"Yes, father!!" Exclaimed Orian excitedly.
The others nodded their heads as well.
"Don't think you've escaped punishment! We'll continue this discussion once everyone is out of danger!" Exclaimed Storm.
Orian's ears drooped a little at the threat."
"Lead the way, Grimm." Stated Storm.
The dwarf took off running as fast as his weight and short legs would allow, with Storm and the others close behind.
Fortunately for them, the previous fighting seemed to have depleted the goblin numbers as they encountered no other goblin opposition as they followed the tunnels.
They continued past the nest growth they had destroyed earlier, the tendrils that once covered the walls, floors and ceilings had withered and almost appeared to be melting.
Covering the floor in a thick slime that wasn't just disgusting to walk through. It was also very slippery.
"Watch your step!! You don't want to lose your balance!!" Warned Grimm.
At that moment, Orian's griffin friend, Quicksilver's legs slipped underneath him and he fell heavily on his side in the slime.
He jumped to his feet and desperately tried to shake off the slime covering his fur and feathers.
"I got some in my mouth!!" Exclaimed the little griffin.
"This stuff isn't poisonous, right!?" Asked Lavander with concern .
"No... Tastes like crap though!!" Stated Grimm.
"Please watch your language around my son!!" Warned Storm.
"I think I'm going to be sick!!" Warned Quicksilver.
Everyone slowly backed away from him. Once Quicksilver regained control over his composure, they continued following the tunnels until they reached a fork in the network.
"If we take the one on the right. We will come up behind the nest." Explained Grimm.
They rushed down the tunnel and it didn't take them long to see the Fleshy growth that the goblins called a 'nest'
It appeared similar to the one that they destroyed before, but this one seemed even larger.
Apart from the regular green skinned goblins, it was also simultaneously expelling some kind of dog like beast that closely resembled their bipedal cousins.
It had a face very similar to a goblin with a large nose, a mouth filled with needle like teeth and floppy ears.
They walked on 4 powerful legs like a wolf and it's feet ended with sharp claws.
What was unique about this beast was the fact that it had no eyes at all.
Instead relying on it's rider to guide them, or it's sharp nose.
"'Sprinters', the goblin version of cavalry. They're birthed in pairs with a unique mental bond with their twin beast that allows them to communicate with one another.
In large numbers, they can even overwhelm a dragon. If either the beast or the rider is slain, the mental backlash causes the remaining partner to go berserk. " Explained Grimm.
Several of the newly birthed goblins ran to their steeds and hopped on their backs, before speeding off to where Storm assumed the second team was fighting.
"We need to hit this thing fast!" Exclaimed Storm.
Storm stepped out of cover and pulled on both breathe organs at once. He fired a highly explosive blast at the nest and struck it dead in the center of the structure.
As the growth began to puff up, it released a shrill shriek that caused everyone to cover their ears before exploding in a puddle of goo.
In the distance, Storm heard several barking growls and snarles.
"Prepare yourself!! The Sprinters are returning!!" Called Grimm.
It didn't take them long to see the beasts. They ran at their group at the speed of a galloping horse.Eager to kill the ones responsible for destroying their nest.
Storm and Dust'an stood at the front, covering their companions with their bodies.
They fired off their breath weapons at once, and the front ranks dissappeared as the flames consumed them.
More beasts however rushed through the flames and jumped at the two dragons.
Storm bit down on a beast that jumped at his face, crushing it's rider in the process.
The creature squealed like a pig and thrashed to break free, but with a heave of his head, Storm sent him flying into several of it's fellow beasts.
After several minutes, the onslaught was over.
Storm and Dust'an had several new scars from where the beasts had clawed them but none of their injuries were fatal.
"What of the second team?" Asked Storm.
"No one is answering my mental call, Storm." Replied Grimm.
Fearing the worst, Storm ran ahead as fast as he could. Much to his relief, he found Aurora and Razor still alive.
Razor's once pristine white feathers were stained red and green from both her own blood, as well as the goblins.
Aurora was also covered in blood and but fortunately none of her wounds seemed serious. A nasty slash covered the side of her snout from where a beast had clawed her.
The Rakasha twins were standing by her feet.
All the soldiers accompanying them were dead and there was no trace of the Dwarven Sargent could be seen.
"Mom!!" Called Orian when he saw her condition.
"Orian?! What are you doing here!?" Asked Aurora.
"It's a long story that we don't have time to share right now!! Are any of you hurt?!" Asked Storm.
"I took a few hits but I can continue! Takes more than a few scratches to kill this old bird!!" Exclaimed Razor.
"Just some scars on my end! Nothing serious!" Exclaimed Aurora.
"Nothing serious on our side either!" Exclaimed Raja.
"What of the Sargent in charge of your team?" Asked Grimm.
Aurora drooped her head and she shook it, before looking at a bloody mess a short distance away.
Storm could barely recognizable the armless, headless torso that had once been a dwarf.
"One of the beasts got him near the end of the battle and tossed him before we could help him.
The other beasts tore him apart before we could reach him." Explained Aurora.
"Damn it! He will be missed!" Stated Grimm.
He looked at what's left of the second team.
"You 4 had best join up with us, we'll take over any targets 2nd team was supposed to take down." Suggested Grimm.
He mentally contacted the captain of their assault and shared the news of 2nd team's fate to him.
"Captain is recalling all remaining teams to his position immediately, he found something deeply troubling. " ordered Grimm.