Beware the Margay

The mantid wasn't alone either. It seemed the goblin was there too with some others of its kind. From here they looked different though. Their figure wasn't quite so... Sharp and they didn't have the same jagged teeth. I was still trying to figure them out, if they were actually goblins, or something else, when I heard the creature below me shift. Freezing in place, I listened as it moved forward and got in position. I glanced down and smiled, knowing even in the darkness, I had to problems making it out. But my smile fell away as it suddenly burst into action, racing towards the group.

"Protect the women!" The goblin shrieked, pulling a short blade.

The mantid leaped into action. The sleeves of her cloak tore open as she pulled two, scythe like blades free. That odd protrusion at her rear stuck out and she raced towards the large creature. It bellowed a monstrous cry as it swung around, and hurled a small boulder. In the darkness, the mantid had no chance. The impact sent a sharp crack, followed by a pained scream from the creature in the cloak. She fell hard and rolled several times, before the large creature kicked her firmly in the side. This time, she made no noise as her body was tossed aside. The goblin took his chance to rush in and slam his blade into the creature's side, making it squeal similar to a frightened pig.

"RUN!" The goblin shrieked, right before it was backhanded across the open field.

The other small figures seemed to huddle up in fear as the large creature smacked its lips and approached.

"Youz smells good," it said, in a slow voice.

"I wish for you to use your best judgment and help the people of this world," Bast's voice sounded in my ear.

Leaping to a lower branch, I sprung off and caught the trunk of the next closest tree. Sliding down as quickly as I could, I leaped and hit the ground running.

"You!" Hissed the manted, seeing me tear across the clearing.

But I ignored her, hearing the terrified screams of one of what I could only assume was a goblin woman. The large creature stood tall in front of me and began to turn. In one hand, he held a terrified goblin, and in the other, he was pushing down his loincloth. I had a horrible feeling I knew the kind of problem this world had, right as I made my leap. The large creature caught my movement out of the corner of his eye. But it was too late.

Yowling like a mad cat, I sunk my claws into his chest. The sudden impact, followed by the sensation of his tearing skin, made him roar in pain. And it must have been instinct, because the moment his throat was bared, I snapped forward and bit down, like a lion does to a gazelle. Sinking my teeth into its dirty flesh was unpleasant. The blood that filled my mouth was worse. But the squeak it made as its air supply was cut off will be something that goes to my grave. It must have dropped the woman, as I felt two hands take hold of me. Snarling, I dug my claws into his shoulders as he tried to pull me off. It shook me violently, trying to yank, twist and pull, but I held firm with my teeth in position. It was a life or death struggle, as I knew a creature of his size would slam me into the ground and kill me the instant I let go.

So it was a complete surprise when I felt cold, piercing agony slam into my ribs. Immediately, I released my front paws and grabbed the creature's wrist. I could feel the small blade the goblin had stabbed it with, clutched in it's oversized hands.Between my claws and the tiny handle of the blade, now soaked in blood, it couldn't get enough of a grip to pull it free. I felt it shift and gravity tip as the creature dropped to its knees. It made a final attempt to pull me free, before collapsing, thankfully on its back with a loud thud. I held on, clenching my jaw as long as I could, well after the creature finally went still.

A soft hand gently stroked down my back, before rubbing my ears. It was odd... The sensation was... No, I don't want to talk about that right now. I'm stabbed and bleeding. I don't want to talk about getting headpats. But I released my jaws and pulled my teeth free from the creature's throat. The wounds on its neck and chest weren't bleeding, which told me its heart wasn't pumping.

"It's okay," a shrill, croaky voice said softly.

Rolling, I looked up into the eyes of the goblin woman I saw. Unlike the male I'd seen earlier, her features were a lot less... Inhuman. She smiled, showing me her sharp teeth, but they sat neatly behind her lips.

"Get back!" A voice hissed.

I flinched, seeing the mantid staggering towards me. Her hood had fallen back, and she was terrifyingly beautiful. Her body was covered in chitin, green as emeralds. Her eyes were large and made of the same material, and even as she scowled as she staggered towards me, she was inhumanly beautiful.

"I said get back! He might have led more!"

"Enough, Calistia!" a familiar voice called back. "He took a knife to save us, even you, must accept that mistakes are possible."

The hand on my head resumed its petting and I closed my eyes. It was the last sensation I felt as my vision finally went dark.

Chapter Two - 4700

Opening my eyes, I groaned in pain. There was a sharp ache in my side. Ignoring the stone ceiling and walls, I reached across and gently touched the wounded area. It was covered in thick padding. Obviously I'd received some kind of medical care in this place. Hissing in pain, I sat myself up, pushing the blanket off me. I was still naked, which wasn't a surprise. A soft snore caught my attention and I turned to look. Beside me on the bed, was the goblin woman I'd rescued. The blanket had been pulled down, exposing more of her than I would have expected. But seeing as she'd seen fit to climb in bed with me like this, I didn't see the harm in examining her.

Her skin was a deep, forest greed and paired nicely with her orange hair. That's orange the fruit, not just orange-brown and it was braided neatly, before being pulled down between her breasts while she slept. Her eyelashes were long, and her cheekbones, while a little pointier than a humans, seemed to accentuate her face in the same way I imagined an elfs did. Her arms were slender, but defined and ended with human-like, five digit hands. She did have rather thick nails though. They also looked slightly sharp, like she could give you a nasty scratch if she wanted to. Looking at my own hands, I flexed my claws, admiring how easily and naturally they extended and retracted.

Looking back to the sleeping goblin, she snorted softly, making me smile. She had a nice figure overall. I couldn't see below her toned stomach, but her breasts were a nice handful, proportionate to her size. If I was about four feet tall, she was probably about three and a half. Maybe a little more. Scanning over her, I moved back up, only to spot her staring back at me. With a catlike yowl, I instinctively jumped, falling backward out of the bed. That was immediately followed by a loud shriek from the small woman in the bed as she followed me over.

I layed on my side, gasping in pain, where I'd landed on my wounded side. I barely responded as the door to the room blew in and a terrifying, chitinous monster stormed into the room, only to pause in confusion.

"Calistia, help me get him in bed!" The small woman croaked.

The tall woman frowned, but lowered her arms. Without the cloak, she was as terrifying as she was beautiful. She was tall, angular and completely covered in hard chitin plates. Her legs, all four of them seemed to move independently, making her move like a wraith across the stone floor. The odd protrusion I'd noticed was a rather obvious abdomen, poking out behind where her legs met her thorax. Her face was sharp and reminded me of a praying mantis, except still full and slightly rounded enough that she could pass for a human in a mask. But the true terror was her arms. Extending from her wrists, were a pair of two-foot long blades. What I'd thought were weapons before, was actually physically a part of her. They glinted as she moved towards me. I froze, not knowing what was about to happen, but she bent, grabbing me roughly with three fingered claws and unceremoniously, dumped me back on the bed.

"Gently Calistia!" The goblin hissed crossly at the mantid.

Calistia hissed softly and left, slamming the door behind her as she left.

"Are you okay?" The small woman crooned, taking my legs and pulling me around gently.

"I'm fine," I said softly, glancing at the door. Turning back to the goblin before me, she was now completely exposed. I don't know if it was natural, or a cosmetic change, but she was completely bald between her legs. Her puffy labia stood out, leaving nothing to the imagination.

"Oh," she said softly.

Following her eyesight down, I froze, seeing the slight pink head of what was the beginning of an erection, poking out the top of my... sleeve.

"I'm sorry," I said quickly, rolling away from the small, nervous looking woman.

"Sorry?" She asked, still nervous.

"I... Ah..." I sighed. "You're very beautiful. I just wanted to apologize for making you uncomfortable."

"Beautiful?" She squeaked.

I nodded slowly, "Yeah... I'm sorry. You must be so uncomfortable right now. I'm happy to sleep somewhere else."

"Why?" She gasped, pulling me back to face her. "You... You don't want to hurt me?"

"Why on earth would I want to hurt you?" I growled.

"Because that's what our kind is suited for," a masculine, screechy voice called from the other side of the door.

The goblin woman scrambled out of bed, tossing the blanket over me. I couldn't help but stare at the curve of her ass and... The small stumpy tail right above it as she scrambled into a shabby dress. As she pulled it overhead, she rushed to the door and pulled it open. The pointy toothed, male goblin I saw yesterday stepped into the room, with Calistia a step behind him.

I gulped, seeing the large woman, staring hatefully at me, but turned my attention back to the goblin man, as he greeted the woman with a small hug. "What is your kind suited for?"

"Why, to breed, of course," he hissed angrily.

I frowned, "Is that, what that... Thing, was trying to do?"

The goblin stared at me for a moment, before nodding, "What are you?"

I stared back for a moment and sighed, "I don't know. If you can't tell me then..." I shrugged.

The old goblin moved to stand before the bed. "Call me Dave."

I smirked, "Dave?"

"Is there something wrong with Dave?"

I quickly straightened my expression and shook my head, "No, nothing at all. I just... It was unexpected. Please, call me Samuel."

Dave glared toothily at me for a moment, "Maria will care for you while you recover. Be warned, Calistia will not hesitate to kill you should you prove untrustworthy."

To emphasise the point, the mantid hissed softly as she flexed her blades.

I nodded softly, "I don't want any trouble, I swear."

The goblin leaned down and gave me a few sniffs, which... Awkward... He sat up, before nodding at Maria and leaving. Calistia glared at me a moment longer before following, and the sound of their voices was cut off as Maria closed the door. As she turned to me, she smiled softly, showing her pointed teeth.

"What did he mean, before, about breeding?"

Her expression shifted and she looked nervous. "Don't you know?"

I shook my head, "I'll be honest here. I'm not from this world. I was brought here, the day that thing attacked you. All I know is that, the one who sent me, wanted me to use my best judgement," -I made bunny ears with my pawed fingers- "And help where I can."

Maria looked at me strangely, before mimicking the bunny ears gesture and shook her head, moving on without asking. "What god sent you?"

"Bast," I said with a moment's pause. She'd never told me I couldn't tell people how or why I was here after all.

Maria stepped closer, before reaching out and stroking the fur on the side of my face. It... I still don't want to admit it, but I purred as her fingers danced around my chin and that's all I want to say about it.

"You were sent, by the lost goddess, to help this world?"

Snapping my eyes open, I pulled away from her hand so I could concentrate. "I guess. I didn't know she was lost. She just asked me to be her champion and help where I could. I don't even know what here is."

"Champion," Maria said softly, before pulling her dress back over her head.

Naked, she crawled into the bed and snuggled up beside me. Immediately, I felt a throb in my crotch and glanced down as that pink head extended itself from the sheath again.

"Maria?" I yowled softly.

She glanced down and giggled softly. "Does my champion require relief?"

"What?" I groaned. "No, that's not what I meant," I said, trying to pull away, but the only way I could roll would be onto my bad side.

"You saved me," she said softly.

"I had no idea who I was saving," I shot back, trying to think about anything other than her. "You were in trouble, I reacted. You could have been anyone."

Maria froze, "I..."

I heard a small sniffle, before she leaped out of bed, grabbing her dress as she dashed out of the room. I just layed there in the bed staring at the ceiling as a set of footsteps came towards the open door. I ignored him as he entered, but Dave moved to the side of the bed and looked down at me with a strange expression.

"You rejected her."

This time I frowned, "I didn't reject anyone. I'm new to this world. I might end up dead tomorrow, by Calistia's hand or someone else's. I have no idea the amount of mess this world is in, but I made a deal with Bast to do my best. I doubt that has anything to do with jumping in bed with the first beautiful woman I clap me eyes on."

Dave stared at me for a moment. "You think the goddess of fertility would take issue with you having a lover?"

I flinched, hearing a familiar giggle from the corner of the room. Dave didn't seem to hear it though, so I put it out of my mind. "Dave, I literally met Maria, as she was about to be raped by some monster."

"Plains troll," Dave nodded. "Yes, and after saving her from that fate, she asked to be the one to care for you, in accordance with our laws."

I sighed, "I don't know your laws, Dave. I'm not from here."

"That much is certain," Dave nodded slowly.

"What is wrong with this world, Dave?" I asked, staring at the ceiling.

"We goblins are universal breeders. Using us, any of the other sentient races in this world, may blend their species with our own, to create new beings."

I grimaced, "Why, the fuck, would anyone do that?"

"Take the plains troll," Dave sighed. "He's the result of a pairing between a Mountain troll and a goblin, and the resulting offspring, being with a human."

"Human's exist?" I groaned.

Dave nodded, "They are a particularly nasty bunch, why? Do you know of them?"

"In the world I came from, I was a human."

Dave froze, before leaning forward and giving me a few more sniffs. "Do you have the urge, to rape, pilliage, torture and murder every other race you see around you?"

"No!" I growled, before sighing and taking a deep breath. "Though, humans from my world were pretty good at that anyway."

Dave sighed, "It was not a fair accusation. Bast would not have sent a monster as her champion."

"How are you so accepting of that, anyway?" I asked. "Anyone could make a claim like that."

Dave looked at me for a moment, "The fact you do not know this, is almost undeniable proof. Misfortune follows those who claim to know the gods. In this world, even the forgotten have power. I knew a goblin that claimed to be the champion of Asmodeus. He died shortly after contracting a flesh eating disease that made his pecker fall off."

I grimaced, "Could be a coincidence though."

Dave shrugged, "He's not the first. Just don't claim to be working for a god or goddess if you aren't and you'll be fine. If you aren't really Bast's champion, something terrible will befall you for your arrogance. But if you are, then I hope I have served my mistress well, in allowing Maria to serve you."

"A follower?" Bast said from the corner of the room. "Those are few and far between in these times."

This time Dave could hear her. As he threw himself on the floor, it became apparent he could see her also.

"See, this is what I was talking about," Bast sighed. "Hard to get anything done when they won't even look at you."

I just grinned and shook my head, "This is the worst Isekai ever."

Bast just waved me off as she moved to sit on the edge of the bed. "So what's the problem with Maria?"

I frowned, "She's not the problem. I just don't feel comfortable taking advantage of a young woman's hero worship."

Bast sighed, "It's not hero worship. As per goblin laws and customs, you own her quite literally. Without you, she has no home, no clan, no friends, lovers or purpose as no other goblin clan will take her."

"I didn't want this," I sighed.

"No, which is the reason she adores you," Bast smiled, before turning to Dave. "You, what is the penalty for rape?"

"M-my Goddess Bast. The penalty for rape in our society is death."

"What about rape of a slave?"

"Rape is r-rape, my goddess. Rank in society has no bearing on your will."

Bast grinned, before looking at me. "Maybe fortune favoured me, by dropping you where I did. Goblins, in particular the women, are rounded up like cattle and raped by just about every race of creature on this earth. The offspring produced are used as workers, soldiers or simple experiments, before being culled."

A few thoughts flew through my head, first about Calistia, then about the repercussions of sleeping with Maria.

"Correct on both accounts," Bast said softly. "I won't speak for the mantid. I feel her history is her own. But yes, I heard her prayer before you awoke and she will gladly sire your children." I stared at Bast for a moment while she stared right back. "Isn't that right, Maria?"

Movement by the door caught my eye. Glancing over, there she was. Her eyes were slightly green and tears rolled down her cheeks. My heart just about broke as I tried to sit up.

"Your best judgement doesn't disqualify you from enjoying yourself," Bast said softly.

I knew she was already gone without looking for her. My attempt to right myself sent Maria into a panic and she rushed forward. Taking me by the shoulders, she firmly lowered me back to the bed as Dave stood on uneasy legs.

"You heard the goddess," He told Maria. "You belong to him now, it is absolute."

Maria nodded her head, "Yes Eldar."

Dave eyed me for a moment, "I will attempt to appease Calistia."

"Thank you," I said softly.

As Dave left the room, Maria nervously sat on the bed. She wiped a few stray tears from her eyes and forced a smile at me. "What do you wish of me?"

"I wish that you were not forced to stay with me. I wish you could find happiness. I wish you a long, joy filled life. I wish many things of you Maria, but I never wanted to take you as a slave."

She blinked at me, before blinking again and shaking her head. "Am I not to your liking?"

I just sighed, "We've been over this Maria. I've already admitted I find you beautiful. But I'd never do what I did, if I'd have known you'd be made my slave for it."

"You'd have let that monster take me then?"

I grimaced and laid back, staring at the ceiling. "You know what I mean."

I felt movement beside me as Maria shuffled onto the bed beside me. She lifted the blanket and I swallowed hard as I felt naked flesh press up against my own.

"You don't want a slave?"

I shook my head, "I'd free you if I could."

I felt her breath on my cheek as she moved up and sniffed me softly. Her lips brushed my ear and she crooned. The sound made me shiver and I desperately tried to push down my own desire. I understood I wasn't human any more, but she was even less so. I just put it down to my love of Iseki novels and took a few calming breaths.