A bellow of rage exploded from a nearby bush. Its occupant stood up, his green Orc skin blending in well with the surrounding forest. "I should have had him," he growled.

"There will be more," called out his Orc companion. "To be honest, Laruhk, I am surprised you got so close. I would have heard you at twice the distance."

"You mock me, Kargen," he replied. "My skills are just as good as yours."

"And yet the deer escaped," stated Kargen, his face breaking into a grin, "but it is of no consequence. We shall merely have to find another."

"Had you not given our last deer to Athgar, we might be back at our village, enjoying the smell of roast venison."

"He needed the kill," defended Kargen, "and we are sufficiently skilled that we shall not return empty-handed."

"Bah, you favour the Human too much. What is it about him that you find so interesting?"

"He is not like the rest," asserted Kargen. "He treats us with respect, and in turn, I offer the same to him."

"Athgar is not much of a hunter," observed Laruhk.

"Neither are you if your last arrow is any indication." Kargen wandered over to the tree, pulling the shot loose. "The tip is undamaged," he said, offering it back to his companion.

Laruhk tucked it into the quiver that hung from his belt. "Where shall we look next?"

Kargen didn't answer, he was too busy sniffing the air.

"What is it?" asked Laruhk.

"Something on the wind, smoke I think, coming from the west."

"A nearby hunter?"

"No," said Kargen. "It is too strong for a simple campfire. This is something bigger.”

"An army camp, perhaps?”

"Here, in this part of the woods?" asked Kargen. "Humans know this is Orc territory. They would be fools to enter."

"And yet, it has not stopped them in the past,” said Laruhk. “It is the reason we built a palisade around Ord-Kurgad, remember? I can think of no other explanation for the smoke, can you? The only other thing nearby is the village of Athelwald."

"Perhaps it is under attack?" suggested Kargen.

"Who would attack the Therengians?" asked Laruhk. "They form a buffer between the duke and us. Without them, there would be trouble on the border."

"Perhaps that is someone's intent?" supplied Kargen. "We know so little about the ways of Humans, but they are said to be devious."

"You think that outsiders mean to invade us?"

"It is a distinct possibility," said Kargen.

"And so Athgar's people, these Therengians, would they fight?"

"They would not fight us," replied Kargen, "for we are the only ones to trade with them, but they would, I suspect, fight to defend their village."

"If that is so, then what are we to do?" asked Laruhk.

"We must investigate further," his friend decided, "and try to discover what has befallen them. Let us see if we can solve this mystery."