Prey, Predator

[Kozgugore]

“Come, hunt with me,” the invitation whispered in his heart. “Leave the pain behind and let your life be your own again. There is a place where all time is now, and the choices are simple and always your own.”
It seemed so simple back at the time; a good, old-fashioned hunt to let go of life as civilization would have an orc be for just a day. As he would know all too well, however, hunting is never that easy, and the hunt in the Hillsbrad Foothills lasted up until night, just as long until all realization of time and presence had faded away, and the orc Chieftain found himself hunting his supposed ‘prey’ day and night. Or was it the prey? In this cat and mouse game, both orcs were prey and predator.

For weeks on end, there would come little pause to this hunt â€" this survival. Ever since the Chieftain, Kozgugore Feraleye, ran into the old killer of his brother of the past in the hills, both orcs had been tracking each other down, crept through shadows and lurked in the wilds to no avail. Feraleye knew it was not a wolf’s way to pursue the path of vengeance, but the hunt itself had dragged him down this path of no return. Returning home on the slightest of occasions was a risk in its own right; in fear this old killer might track him down to those the chieftain held dear. Now, the scent of the orc assassin had led him to Ashenvale Forest, in the bowels of the dark forest where even few elves would bother venturing forth to.

There was a fragrance in this forest. It did not come from a single flower or leaf. It was not the rich aroma of dark crumbly earth or the sweetness of fruit that has passed from merely ripe to mellow and rich at this time of the year. This scent was a combination of all these things, and of whatever little sunlight falling through the dense roof of foliage touching and awakening their essences and of a very slight wind that blended them perfectly. Both of these orcs smelled like that, and it was this that lured both of them to this place. Yet even in this forest of mystery and secrets, not even the best hunter can remain unseen forever.

It was at the sight of some old, elfish ruins that Feraleye’s long venture at last came to a halt. The eerie, white reflection of the ancient stone caused the orc to halt in the distance as a sudden sight like this made a nocturnal predator’s eyes blink even in night. It was as if the pale moon’s light itself caused these ruins to glitter â€" even now, when they are long forgotten. Even the moon’s faint light can be a hunter’s biggest obstacle, however, as even this pondering moment was enough for the long-hunted orc assassin to creep up behind the wary chieftain’s back. After all, both of these orcs knew hunting is not a sport. In a sport, both sides should know they're in the game. The slashing blade of his knife flickered in the moon’s betraying gaze, and it was only a matter of seconds that was in between Feraleye’s demise and survival. A hasty sidestep caused the blade to cut the protective, furred cloak to slide off his broad shoulders, revealing the ragged, bloodied leather armour of the orc underneath.

Coming eye to eye with his prey and predator, escape was no longer an option for either orcs as he unsheathed the war blade from his back and lunged forward to counterattack his attacker, forcing both of the orcs to reveal themselves in the clearing of the ruins. The grey features of the orc assassin proved he must have been at least as old as the chieftain himself, most likely still having been a part of the Old Horde’s trained group of assassins â€" the first few of orcs who neglected their original heritage, trading their brutish, honourable, honest strength for cold, merciless, vile tricks. The kind this chieftain had learned to hate the most. All the better. The sight made it easier for Feraleye to dash out in his rage and take a clean sweep with his sword at the orc. The grey assassin’s age seemed more like a façade than anything else however, as he made a swift sidestep like any lean, young orc would make. It was a clear and easy opportunity for the assassin to strike, and so he did. He leaped forward, short sword in hand, and cut right across the chieftain’s armour and left upper leg as if it were made of Alterac cheese. This did little to stop either orcs however, and it was a display of two bloodthirsty wolves that would best describe this battle of old killers; parrying, evading and dodging each other’s blows without end as they had so often done in battles within the past few weeks.

Especially not in the heat of a battle, wolves cannot hold out forever, however. The cut in Feraleye’s leg grew bigger and more painful with each movement. All it took was the blink of an eye before the assassin finally threw the old orc off balance with a cheap kick on the orc’s weakened leg before the assassin jumped onto the chieftain and forced him onto the ground. At last, both orcs came face-to-face, up close, and it was then that Feraleye finally realized who this ghost from the past finally was. By all the dead, if only he had known sooner! Perhaps this hunt could have been easily avoided. It was too late for thoughts like these however, and he knew this full well. A cold dagger now drenched in warm blood was brought close against the chieftain’s bare throat. Dying at the hands of an assassin was the last, dishonourable way this orc would have thought to go out, but at least the hunt was worth it. This orc had proven to be his final match. He closed his eyes and concentrated hard on what was to come. The first thing to greet him in this darkness was a wolf’s growl; feral and thirsty for blood like a worg in its first hunt of the new spring. Even in the end of life, wolves hunt and sing together.

[Norv]

(( Ooh! N-n-nice reading!
   
   *tries hard to remain on the chair...*  ))

[Mazguul]

*Jaw drops*

Fantastic to read! But.... by the gods...

*Faints*

[Greggar]

(( fantastic story kozzle! why do these things always happen to koz :< x3 Go shrewd! get the rogue! ))

[Morgeth]

((I loved it, but I agree with Greggar D: Go Shrewd!))

[Claws]

Nice one.
((Do I detect some double meanings in there ))

[Gruulg]

((woaw really edge of your seat reading, really nais kozzle))