Once the two girls regained consciousness, they were in a cage. A very small cage, made of branches lashed together with leather bindings. There was barely enough room for either of them to raise their head, and if they moved, something sharp would poke you in the arm, drawing blood. Many of the branches were covered in thorns about an inch long.

Beyond the bars, several mud huts sat in no particular arrangement around a large fire pit. The squat, ugly little creatures scampered to and fro around the camp, fighting, arguing, or gnawing on bones.

One of them, shorter than its fellows and wearing a muddy red vest, saw that they were awake. With a hiss, it scuttled up to the cage and thrust its spear through the bars.

She doesn't care about that. She searches for Ares, not sure whether they would've tried to take him or not.

Lise attempted to not get stabbed and carefully moved out the way.

There's no sign of the kelpie.

Another goblin saw what the other goblin was doing.

"Greertig, stop pokin' the meat," snapped the second, taller creature. "Ain't no good if all the blood runs out."

"Pah, I was just makin' sure it was tender, is all." The other snorted and spit on the ground, then glared at both girls with greedy red eyes. "Why we waitin' about? Let's just eat 'em already."

"The chief ain't back yet." The taller creature looked at them and a long string of drool dripped down its chin. "He 'as to make sure these things is safe to eat."

They gave them a last longing glare, then stomped back to the fire pit, arguing and spitting at each other.

She mutters a curse word under her breath. She hopes Ares isn't injured, but she knows his leg is hurt. He's probably not far from where they got attacked.

Lise glared silently at them from her cage, feeling helpless at their situation.

"If you are going to cry, please do it quietly," murmured a familiar voice at their back. "Goblins can smell fear. They will only torment you more if you give them a reason." Grimalkin!

Isiea stares up at him. "I'm allergic to cats. Go away."

She was really tempted to say cat. " Thanks for the tip. " She muttered back.

The nearly invisible gray cat crouched by one corner. His eyes were narrowed in concentration, and his strong, sharp teeth were chewing at one of the leather bindings.

"Idiot, do not look at me!" he spat. The cat growled, tugging on one of the bars. "Goblins are not very smart, but even they will notice if you start talking to nobody. Just sit tight and I will have you out of here in a minute."