+++
date = '2026-06-19T16:00:00-06:00'
draft = false
title = "Those Who are Underfoot, Chapter Four"
summary = "Meppa is lost, and things are unfamiliar"
tags = ['story', 'meppa the kobold']
showTableOfContents = false
showPagination = false
showZenMode = true
+++

## Chapter Four

**Meppa** opened her eyes, she was in her bed. Its cozy warmth was calming, soothing the troubles of her mind. The warm breeze blew in from her tent door. Had it all been a dream? She felt her neck where her wound had been. It was gone. A moment of confusion swept over **Meppa** as she tried to recount the last few days, but they were distant, almost dream like. Her sister **Dekkara** was suddenly standing in the doorway, with a smug grin. She said something, but **Meppa** could not make it out. She said something again, and it was incoherent mumbling.

Then **Meppa** saw it, a horrible monster, prowling on all fours. It was lurking outside the tent, the world had suddenly been cast into darkness. Despite this, **Dekkara** was oblivious; could she not hear the horror directly behind her. **Meppa** tried desperately to yell, to say anything to warn her sister. Nothing could exit her lips, her voice had gone. Bubbles of air left her mouth as if she was under water. The beast crept slowly up on her sister, calculating each step. **Dekkara** said something else,
but this time it was clear as day.

“I'll see you soon.”

And then the beast leapt, grabbing **Dekkara** into its jaws.

**Meppa** jolted awake, for a moment her entire body was numb, and then it hit. A burning searing pain spread over her whole body. Her muscles ached, her lungs screamed in agony, and her head throbbed. She feebly attempted to lift her head to see her surroundings. She heard mumbling and the crackle of fire nearby. She soon realized her hands and feet were tied together.

“A good catch that,” said a voice.

“Wonder what the town guard will pay for one of them lizards, it's been a while since I've seen one wander this far.”

**Meppa's** heart sank, who were her captors, were they **Tall Creatures**, what were their intentions with her? Her mind raced in a panic. She desperately tried to struggle and free her hands but to no avail.

“Ah looks like the welp is awake.”

There was a shuffling of feet and the ground shook as something large approached. **Meppa** found herself being lifted by her scruff and quickly found herself placed up against a log. The log shifted as a tremendous weight suddenly bore down upon it. Next to **Meppa** sat one of the **Tall Creatures**

It had a dour and well aged face where two beady sunken eyes sat. It wore a well worn fabric that appeared stained with years of grime and had the faint smell of fish. Across the fire sat another **Tall Creature** that shared many a feature with its companion; all but the face which was smoother and more youthful.

They both looked on at **Meppa** and a moment of tension consumed the fire. 

“Can these things even talk?” asked the younger **Tall Creature**

“Oh sure, despite bein savage beasts, they do communicate.”

“What do you think they’ll offer us for it?” questioned the young one.

“Oh, a gold or two” the older one responded gruffly.

**Meppa** was terrified. Everything she had been told about the tall things was racing through her mind. She glanced around, looking for anything that could be of use. There was a giant knife covered in fish guts lying near a pair of fishing poles. In her current state the best **Meppa** could accomplish would be a slow worm crawl. 

“A gold would be worth the effort it took to fish that welp out of the river.” said the young one.

The night grew cold after the **Tall Creatures** put out the fire.

That morning, **Meppa** was guided along by a rope that had been fastened around her neck. They had been walking for a couple hours and **Meppa** had great trouble keeping pace. Her neck burned as the rope pulled against her previous injury. As they traveled along the path, other **Tall Creatures** passed by  and gave pause at the sight of **Meppa**.

They eventually reached a small encampment, where brief words were shared, and gold traded hands. **Meppa** found herself trapped in a cage. Her new captors were even less pleased about her presence. Her life had been measured in value, and it was 12 silver and a grunt. She found herself surrounded by freaky long limbed rodents. By the long tooth present at the front of their upper jaws, **Meppa** assumed these things must be the **Yinglets** that her other pack mates had spoken of. 

**Meppa** silently wondered what lie in store for her.