Trouble at the outpost

***MC POV***

Going down the steps of stairs as big as our calves. We see a short hallway with around 5 doors on each side. The walls were also decorated with candelabras so it wasn't that dark underground. 2nd and I, managed to see the door of the room we will be sleeping in. Inserting the key to the door, we opened it.

*creak*

Seeing the interior of the room, I frown a bit as it was smaller than what I thought. It was only a meter wide, two meters long and tall with the floor covered in what seems to be dried plants or even hay (I'll just call it hay). Honestly, it just looks like an empty cellar with hay on the floor. Just a little worst than the place back home, though.

After setting down his stuff, 2nd immediately plopped down on the hay covered floor.

"We...sleep...now...zzz.." Seeing as how 2nd has no problems with the room and immediately got to sleep, I also lied down next to him after locking the door.

"Goodnight..2nd" After saying that I closed my eyes to get some rest.

ZZZzzzzzzzzz...

A few hours later....

*Ding ding ding*

*Diiiinngggg*

*Ding ding ding*

Sitting upright immediately, I crane my head to hear what exactly is going on.

*snoreeee*

Hearing that 2nd was still leisurely sleeping, I smack him on the head, hard.

"Whaaa...." Flailing his arms around, he immediately stood up and got into a combat position.

"Shhhh...Stay...Quiet" I immediately chastised him and now that there's no more snoring sounds to distract, I can finally hear the bell sounds I heard a while ago. This time, it's much more frantic and a tad bit louder.

*Ding ding*

*Dinggg*

*Ding ding*

Quickly approaching the door, I signal 2nd to grab our things while I grab my spear leaning on the wall. Slowly opening the door, I stick out my head to see if there's anything suspicious in the hall. Looking carefully, there were only a few opened doors and nothing else.

Getting out to the hallway, I could hear very faint sounds of people shouting. Hurrying 2nd, I immediately went to the stairs and started climbing.

[These stairs are really troublesome for a kid-sized goblin] I was thinking about how tiring it is to climb the steep steps of the stairs when the sound of chaotic conversations of hobs and a few well-spoken goblins start becoming clear.

"....said this place was well-guarded" "Yeah, look at fences outside, how can so many of those blasted dogs be here?" "I told you so, we shouldn't have gone to this outpost and just went for the other one run by the Fisty Ku-ur" "Whatever, what's the use of telling that to me now?"

Hearing these bundled pieces of information, it looks like this place is being besieged by a large number of dogs. Speaking of these dogs, from this goblin's memory, it had only encountered two types of dogs in this region, which it calls pack dogs and big dogs.

Basing it on the memories of this goblin, the ones attacking this place are pack dogs. Maximum height of a pack dog is the length of an adult man's arm and their faces look like an ancient world hyena but much more tame.

*SLAM*

"Alright, everyone, SHUT UP!" Hearing the sound of the table being slammed took me out of my thinking daze. Shockingly, the one who made everyone quiet was, judging by his features of having longer canine teeth and slightly grey skin, it was a small orc. He was small in terms of a regular orc or so I presume, which means he is still taller than a hob.

"You guys might think of this as due to bad luck or a bad decision but what's important now is to weather through this problem and hold out until those pesky things give up."

The orc spoke out confidently as he rallied everyone to participate in a defensive battle against the many dogs. A little behind the orc was the old hob at the counter seemingly alright with the orc taking charge, which means the orc was part of the security here or might even be the one in-charge this joint. I, however, feel that something isn't right about this situation.

"The first thing we'll do is separate ourselves and do some headcount, while we still have time to spare. First, the little gobs go to the left, Hobs in the middle and orclings, to the right."

Hearing those words, the people (monsters) just looked at each other. A buff hob, almost the same size as the orc, stepped out and provoked him.

"Why u got the say in this place, just cuz u got orc blood u think dat u call the shots 'ere?' Piss off! I bet'chu one of those mixed-blood orcphans who cries for their mommy all the time." While the buff hub was spitting out his insults and attracting the attention of everyone, I turn to 2nd and reminded him.

"Later...stick with...me" Since we can't really escape by ourselves, the next best thing is that we don't get separated. Also, we didn't bring rations because we thought that we would leave immediate in the morning and if this place falls we'll have to go to a farther outpost, so we need this place if we want the family to survive, if they're still alive.

*shouting* *shouting* *table smacking*

The atmosphere was getting more heated as the buff hob and the li'l orc (again, compared to other orcs) continue to squabble. That is until...

*shing* *drip drip*

Seemingly as if running out of patience, the li'l orc drew his blade and swung it simultaneously.

*thud* *thud* *thud*

Rolling three times before stopping was the head of the buff hob who was arguing with him. I grimaced at the thought of a strong meat shield dying as this would only reduce our forces.

"ALRIGHT ANYONE WANNA BE NEXT!!!" Shouting out with his slightly baritone voice the actions of the li'l orc made everyone stunned.

"What'cha waiting for?! Get in line! We need to distribute our forces evenly so that we can last longer!" Hearing his words nobody seemed to object him anymore, although there were a few goblins who had ugly expressions on their faces. They might be the companions of the buff hob a while ago.

Dragging 2nd by the arm, we immediately went to the left side of the feisty li'l orc, who seemed satisfied that everyone was finally listening to him. When everyone was in their places, the companions of the orc counted everyone who was in the lines. Seeing the hob companions of the orc managing to count above the 50s, they might have better education than many here.

" We got 30 goblins, 20 hobs and 6 orclings including me. We'll group into two with 15 goblins, 10 hobs and 3 orclings in each group. I'll lead the 1st one and as for the second group, I'll leave it to my deputy. You can group yourselves." Surprisingly there were 5 other orclings like him although their features were more of hobs but they definitely got some orc traits too like slightly greyer skin or one of their canines were slightly longer. Minor traits which I didn't get to see clearly earlier.

As everyone started moving, I avoided the group that the feisty orc will lead. I think that to boost everyone's morale he'll put himself in the most dangerous position. I moved toward his deputy who was a hob but much leaner, his body type was for those who prefer agility than power.