No POV
A small band of orcs, perhaps three dozen strong, stumbles through the lands of Hillsbrad.
All are battered, and dressed in dark leather and mail armor. Strapped to the leaders back is a banner of a bolt of thunder striking the ground. At their heels are a pack of black wolves.
The Thunderlord clan.
"Quickly my warriors! We'll be safe once we reach the mountains!" The leader shouts, clutching his axe in one hand and waving it. In his other hand is an orcish baby wrapped in a green blanket.
The other orcs cry out with relief.
The orcs jumps back hearing the unmistakable sound of thundering hooves ofAlliance knights.
"They come." An orc growls. Drawing his sword.
The leader turns around and sees over a dozen mounted humans and many more on foot. Even a magi.
The orcs clutch their weapons, while their wolf companion's growl, baring their teeth.
He looks at the humans for a moment, and then glances back at his own warriors. Although none of them will admit it, they're all exhausted and in no shape to fight.
He looks at the baby for a long moment. Finally, he closes his eyes, kissing his babies cheek one last time before handing the infant to the orc beside him.
"Go, I will buy you all the time you need." He says. The orc holding the baby looks up in surprise. "But Korgag, we need you to lead the clan."
The warrior whirls at him in anger. "Do you not see Gromus? This is the only way the clan will survive." He glances at his child. "I made a promise, that if any of my bloodline will survive, it will be Giskama. She is my legacy, take care of her."
Gromus clenches his fist tightly, staring his chieftain. finally he nods. "Ancestors be with you." "And you as well." Korgag grins, raising his axe. "Now go! Snarlfang! To me."
He charges down the slope, followed closely by a wolf, snarling and waving his axe. As soon as the first knight comes into range, he swings his weapon at the horse's legs. The man and horse tumble to the ground, allowing Korgrag to finish him with a quick swing.
Another gallops towards him with he lance ready.
The wolf leaps up, throwing the man off his mount and bites deep into his throat. A fireball suddenly strikes Korgag in the chest.
He loses his balance and crashes to the ground with a loud thud. Snarlfang leaps in front of his master protectively.
He charges at the mage who threw the fireball. He leaps up-
And falls to the dirt with a spear sticking out of his neck. Korgag yells out in outrage. Fueled by rage and demonic hellfire, he forces himself up and swings his axe at a soldier's chest, and scores a glancing blow at another in the backswing.
A soldier creeps up and strikes Korgags, back. Korgag drops to his knees as the man pushes his spear in deeper.
He swings his axe feebly, trying to keep the other humans away. Korgag falls on the floor, loosing the grip of his axe.
Another soldier places his foot on the orcs back and brings his spear down at his head.
Gromus trudges through the snowy peaks, keeping the child close to his chest. A cold wind snaps at the two of them, causing Gromus to pull his cloak tighter around him and Giskama.
He glances back and sees nothing but snow. He ordered his clanmates to scatter to escape the humans, he only hopes they were successful.
The child whimpers softly. "Do not worry young one, we'll reach shelter soon." Gromus assures her. He's heard rumors that bands of renegade orcs have hidden in the mountains and made a home for themselves.
He doesn't know how long he's been walking, minutes, hours. The snow blows hard at his face, as each step he takes seems to weaken him further.
He shivers badly as looks around for shelter. To his relief he spots a cave. Gromus slowly makes his way there.
He walks inside feeling like he's about to drop. Finally takes another step, before collapsing.
Gromus lays on the ground, breathing heavily. His mind orders him to get up, but his exhausted body doesn't seem to register that.
Instead he reaches out and grabs Giskama. He wraps his large body around the infant to protect her from the cold. Slowly Gromus's vision begins begins to blur. The edges begin to go dark to him as he loses consciousness.
"Hurry up men! We can't let those orcs escape." A human knight shouts.
Behind him are several footmen, trudging through the mountains. "Sir, those orcs are probably long gone by now." One replies.
The knight looks around for the one who spoke. "So would you prefer that we just let the orcs go and regroup with the others who hide in these mountain? No, we must keep looking."
The other soldiers groan and follow their officer. One of them kicks the snow angrily when a low grunt escapes from a cave.
"Did you hear that?" The man asks, pulling his sword out. "Ya." A second human says.
The Knight wheels his horse to the source of the sound. He then points at two soldiers. "You two, go check it out."
Two soldiers nod, entering the cave, mere seconds later one rushes out. "Lord Allston!" The man shouts. Allston looks up, slightly annoyed. "What is it Williams?"
"You must see this." William cries. "It's an orc!"
Allston dismounts from his horse and runs up to the cave followed by the rest of his men. "Show me." He says.
There, a few feet inside the cave is Gromus laying on the floor, his body curled to a fetal position and his cloaked wrapped around his body.
A footman kneels down and checks the orcs pulse. "He's alive, barely."
"Should I get some chains?" One of the soldiers volunteers.
"No." Allston says, drawing his sword and approaching the orc. "I have a better idea."
William blocks the knight's path. "Wait sir. We can't just kill him."
"I'm putting this beast out of his misery."
An older soldier steps forward. "But milord, we have order by Lieutenant Blackmoore to capture any orcs we can."
"I don't care! These bastards burned my village, they took everything from me." Allston roars. "I'm taking something back today."
"Do you really wish to disobey an order from Blackmoore?" Williams calls out.
This stops Allston in his tracks. He grinds his teeth together in anger, but finally he lowers his sword. "Fine!" He spats out. "You take this creature!"
William nudges orc with the toe of his boot. The orc is rolled on his back, something clutched tightly in its arms.
The soldier looks at it curiously before prying it from the orcs hands. It's a large bundle of cloth.
Slowly he begins unwrapping it, and he comes face to face with an orcish baby.
The man gasps, nearly dropping the infant. "An orcling!"
A groan escapes Gromus as he begins to stir. His eyes flutter open to see himself surrounded by humans.
He lets out a fierce roar and jumps to fight. At once all the footmen have their swords ready. "Surround him men! Keep him back!" William shouts, setting the baby down and pointing his sword at Gromus.
Gromus draws his own blade and swings it in slow threateningly.
The footmen slowly approach with determined expressions. "STOP!" Someone shouts from the outside. Gromus glances over William's shoulder and sees Allston casually walking in. He picks up a the infant orc in his hands and seizes a dagger, pointing it at the infant's throat.
"Listen up here orc, you have two choices: Surrender and be our prisoner, or try to fight us and I get to kill your baby. Either way, I win." He threatens.
Gromus bares his teeth, glaring at the knight. Allston smirks, bringing the blade closer to her throat. "Your choice."
He growls deeply, dropping his sword.