Orchid once more grew increasingly exasperated by these goblin's foolishness. She wanted to explain to them that she [i]was[/i] searching for monsters and traps, and just happens to know where a few are. But she also knew these goblins were too boneheaded, even for all their complexities, to really understand that. She would've ignored them had Rattleskull himself not come up the rear and apparently share their sentiment, even ordering her to give up one of her shield goblins to help out one of the other crews. And to make matters even worse, a lone dire rat had the balls to attack her group. Was this one just desperate, or possibly one of those strange sentient monsters? Even if the dire rat was just as smart as a beast, even an animal knows not to go up against a horde of hostile and violent creatures. This is why you don't have wolves hunting bears, as her father used to say. 

Hesitation would get Orchid killed, so she needed to deal with these problems immediately. First was the dire rat; it was the closest threat and attacking one of her torch bearers. Frankly, she was more concerned about the torches themselves; the goblins seem immature and cowardly, even in their massive numbers. But she still needed to save them otherwise she or one of her shield goblins would have to waste a hand carrying a torch. Orchid tugged one of the shield goblins next to her, directing him towards the dire rat. [color=firebrick]"Kill the rat an save the torchie. Don't die. You, other torchie! With me!"[/color] Orchid commanded one of the torch bearers who wasn't being immediately attacked to follow her, for she needed light. Then she looked towards the other two goblins. She's loathed to actually give up anyone, and fortunately for Orchid, she had a perfect excuse for why she couldn't. Someone was throwing rocks at the goblins.

Normally she'd think nothing of it aside that now she has to worry about range attacks. But the moment she thought of that something clicked in her head. None of the other monsters aside from the goblins ought to be able to utilize rocks as weapons; most were beasts, so the person throwing the rocks was either one of the other goblins, or a monster with a rock throwing ability. Orchid wasn't sure which one was worse; if it was a goblin chances are they're just as crafty as she is and much be pretty strong to throw a rock that far. But on the other hand, remembering all those strange monsters that attacked her and Crispy before, chances are it's one of those aberrant monsters. Much more of a threat then just pixies and goblins.

[color=firebrick]"Rattleskull it's one of those weird monsters! Dey're here! You two, with me, torchie, behind the shields!"[/color] Orchid had her two goblins raise their shields in the direction of where the rock was thrown, approaching slowly with their shields up. Following the advice of one of the other goblins she crouched low with her shield in front in order to cover her body entirely; and being a small goblin it was easy to do so. She switched from her club to her sling, using the goblin's torch to help her see what was attacking them. The stone didn't go after any of the torch bearers so it stood to reason that the one who attacked them had to be close enough to see the other goblins without any lights. They approached low and slow, but once Orchid saw one she attacked fast; one whirl of her sling and she'd launch a rock right at them. 

[i][color=firebrick]"SMASH!"[/color][/i]

[hider=Stats/Inventory]
Health - Mostly Full
Magic - Full
Stamina - Mostly Full

Skills -
Use Light Equipment (--)
Pacify Animal I (1.0)
Stronger I (1.4)
Crafting IV (4)
Material Analysis I (1.15)
Monster Analysis I (1.0)
Smash I (1.0)

Inventory -
Raw Dire Rat Hide (Equipped)
Loincloth (Equipped)
Stone Spiked Club (Good) (Equipped)
Wicker Shield (Well Made) (Equipped)
Plant Fiber Sling (Loaded) (Slung)
Rawhide Bag (8/12) (Equipped)
[list][*]Hard Stones x2
[*]Herbs x3
[*]Antidote Fern
[*]Fiber Cordage (Average)
[*]Bloody Garrote[/list]
Leaf Sling Bag (1/3) (Equipped to Rawhide Bag)
[list][*]Sling Stones x4
[/list]
[/hider]