Summoned and Unwanted

“The children are scared of you because the adults scolded them to act respectfully. But those two children wanted to bring you the food.” Iris said while looking at the food in her hand. She looked nervous and uncomfortable.

“Scared?” *Munch* “I only eat cooked meat now.” *Nom nom nom* Lupa said while chewing with a smile on her face.

“I saw the two children looking at you as if they knew you quite well. Didn’t you tell us how you had no friends this evening?” Ester questioned.

“I-I’m sorry. They are trouble makers. It all started when a rabbit followed me to our cave... but the adults didn’t like what I did. The rabbit was kept as a pet after all the children started crying and begging not to kill the cute animal.” Iris looked a bit sad.

“After what happened, those two love to follow me secretly and ask why I talk to plants or what I am doing. Sometimes they ask when I will bring another rabbit as a pet.” Iris then took a bite and cutely chewed in a flustered manner.

Ester chuckled and approached Iris. “Now that I have a good look at you, your face is cute. Please don’t be nervous around us. We are sisters for life now. ” Ester gently pinched Iris’s cheek.

“O-okay, s-sister.” Iris smiled, revealing a pair of cute dimples. A blush appeared on her cheeks after she felt very nervous. Other than talking with her father, this is the longest day she spent talking to another female and male in one day in her entire life.

“You had a long talk with your father, yes? Did your father decide on what to do next?” Ester asked.

.....

“Y-yes... my tribe will collect the strange mushrooms and strange flowers in the cave tomorrow morning, but... my tribe is going to split into two.” Iris looked sad. She believed it was all her fault, but the truth is different.

A few of the goblins wanted to remain here for a few weeks. This is the place where their loved ones passed away, and they wanted to mourn. After the second group spends a few weeks, they would travel to regroup with the leading group later.

Most of those who decided to stay are the old ones of seven years old and above. The young generations agreed to follow Vincent’s words and find a better place to live without humans.

“My... my father will lead the first group where Vincent told us to go. The other will follow later.” Iris continued feeling guilty.

Lupa frowned and waved a piece of meat while lecturing, “Eating meat means its happy time. Don’t be sad. A pack has to move on even if they discard the weak ones. Your father will lead the strongest of your pack while you become the sister of a stronger pack. ”

*Munch* “Why are you sad when you are joining my pack? Only the strongest pack has the best girl Lupa in it.” Lupa boasted and munched on the meat at the same time.

“Sister... sister Ester, right? W-what does best girl mean? Goblins don’t have best girls.” Iris felt confused with the best girl self-proclaimed title mentioned by the cheery wolf girl.

Ester giggled and very quietly whispered in Iris’s ear. The goblins were making a ruckus as they ate. Thus Lupa couldn’t hear Ester’s words.

Iris blushed and muttered before leaving in a hurry, “I-I-I will get something to eat. I-I need to finish the healing mix I am making for Vincent.”

“Hehe. Ester, don’t blame me if I eat all the food.” Lupa eyed the large juicy bear meat and cut another slice with her claws.

*Sigh* ‘This hungry wolf only knows how to eat food. But at least Lupa left the healing matter in Iris’s hands.’ *Sigh* ‘Well, then again, Lupa wants to help spread the healing mix all over Vincent’s body.’ Ester thought while staring at Lupa, stealing her portion of the bear meat.

“Eat my portion too because you need to pull the cart tomorrow. After I found my sword, I collected some vines since I didn’t have a rope. Pulling in white wolf form will make us travel back quicker.” Ester informed.

“Hehe. Then I need to eat more food.” Lupa didn’t miss the opportunity to seize an extra portion for herself.

“Yeah yeah. I am going to get another piece.” Ester left Lupa eating alone. She went to ask for another portion and met with Iris’s father.

One word after another, Ester learned a lot about Iris from her father. Ester learned how Iris wasn’t too good with others. Furthermore, Iris would sometimes stutter and become shy when talking to someone.

However, her father was surprised at how brave and selfless his daughter acted to save her tribe from the grizzly bear attack. He never knew the timid Iris could act so courageous.

“I am taking care of Lupa, the one with wolf ears and the appetite of a beast. As she is happy under my care, so will Iris. So don’t worry about your daughter. I will look out for her.” Ester promised.

A while later, Iris approached Ester and Lupa. She informed them how the healing mix with every beneficial herb she had of was finally ready.

Vincent was on the ground in the deepest part of the cave. Beside him were a lot of baskets made out of sticks. Inside each basket was a different looking herb or mushroom.

Iris flustered and looked away the moment Lupa excitedly started undressing Vincent. Ester chuckled and recalled how Iris was acting quite similar to her first time watching Vincent stark naked.

“Sister Iris, please show me what to do.” Lupa held the mix of herbs in her hands, but the combination was composed of dry crushed ingredients. It couldn’t be spread as she thought it would.

Iris flustered and said while facing the other way, “C-chew. We need to chew the mix and spread it all over.”

Lupa placed the crushed herbs in her mouth and chewed. A frown soon appeared on her face. “Ugh... it tastes very bad. Sisters, I take it back! Please help me.” Lupa waved the flag of defeat. Not only did the mix have a horrible taste, but Lupa’s hate for plant based food increased.

“I-I can’t...” Iris nervously declined.

Ester placed her hands on Iris’s shoulders and asked, “Iris, do you like Vincent?”

After a short pause, Iris silently nodded.

“What did Vincent tell you about being with us?” Ester asked next.

“I-I can choose what I want to do.” Iris held her hands together and fiddled with her fingers nervously.

“Lupa and I promised Vincent to become his wives. Vincent told me how he only cares about a family built on trust. A family that helps each other when in need. So Iris, what do you want to do? What do you want to be?” Ester gently said to help Iris decide on what she wanted to happen in her future.

*Gulp* “I-I want to be one too if... if Vincent wants me...” Iris managed to say after mustering all her courage to speak.

*Gulp* Iris decided to turn her head slowly. Soon, the pair of purple eyes saw Lupa on Vincent. She was smearing the healing mix with a face contorted from disgust. Lupa poked her tongue from time to time.

Iris turned her head back and covered her embarrassed red face. “I-Its too much s-skin...” She stuttered.

“Iris, I know how it feels because I acted like this. It would be best if you didn’t suffer as I did. So I want to help you with what I learned from my past mistakes. All I needed to do was to muster my courage and stop feeling embarrassed and shy. ” Ester didn’t want to force Iris to do something she didn’t want to do, so she decided to change the approach.

Ester reassuringly nudged Iris’s shoulders and asked, “Can you help us after we cover what is making you feel embarrassed? Take the first step slowly. How about we leave the arms... no baby steps would be better. How about his hands?”

*Gulp* “O-okay.” Iris agreed.

Sometime later, they finished covering Vincent to promote healing and let him relax.

Later, Ester, Lupa, and Iris lay on the ground near Vincent.

Lupa couldn’t sleep beside Vincent because of the smell. She took out her small secret pouch and took a whiff of Vincent’s hair inside to help her sleep.

Ester turned, facing Iris after she started feeling embarrassed by Lupa’s perverted actions. She asked Iris how she was feeling, and after hearing, “I am fine.” Ester closed her eyes to sleep.

Iris didn’t know why her heart was still fluttering, and her body was slightly hot. She raised her hands next to her nose and took a whiff of the smelly scent of the herbs.

‘Will Vincent hate me for touching his hand without asking?’

‘Ester is right, but I can’t imagine Vincent liking me back... I’m a gray hobgoblin that brings danger. Vincent would stay away from me even if he said to become a family...’

‘But what if Vincent talks to me and asks to become my friend even if I bring danger to him... will Vincent still at least want to become my friend?... ‘ Iris negatively pondered endlessly. She couldn’t sleep.