CHAPTER 220: HOMECOMING

For a moment, I just watched—the slow rise and fall of her chest, the calm that lingered on her features even in sleep.

Gently, I brushed a strand of hair away from her eyes. The movement stirred her, and her lashes fluttered before her eyes blinked open. When she saw me, her drowsy expression vanished.

"Chief!" she gasped, sitting up so quickly the mat rustled beneath her. Then, without hesitation, she threw her arms around me. "You’re alive!"

I chuckled, wrapping my arms around her in return. "Why? You thought I was dead?"

"I didn’t know what to think," she admitted, her voice muffled against my chest.

I smiled and tightened my hold for a moment. There was something grounding about the way she clung to me, as if she was afraid I’d disappear again if she let go. Hearing her voice, feeling her warmth—it stripped away all the fatigue and tension I’d been carrying.

For the first time since the fight with Jael, I felt at ease.

I heard footsteps echoing softly through the tunnel outside my chamber. I turned toward the entrance just as Thok appeared, his broad frame filling the doorway.

The moment his eyes met mine, they widened in shock, and then his expression broke into pure excitement.

"Chief is back!" he shouted, his voice booming through the cave. "The Chief has returned!"

His yell carried through the tunnels like a signal flare. Within seconds, I heard the pounding of feet—more voices rising in disbelief and relief. Thok rushed in first, followed closely by Flogga, Narg, Gobbo, and the rest of the clan.

Zarah, startled, tried to pull away from me the instant Thok’s voice echoed my name.

But I wasn’t ready to let her go just yet.

I tightened my arms around her, holding her close, and she went still again. By the time the others filled the chamber, she had buried her face in my chest, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

Flogga, however, didn’t even flinch at the sight. She stepped forward, her expression calm, her voice steady.

"How did it go?" she asked, completely ignoring the fact that her granddaughter’s face was pressed against me.

Typical Flogga—always straight to the point.

"I won," I said simply, the words echoing softly through the chamber. "They’re all gone."

Flogga tilted her head slightly, her sharp eyes narrowing.

"Meaning?" she asked, her tone calm but probing, while Thok and the others leaned forward, waiting for me to elaborate.

"Meaning," I said, straightening up a little, "I dealt with them. Completely. Jael’s clan has fallen—and I’ve taken control of what’s left. It’s ours now."

For a moment, silence filled the room. Then Flogga drew in a quiet gasp, her usually composed face breaking into something close to astonishment.

Narg went still, his staff trembling faintly in his grip.

The others just blinked at me, confused by the weight of what I’d said until Thok turned to Narg, frowning. "What... what does that mean?"

"It means Chief won," Narg said, his voice low at first but rising with pride as he looked around at the others. "It means the enemies who have been troubling us for moons... are gone. Completely defeated!"

A stunned hush fell over them—then, like a spark catching dry leaves, it spread.

"Chief won!" Thok shouted, his voice booming with excitement. "Chief won!"

The others echoed him, their cheers filling the cave. Some stomped their feet, others raised their fists in celebration.

I couldn’t help but smile. Their joy was raw, genuine, and after everything, it felt... earned.

The goblins erupted into cheers, their voices filling the cave until it trembled with the sound. Some jumped, others stomped their feet, and a few banged their weapons against the ground in wild rhythm.

"All hail the Chief!" Gobbo roared, swinging his axe above his head.

"All hail the Chief!" the others echoed, their voices rising in unison, laughter spilling out between shouts of triumph.

I couldn’t help but laugh with them, watching the chaos unfold. Their joy was infectious, their relief genuine. For once, they didn’t look like beaten creatures hiding underground—they looked like a clan again.

"Chief did it all by himself!" one of them shouted.

"Chief is so powerful, he can do anything!" another added.

"Chief is awesome!"

The chants grew louder, overlapping until it was hard to tell who said what anymore. I let them celebrate, standing there and letting the sound wash over me. Their praise didn’t just feed my pride—it reminded me why I was doing this in the first place.

Then Flogga’s voice cut through the noise, calm but firm. "What about the fox?" she asked.

I glanced at her. "She followed," I said. "She’s back at the enemy base, keeping watch over the surviving goblins."

Flogga frowned slightly, crossing her arms. "Is that wise?" she asked. "Leaving that creature with them? Foxes aren’t exactly known for their loyalty."

"It’ll be fine," I said, my tone firm but reassuring. "She wouldn’t dare do anything stupid."

Flogga didn’t look entirely convinced, but she gave a small nod and said nothing more.

Around us, the goblins were still celebrating—laughing, shouting, stomping their feet in excitement. Their voices bounced off the cave walls, filling the air with a kind of chaotic joy that was almost refreshing after everything we’d been through.

But as much as I wanted to let them enjoy it, there were still things to be done. Time was moving, and so were we.

"Alright, everyone, listen up!" I called out, raising my voice above the noise. The sound of cheering faded almost instantly. Every head turned toward me, eyes alert and expectant.

"We now have a new base," I announced. "Bigger, stronger, and far better than this cave. We’re moving."

A murmur rippled through the crowd.

"How soon?" Narg asked, stepping forward.

"Immediately," I replied. "Gather everything, your weapons, food, supplies, whatever you can carry. We’re not sleeping in this hole tonight."

The goblins exchanged glances, their excitement returning in a different form now—anticipation. They began to move quickly, eager to prepare, their chatter echoing down the tunnels as they scattered to pack what little they owned.

Almost an hour later, the...