Empty Vessel

[Kintka]

   The dreams that Kintka had been having over the past few nights were getting more random. At first it was his parents, talking about the different members of the clan that they had witnessed, from what they could work out from the other spirits around and where he and his brother should go from here. They were certain they were both destined to be Red Blade, but where they fit in the grand scheme, they weren't sure.

   Then come a new spirit. He was a large Orc, lots of battle scars, a gruf and harsh voice and clearly a veteren warrior. He didn't give a name but directions. He described a path through barren and dead terrain, with all sorts of beasts roaming the wilderness. There would be a cave of sorts where an heirloom would be found. An old Red Blade axe that was once held by one of the more powerful Orcs in the clan's history. "It needs to be retrieved for the coming events!" He growled before turning on his heel, it was almost as if it was an order. But her was talking to the wrong orc. Kintka had no say. The need to find another, more versed in the spirits was becoming more important.

   The morning after the Orc had told him to retrieve the axe, they moved, tracking the assassins out of the camp. Not long after leaving they come to a cross roads, not sure on a direction as the tracks led them in opposite directions, they come to a stop. A discussion broke out between the better trackers and higher ranks. While Kintka sat quietly, a voice entered his head. He couldn't make out the words properly but a direction was clear as day. "North". He looked around to see if it had been an Orc whispering close to his ear, but there was no other apart from Klarous, and he knew his Brother's voice well. It was not he. He leaned in and informed his brother of the direction. Klarous and Kintka however kept to it to themselves and waited. It become apparent that the group would be split. One group heading south and the other north. The brothers decided to head north. After some time they come to halt where they seem to pick up another Orc, Kintka couldn't quite see or hear who it was but it was obvious that the others knew of him. They pressed on. They eventually come to a boarded up cave. The trackers were sure that this was the correct way. They waited, then the new Orc conjured up some wind so strong that it ripped some of the boards off of the entrance. Kintka was in awe. He'd never really seen magic other than a rabbit being turned into a sheep and some mending magic. This was control of the elements. The Orc must have been immensly powerful thought Kintka. Maybe he's the one I need to learn from. The group then proceeded to enter the cave. There was something not quite right, little whispers entered Kintka's mind. As they went deeper they grew louder, he shook his head to try and get rid of them but failed. A sharp pain over took him and then slowly subsided. Once it had gone he was in a small village that was burning and the two groups had finally returned to each other. They pressed on.

   They finally reached come out of the pass and were hit by some fresh but warm air. Kintka breathed heavily. He hadn't realised that the air had even changed that much. He looked around and saw similar pleasure on the other Orcs faces. He smiled, maybe they aren't so different. He continued to take in deep breathes for a few moments after, then was hit by subtle but memory jerking scents. He knew this place, didn't recognise where he was exactly but the scents took him home. He found himself getting quite emotional, trying to hide his feelings he started to separate himself from the rest of the group. Which he did successfully until blacking out. He awoke standing almost central to a group of Orcs who had just finished questioning one of the serverely injured assassins. He stepped back, a number of the Orcs eyeing him suspiciously. No one said anything and almost ignored him, he enjoyed it. He let the others pass him before he continued on his journey, even Klarous looked at him with slight concern but said nothing. They reached an abandoned hut and stopped.

   Kintka looked back down at the small hut and camp that had been quickly and efficiently erected. They had only just arrived and other Orcs were out hunting and putting up makeshift huts. It was quite an impressive sight. Kintka hadn't been around Orcs to this degree for around fifteen years. It had just been his brother, Varana, the female Orc that whisked them away from certain doom and himself. For the fifteen years Varana had taught them how to survive in the wild, that's all she knew. Not how to fight, not how to interact within a clan and certainly not how to commune with spirits. This was something he needed to find out for himself, and quickly.