Rise of the Horde

The Skalsser orcs stared in disbelief at the power of the mighty steeds of their foes. Taking down trees with brute strength and just ramming through them. That's a feat that they only witnessed against the giant creatures of the sands.

Looking around them, wargs and orcs wielding the strange-looking weapons surrounded them with their weapons all aimed at them. They might have the advantage in numbers, but they are at a disadvantage since only a few of them have weapons in their hands.

"Surrender quickly so that we can tend to your wounds. Specially that wounded friend of yours." Bakrah muttered as he pointed a finger at the bleeding Yukah. He noticed a long time ago that the wounded orc was still alive and breathing but won't last for long.

"He is still alive? You can save him?" the elder orc rapidly questioned as he was indeed worried about the well-being of Yukah. He knows that the young orc was still alive because of the rare rising and falling of his chest despite it was hard to notice since it only moves a little, but he noticed that's why he had the body taken with them.

"Yes, and you should also need to be treated or you will lose that arm of yours." Bakrah nodded and continued. He was hoping that they would shed no unnecessary blood since they need more of their kin to join them and add more warriors for Yohan.

The elder orc stared at his bleeding arm and went silent for a few moments before throwing away his weapon, which was followed by the others. They now surrendered and stared at their captors to determine if they will keep their word.

"Verakhs! Come out and tend to the wounded." Bakrah shouted as more and more of the Verakhs walked out from the shadows. All the squads that were sent for this expedition showed themselves up, even the hidden marksmen also showed up and, slung on their shoulders, are their lengthy and bulky weapons.

"No rumble? Then we will be off!" Dug'mhar shook his head in disappointment and rode down towards the plains leading away his warriors. The ground shook once again as they rode away, kicking up dust, dirt, leaves, twigs, and branches in their wake. The slight tremors caused a few rockslides along the sides of the cliffs nearby, but nothing worthy of their attention.

The Rhakaddon Cavalry rode away and headed towards the battlefield following the trail of wounded orcs who are wailing in pain as they clutched the javelins that pierced through their bodies. The others were long dead as they have bled too much and dyed the grasses and ground red.

Dug'mhar and his warriors ignored them and went ahead towards the battlefield. Excitement was etched on his face as he was expecting a good fight against the warriors of the Skalsser Tribe that pursued their allies. The sun was still not up and darkness still engulfed pretty much everything around them.

"Hee-hee-hee... Hee-hee-hee"

The strange laughing howls made Dug'mhar knit his eyebrows as he was very familiar with those howls. All orcs are extremely familiar with those howls. The howls of their most loathed kin's minions, Balfurs.

He raised his hand up and commanded his riders to a halt as they listened to the howls of the Balfurs not far away from them and judging by the number of howls that they are hearing; it was a huge pack of those creatures.

"Should we check it out, chief?" one rider beside Dug'mhar asked, as they all knew too well that Balfurs can't be left alone. They must be eliminated when discovered. Their presence would also mean that a warlock is nearby and they must not let it roam free, since this place is only a few days away from their main camp here in the south.

"Let's go! Keep a tight formation!" Dug'mhar ordered, as he took the lead and headed towards the place where the strange laughing howls were coming from.

*****

"Balfurs! Prepare to defend yourselves!" Pelko shouted as he unstrapped his weapon from his back and brandished it towards the Balfur that lunged at him. He smacked the Balfur in the head with his spiked club, which was a thick wood with a thick head adorned by a few metal spikes which had dried blood all over them from its previous victims.

The wargs pounced on the Balfurs that came into the clearing, using their fangs and claws to tear them apart. Their riders on their back tried their best to maintain their balance as their steeds fought off the Balfurs. The primal battle with fangs and claws between the Balfurs and Wargs continued for a few moments until Pełko noticed that their steeds were at a disadvantage while they are riding them.

"Dismount! Get off! We will fight on foot!" He shouted as he jumped off his warg and patted it on the shoulder. His warg had a few claw marks and some of its furs were shaven off after tussling with the Balfurs. Following after Pelko, the other scouts of the Skalsser Tribe also dismounted from their wargs as to allow them to move more freely and fight off the Balfurs.

Along the trees, streaks of lightning suddenly flashed and brought forth a thunderous sound as they crashed against the trees. The trees seemed to have come to life as they wrapped their branches and roots around the Balfurs, suffocating and squeezing the life out of them.

"Marduk! Come out you bastard!"

"Stop hiding in the shadows!"

"Come out and let us end this hide and seek game of yours already!"

Shouts came from behind the trees as the power of the natural elements tore down a few trees and sent them crashing down to the ground and taking down along with them some of the wolf like creatures with spiny reptile spiked spines.

"Kekeke!!!... You have to find me first... I am just near you... Kekeke." a husky and deep voice answered the shouts, but his voice sounded like he was everywhere.

"Shamans! The shamans are back!" Ikrah exclaimed as he finally caught a glimpse of the creatures who are wantonly destroying the trees along with the Balfurs. It was many months ago that the shamans of their tribe went out to hunt for the warlock that kidnapped a few of their tribesmen, presumably for a living sacrifice to please his demon masters.

"Xok'nath is in trouble... Really big trouble..." one of the orcs, who was about the same age as him, muttered. One of the shamans is the brother of the old chieftain, and they knew all too well that the two are really close with each other. They were both teachers of Yukah and they often argued which path he would take, a warrior or a shaman, but Yukah chose the path of a warrior.

"Marduk! I'll burn down the entire forest if I have to! And when I get my hands on you! Even your demon masters won't be able to save you!!?" the oldest of the three shamans screamed towards the trees as he called upon the spirit of the flames and brought forth a huge ball of fire. The Balfurs yelped in pain as they were being burnt alive. The trees started moving, snaking their branches and roots to trap the poor creatures and not allow them to run away from the radiating intense heat.

"Kekeke! Kill as many of my babies as you want! I'll just raise more of them! Kekeke... It's been fun playing with you old bones, but I still have to please my masters. Kekeke... Find me again... Kekeke... If you can..." the creepy, husky yet very deep voice that was coming from all around sounded again before disappearing.

"He ran away! I can't feel him anymore, Tash'arr. He is no longer here." one of the shamans muttered as he had his hands on the ground, seeking the help of the forest to locate their foe that they have been hunting.

"Slippery bastard! We'll get you one day!" Tash'arr spat, then called forth many more balls of fire by asking the spirit of the flames and burnt the rest of the Balfurs.

Ikrah, Pelko and the rest of the scouts stood still, not wanting to raise any suspicion as they might be mistaken to be with the warlock that the shamans were hunting. The shamans walked out behind the sea of fire.

"Who are you!?" Tash'arr glanced at the Skalsser orcs, who remained motionless and just stared at them. "Welcome to back to the Skalsser Tribe, high shaman Tash'arr, shaman Gunn and shaman Hekoth." Pelko walked forward as he spoke.

"Wait... We are back at the tribe?" Tash'arr glance towards his fellow shamans who shrugged their shoulders in response. He strained his eyes and tried to remember what the orc who was speaking was called, and after a few moments of silence, he finally remembered. "Pelko! Ha... It's been a while... And you must be the young Ikrah... I guess you aren't still as strong as Yukah." the high shaman smiled as he approached their tribesmen.

"We need to hurry, and your presence is needed in the tribe. Xok'nath is now chieftain of the tribe and Yukah is in danger." Ikrah informed Tash'arr. "And my brother...?" Tash'arr questioned, to which Pelko shook his head in response.

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