Ed was alarmed. The orcs were gone! He barged his way into a house.
It slammed open and Ed was able to get a glimpse inside. There were basic straw beds and thatching work in progress. The orc that lived there likely dealt with thatching as a profession.
That was beside the point though. Ed could not see any trace of a hurried escape. Nonetheless, he could definitely tell that it wasn't voluntary either. The orc's work was half-finished.
Confirming this, Ed didn't check any other houses. He instead ran towards the butchery. The boar farm.
With a bang, he opened up a door into the building. He had already caught sight of the boars and could even hear them but he wouldn't feel assured until entering.
'There is no one here…' Ed thought as he made his way into the backyard, the pigpen.
He was checking to see if the numbers were perchance small. That would indicate that they gathered food and were probably not returning any time soon.
'There are only young ones…' It indicated that they would return.
'So it's war' Ed still remembered when Vorgarag had taken his whole tribe to deal capture some boars. Vorgarag mentioned it being a risk to leave the defenseless at home. Only strong tribes or those with large numbers could afford to leave their residents in the settlement.
'This isn't a small one' They were also rather strong. Ed felt uneasy.
'Are they hiding then?' Upon reaching this thought Ed felt that this was the most reasonable explanation. The only problem was that he wouldn't know where they might be hiding if it was true.
The angekok's tribe old settlement had a secret hatch but Ed wasn't sure if the same applied to Sanctuary. Nevertheless, he would have to check out the leader's cabin. It was the most likely location as well as a place where he could find more clues.
He thus hurried over, keeping his eyes and ears peeled all the while. Once there, he pushed open the door and examined the entire house.
There weren't any signs of struggles or anything. Nor were there any letters addressed to him. Ed frowned, he was running out of options. It wasn't like he could simply run in a random direction trying to find them.
'Oh, right! The goblins!' He didn't need to pick a random direction. The goblins were there for scouting purposes. They could spot enemies and friendlies leaving or entering the settlement.
Ed was in another room of the cabin but quickly left and headed for the front door when realizing this. His steps faltered, however, he had heard a set of footsteps.
He warily and slowly approached the front door while ascertaining that the weight of the footsteps corresponded with an orc's. He hastily opened the door and behind it was…!
"E-Ed!?? Ed!" The orc was Shel. She seemed bewildered at first but then relieved and pleasantly surprised. She felt that he had even returned rather quickly. Shel expected Ed to go on a 10-year pilgrimage due to all the drama he kicked up in his departure.
She was ready to play the part of a maiden waiting for her loved one to triumphantly return to pick her up. It would be super romantic! But given how sudden it was, the muscle woman was caught off guard and showed an ugly confused expression. She admonished herself inwardly entirely forgetting about Ed's presence.
'I guess she is still the same' Ed's hidden tension was completely gone after seeing the simple Shel. He didn't know where she came from but things couldn't be too bad if she could afford to stay back. Still, he needed to snap her out of her daze and learn of the situation.
"Shel... " Ed called her name softly yet audibly. Shel was instantly reminded and broken out of her momentary stupor.
"Ah, Right! Sharog took most of the capable warriors to assist Durg- I mean, Dakgu's tribe" Shel reported expecting Ed to be concerned on the matter. It was obvious, she could only imagine that she would scour the entire settlement if she found no one.
"Assist Dukga...?" Ed was a bit surprised. He hadn't expected the thunder cry tribe to need any assistance. They were supposed to be close to unrivaled in the area. Although that was past glory, with the old veterans recovering their injuries most of it had to have been regained.
"Yeah, it was urgent too…" Shel really wanted to catch up with Ed even though the time they had spent apart was not much but clearly, the situation would not allow it. Ed's assistance was necessary when facing the unknown.
"Thank you, where did they head?" Ed thanked Shel for the information and pressed for more. He intended to hurry over.
"Th-they went that way" Shel pointed towards one of the settlement's corners. It was deeper into the forest but more or less diagonally.
"Thanks again, I'll go then" Ed wanted to ask more things. For example, how did Shel know someone had entered? Where were they hiding? How much time? He could have these answered in under a minute but how was he supposed to know if he had a minute to spare?
He was still confident that the tribe could beat most of the ones in the area but seeing how even Durgash's, well Dukga's, tribe was having trouble the casualties would pile up.
"...Ok" Shel was reluctant but didn't stop him. She was starting to feel a bit useless but didn't voice this concern. She had considered going with Ed but not only would she slow him down but she was left to guard the others under Sharog's orders.
Ed left as he came, hurriedly. As the orc body had lied dormant for a while it was full of mana and ready to burst. Ed applied the wind element to his body and swiftly evaded houses as he headed towards the back rightmost corner of the settlement.
Once there he hopped over the walls and disappeared into the darkness caused by the forest's thick canopy.
***
Following the event of the battle against the humans, the thunder cry tribe had lost many members. Nonetheless. the way the sun shined seemed much brighter. It was as if they were given a new lease on life even!
The potions allowed the thunder cry's dignity to be regained and their valor to be rekindled. They mourned for their brothers but it was brief. Almost nonexistent, they most of all celebrated.
Dakgu seemed to be the only that was devastated. He truly felt horrible after finding out about his teacher and master's death. He had lost his actual father in battle and taken in by Durgash who was a great friend of him.
Growing up, Durgash exhibited tough love. Nonetheless, Dakgu didn't grow rebellious, he even became rather shy. The teachings had backfired but Durgash was still like a father to him.
He had lost two fathers. But orcs didn't dwell on death for too long though. What was wrong with dying valiantly in battle? He should even feel happy for him! That was their teachings. That was Durgash's teachings. Dakgu would take them to heart.
A couple of days after he was willingly admitted to the position of chief becoming the youngest chief of the thunder cry tribe. He was given Durgash's house where he found words addressed to himself.
Dakgu, there is a secret hatch under my bed. Inside is a room with some teachings that I couldn't master. Please, put it to good use. Most of all, hehehe, fight valiantly with them! Otherwise… Don't dare call yourself my student!
It was short and to the point. Dakgu spent all of his days practicing his control over lightning in the secret basement. He would only occasionally talk to his best friend Makhu. At one point he was visited by Nag and some others to check up on them but that was all.
This peace was however broken by sudden attackers.
"Dakgu! We will go ahead hahaha! Towards victory!" The thunder cry tribe riled themselves up and headed towards battle.
Dakgu was forced to finish whatever he was doing and grab a weapon. Dakgu caught up eventually, he stood at the settlement's open gate agape by the sight.
Orcs, of his tribe, dead. By the dozens. It wasn't so one-sided but, the prospects weren't looking good!
The enemy orcs were wearing armor and were skillful in the way they handled their weaponry. There were even bows being put into action. Dakgu had never encountered such a situation.
"Makhu! Go get help!" Dakgu yelled at Makhu who had just caught up alongside him while eyeing the enemies.
"What about you chief?" Makhu asked unwillingly.
"I will fight valiantly" Dakgu had told Makhu with evident determination resulting in the latter caving in without much resistance.
"Retreat!" Dakgu roared with his young voice after seeing Makhu reluctantly retreat. Since he had asked for help they naturally needed to first hold out.
The orcs who had exited the settlement walls to fight heard this and looked past their blood lust. Unfortunately, however, retreating didn't prove easy. Most of the orcs that had gone down prematurely ended up dying. Dakgu was forced to close the gate and use the survivors to hold on until Dakgu brought back help.
It wasn't until many hours later that Sharog's group was able to get there. By that point though, the settlement was in a less than optimal state.
"Urgh..!" Dakgu, the young orc was alone surrounded atop the settlement's stone walls. He was on the edge looking as if about to fall. An arrow pierced his thigh causing him to grimace.
"Dakgu!" Sharog roared towards him. It appeared rather feeble since she was a magician and had a skinny figure. Nonetheless, the young tribal chief was able to hear her cry.
He turned his hopeful eyes towards Sharog and saw blades of wind darting towards his direction. He knew they were there to assist.
"Aaargh!" Suddenly, a heavy sword hit his exposed back sending blood spurting out. Dakgu was effectively pushed off the settlement wall for averting his eyes in battle.
Sharog reached out towards him on instinct but she knew she could do nothing for him.