A/N: Thank you all so much for your reviews!! Maffeoel: I may take the story in that direction, you're ideas will be kept in mind for future chapters. And yes, the first chapter was extremely short, but this one is A LOT longer...ENJOY!
Chapter 2:
Twin caves cut into the rocky cliff-side on opposites sides at the base of the ravine. A dozen orcs began stirring inside the one underground chamber. Kelet was the leader of this orc band and had a great love for playing the dictator. Like so many other orcs, they were headed to the call of King Obould. This group was a mixture of rogues from many different orc bands, uniting together for the journey to their king.
At the very inside of the cave entrance a green skinned orc with shabby leather armor leaned upright against the rocky wall, a great axe in one hand. A rough yet relaxed breathing rhythm escaped his foul mouth. Kelet growled and rolled his sickly eyes as he stomped over to his "watch guard." A quick backhand across the orcs' face woke him from his slumber.
"Argh! Vat in the..." the sleeping guard began, agitated for being awoken so roughly.
"Damn, stupid creature!" Kelet growled in a low voice, spraying the other orcs face with spit. "Ye want to get attacked again?"
He began to retort but was silenced promptly by another slap across the other cheek. The onlookers groaned to themselves. Kelet took more power over them everyday. To attack him would be a fool's errand, even the dimwitted orcs knew that. Their ragtag group of cowards who ran from their separate communities needed to stick together. Each had witnessed annihilation of their kin by a cloaked figure with wickedly sharp blades, one glowing a light blue. The reality was, join Kelet and the mass party of thousands for revenge or starve out in the wilderness alone.
"Ye want tha' bastard Drow to cut yer throat?" Kelet continued his lecture in the rough orcish language, pacing around to glare at each of his group. Unknown to the arguing orcs, this exact dark elf was making his way down to meet them at the same moment...
Bare feet moved deftly and silently from rock to rock. Nimble fingers guided the way down, never once loosing stones. His enchanted bracers keep him in perfect balance.
Even the most unobservant would know of the orcs presence with the din they were creating. "Ye eat my food, ye stay awake!" Kelet yelled, this time not watching the volume of his voice.
"Ye call this food?" A rebellious orc who'd traveled far with Kelet finally snapped back, holding out scraps of rotting food. The other orcs, such rebellious fighters amongst themselves, began to argue about any old topic. Some even drawing a weapon in a threatening manner.
As the tension rose, the cave across the way became curious and began to peer over to the other side. Drizzt stopped for a moment as he watched the orcs, less than a dozen it appeared, rouse on the opposite side of the gorge. Another job to take care of, he mused to himself. Leaping down to the floor from his current perch, not all that far from the bottom, he sneaked to the other side of the expanse.
With a glance back to the arguing orcs, he realized this would be a squabble lasting until sunrise at its current rate. Faster than a speeding arrow from Heartseeker's string, Drizzt unsheathed Twinkle and Icingdeath on cue with the burning image of Bruenor falling with that retched tower collapsing on top of him. A quick move and the Hunter was inside the cave, each blade already tasting the gross flesh of two orcs' throats. Silent gurgles of blood marked their death as they slumped towards the ground, dark oblivion already taking them before tendons behind their knees were slashed.
The killer's cowl flew back loosing stark, white hair and an ebony complexion that reflected his gleaming purple eyes. The six remaining orcs were quiet with fear, their visage betraying their cowardice as each remembered the last time that saw this creature - when he had brought slaughter upon their homeland. This contemplative state caused the group two more dead bodies littering the ground. As a weak defense, one of the remaining drew a rusty dagger and flung it at the Drow. Easily sidestepping the missile, the Hunter brought Icingdeath in to puncture the thrower's heart at the same time.
Two more drew weapons, one a sword and the other an axe. The last of the three staggered back to the rear wall of the cave, perfectly content to let his companions battle and die. With a glance from one to the other, a twisted grin on his face, the Hunter feinted a move to the right. Quicker than the orcs could fathom, a blur flew between them as Drizzt flipped over both heads and their meager defense weapons. Before landing expertly behind them, with both feet, he decapitated both heads. Both bodies fell forward, shocked expressions frozen on their rolling heads which looked even more sickly in death.
The Hunter whirled around, an instinct telling him that the cowardly orc was attempting to cry out for help to his companions across the way. They wouldn't have heard him even if a blade didn't slit his throat, silencing him forever.
Taking a quick glimpse around the cave the Hunter barely noticed his work that had dispatched the run-away orcs. Instead, sound from 20 feet away reverberated in his ear and deep into his soul. Elifain, Bruenor, Catti-brie, and all of his friends' deaths came back to haunt him in that moment. The rough orc voices sounded like laughter mocking him and all that he once believed he was. A lie, his life was all a lie. Tears that wished to flow were washed back inside through pure hatred. Whether towards himself or the orcs, it did not matter in this state.
Growling as his panther from the Astral Plane would, the Hunter quickly crossed the barren rock. Bounding onto a boulder above the entrance to the cave he silently sheathed both blades in mid-air. Lying flat on his stomach, he took a moment to observe what he could of the overall chaos underneath the rock in the cave. Orcs were such agreeing creatures, he thought dryly to himself. Understanding most of the orcs' throaty language, he easily picked our the supposed leader of this band.
"Don't blame me for you troubles!" Kelet screamed, clenching his fists, ready to pommel any who challenged him.
"Obould help!" one shouted in excitement. "Yeah, him's mightier," another agreed while pointing an accusing finger at Kelet.
"What makes you think him's want your smelly arse?" Kelet retorted in a sharp voice. Snarls were heard coming from every mouth.
"Drow is to blame," one screamed which was answered by all with a cheer of agreement, first of the night.
A rough laugh came from Kelet. "Aye, we find the bastard, cut his head, offer it to Obould!" Kelet thought that finally he'd got his underlings under control with that positive thought, until...
The sound of a blade cutting leg muscles followed by a gurgle of the throat being cut marked the arrival of the Hunter. "Here's your opportunity," he whispered before spinning away into a dark shadow of the cave....
A/N: Alrighty, the next part is already written and it's just as long, plus LOTS more action. I figured I'd break it up and give you a little bit of something to look forward to. If I get some reviews, the next installment will be up tomorrow....
Chapter 2:
Twin caves cut into the rocky cliff-side on opposites sides at the base of the ravine. A dozen orcs began stirring inside the one underground chamber. Kelet was the leader of this orc band and had a great love for playing the dictator. Like so many other orcs, they were headed to the call of King Obould. This group was a mixture of rogues from many different orc bands, uniting together for the journey to their king.
At the very inside of the cave entrance a green skinned orc with shabby leather armor leaned upright against the rocky wall, a great axe in one hand. A rough yet relaxed breathing rhythm escaped his foul mouth. Kelet growled and rolled his sickly eyes as he stomped over to his "watch guard." A quick backhand across the orcs' face woke him from his slumber.
"Argh! Vat in the..." the sleeping guard began, agitated for being awoken so roughly.
"Damn, stupid creature!" Kelet growled in a low voice, spraying the other orcs face with spit. "Ye want to get attacked again?"
He began to retort but was silenced promptly by another slap across the other cheek. The onlookers groaned to themselves. Kelet took more power over them everyday. To attack him would be a fool's errand, even the dimwitted orcs knew that. Their ragtag group of cowards who ran from their separate communities needed to stick together. Each had witnessed annihilation of their kin by a cloaked figure with wickedly sharp blades, one glowing a light blue. The reality was, join Kelet and the mass party of thousands for revenge or starve out in the wilderness alone.
"Ye want tha' bastard Drow to cut yer throat?" Kelet continued his lecture in the rough orcish language, pacing around to glare at each of his group. Unknown to the arguing orcs, this exact dark elf was making his way down to meet them at the same moment...
Bare feet moved deftly and silently from rock to rock. Nimble fingers guided the way down, never once loosing stones. His enchanted bracers keep him in perfect balance.
Even the most unobservant would know of the orcs presence with the din they were creating. "Ye eat my food, ye stay awake!" Kelet yelled, this time not watching the volume of his voice.
"Ye call this food?" A rebellious orc who'd traveled far with Kelet finally snapped back, holding out scraps of rotting food. The other orcs, such rebellious fighters amongst themselves, began to argue about any old topic. Some even drawing a weapon in a threatening manner.
As the tension rose, the cave across the way became curious and began to peer over to the other side. Drizzt stopped for a moment as he watched the orcs, less than a dozen it appeared, rouse on the opposite side of the gorge. Another job to take care of, he mused to himself. Leaping down to the floor from his current perch, not all that far from the bottom, he sneaked to the other side of the expanse.
With a glance back to the arguing orcs, he realized this would be a squabble lasting until sunrise at its current rate. Faster than a speeding arrow from Heartseeker's string, Drizzt unsheathed Twinkle and Icingdeath on cue with the burning image of Bruenor falling with that retched tower collapsing on top of him. A quick move and the Hunter was inside the cave, each blade already tasting the gross flesh of two orcs' throats. Silent gurgles of blood marked their death as they slumped towards the ground, dark oblivion already taking them before tendons behind their knees were slashed.
The killer's cowl flew back loosing stark, white hair and an ebony complexion that reflected his gleaming purple eyes. The six remaining orcs were quiet with fear, their visage betraying their cowardice as each remembered the last time that saw this creature - when he had brought slaughter upon their homeland. This contemplative state caused the group two more dead bodies littering the ground. As a weak defense, one of the remaining drew a rusty dagger and flung it at the Drow. Easily sidestepping the missile, the Hunter brought Icingdeath in to puncture the thrower's heart at the same time.
Two more drew weapons, one a sword and the other an axe. The last of the three staggered back to the rear wall of the cave, perfectly content to let his companions battle and die. With a glance from one to the other, a twisted grin on his face, the Hunter feinted a move to the right. Quicker than the orcs could fathom, a blur flew between them as Drizzt flipped over both heads and their meager defense weapons. Before landing expertly behind them, with both feet, he decapitated both heads. Both bodies fell forward, shocked expressions frozen on their rolling heads which looked even more sickly in death.
The Hunter whirled around, an instinct telling him that the cowardly orc was attempting to cry out for help to his companions across the way. They wouldn't have heard him even if a blade didn't slit his throat, silencing him forever.
Taking a quick glimpse around the cave the Hunter barely noticed his work that had dispatched the run-away orcs. Instead, sound from 20 feet away reverberated in his ear and deep into his soul. Elifain, Bruenor, Catti-brie, and all of his friends' deaths came back to haunt him in that moment. The rough orc voices sounded like laughter mocking him and all that he once believed he was. A lie, his life was all a lie. Tears that wished to flow were washed back inside through pure hatred. Whether towards himself or the orcs, it did not matter in this state.
Growling as his panther from the Astral Plane would, the Hunter quickly crossed the barren rock. Bounding onto a boulder above the entrance to the cave he silently sheathed both blades in mid-air. Lying flat on his stomach, he took a moment to observe what he could of the overall chaos underneath the rock in the cave. Orcs were such agreeing creatures, he thought dryly to himself. Understanding most of the orcs' throaty language, he easily picked our the supposed leader of this band.
"Don't blame me for you troubles!" Kelet screamed, clenching his fists, ready to pommel any who challenged him.
"Obould help!" one shouted in excitement. "Yeah, him's mightier," another agreed while pointing an accusing finger at Kelet.
"What makes you think him's want your smelly arse?" Kelet retorted in a sharp voice. Snarls were heard coming from every mouth.
"Drow is to blame," one screamed which was answered by all with a cheer of agreement, first of the night.
A rough laugh came from Kelet. "Aye, we find the bastard, cut his head, offer it to Obould!" Kelet thought that finally he'd got his underlings under control with that positive thought, until...
The sound of a blade cutting leg muscles followed by a gurgle of the throat being cut marked the arrival of the Hunter. "Here's your opportunity," he whispered before spinning away into a dark shadow of the cave....
A/N: Alrighty, the next part is already written and it's just as long, plus LOTS more action. I figured I'd break it up and give you a little bit of something to look forward to. If I get some reviews, the next installment will be up tomorrow....