Jim has two things on his mind as he stares blankly out at the dark trees around him. How much he wants to sleep, and what in the world Blinky uses to make coffee, because the one cup he dared to even sip tastes absolutely terrible.
He has a sneaking suspicion that moldy socks were involved.
Sighing he glances down at the cold cup held in his grasp. The sloshy drink glimmering off the moonlight. He is so tired, but he isn't so desperate for energy as to drink the overwhelmingly gross disgrace for coffee, so he takes his shot, now that Blinky has wandered off to deal with a few bickering Trolls, and tips the dark liquid out into the cool grass.
"My apologies, Master Jim, these trolls apparently can't contain themselves for more than five seconds." Blinky's voice breaks the silence from behind Jim, that last comment about five seconds shot bitterly to a few trolls who wander a few feet away.
The boy jerks his hand up with a bit of fear of being caught in the act, he hastily brings the now empty cup to his lips and spins around on his heel to face his mentor, pretending to finish the drink off.
"Uh… don't sweat it, we are all a bit busy right now." he nervously wipes his mouth to keep up the act, pretending to have liked the coffee, in truth it was to make sure to remove every speck of the disgusting stuff so he wouldn't have to taste it for longer than necessary.
Blinky gives him a reassuring smile. "Indeed, the life of a refugee is never easy." his six eyes blink and move to the empty cup in Jim's pale hand. "I take it you enjoyed the caffeinated drink I put together?"
Quickly the trollhunter nods, "yeah it was nice, thanks."
"Good, good," the troll says, staff shifting in his four arms, "I wasn't certain your human mouth would find it favorable, for I fear I had to use an old sock as the filter." It's an offhand comment followed by a soft nervous chuckle.
Nonetheless Jim almost drops the mug in his hand, he glances down with some alarm at the cup, now greatly relieved that he had not actually drunk the coffee.
A long sigh from Blinky draws the Trollhunter's attention back to him.
"Master Jim… we cannot stay like this, it is far too risky, just this afternoon we were nearly discovered by a so-called 'garbage man' and his monstrous vehicle."
"I know, but we have to try our best until we find a place big enough for everyone." Jim steps closer to Blinky, he had thought a lot about where to move everyone and yet nothing had come up, they have half a city to hide and protect, and Trollmarket isn't a small city. It was like trying to hide half of San Francisco. It doesn't help either that Arcadia is such a small town.
A moment of silence passes between the two, the sounds of crickets and wind through the trees the only disruption. It's around two in the morning and most trolls are out and about doing who knows what. It's Jim's night for a shift to keep an eye on everything and make sure that the trolls aren't discovered, and guard against any Gumm Gumm attacks.
Right now most of the trolls are in the trees around them, it's common for everyone to come into the forest once the sun has set.
A shriek echoes through the forest and Jim whips around to face the direction of the noise, the peace of the night shattered, cup dropping to the ground as he dons his armor and the sword takes its place.
What in the world was that?! Is something here? Is someone in trouble? Have they been discovered? Did the Gumm Gumms find them? Or is it just Bagdwella complaining again?
More screams erupt and Jim takes off towards them, Blinky on the other hand runs off to herd and try to keep the Trolls calm and quiet, they are too close to human settlements to be screaming.
It's a Gumm Gumm. Jim see's the sickly green glow of its armor gleaming off the bark of trees and through the air, before he bursts into the clearing, all sizes of trolls running in the opposite direction from the Gunmar-following troll.
Jim sprints towards it as fast as he can, which is not as fast as he would have liked, but he can't get his legs to run faster.
He swipes at the creature, limbs feeling heavier than usual, and misses the dark making it seem like the Gumm Gumm had been closer.
The bulky Gumm Gumm takes a swing in retaliation and makes contact. Too quick for him to dodge, pain erupts in his back as he cracks hard against the bark of a tree.
His body crumples to the dewy ground, breaths heaving, though he can't stay, he can't rest, not yet, pushing himself up with shaky arms he gets to his feet for round two, a determined expression hardening his face. He will protect these trolls, they've already lost so much.
With Daylight blazing in his hands he launches himself at the troll with a shout.
Jim darts to the left as the troll's wicked spear attempts to find purchase in the gaps of his armor. He can't help but feel that the Gumm Gumm more than lives up to their fearsome reputation. He's not as fast or as strong as Bular, but that doesn't make him any less dangerous. Jim ducks under another thrust from the troll in front of him narrowly avoiding a cut to his neck.
Another stab comes from the right, this time blocked by the shield materializing on his arm. Jim needs to end this fight quickly, he needs to conserve his strength for the next fight, hell, forget the next fight he barely has the strength to stay alive in this one.
He drops to one knee, a plan forming in his tired brain, one hand holding his shield to protect his head as the other drops to his thigh. Grunting at the effort it takes for him to summon the little blade, shifting as he throws the dagger into the troll's exposed armpit.
Letting out a breath he didn't know he was holding, Jim's hands fell to the ground as the familiar blue light crept over the troll's skin, turning it to stone.
Jim's breaths came in short raspy bursts, his throat was dry, his eyes wet, and all his muscles seemed to ache and burn as the cold of the night finally overwhelmed the adrenaline keeping him awake.
His hand flew to his chest, tossing the amulet aside as the armor around him vanished into thin air. He stayed that way for several minutes, his hands on the grass beneath him supporting his weight until his breath slowed and his lungs finally stopped begging for air.
Rumbling footsteps thunder up beside Jim's kneeling exhausted form, soon a hand is placed on the boy's shoulder, helping him to his feet. Only then does Jim stand up, his legs wobbly beneath him, he really doesn't want to stand right now, but doesnt say anything about it.
Four arms grasp his two and six eyes scrutinize him for any injuries, Blinky's mouth twisting down into a worried frown, a crease between his eyebrows.
"Master Jim! Master Jim, are you hurt anywhere? Great-Gronka-Morka that brute stuck up on us." Blinky shook the boy rather violently, which didn't help at all when it came to staying upright.
Nearly falling over, he stumbles slightly into the troll. He had learned long ago that trolls never learned, or will learn, how fragile humans are.
"Blinky! I'm fine- I'm fi- ease up a bit!" The shaking affects his words, his voice quiet but emphatic. Blinky quickly stops shaking him and his large stone hands fall away from Jim's jello feeling arms, though one rough hand remains on Jim's shoulder.
"Forgive me, I simply worry, with how weary we've all been lately…I do not want one of these Gumm Gumm's to get the better of you." each at a slightly different time, six eyes blink at Jim, concern clear in their glassy gaze.
"Yeah, I get the feeling." Jim looks back at the troll, his mentor's eyes glowing slightly in the dark. He is worried too, for Claire's nagging sickness, for Toby's need to constantly help till he's worn out and can barely function… well he guesses they are all in that boat… but there is just so much to do, and with protecting the trolls there is never a break.
Take tonight for an example.