2 days after Bobole's death, the air is cold and fog rolls the city and fills the streets with a cold blanket. A sleepy Chunder rubs his eyes as he wraps a blanket tightly around his body while sitting atop a barrel outside the Glassworks. Occasionally, there's the sound of longshanks opening their shops and all the chatter that goes with it. Why did the Queen pick HIM to guard the new goblins. HE was a Thistletop, he didn't even LIKE Seven Tooths who clearly had MORE than seven teeth. At least his clan name made sense. He sniffed his now running nose. Wasn't that just his luck- sent to guard and doomed to get sick. What a rotten day. He should just go inside and sit by the fire instead of sitting out in the cold mist for what? For WHAT? He shifted his eyes to the road. A small four legged shape was coming. He was hungry and this town had an annoying amount of stray dogs. Stupid goblin-biting, barking... If it barked, he'd slit its throat to end the painful peel. His head was still aching from the Queen's bonking. Why had HE been bonked? It wasn't fair... It was a medium sized dog with long yellow hair. The morning sun was obscured by the think mist but this dog's fur seemed to catch the light and amplify it. It stopped in front of the glassworks and turned towards it - no, towards him. Oh great, he really was going to have to fight. What a bother, he just got warm. The dog had a large red book in its mouth. It sighed and slowly began to approach. In a flash, Chunder had his shortsword drawn, throwing off the blanket like a cloak. "Tsh!" he hissed. "Now I'm cold! Maybe I should wear you like a cloak while your meat fills my belly!" The dog didn't flinch. Instead, it carefully put the book down. It regarded Chunder with a familiar annoyance. "Look," it said in a deep sonorous voice. "I don't really want to be here doing this but here I am as my mistress has commanded." Mistress? Commanded? Well, Chunder certainly knew what THAT was like. "Do you know where I can find Bobole's "friends"? I know I'm in the right place but it seems like I'm not sure where exactly to deliver this thing." Chunder narrowed his eyes. This dog was talking. Dogs can talk now?! How annoying. "Bobole is dead," he responded shortly. "Got killed and pinned like a squirrel." The dog rolled his eyes at this. "I know. Obviously, I know because he told me to deliver this and he was dead when he did so!" Chunder jumped back at the sharp admonishment, gripping his sword more tightly. The dog sighed and sat, annoyed but not threatening - well, as much as a dog could not threaten a true blooded goblin. Chunder shivered at a cool breeze that his his bare arms. "Are you dead?" "No, I'm an immortal servant of the Dawnflower." "Then why are you a dog?" "Because if I walked around like an archon people would freak out or lose their minds or something. Could you -" "Do you eat goblins?" "What? No! You're disgusting and foul. I wouldn't put you in my mouth unless commanded and then I'd have to gargle holy water for a century to get rid of the bitter taste!" "You sound grumpy like a chief with a crotch rash." The dog didn't answer but sighed long and hard. Chunder thought her heard the dog mutter "dammit, Bobole". "I'll deliver it, Glowing Grump Dog of Dawn Flowers...that's a stupid name." "Well, Glowing Grump Dog is only moderately less insulting than Char-char." He picked up the book and padded closer to Chunder, who flinched. "Tak' da 'book, 'oblin," the holy servant mouthed around the text. Gingerly, Chunder took the book. "Now, make sure this gets to Bobole's friends or..." he paused. "Or I'll eat you, even if it means gargling holy water for a century." This caused the goblin to wince and jump back with the book as a shield. It seemed to the archon that, perhaps, he was overstepping his bounds a little with this next bit but in for a pence then in for a pound. "And...if you aren't good, I'll eat you. I eat bad goblins that don't do good things... because...it is the will of the Dawnflower." Chunder quaked and peaked around the book. "Wh...wha...what if I do a bad thing on accident?! Like...biting Scummer when he takes the last leg!" The archon considered this... "Well, I mean, I won't eat you every time if you say you're sorry. Yes, you will do bad things sometimes but you should apologize. If you do bad things and you don't make amends for them, I'll have to come and deliver a swift bitey justice." He made a few snaps to punctuate his point. The goblin looked near to wetting or defecating himself and the archon began to feel badly, not to mention he had no desire to smell soiled goblin. "Well," he began as he stood. "You have your mission. Repeat it back to me, goblin." Chunder stood on quaking legs. "B...Bring the book to Bobole's friends....B...B...Be good or get eaten by the Glowing Grump Dog. S...s...say you're sorry or get eaten by the Glowing Grump Dog." It wasn't exactly what the archon intended but... He nodded. "The dawn brings new light, little goblin. Every day aspire to do good or..." He snapped at the air. "Swift. Bitery. Justice." He gave a final nod and ran off into the fog away from the glassworks. The terrified goblin opened the book, fearfully. Inside were the strange markings of words. He swiftly closed the book, lest his thoughts be ripped from his skull. He swallowed hard and began to walk. "The Dawn Flowers' dog...Char Char the Glowing Grump. D-d-deliverer of swift bitey justice..." Chunder seemed in a trance as he chanted and walked. "Bring Bobole books. Be good. Say you're sorry....or get eaten." He peered at the book. "Bobole...The Dawn Flowers'. Glowing Dogs..." What a bother... Why did HE have to deliver holy books?
