"From what I was told, the hunters kept saying that these abominations came out from a hive located not too far from the waterside." the Village Chief shared. From the way he looks, he doesn't seem like lying or hiding something.
"Hive? What kind of hive is that?" Cullen Azog asked. Based on his understanding, shouldn't the term 'hive' only used on insectoids?
"Yes... It was a hive structure about the same as a wasp nest. Many egg cubicles are working nonstop to hatch the egg into the Scale Lizard we're fighting against now..."
"At first, they were saying that it shouldn't be related to the abominations... But some other hunters said they personally witness the process from hatching to growing up. Based on their spawning speed, it will take them less than a week for a newborn to grow up into a worker lizard." said the Village Chief.
"Then... We can't delay this anymore. How many hives have the hunters found so far?" Cullen Azog asked.
"T - Two!" he quickly answered.
"Then... Go back and prepare the ore for me. The warriors from the Orcs will participate in the battle the moment we're ready. Now, leave." Cullen Azog decided to end their conversation here as there's not much for him to talk about right now.
"I - I will return quickly and get everything done! Thank you, Chieftain Cullen!" the Village Chief excused himself and left the Orc Village in a hurry. As for the three other humans, they were left behind here without further reason.
"Chieftain..." they slowly approached Cullen Azog. But before they managed to get close, Tarzul stopped them by placing his sword horizontally right in front of them.
"Hieee!!!" the three humans retreated a step back as they're afraid of Tarzul.
"Tarzul, back off. Mister Derrick, Dennis, and Desmond, you don't need to be afraid of me. In the eyes of this chieftain, the three of you will always be a brotherhood of the orcs." Cullen Azog stepped forward and grabbed their arms.
In his eyes, the three of them were like a guiding light when he's still a nobody.
"This place might be small, but if you don't mind, come more often. I'm sure the orcs would like to learn more from you all too. I hope the three of you wouldn't mind that some of our craftsmen are not as brilliant as you think." said Cullen Azog.
"No! We appreciate your kind words. Let us go back to prepare some teaching material, and we'll be back by tomorrow." Mister Derrick said. The other two simply nodded.
To them, this is an opportunity. Based on the Village Chief's reaction, the social standing that the orcs will change pretty soon. Although there are barely 50 orcs right now, they're considered one of the fastest-growing humanoid tribes out there.
And with Cullen Azog as their chieftain, how can the three human elders with fifty years of wisdom be oblivious about these?
With the departure of the three, Cullen Azog gathered the other younger orcs around him. Including himself and Tarzul, there's a total of nineteen younger orcs altogether.
5 Craftsmen, 10 Warriors, 2 Sharpshooters, and 2 herders.
Based on the fighting force alone, Cullen Azog can only depend on the ten Orc Warriors and two Orc Sharpshooters to create a difference. But because a female orc is considered precious here due to her ability to give birth to more orcs, only 9 warriors can be sent out of the village.
"Tomorrow, I'll bring five orcs along with me as we go to the waterside to have a look. The craftsmen and herder shall follow and learn from the three human teachers that will come tomorrow."
"As for the others, look for something to do for now until you're assigned with a work. From this moment onward, there will be many things for each of us to do."
"Do you understand?" Cullen Azog asked.
"Grun-Thar!!!"
"Grun-Thar!!!"
...
...
...
Morning.
With Tarzul taking the lead, the six of them departed toward the direction leading to the waterside. Although they were calling it the waterside, it was, in fact, a lake connected to three rivers. It was also the source of drinkable water for everyone living surrounding this area.
The human settlement and the Orc Village is merely two of the hundred of small establishment surrounding this lake. If they were to estimate how much of the population here is with a culture like the human and orcs, there should be at least thirty.
"The Orcs is here!" one of the human hunters said the moment he spotted them coming from a distance.
"Get ready. Remember to not provoke the Orcs. They're quite an aggressive race." said one of the hunters with a longbow in his hand. The moment Cullen Azog, Tarzul, and the four Orc Warriors entered their temporary camp, the atmosphere inside here changed drastically.
There was a hint of rivalry and gunpowder smell here as the two exchanged a gaze at one another.
In the hand of the hunters, there are varieties of weapons of their choice. While in comparison with the Orcs, their only weapon is the sword in their hand. And to make it suit them better, Cullen Azog has been working throughout the night to melt the ten weapons together into five thicker and broader swords.
"I am Edward Pinnacle. The leader of the hunters here. From what the Village Chief told me, you're the chieftain of the orcs?" the hunter asked.
"Yes. I am the Orc's chieftain. Cullen Azog is my name." Cullen introduced himself. A hand of his is extended out to give the hunter a handshake. But before it happened, a hunter entered the camp in a rush. There's bloodstain all over his body that doesn't seem to be his.
"Edward! The Scale Lizards is attacking! There are over a hundred of them this time! Even worst is there's a mutated Scale Lizard is with them!" the hunter said.
"Arm yourself, everyone. More meat is coming to you all, but if you can't digest it, then we'll end up as the food! Meet me by the palisade entrance right now!" Edward Pinnacle ordered.
Their handshake would have to wait until their next meeting.
"So... Orcs of Chieftain Cullen. Are you participating?" before he left, Edward Pinnacle turned his head around and asked. And to answer his question, Cullen Azog turned to his warriors.
"Make Cullen Azog proud. Grun-Thar!" he said.
"Grun-Thar!" the Orc Warriors raised their weapon and prepared to join the battle.