Umleena looked up to see Ophelia, one half of the witch duo that had landed her in this situation. Her eyes looked suitably downcast, her fingers fidgety with anxiety. A small part of Umleena took a deep satisfaction in seeing her this way. Regardless of however Marisa had influenced her, or how much pressure was being put upon her by outside forces, she'd still lured her to this place, to steal her human life. Umleena didn't think she could ever forgive her for that. But... Ophelia was a decent person. She knew that for a fact. She always tried to avoid conflict, to help where she could, and to harm almost never. She was always the one to capture a spider and put it outside, alive. It was hard to reconcile that with what had been done.
"What you want?" Umleena demanded, eyes burning with righteous indignation. Ophelia seemed to flinch away from the intensity of the glare before responding. "I...I really am sorry. I know... I know I do not deserve to be forgiven for what I have done to you, but I really do like you. That part of things was not just pretend. You know that, right?"
Umleena tilted her head curiously. Ophelia really meant it. She really had liked Umleena, back when she was a normal human man, living a normal human life. The goblin girl nodded glumly. "Umleena knows. But look at Umleena. Tummy full of babies, big green ears...me so ugly!"
Ophelia shook her head. "No. You were a good looking man, and now you are a gorgeous goblin woman. But I was never after you for your looks. I saw how fiercely you desired for something real in your life, how giving you were of your time. To you, there were no small problems. You are a good person with a bright soul. That has been rare in my life."
Umleena suddenly felt guilty for thinking so harshly of the woman who'd captured her heart. There was still an undercurrent of anger, but she felt as if she understood the witch a little better now. She felt something spark within her. Not quite forgiveness, but...they could talk, now.
It was only then that she realized what exactly Ophelia was saying. "You think Umleena pretty? Still want be with me?" She asked incredulously, eyebrows raised. To her shock, Ophelia leaned down and pulled the newly made goblin into a brief, somewhat chaste kiss. It was enough to get the message across. The goblin girl's heart fluttered. She couldn't imagine anything less attractive than what she was at that moment, especially to someone as graceful as Ophelia, but that seemed not to matter to the witch. "Wait! What about Umleena's life? Have to be Goblin broodmother!"
"About that...yes, we told the other Umleena that the human whose life she took over would, in turn, take over her life...but...if we are careful, I think I could sneak you out of here and set you up with a friend. You wouldn't have to do the whole broodmother thing. But we would have to go right now. That is why I came to check in on you right away. How does that sound?"
It sounded like heaven, compared to the idea of being a population growth tool for a clan of quite unpleasant-sounding goblins. Umleena opened her mouth to respond...