Legend of Roshnak

CHAPTER 6

Badzanogh needed a day to make way to the surface. He could of course dig through, but that wouldn't differentiate him from those bags of flesh and bones. He did not want to drill and destroy these beautiful stone formations. Elemental knew he'd leave significant damage on the surface. But, he was prepared to accept that risk. Plants will grow again, stones won't.

Badzanogh halted on the exit from the cave, which stood at the top of the steep, almost vertical cliff, about two thousand feet above a huge, green valley. It was a vast space, rich in thick forests and pastures. It looked magnificent, under the light of the sun, that was moving high up across the sky. Elemental couldn't steer his eyes from this fiery ball. Its heat must have been so huge, it would top all of the lava lakes put together. Badzanogh wished he could feel that power, just for once.

He could have stayed here for all of eternity, to bask in this beauty. But, all of the sudden, his attention was drawn towards the thick column of black smoke, which rose high above the treetops. The smoke appeared a couple of miles away, to the left from him, just on the edge of the forest. Badzanogh noticed that several trees violently shook, unnaturally swinging because of something. Moments later, they fell to the ground in a violent, crashing sound. Someone was destroying this beautiful forest. Elemental wasn't going to allow it no more.

In a couple of well thought jumps, he found himself at the foothills of the mountain. For a moment he stopped, standing in front of the large grove. Fastest way was straight ahead, but that would mean killing these trees. Instead, the elemental decided to go around them. And he was right to do so. Only a couple of hundred yards away, he saw a river. If he was going to continue moving through the river bed, he thought, his fiery body wasn't going to start the forest fire. Coincidentally, the river led him straight in the direction of those toppled trees.

He could sense the smell of burned leaves. He could now hear the numerous strikes of axes, and the cheerful murmur of several dozen creatures. These beings called themselves the orcs. Badzanogh knew that, as soon as he saw them. They were much larger, bulkier, than those cave dwelling goblins. He observed them for a moment, just enough, to satisfy his curiosity. Their smiles and laughter, their causal chatter, annoyed and bothered him immediately. It appeared as if they were competing against each other, while butchering these trees. Elemental could not comprehend, why did it give them such a sense of accomplishment?

And that angered him even more. In one jump, Badzanogh found himself in between the orcs. With his long, heavy arms, he came crashing down on them, as a landslide. He was knocking them down, in retaliation, for every tree they chopped down. If any of them managed to survive the first blow, they'd find themselves under the elemental's feet. And from underneath, there was no escape. The stone and rocks crumbled under his enormous weight, the bones of these beings felt like nothing in comparison. He effortlessly pulverized the orcs, while pounding them into dust. Orcs were dead in just a couple of seconds.

Soon after, Badzanogh continued with his journey. Just behind the next bend he saw quite large orcish village, enclosed from three sides, with tall, wooden walls. The fourth, overlooking the river was completely opened. Vur-Suun, as orcs had called it, was the largest settlement of the bear tribe, one of the most peaceful in the entire Chaygor. Badzanogh did not know that, nor did he even care.

The guards standing inside the tall towers, erected alongside the walls, spotted him almost immediately. Very soon, the rest of the tribe knew about the arrival of this strange, undoubtedly menacing creature. Sharp, piercing screech of the horns, sounded the alarm, as more and more soldiers gathered around the river bank. Badzanogh noticed that these beings, in contrast to goblins, had no intention to flee. More so, most of them, already charged at him. Rain of arrows and spears, flew at the same time from the back, towards the elemental. But without apparent success. Even the projectiles that hit the target, just bounced harmlessly, of the huge, stone body.

Noise, clamor and confusion, drew Olog Korgak out of a quite large, wooden hut, covered in straw and hides, erected in the exact center of the village. This, over seven feet tall, strong looking orc, was a tribe chieftain for a good part of the past twenty years. Which was almost half of his life. He already found himself in a situations om which he had to defend his home, but never from anything remotely similar to this monster. From where this creature came, and why it attacked them Olog did not know, nor had the time to think about. The battle was in full swing, and from what he could see, he had to remain completely focused in organizing the defense. Any kind of nuisance could prove to be fatal.

"Shelur! Come, quick!" Olog waved towards his sister, who was accompanied by one of the younger soldiers, returning from the river.

"Give me just a second, let me grab my sword." Shelur retorted.

"No!" Olog shook his head.

"We too are ready and capable to defend Vur-Suun, as equally as you are." Shelur opposed her king, pointing at the group of females, who were already armed, and began to gather around the main village square.

"No, you must lead the women and children to safety." Olog said quietly "Far away from the village."

"But we could help our warriors..."

"Knowing their loved ones are safe, will help them more than anything else." the chieftain said suddenly.

Shelur nodded, she had to agree with her older brother.

"Where to?" she asked quickly.

"To the north. Upstream." Olog pointed "Try and ask for help in Netyum. Warn them if nothing else."

"You don't mean it." Shelur twitched at her brother's words "You'll defend Suun, just like many times before."

Chieftain was silent.

"Say you will."

"Yes." Olog said "I will."

"Be careful." Shelur said, kissing him on the cheek.

Just a few seconds later, she was running towards the women, gathering on the square. They were ready to answer to the chieftain's orders.

Only ten minutes later, the large group still somewhat reluctant, left the village. Led by Shelur Gonk, they turned towards north, following the left bank of the river. They walked anxiously, with the trepidation in their hearts, listening to the frantic sounds of the battle behind their backs. Battle which was becoming quieter, with every step they took. It wasn't easy to leave their homes, their fathers, husbands and brothers, although they well knew, it was the necessary precaution. Shelur looked back towards Vur-Suun, for one more, perhaps even the last time. Full of fear, because she didn't know what tomorrow would bring. Netyum was a couple of days walk away from here. Shelur hoped, that her brother, chieftain, would manage to hold on for that long, before she could return with help.