Rivendare looked around, with no sign of the Rider around him anywhere he continued to glance around nervously. Not a sight or sound, the area around Rivendare and Andrayla was safe, the Wolf Rider had mysteriously disappeared. With the area clear around him, Rivendare turned to Andrayla, who was unconscious on the ground beside him. He removed her mask, allowing himself to get a long glance at her. She had long, silky black hair that came down to her shoulders, and a lovely face that had a warming glow to it.
Rivendare then set about setting up some sort of camp. Grabbing pieces of the cloth that covered him and pieces of wood that had been a part of the framework in the wagon he managed to set up a basic tent. After taking care of the tent, he went to work on the fire. Grabbing stones from nearby, and using his hammer to smash the cart into smaller pieces of wood, he built a fire. The supplies that survived the crash were piled up around the camp. As he finished his work, he was startled when he suddenly heard a voice pierce through the silence. "DAMNED ORCS! THEY STOLE IT!" Spinning around towards the direction of the voice, he noticed Andrayla in a fury, stomping the remnants of the cart.
Not wanting to be on the receiving end of such a rage, Rivendare decided to go hunting. Grabbing his rifle, he set out searching for a deer to kill for dinner. Finding a path, Rivendare began his search. The trees in the area were thick, and the fact that the sun was beginning to set was not helping at all. Rivendare was unable to see anything in front of him, let alone a deer. Cursing the forest, Rivendare decided to go back to the camp, and hope that Andrayla had some sort of meal prepared for the two of them. Wandering along the ever-darkening path, Rivendare took a wrong turn, and came to a clearing that was unfamiliar.
A clearing that held two figures standing around talking. The first figure spoke in the guttural voice of an Orc. The other had a fair and beautiful tone, matching that of a human female. The Orc spoke first, "I was able to claim the Shadow Orb milady." After this, the Orc reached into his cloak and pulled out a glowing black object, the very color of which seemed to devour the light around it. The woman snatched the item from the Orc and stared at it for a while before stuffing into her cloak. She excitedly said, "Excellent, I never believed that this would be so easy. Was there any casualties?" The Orc announced, "Eight Riders were killed attempting to capture it, but the puny cart was no match for me." A harsh tone followed, "That many? You fools must have attacked far too soon. Complete surprise would have had the cart destroyed moments after the attack began."
After hearing this, the Orc stepped back, seeming shocked by the comment, he replied, "Milady, the caravan put up quite a fight, our plan was executed perfectly, don't blame my riders!" The woman's reply was accusing, "Did you slaughter all of those who opposed you?" At this, the Orc hastily replied, "N-n-no, we could not locate them after we broke down their cart." A furious reply came, "Then you have failed me! The people are no doubt nearby, search for them and come back with something, or consider your life in peril." A hasty and nervous answer came from the Orc, "Y-y-yes m-milady."
The Orc ran into the woods in an opposite direction, and the woman walked calmly away. Rivendare, shocked sprinted back through the woods, paying no mind to the path, he ran as fast as he could, hoping to make it back to the camp before the Orcs descended upon Andrayla and him. Rushing through the forest, some unknown force seemed to guide Rivendare's actions, leading him back to the camp. Returning to the camp, he stopped abruptly at Andrayla, summarizing everything that he had overheard. Andrayla stared at him the entire time, her facial expression unchanging, as if Rivendare was only confirming knowledge of hers. After finishing his story, Rivendare ordered Andrayla to grab her weapons, and prepare to fight. When she came back with her bow and swords, a piercing howl came from nearby. The riders had returned.