I jumped higher in the tree, dodging the slashes of the goblin's jagged stone knife as it climbed after me.
Seriously, this was just my luck.
Stuck up a tree while being surrounded by goblins. I had killed a good twenty of them when suddenly 40, or so, more had poured into the fight from every direction.
I couldn't even pinpoint where they'd come from, they just appeared suddenly.
The goblin grabbed my ankle and I used my knife to slash of its wrist, causing it to shriek in pain and fall from the branch below, taking out a few other goblins as it fell.
There was a sight hollow in the branches, which I now perched in, but it wouldn't take long for them to reach me again.
I guess it was just a waiting game.
I'm pretty sure that the twins have reached the loft by now, it's been a good 30 minutes since I sent them off.
That thought was confirmed when I heard a howl nearing my location.
I was relieved for all of a second before I felt a shake and looked down at the base of the tree to see the foul little creatures hacking at the trunk.
"Seriously?! Give me a break for god's sake."
I was getting frustrated by now. I was meant to be in town with my kids and here I was, fighting goblins.
Stilinski. Fucking. Luck.
I saw someone emerge from trees about 40 feet away and sighed in relief, seeing 3 others following them a few seconds later.
I looked down at the goblins and back at the people, recognising who it was.
Scott, Derek, Chris and Peter. Thank fuck.
I waved and saluted them, tucking my knife away as I climbed further up the tree.
I guesstimated the width of the goblin horde and pushed out of the tree, landing into a roll just beyond them, I thanked every deity that they weren't fast enough to pounce while I was down.
I climbed to my feet in one fluid motion, coming out of the roll, and pulled out my dagger again.
They pounced at me, having noticed my new location and I quickly slashed two of the down the fronts, spinning as I stabbed one through the head and pulling the dagger out as I kicked another one away from my side.
"Whenever you puppies are ready! Some assistance would be greatly appreciated, I'm a little outnumbered here!"
I called towards the immobile wolves and Hunter, who were quick to react now that I'd called out to them.
Derek and I ended up back-to-back, fighting the goblins with his claws and my knife. While Scott fought with brute strength and Peter and Chris teamed up.
I paused as I saw the limping one that had returned from chasing my kids. It was creeping up on Scott.
I pulled the dagger from my ankle and threw it, hitting the thing between its eyes.
Scott looked over, shocked.
"You're welcome Scotty-boy!"
I dived back into the fight, back to Derek's and we kept going until there were only a few left.
"Wow, it's actually really good to see you guys! And your timing is impeccable!"
They looked at me unsurely. Scott's eyes went behind me and he was about to move, when I turned and caught the blade which was about to strike me through the chest. I flipped it and pushed the goblin to the ground, spiking the blade through its own throat, where I was now crouched above it. I then pulled the blade from it and threw it at the goblin which had been running up behind the group with its spear raised.
"You should always be aware of your surroundings." I tapped my nose knowledgeably. "It's a good rule of life."
Peter smirked and clapped slowly as he walked forward.
"Nicely done."
I nodded and held out a hand for him to shake.
"It's good to see you Peter. You're looking good."
I looked over at the others and then at all the dead, rotting, goblins around us.
"You think we got them all?"
I moved over to the goblin that had my throwing knife between its eyes, removing it and cleaning both blades before I put them away in their sheaths.
"Yeah. I think so."
Chris spoke and I looked around once more, seeing one trying to crawl away.
I walked over and kicked it once, hard, in the head, making it still.
"Well, I'm glad I got these shoes treated. It would be a pain if I couldn't wipe off all of this blood."
I went back over to the group of werewolves, plus Hunter, and smiled warmly. It was the smile that I knew they would recognise from when I was still Stiles Stilinski.
"You all good? I know you're werewolves and all, but you can still get hurt."
They nodded, saying they were completely fine. All except Scott, who was scratched in a few places.
We started heading back the way we all came, passing through the old Hale house's clearing, where I grabbed my fallen bag and lifted it onto my shoulder.
"So, how did you get a goblin infestation in the first place?"
Peter took great pleasure in explaining that Scott had allowed a hag onto the Beacon Hills territory.
I shook my head at Scott, sighing slightly.
"Why would you let her on your territory? Rather, Derek's territory, because I know that you defer to him now."
Scott looked resolute as he answered, stubborn about his reasoning.
"We don't know if someone's good or bad just because they're a certain thing. We had no proof that she was bad."
I sighed and rubbed a hand down my face, looking at him incredulously.
"Did no one tell Scott how you become a hag?"
The others shook their heads and Chris spoke up, answering me.
"None of us know. It's not in our bestiary."
"Oh, fucking hell, seriously?!"
They gave me surprised looks, probably for my language.
"What? And you do know?"
Scott asked as he looked at me disbelievingly.
I nodded and looked over at Chris.
"You should get in touch with the Clevastine family. Their bestiary has extensive lists on how each creature is made."
Chris nodded in agreement and I addressed them all as I explained.
"You should never ever let a hag on your territory. At your first meeting, if you tell her to leave then she has to, it's by her own nature that she can't encroach on someone else's territory without their permission. But if you say she can stay, then the only way to get her out is by killing her."
"We don't kill if we don't have to. Killing is wrong!"
I looked over at Scott incredulously, seeing the others all shaking their heads at his words. Clearly this discussion had happened a lot since I left.
"Scott, hags are made when a child serial killer drowns."
They all looked at me sharply and I nodded that it was the truth.
"Are you really telling me that you wouldn't kill a hag? Even after they've tortured and killed at least 20 children to become what they are? Some have even killed babies. Would you not want to kill them? Even if only to get justice for the children that they've harmed?"
Scott actually looked thoughtful, which was progress.
"I guess, if that's the person that's become a hag, it wouldn't be so bad to kill them."
He looked like it pained him to admit such a thing.
The others also appeared extremely shocked by his decision, if not a tad relieved. I stopped him and put my hands on his shoulders, making him look me in the eyes.
"Scott. You don't have to kill. But think of it this way. You're not taking a life, when you kill a hag. You're saving lives. You're saving children from being hurt. You're saving parents from having to attend their own child's funeral."
Scott nodded and smiled slightly.
"Alright. Next time we find her, no holding back."
I smiled at him and the others all looked happy at Scott's decision to not hold back when facing the hag.
"Good."
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