They came with the first snow of winter. Invaders from the north. Orcs lead by Ga'rtak,
The Merciless.
They burned, slaughtered and pillaged a path southward.
Until they came upon Fu’org and his clan, The Oh'ani.
Fu'org fought back against the Northern Clan, protecting his people and lands.
Darlock, his son and general of the army, led his warriors to many victories. Word had reached them about a troop approaching from the western front.
Darlock and a band of his men went out to confront this battalion.
One night, when scouting ahead. He came upon an enemy. He drew his bow and arrow and prepared to fire. But something stayed his hand just then. The enemy was a female. Her eyes were bright as a warm fire. Her beauty was beyond anything he had ever seen before. For a moment, the bitter cold of winter was washed away, like the break of sun on a field of grass. But a trap had been sprung. He fought as fiercely as he could, until his men caught up and helped. But they were outnumbered.
Darlock and his men were captured and to be taken before Ga'rtak.
Along the road toward north, The company was attacked by a pack of Werebeasts. The northerners were caught off guard. They were not all that familiar with Beasts of the southern lands. The female, while busy fending off one, was approached from behind by another. Darlock saw this, retrieved an ax and tossed it into the Beast's skull. She turned at the sound of it falling and realized what he had done.
The Werebeasts were everywhere. Darlock cut his binds and turned to escape. But then, he turned back and called to the female. He extended his hand to her. She hesitated, so he grabbed her by the arm and led her away. She snatched her arm from his grasp and followed.
He saw a cave up ahead where they could hide. They ducked behind a rock once inside the cave. They waited a moment for the creatures to pass. Darlock looked out and saw the area was clear.
Just then, He felt a hard blow to his head, and the world around him went black.
When he awoke, his hands were bound once more and he was being dragged through the snow by the female.
It was a long road to her camp and as they drew closer, the road grew more traitorous.
He would soon learn her name was Tuva. Daughter of Ga'rtak. He knew he should kill her. But could not bring himself to do it.
It was not long before they were once again set upon by werebeasts. The pack encircled them. The Alpha, a massive black furred beast stood out of the pack. Four sharp fangs protrude out of either side of its mouth. It snapped its teeth at them. “Free me!” Darlock pleaded with Tuva. “You can not take them all alone.” She hesitated for just a moment, and then freed his hands and handed him an ax. He stepped between her and the Alpha. The beast recognized the challenge and charged at Darlock.
The battle was fierce and bloody. But Darlock soon defeated the beast and cut it down. Their leader slayed, the rest of the pack ran off. Darlock was terribly wounded and collapsed into the snow.
He awoke to find Tuva dressing his gashes, cuts and punctures.
A storm came upon them and they took shelter inside a cave that sat atop a small hillside.
Tuva helped change his bandages. Their eyes met as his hand touched hers. She blushed momentarily and walked away, going to sit on the opposite side of the makeshift fire. They sat in silence as they ate the meat from the Alpha's carcass. He could not take his eyes off her. Her eyes grew more golden in the light of the fire. Her breasts were firm and supple. Her body was strong and curvaceous. Her thighs were like finely chiseled tree trunks, the likes of which capable of crushing a grown wild pig’s skull. Suddenly, He noticed she was glaring back at him at this moment and that he was breathing rather loudly. He cleared his throat and looked away. Soon they just sat silently. Winter was no stranger to either of them.. but the fire was small.. and the storm was fierce. He could see her shivering but trying to maintain her composure. He gathered the Beast's pelt and carefully draped it over her shoulders. She flinched and he raised his hands to show he wasn't armed. He threw another piece of wood on the fire and stroked it a bit as he sat beside her.
Their eyes met again and locked. They were sitting close now. Their breathing grew heavier and their hearts pounded in both of their ears. He could feel her body heat rising as he drew closer. He saw her hand hold tight to the hilt of her knife. But he did not stop. He drew closer, and closer. She did not pull back, her hand still on the hilt. He kissed her lips once, and then again and again. He caressed her cheek and brushed a strand of hair from her face. She kissed him back and their lips locked. Her hand let go of the hilt as he leaned even more closer and soon he was atop her. Her legs spread wide and wrapped around his hips.
They kissed some more, and their bodies melted into each other throughout the night.
The next morning, he awoke with a satisfied smile on his face, but then quickly frowned when he found his hands were bound again.
Another three days journey and they arrived at Ga'rtak's Camp.
She presented her prisoner to her father. Ga'rtak loomed large over both of them, as he stood nearly seven feet tall. He grinned a gnarly smile. His teeth were a mix of green, yellow and black. One eye was pitch black, while the other was milky white. Both stared down at him, but Darlock stood straight before him. Ga'rtak snorted at this display and then his face twisted as a smell came to his nostrils. He followed the smell and came down to his daughter. He snarled as he grabbed her by the hair. Darlock stepped forward but was held back by two guards. Ga'rtak shot him a look and tossed her aside.
“Send him back to his chief!” He growls with a deep guttural voice, “In pieces..” he then grasps Darlock by the skull, “But, His head.. is mine..” and he pushes him away. The guards take him away.
Ga'rtak turned back to Tuva. “Weak..” he growls with a look of disgust.
That night, before he was to be executed Darlock sat in his cell, his back to the door and the rest of the camp. Just then, he felt the cage rattle as a body fell to the ground. He turned and suddenly the cage door cracked open. He stepped out and saw Tuva with a large ax in her hand standing there. She handed it to him and took a step back. Realizing what she was doing.
He nodded and took one step away, but stopped short. Turning back to her, he extended his hand to her again. She slowly backed away shaking her head and ran in the opposite direction. He sighed and ran the other way..
Dark Grey clouds loomed low in the stormy sky as Heavy flakes of snow blew through the air.
The trees of this forest were strong and familiar with such elements.
The thick branches bore heavy blankets of frost and ice with little strain.
A hungry crow braves the storm in search of food for itself and its new hatchlings.
It lands on the fresh packed white snow and shakes off its wet feathers. Curious of what it had found, but wary of its surroundings. The crow hopped closer. As it did, the white snow at its feet grew darker in color. Fresh crimson red drenched its steps.
It hopped up onto the severed head of an Orc. Examining it, the crow pecked at the flesh here and there. Satisfied, it began to peck harder and deeper. Tearing away the flesh, exposing the meat beneath. After a few swallows the crow is startled away as a heavy foot lands upon the orcs skull, crushing it.
This was Fu'orgs final push back. He and Darlock, fended off this final assault by the invaders.
The invaders' forces were now fewer and their leader Ga'rtak at his limit.
The two sides battled fiercely. The snowy battlefield was now a dark crimson color, littered with bodies, axes and splintered spears.
Fu'org and Ga'rtak met in the middle of the fray. Axes clashed and slashed.
Fu'org was more experienced.. but much older than his slightly younger opponent.
Ga'rtak caught Fu'org off balance and buried his ax within his skull. Splitting him in half, down to his chest.
Darlock roared with guttural anger and anguish at the sight. He blindly charged at Ga'rtak, who was not only larger but more skilled than he. But Darlocks vengeance was not to be denied.
He battled with the Orc from the North.
Ga'rtak knocked the young Chieftain down to the ground with a mighty blow.
He raised his great ax high up over his head, when suddenly a knife pierced him between his ribs.
He let out a great gasp for air and looked down at his sudden attacker.
Tuva, pushed the knife deeper and twisted it. Snapping a rib or two. Ga'rtak growled and struck her. Darlock picked up a nearby spear and leapt forward with it. Stabbing Ga'rtak in the chest. His ax fell to his side. Ga'rtak snapped the spear with his bare hands and grabbed Darlock by the throat and lifted him up. Tuva attacked again. Leaping upon his back and stabbing him in the shoulder forcing him to drop Darlock.
Darlock grasped Ga'rtak's dropped ax and swung it up, severing Ga'artak's right arm from his shoulder.
Ga'rtak fell back, screaming and clutching the now stump of a shoulder as blood gushed through his hand and fingers.
Defeated, he was snatched up by his people as they retreated. Never to be seen again..
Darlock and his people were victorious.
He and Tuva stood there for a long moment. Their eyes locked with each other.
He extended his hand to her once more.. She looked down at his blood soaked hand……