The Goblin squad was enjoying their newly expanded corral, each clone now had an igloo doghouse set up just like the first with much more room to run around. Goblin and nugget were already settled into the original house with lemon and the puffy-griffin chicks, Imp and Hob bunked in another at the moment.
Gremlin sat inside the sorry cage in the back of Earl’s workshop, padlocked shut sporting a black eye that was swollen almost shut, he woke up in there with a splitting headache. He had never been hit by Earl before, even with Goblin’s memories he couldn’t recall when Earl had ever hit any of them. Yelled at sure, but never hit. He knew he must have messed up big time for this to happen. He had been in there for the last three days and was thirsty, hungry and absolutely miserable missing Lemon the most. Earl entered the shop and turned the cage away from the wall and unlocked the door.
“Get out and follow me.” He said sternly and walked out the shop.
Goblin was in the corral with the others, the chicks had been growing fast and Nugget was due to pop in days so he stuck by her side. The chicks had grown to the size of guinea pigs and had started talking, it took a few days for them to stop trying to call the adult fluffs daddy and were starting to call them “Uncaw and Auntie” but seemed to grow especially attached to Nugget as she was the one providing milkies. But for the moment they were happy to just run around with their new uncles and aunties, chasing balls and floating dancing stuffy friends. When Goblin heard Earl’s footsteps he got up and headed for the fence standing up to see above the camo netting to see Earl sitting on his back porch next to Gremlin. They seemed to be talking but he couldn’t hear what they were saying, Earl was smoking a joint and even made Gremlin take a few hits. Goblin new he only smoked to calm down when he was really angry or was celebrating something and he knew there was nothing to party over. It was almost funny to watch Gremlin choke and wheeze on the stuff and when the joint was finished he pocketed the roach and headed for the corral with Gremlin in tow. Everyone stopped playing when the door opened and the chicks ran to hide behind Nugget at the sight of Gremlin who plopped down with his head hanging shamefully before them. From the look of his one good eye he was obviously stoned and as oversharing as a fluffy could be was ready to spill his guts.
“Alright everyone gather round and listen up, Gremlin has something to say. Gremlin?” Looking down to his side.
-Gwemwin… Sowwy fow giving owwies to gwiffy babbehs.- Tears welling up in his eyes.
“And why did you hurt the chicks?”
-Babbehs gave owwies to Nugget. Babbehs give bitey owwies to Nugget’s miwkie pwaces and Gwemwin think that babbehs twy an num Nugget.- Referring to the inciting incident.
“And why did you think that?”
-Babbeh’s mummah an daddeh twy an num Gwemwin. Gwemwin fwaid that babbehs gwow big an try an num the hewd. Gwemwin no wanna be nummies.-
“Anything else you wanna say?”
-Gwemwin know now that babbehs weawn what am nummies fwom mummah an daddeh. hewd am new mummah an daddeh to gwiffy babehs so hewd teach babbehs what am nummies. Gwemwin no know gwiffy babbehs have shawp beakies an nu mean to huwt Nugget.-
“And now your going to…?”
-Pwomise to neva huwt babbehs ava again an do best to teach babbehs to be good.-
“Now we’re going to give Gremlin another chance, understand? He screwed up and learned his lesson but he still is going to have to earn out trust and forgiveness. Until then he’s gonna be on his best behavior.” Crouching down and growling the last sentence at him. Now as for some good news I’ve decided on names for the chicks. The one with the light brown coat she will be Banshee and the grey one who lost her tail with be Shriek. Now I have a few errands to run so I expect you all to behave yourselves." Shutting and locking the door behind him as he walked off.
Gremlin now sat before his herd picking his head up with a half hopeful nervous smile, almost as one they all turned and carried on with what they were doing, ignoring his existence entirely. He slunk into the nearest corner and stayed there while the herd celebrated the chicks new names. When he couldn’t stand the hunger anymore he made his way to the trough barely eating his fill of kibble he started lapping up water from the other trough. Barely a few laps in the back of his body lifted up and dunked him head first into the water he kicked and flailed to get free and just when he was about to pass out he dropped. Gasping and coughing up water he looked around to see everyone was still playing and ignoring him, save for Goblin giving him a dirty side eyed look still curled up by Nugget. He quickly slunk back to the nearest corner and stayed there.
Ranchero Fluffalo was the last dairy farm in Glennville after PETA and its splinter group PETETA had infected the dairy herds with debilitating viruses ruining the farms. After the town got their brutal revenge Ranchero Fluffalo was opened using both fluffy cows and fluffalo and even crossbred them making even larger fluffy cows. Like any typical bright and sunny day the hundreds of fluffy cows and fluffalo grazed the open pastures that were surrounded by berry bushes and fruit trees, it was paradise for any fluffy. One lone cow with her calf waded through the strawberry patch for any end of season berries they might find, lips already stained pink in places. Too oblivious of their surroundings to notice something sneaking up on them, faces buried under the lush green leaves. Their agonized screeching alerted a nearby ranch hand who came running to find a grisly sight, the calf had been disemboweled and her insides were missing. The mother, a smeared bloody trail leading to the fence a few yards off where the body lay her udders and limbs chewed off and gone through a hole dug under the fence. Alive, but barely, breathing her last few gasps of life begging for her calf’s life.
“God dammit not again.”
The blood trail ran from the other side of the fence, across the small field and dried up at the edge of a small forest. Through a narrow barely see-able trail a troop of fluffies marched, covered in blood and scars, each carrying a severed fluffy cow leg. Their leader, a large green earthy with a deep blue mane dragged the stolen udders of the cow to the hiding place of their nests in a cluster of fallen trees and hallowed out logs. Dropping the hunk of flesh in the middle of the nesting grounds he licked the blood from his lips and sharp broken teeth then shouted to the surrounding fluffies.
-Mummahs bwing da babbehs! Smawty bwing da miwkies!-
Several mares surrounded by foals came crawling out of their hiding spots, some big enough for solid food, many still chirping and riding their mother’s backs.
-Mummahs wif da most babbehs go fiwst, den da big babbehs can num da miwkie pwaces.-
-Speshaw fwend? Whewe am west of moo cow fwuffy?- Asked a green and yellow maned mare with a back full of foals.
-Moo cow too big to fit in howe. So just bwought wut hewd needed. Nao dwink fast babbehs befowe miwkies go bad.-
-Smawty speshaw fwend am bestest smawty eva.- She cooed nuzzling his face.
Settling down she slowly rolled over to let her foals climb down and the first four down got to the latch onto a teat and drink to their hearts content. The mare took one of the thick heavy legs and happily ate half of it in a few bites. Despite what the smarty said no other fluffy would dare let their foals go for the udders until his brood had their fill first. Thankfully the hybrid fluffalo/cow was far larger than the average fluffy and the udders had plenty of milk to spare. When the last of the smarty’s foals finished one burped up a dribble of pink stained milkies then waddled off to nap off a full belly. As the rest of the foals who weren’t already stuck to their mummah teats rushed to the udders while the larger foals started nibbling on the bloody end of the severed organ. The tuffies took their share and split the legs among their mates who were delighted by the fact that they wouldn’t have to eat any of their own foals tonight.
-Num wots of wed nummies tuffies! Next bwight time we get a whowe fwuffy cow!- The smarty announced.
-Speshaw fwend nu wan nummies?- His mate asked nudging a chunk of leg to him.
-Smawty num wots taking miwkie pwaces.- He answered with a heavy belch. -Speshaw fwend eat nao, gon make mowe babbehs soon aftah bwing back fwuffy moo cow.-
Morning came and the cannibal smarty gathered his tuffies and set out back to Ranchero Fluffalo as the sun was peaking above the horizon. The first hole they dug under the fence had been filled in and large heavy bricks had been placed around the area making digging impossible. Forced to find another place to dig the smarty lead them to a spot closer to the barns and got to work. Together they dug and dug in one spot trying to make the hole big enough to fit under with ease but were growing tired pawing at the hard packed dirt. It was taking longer than they thought and when one of the ranch hands started approaching to let the fluffy cows out for the day they had to run and hide in the tall grass. The hole was so obvious the ranch hand spotted it right away and kept the barn door closed and radioed in to the others to keep the barns closed until further notice.
The hole was filled, the ranch was swept for intruders and a call was made and by mid afternoon Earl’s beat up old van pulled into the Ranchero Fluffalo parking lot. Earl and Rodney stepped out and Rodney opened the sliding door letting the boys and Riley hop out. The trip had been annoyingly chatty as Riley kept asking about how the clones all looked, sounded and smelled the same or why the rest of the group seemed pissed at Gremlin.
“Thanks for letting me tag along, Earl. I could use the extra cash and uh, you said you’d pay for another blood sample from Riley too?”
“No prob, I wanna talk to you more bout her anyway. Everyone else was busy today anyways. Imp, Goblin, take Odin go sniff around for anything that isn’t a fluffy cow. Hob, Gremlin, you take Riley and hop the fence to check out the woods.”
-Hob no wan go with Gwemwin. Wan go with Gobwin!-
“You’ll go with who I say, now pair off and git! You gotta start learning to trust him again, now go.”
The fluffies grouped up and wandered off into the open fields, Odin following Goblin’s call to stay with him. Rodney’s jaw went slack when he watched Hob and Gremlin easily hop over the four foot tall fence then telekinetically lift Riley up over it. Goblin’s team was directed by collar radio to the site of the last fluffy cow kill, the grass was still stained with the dried blood. The smell of strange fluffies was everywhere but nearly overpowered by the smell of blood, following the trail they found the filled in hole. Following the fence to the second hole, just a few dozen yards from barn one, had been filled in by the ranch hands one of which was guarding the barn door.
-Hi nice wanch wady- Goblin stated walking up. -Gobwin want to set twap for bad fwuffies that nummed fwuffy cow. Can you wet fwuffies out aftew we dig new howe? Then you hide.-
“Fluffies did that? Shit, must be cannibal fluffs. Alright fine, Mr. smartypants, your owner said you were smart. We’ll see.”
-Neva! Eva! Caww Gobwin SMAWTY!- He roared in her face taking an aggressive stance as his horn lit up.
“Alright, alright. Calm down.” A little taken aback. “Here, open it yourself when your ready.” unlatching the door and walking off.
The three started digging out the filled in hole then widened it, making it big enough for them to squeeze through meaning a normal sized fluff could get through easily. Odin took a hiding spot behind a stack of hay bales by the barn as Goblin and Imp used the bales to climb up onto the barn’s roof staying on the side facing away from the fence. Their horns lit up peaking over the roofs edge and the doors slowly swung open and soon the fluffy cows started to waddle out happy to be out at last to graze and play. Now they waited.
Hob had taken lead sniffing out the all too obvious trail of fluffies and blood while Gremlin lagged behind with Riley who was a little too curious about Gremlin’s misdeeds.
-Sooo Gwemwin twy an num da gwiffy babbehs?-
-Yeah, Gwemwin give sowwy bities and hoofies to babbehs.- He said with a heavy sigh hanging his head.
-Whywee wuv nummin babbehs! Chewpies am da bestest ones. Soo cwunchy an chewy at same time. mmmmm.- Licking her lips. -When job done wan shawe some chewpies an good feews wiff Whywee?- Flirtingly bumping up next to Gremlin.
Gremlin did his best to hide the look of shock and mild disgusted horror on his face but did a poor job at it.
-Hnnnnooo… Gwemwin okay. Whywee can have aww the chewpies.- Making a little distance between the two.
-Shaddup dummehs! Hob hewe fwuffies ahead.-
Going silent they all got low to the ground listening to the chattering of many fluffies just beyond a patch of tall grass. They had found it, the group of mares tending to their foals who played in the muddy dirt soaked in the blood left behind from the stolen udders. Before either of the boys could decide what to do Riley burst out of the grass yelling.
-Num aww da babbehs!-
Everyone was surprised as the splotchy brown giant one winged pegasus thundered out the tall grass and trampled two foals and chomped down on a third. She bit it in half in one go right in front of the mares who sat around the mud-puddle in shock but instead of fleeing they turned on her on the spot, baring their sharp broken teeth. She smiled a similar sinister set right back at them and they charged her as one, two on each side of her went flying through the air bursting like water-balloons against trees. Riley tackled to mare right in front of her pushing her over and biting off the end of her snoot leaving exposed meat and bone, this gave the foals an opening to flee to the safety of their nests. Two more mares flew forward stopping just short of the tall grass as Hob and gremlin stepped into the open. Their legs snapped and twisted one at a time and then were dropped on the ground then sun around to watch Riley rip apart the three mares. One, she had her teeth sunk deep into her teats with another pinned under hoof face first in the mud with the last on her back trying to bite her remaining wing off. The mare on her back head spun all the way around and she slid off Riley’s back as Riley looked behind her with a mouthful of bitten off teat. The pinned mare in the mud got free and gasped for air but on the first intake of a fresh breath Gremlin’s hoof caved her whole face in from a mule kick. Hob snapped the mare’s legs crushing each one under hoof then raised a hoof to finish her off.
-Nu foweva sweepies yet!- Shouted Riley much to the boys surprise. -Need to get babbehs an mummahs can get babbehs out of hidey pwaces. Daddeh caww it hostage twick.-
-Hostage twick?- Hob asked keeping the wounded mare pinned by her throat.
-Watch. Bwing da mummahs hewe.-
As the boys moved the crippled mares to the center of the nesting grounds Riley looked into the nests finding them to be mostly empty save for a foal or two dumb enough to hide in the wrong nest. She promptly killed them while the mares wailed for their foals as Riley bit huge chunks from them and tossed the remains in front of their mothers. Then she got to the log nest the rest of the foals huddled together at the very back behind a large rock poking through the rotten log floor and was too narrow for any of them to reach.
-Aww wight babbehs! Come out nao and bwing da chiwpies ow mummah gets wowstest hewties an foweva sweepies!- She shouted then pressed her hoof down on the smarty’s mate.
-SCREEEEEEEEEEE! Babbehs save mummah fwom munstahs! Wostest weggie hewties!-
-Babbehs come out NAO!- Pressing even harder.
One of the older foals peeked out from behind the rock and stuck his tongue out at her then duck right back. Riley growled and spitefully ripped the mare’s leg off with her teeth and tossed it into the log.
-Babbehs come out NAO! Ow Whywee comin in!-
After a moment of no response Riley lunged at the foals and got stuck in the log up to her docked red stump of a tail, Hob and Gremlin looked at each other and sighed.
-So much fow hostage twick. Come on Gwemwin, wets get Whywee out.-
With a collective psychic pull the two yanked as hard as they could without hurting her but she was stuck tight. They sighed looking at each other and turned their attention to the log itself this time, it started to shake violently up and down the old wood creaking and groaning. With a loud CRACK the top half of the log shot up splitting into two long pieces standing straight up for a moment and falling off to the side. Riley stood up shaking out her fluff then looked at the boys who were breathing heavy with a nosebleed each and looking rather annoyed with Riley.
-Wut? Twick sometimes no wewk.-
-Bebbehs nuuuuuu! Nu gif owwies tu babbehs!- The mare screamed reaching out with her remaining foreleg.
-Shaddup!- Gremlin shouted crushing her muzzle under-hoof.
The remaining log had the foals walled in on the sides with a wall of rotted wood at the back of the log with only the rock separating them from Riley. The boys moved in on each side of the log with Riley standing on the rock looking down at the trembling clutch of fifteen assorted foals save for one green and blue maned earthy colt. He defiantly bared his newly grown in teeth, snapping at the air trying to bite them and threatening to num them all and they collectively laughed at him. Gremlin raised a hoof to stomp the cannibal’s head when his vision flashed momentarily to Shriek and Banshee trying to hide behind Nugget and pang of guilt stabbed at him as he slowly lowered his hoof.
-What? Now you no wanna hewt babbehs? Make up you’we mind, Gwemwin!- Hob yelled noticing the sad look on his face.
In one swift motion Hob crushed the green foals back, scooped him up across the side of the log and tossed him next to the mare.
-Bestest babbeh nuuuuuuuuuuuuu!- Wailed the mare as Hob smirked at her after figuring out who the smarty’s bestest was.
That one act seemed to snap Gremlin out of his trance and he got to work with all three stomping away rendering the foals into jelly. When the last one was thoroughly crushed but still alive Hob turned his attention to the mares while Riley treated herself to the feast before her.
-Ghwemwin wan shom?- Riley asked holding up half a half dead foal in her teeth.
Gremlin shook his head with a cringe-y look on his face and joined Hob with finishing the mares when the sound of panicked labored breathing and brush rustling got their attention. Out of the tall grass the smarty came running, covered in blood, missing his tail, one ear and screaming in fear he skidded to a halt in front of the boys.
-Nuuuuuu! Mowe munshahs!-
Turning to run again Goblin came gliding out of the trees delivering a flying drop kick to his side crushing the side of his rib-cage. Imp came trotting out the tall grass looking annoyed, both of them soaked in blood and Odin came next with a freshly pillowed tuffy in his teeth.
-Why Gobwin aways pwayin with the smawties?- Imp asked with a sigh. -Just give foweva sweepies aweady.-
-Speshaw fwend hewp! Munstahs nummed da babbehs!- Screamed the mare.
The smarty was just trying to breath, wheezing and coughing up blood his eyes locked onto the little green lump of crushed fluff nearby.
-GHK!.. Behss… Bestest… Hghk guh…Bebbeh…nnnuuuu…-
-Dawww. Was that you bestest babbeh? Hewe, wet Gobwin hewp.- He said in a mocking tone.
He stomped on the smarty’s lumps and when his mouth opened to scream the body of his bestest baby went flying into him mouth. Before he could try to spit it out Goblin rolled him onto his back and shoved it in deeper with his hoof as the smarty batted uselessly at his leg.
-Whats the mattew? Don’t you wike numming fwuffies and babbehs? Hewe, have some mowe!-
Pressing down even harder the smarty’s jawbone separated but the muscles didn’t tare, yet. With another push the flesh ripped and the smarty flailed unable to escape, his eyes started to roll into the back of his head as Goblin leaned in.
-Stiww hungwy?-
-Speshaw fwend nuuhuhuhuhuuhuuu. Nu goo foweva sweepies! Save mummah fwum mustahs!- Cried the mare trying to drag herself over to him with her one good leg.
-Why bwothew gotta be wike this?- Imp asked still looking annoyed.
-Imp know why.- Goblin smirked as the smarty went limp.
-Yeah, yeah. Daddeh sucks.-
Imp rolled his eyes already knowing the answer and turned his attention to the smarty’s mare who’s hoof just touched him the second he suffocated of his bestest baby. Imp crushed that leg then threw her over to the last two survivors, the impact rolling all three onto their backs. Odin was enjoying the show with his new chew toy still in his mouth begging for his leggies back when Imp got an idea.
-Odin! Come hewe! Good bawky fwend! Stand thewe, stayyyy. Shake!-
Imp had positioned Odin next to the pile of mares as he shook his head hard and fast spraying blood and shit across them all bringing riotous laughter from the boys. Even Riley had a good laugh after having gorged herself beyond full and burped up half a foal’s head between cackling howls. The mares tried to spit out the vile concoction but their mouths clamped shut as they were dragged to the mud-puddle of blood. Crushing their ribs before rolling them onto their bellies making each breath even more excruciating then their heads were shoved into the mud with a hoof to the back of the head. It was a short but futile struggle and each mare soon went still and they were left as is, the group leaving to report back to Earl. The walk back to the ranch was quiet save for the odd remark Riley made to Gremlin in a disturbing attempt to flirt with him much to his horror. All it did was make Gremlin even more desperate to get back in Lemon’s good graces and he bolted to the van as soon as it came into view, Earl and Rodney were still leaning against it chatting away.
“I’m tellin ya, I used capybara DNA, they’re big, tough, smart and sociable and of course non-predatory. If one thing horror movies taught me is you don’t splice predatory DNA into your subjects then teach them pack tactics. Now as for your little mutant, I’d lie to give her a proper once over. Y’know, samples, scans, maybe a physical.”
“If the money’s right, sure. But Riley’s the one you gotta convince and some of that sounds kinda… invasive.”
“Ehh, I’m sure I can bribe her with more chirpies.”
-Oof, nu mowe chewpies. Whywee suu fuww.- Riley groaned slightly then burped up another foal chunk. -Gwemwin gon num dat?- Pointing to the chunk before eating it again.
Gremlin spent the entire drive home hiding behind his brothers and was beyond relieved when Earl dropped off Rodney taking her with him. Home had another surprise in store for the group, no sooner were they half way to the corral when they heard the familiar cry of Nugget’s screaming out.
-BIGGEST! POOPIESSSSSSCREEEEEEEE!-
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Shout out to @FederalChemical1728 and their OC’c guest starring in today’s episode.