"You finally crawled out of your hole," Lumberling said, deflecting the gnoll's claws with his spear.
"Human," the gnoll growled in goblin tongue, "why are you attacking us?"
"Oh? So you can talk," Lumberling replied coolly. "Skitz."
With a blur, Skitz appeared behind the gnoll and slashed deep across its back. Blood sprayed. Lumberling swept its leg and drove it to the ground. The two of them pinned the creature with ease.
"Weakened after your last fight, huh?" Skitz muttered, pressing his blade against the gnoll's throat.
"Please! Spare me!" the gnoll gasped. "I'll give you anything you want. Just let me live!"
Lumberling didn't answer.
"I'm a gnoll ravager—the second evolution of our kind! I can serve you! I'll be useful!"
He was desperate now, breathing hard, wounded pride shattered.
Lumberling's silence dragged. The gnoll trembled.
Then, finally, Lumberling reached into his pack.
