one side open while the cage I am in can also be closed separately.

The bars were close together so nothing big was getting in.

It worked for us, We found the banker pretty close and pretty dead so I took the keys for our new home.

We will still have to get our other gear but for now.

I had shelter and didn't have to travel back to my first hideout immediately.

I skinned one of the dogs chopped it up and made steak sized slabs.

Burning it closer to char like because I didn't know how to cook a dog.

We began to dig in it's not like I didn't have ration packs or more MRE's but eventually, they would run out.

Nothing is guaranteed for us and at this point, we are sitting ducks.

Thus I decided to learn how to hunt better.

I am more of close combat than a range.

My source of food is not in danger but still, if I keep fighting like this I will end up dead.

Now don't get me wrong the dogs were a rather tough fight and especially this time.

Since I was not using all my attention while playing scavenger.

We only survived by luck and sheer will power...

We sat across from each other as we dug into our first dish of home cooking.

Charred dog with a sauce packet from MRE number Nine it was unlabeled but was savory!

At first, it was smooth sailing I felt no real issue or discomfort but halfway threw I began to burn to make me gag and gasp for air.

No, I am not gagging from disgust, something truly burned in my throat the meat even burnt tasted great.

This burn in my throat is not from the heat of the meat or the sauce.

I was beginning to feel pain after the burn sank into my gut.

To be honest.

I do not know what happened or what had I done differently.

I blacked out making no more attempts to ponder my situation.

I had a dream of light...

Bright white light slowly seeped into my body which was odd I watched a light begin to emanate around me.

A translucent Green, My green light absorbed the white as the burning slowly subsided.

The goblin had an ugly looming type of face one of total worry, it poked me a few times which brought me back.

I woke up fully a few minutes later, My body hurt and my muscles felt like fire!

I was determined to finish my meal causing the situation to begin again the fire spread making me realize it was the damn food I am eating buckling over in pain.

I realized that was one of the reasons why but what in the food made that happen?

Would it happen if I ate other things?

it hasn't happened with bugs or small game.

That is with the MRE's either, and other things I have found to eat haven't caused this reaction?

I felt disappointment swell if this continues how will I eat safely...

I wasn't going to be able to get moving if I continued to worry, I ate while I went to the other hideout and got everything ready to move.

At this point, I regretted eating more of the meat although I powered through the discomforts.

I just started to grab the essentials I needed for tonight and what I could carry.

I got back for tonight.

come tomorrow I will get all of the other stuff, it is not that I couldn't get it now it's just that it's getting late.

I continued to process the meat and make jerky steaks I had read plenty of books on how to preserve meat with salt and salt was abundant.

Again I am pondering the constitution of things like salt.

It didn't seem to go bad but unless dissolved was like sharp glass.

I did everything that I could think of to try keeping myself awake after hours of burn in my gut I could no longer take it.

It was dark, I was in pain, I made one plus one equal two and called it bedtime immediately!

I locked the vault door from the inside turn knob I went into our cage locked that and crawled into my sleeping bag then passed out.

The burning pushed its way into my thoughts like a roar at this point, the pain was more like a wave of heat.

My chest tightening with every beat as the heat waves crashed into my body as a whole.

It made me wonder If I would be alright again which seems to be the theme of this hell on earth I face.

Waking up again I found perv laying next to me curled up with no blanket when I saw this goblin I felt it was like my trusty little dog.

I never had a pet so this one made up for that I guess.

Joyfully I smiled then woke It up, Getting up the goblin saw my face.

Without hesitation it ran to my bag grabbing water and brought it to me honestly I was thirsty but how did It know?

Brushing it off as a fluke I drank it and set it down It then brought me a meal an MRE one.

I did not want to waste it went for the meat but it grabbed my hand and shook Its head.

It then got a can of cat food opened it as I looked around and realized It had already eaten two cans but one looked rather dry so I concluded.

The goblin ate dinner after I passed out and waited till I woke up to eat again.

It didn't seem too fazed by the meat so I am going to have to assume it is me alone that is bothered by it.

Heeding the goblins warning I left the meat alone.

i will no doubt continue to eat whatever I catch though just in moderately planned doses.

Pushing the thoughts out of my mind I walked to the meat and saw that the jerky I had set up was about done so it had to be at least a day and a half I slept for a whole day!

I finished the steaks in salt so they will still be good, I packed it all up and decided it was time.

I was going to move on I am in town on the edge of a major shopping district.

I am on the main road out of our town there is a lot of random stores and some buildings that miraculously were untouched.

Looking at this main road I felt small I have never left my town and always dreamed of it.

One day I was going to take this road to my new future.

Now my future is bleak...

My goal was the biggest city near me.

About a hundred plus miles away from me was a nice-sized city it may be more to it but on a map that would be the huge city called Nascal.

Using the wagon I procured I found one shopping cart for me and one for the perverted goblin.

I stacked everything else left in my first hideout into one.

I loaded the wagon then quickly sent it down the ladder using a rope to lower it then I began to travel.

I made quick work of it because the goblin seemed rather alert and I didn't want to find out why.

I put all of it in my second hideout and decided it was time to stop and shop.

Emptying my shopping cart into the wagon I got moving once again.

I know where there is a small shop with bikes here so I began walking to it.

Wagons in toe I chose to take what I want.

Maybe even more than that for in case emergencies.

I had to stack it up in the wagon because the cart was too loud and we had a short battle with two red goblins.

Although the things I wanted were mostly in a bunch of different directions.

I'd rather have transportation and it took about thirty minutes to get there.

I was hoping I could find it with bikes still lined up.

And Bam Booyah!

I found a lot of them lined up some were weak and broke down but I found two!

This one I am taking has thick tires and it's a tricycles style I had no problem popping the chain.

I had no choice but made sure I grabbed an extra four seats.

Anything spare would do honestly.

I got a pump, twelve tubes, patches, treads, and a helmet and chains.

The truth is that this was all that was left for me to get every single one of the others was just trash.

I grabbed one of those bike wagons that kids sit-in for my partner in crime.

Along with a bunch of other things, I didn't need but wanted.

I grabbed four more wagons just for stuff so we had extra space that makes four wagons plus the seat wagon.

Also, the original one I had grabbing links and chains lucky to say I took the ladder so I could use it to link them together.

After taking my time I hooked it up then tied the first seat wagon to its rear like a train that made things so much easier.

I raided the shop a few down which was a general store, and next to that was a sports gear shop.

With I and perv who is behind me now ready to move out, I wanted to make sure we had provisions and as I spotted this sports shop perfect for protective equipment.

I expected everything here to be raided or trashed.

To my surprise!

It had hockey pads and football armor which was better than books as the armor it also had helmets for different sports so I nabbed one of those for each of us.

also, I grabbed a bow and all the arrows, Bow kits, sights, slingshots, pellets, and a bunch of odds and ends.

I can't use it but I will learn there was a gun rack here but it was empty.

It looked as if they were the only thing taken.

I grabbed a few how-to manuals granted they were worn out some.

I took maintenances kits and a few of the golf clubs for me that is I just loaded up with makeshift weapons.

Knowledge is also powerful one must always need it.

if you cannot learn it that means you are not trying hard enough.

Again Color me surprised, these shops weren't all baron wastelands as protection was always needed I lucked out on it, and with that and all the other odds and ends.

I snuggled into a basement to do an inventory check.

After a meal, inventory check, and a short rest I began my trek to the next city stacked with all my treasures.

onwards we go!