The sounds of war drums echoed in the distance, growing louder with every passing minute. Rylah stood at the edge of the stronghold's ramparts, her eyes fixed on the horizon. The first wave of Orcs had arrived, their massive forms charging toward the gates. Their bloodshot eyes burned with hatred as they pounded their fists against their chests, ready to break through whatever stood in their way.
Rylah turned to Garik, who was standing beside her, his expression grim. "They've come faster than we anticipated."
Garik nodded, his brow furrowed. "Their numbers are overwhelming. We'll have to fight tooth and nail to keep them out."
Rylah's fingers tightened around the hilt of her sword. She had trained her people to fight, but this… this was different. The Orcs were relentless, a tidal wave of fury. She could feel the weight of the coming battle pressing down on her shoulders.
"Prepare the men," she said, her voice steady despite the pounding of her heart. "We hold them here. We'll give Ashar the time he needs."
Garik hesitated for a moment before speaking. "You know the odds, right? If they breach the walls, we're finished."
"I know," Rylah replied, meeting his gaze with unwavering resolve. "But we don't have a choice. We stand and fight."
The first volley of arrows flew from the ramparts, striking down several Orcs at the front of the advancing horde. The Orcs roared in rage, but they didn't falter. They kept pushing forward, undeterred by the loss of their comrades. The battle had only just begun, but already Rylah could feel the tension rising in the air.
***
Meanwhile, Ashar and his team were miles away, making their way back to the stronghold. They had successfully completed their mission, killing the high chieftain and causing chaos within the Orc ranks, but it hadn't been enough to stop the war. The Orcs were more resilient than they had anticipated, and Ashar knew they had to act fast if they were to prevent the stronghold from falling.
"We need to move quickly," Ashar said, his voice tight with urgency. "If we don't reach the stronghold before the Orcs breach the walls, everything we've fought for will be lost."
Garik, who had stayed behind to lead the defense, had given them a narrow window of opportunity. The Orcs were in disarray after the death of their leader, but they were still a formidable force. The next few hours would determine the fate of their people.
"We can't let them take it," Garik had said, his voice full of determination. "We've worked too hard, sacrificed too much. The stronghold is our last chance."
Ashar couldn't agree more. He had to get back to Rylah and the others. They had to hold the line.
***
Back at the stronghold, Rylah was already preparing for the worst. The first wave of Orcs had been repelled, but they had only slowed the enemy down. The Orcs were regrouping, and their numbers were growing by the minute. The stronghold's defenses were holding for now, but Rylah knew they wouldn't last forever.
"Archers, fire again!" she shouted, her voice rising above the chaos. She could see the Orcs beginning to spread out, trying to find weaknesses in the defenses. They were smart, relentless, and they wouldn't stop until they had broken through.
The archers released another volley of arrows, and once again, several Orcs fell. But there were so many of them. For every Orc they killed, two more seemed to take its place.
Rylah gritted her teeth. "We hold the gates. We won't let them pass."
The soldiers around her nodded, their faces hardening with resolve. They had come from nothing—slaves, survivors, the broken. Now, they were soldiers. They were fighting for their freedom, their families, and for the future of their people.
Rylah glanced up as the Orcs advanced once more, their war cries filling the air. She could see the massive siege engines rolling forward, their wooden frames creaking under the weight of the Orcs who pushed them toward the walls. It was only a matter of time before they reached the gates.
"We need to buy time," Rylah muttered to herself. "Ashar, where are you?"
***
Ashar's team had made it halfway back to the stronghold when they encountered the first signs of the Orc advance. The forest was eerily quiet, the usual rustling of leaves drowned out by the distant sound of battle. The war drums had become a constant, a grim reminder of what awaited them.
"We're too late," Garik said, his voice filled with grim realization. "The Orcs are already at the stronghold."
Ashar clenched his fists. "We've got to move faster. We're not going to let Rylah fight alone."
The team broke into a run, pushing themselves to their limits. Ashar's mind raced with plans and possibilities, but all of them were driven by one goal: survival. They had to protect the stronghold at all costs.
The closer they got to the stronghold, the louder the sounds of battle became. Ashar's heart pounded in his chest, and the weight of the situation pressed down on him like never before. This was it. The moment they had prepared for. The final stand.
***
Back at the stronghold, Rylah's heart was in her throat as the Orcs finally reached the gates. The siege engines creaked and groaned as they moved into position, their massive stone projectiles aimed at the stronghold's walls. The first impact sent a shockwave through the entire structure, shaking the very ground beneath her feet.
"Hold your ground!" Rylah yelled, her voice full of determination. "Hold the line!"
The walls trembled again as another stone struck, but the gates held firm. For now.
Rylah's gaze shifted to the horizon. She could see movement in the distance—small figures on the ridge, approaching fast. Her heart leaped in her chest. Ashar's team had returned.
"Reinforcements!" Rylah shouted. "We've got help!"
With renewed strength, the soldiers at the gates redoubled their efforts. The Orcs, momentarily distracted by the incoming reinforcements, hesitated. But they were not defeated yet. They regrouped, pushing forward with renewed fury.
As Ashar and his team charged into the fray, Ashar's eyes locked onto Rylah's. They were back, and they were ready to fight.
"Let's finish this," Ashar said, his voice steady but fierce.
And with that, they plunged into the battle, the fate of the stronghold hanging in the balance.