Sora was awaken im the middle of the night as a noise was heard outside turning to see light.

  Confused heads to the entrance only see torches and silhouette of large big with weapons its orcs he tries to think as he sees a silhouette of wolves with them binded as they sniff the air he tries to think of a plan.

  Sora’s heart pounded in his chest as he crouched at the entrance of the cave, his golden eyes scanning the scene below.

  The orcs were back, and this time, they had brought wolves.

  The torches they carried cast flickering shadows across the rocky terrain, and the wolves sniffed the air, their keen senses likely picking up his scent. They’ve found me, he thought, his mind racing.

  I can’t fight them here. Not in the cave. I need to lead them away.

  With a deep breath, Sora spread his wings and leaped from the cave entrance, gliding silently into the night.

  The cool air rushed past him as he descended, his talons barely grazing the ground before he took off running.

  The wolves immediately caught his scent and began to howl, their sharp barks echoing through the forest. The orcs shouted in their guttural language, their heavy footsteps thundering behind the wolves as they gave chase.

  Sora’s wings beat furiously as he darted through the trees, his agility and speed giving him an edge.

  He wove through the underbrush, his sharp eyes picking out the best paths to lose his pursuers.

  The forest was his ally, its dense foliage and uneven terrain making it difficult for the orcs and wolves to keep up. But he knew he couldn’t outrun them forever. He needed a plan.

  As he ran, Sora’s mind worked quickly. I need to turn this chase around. Use the environment to my advantage. He spotted a rocky clearing ahead, the moonlight casting long shadows across the ground.

  It was as good a place as any to make his stand. With a burst of speed, he broke through the tree line and into the clearing, his wings flaring out as he skidded to a stop.

  The orcs and wolves emerged moments later, their torches illuminating the clearing.

  The orcs roared, their crude weapons raised high, while the wolves snarled, their teeth bared.

  Sora stood his ground, his claws extended and his wings spread wide. He might be outnumbered, but he wasn’t going down without a fight.

  One of the orcs charged forward, its massive club swinging in a wide arc. Sora dodged to the side, his agility allowing him to evade the blow with ease.

  He countered with a swift slash of his talons, catching the orc on the arm and drawing blood. The creature bellowed in pain, but Sora didn’t wait for it to recover.

  He used Gust, creating a powerful burst of wind that knocked the orc off balance and sent it stumbling backward.

  The wolves lunged at him next, their movements quick and coordinated. Sora leaped into the air, his wings carrying him just out of reach. From above, he surveyed the battlefield, his sharp eyes picking out the best strategies.

  The rocks, he thought, spotting a cluster of boulders nearby. If I can lure them there, I can use the terrain to my advantage.

  With a quick flap of his wings, Sora descended toward the rocks, landing lightly on one of the larger boulders.

  The orcs and wolves followed, their movements slower and more cumbersome on the uneven ground. Sora waited until they were close, then unleashed another Gust, this time aiming for the loose stones at the edge of the clearing.

  The wind sent the rocks tumbling, creating a makeshift barrier that slowed the orcs’ advance.

  The wolves, however, were more agile. They darted around the rocks, their eyes locked on Sora.

  He braced himself, his claws ready. As the first wolf leaped at him, he sidestepped and slashed at its side, his talons cutting through its thick fur. The wolf yelped and retreated, but the others were already closing in.

  Sora knew he couldn’t keep this up forever.

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  His stamina was running low, and the orcs were regrouping. He needed to end this quickly. With a deep breath, he unleashed a powerful Screech, the sound reverberating through the clearing.

  The wolves howled in pain, their sensitive ears overwhelmed by the noise. The orcs staggered, clutching their heads as the piercing sound disoriented them.

  Seizing the opportunity, Sora leaped from the boulder, his wings carrying him over the heads of his enemies. He landed on the other side of the clearing, his talons digging into the soft earth.

  The orcs and wolves were still recovering from the Screech, giving him a precious few seconds to make his escape.

  Sora’s heart pounded as he soared above the rocky plateau, the cold night air rushing past his feathers. Below him, the orcs roared in frustration, their hulking forms silhouetted against the dim moonlight. The wolves they had brought with them snarled and snapped at the air, their keen senses tracking his movements even as he flew higher. Sora’s golden eyes scanned the terrain, his mind racing to formulate a plan.

  I can’t fight them head-on, he thought, his talons flexing nervously. There are too many of them, and they’re too strong. But I can’t let them find the cave. It’s my only safe place.

  The orcs were relentless, their crude weapons glinting in the faint light as they spread out across the plateau. Sora knew he had to act fast. He flapped his wings, gaining altitude, and focused on the terrain below. The rocky clearing was dotted with boulders and narrow paths, and he spotted a cluster of rocks that could provide cover. If I can lure them into a bottleneck, I might stand a chance.

  With a deep breath, Sora dove toward the ground, his wings tucking close to his body as he aimed for the narrow path leading into the forest. The orcs shouted and gave chase, their heavy footsteps echoing against the stone. The wolves followed close behind, their snarls growing louder as they closed the distance.

  As Sora landed near the cluster of rocks, he quickly activated Gust, sending a powerful burst of wind toward the approaching orcs. The sudden force knocked several of them off balance, giving him a moment to catch his breath. He darted behind the rocks, his heart racing as he prepared for the next move.

  The orcs regrouped, their leader barking orders in a guttural language Sora couldn’t understand. The wolves, however, were more persistent. One of them lunged at him, its jaws snapping dangerously close to his leg. Sora reacted instinctively, slashing at the wolf with his talons. The creature yelped and retreated, but the others were already closing in.

  I need to thin their numbers, Sora thought, his mind racing. He spread his wings and leaped into the air again, using Screech to disorient the wolves. The high-pitched sound echoed across the plateau, causing the wolves to whimper and back away. The orcs, however, were less affected, their sheer determination driving them forward.

  Sora landed on a higher rock, his golden eyes scanning the battlefield. The orcs were advancing, their weapons raised, but they were slower and less agile than him. He needed to use that to his advantage. Spotting a narrow crevice between two large boulders, he darted toward it, his wings flaring to slow his descent. The orcs followed, their heavy footsteps shaking the ground.

  As they entered the crevice, Sora activated Gust again, this time aiming the burst of wind at the loose rocks above. The force dislodged several large stones, sending them tumbling down onto the orcs below. The creatures shouted in surprise and pain as the rocks rained down, forcing them to retreat.

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  Kragg’s chest heaved with exertion, his massive frame trembling with barely contained fury as he stared down at the unconscious harpy. The young creature lay sprawled on the ground, his golden feathers dulled by dirt and blood. Kragg’s fists clenched at his sides, his knuckles white with tension. He had been so close—so close to proving his strength, to claiming a victory that would have silenced the whispers of doubt among the orcs. But now, that chance had been stolen from him.

  His gaze snapped to Guldar, the wiry warlock who stood at the edge of the clearing, his dark robes fluttering in the breeze his eyes glowing green with dark magic before dimming. The smug expression on Guldar’s face only fueled Kragg’s rage. The remnants of dark magic still crackled in the warlock’s hands, a stark reminder of his interference.

  “What have you done, Guldar?” Kragg’s voice was a low growl, each word dripping with barely controlled anger. He stomped toward the warlock, the ground trembling slightly under his weight. “That was my fight! My victory to claim!”

  Guldar’s smile widened, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of contempt and amusement. “Victory? Perhaps. But it was taking too long, and we have more important matters to attend to than watching you play with a child.”

  Kragg’s nostrils flared, his massive chest rising and falling as he struggled to contain his rage. The orc warlord had always prided himself on his strength, his ability to fight and conquer.

  Glory in battle was what drove him, what made him who he was. And Guldar had stolen that from him.

  “You had no right to interfere!” Kragg’s voice rumbled like distant thunder, his frustration palpable. His gaze flickered toward the fallen harpy, who lay unconscious a few paces away. “I was on the verge of ending that fight, and you—”

  “—And you were about to get yourself killed,” Guldar interrupted smoothly, his voice carrying an unsettling calm. “You’re our champion, Kragg. Your role is to lead us to victory, not to indulge in pointless skirmishes. Putting you in a hunting party was a mistake if it made you think this harpy was a worthy opponent. You almost got yourself killed. Tch. Pointless.”

  Kragg’s jaw tightened, his tusks grinding together as he fought to keep his temper in check. “Pointless? That harpy was a challenge worth facing. He fought with skill and courage. He—”

  “He’s a child,” Guldar snapped, his patience wearing thin. “And you’re wasting time. Do you want to be out there on the frontlines, fighting every day, or do you want to be stuck here, gathering herbs and animals? We both know what you’d rather have.”

  Kragg could feel the frustration boiling within him, a hot rage that had nothing to do with the skirmish and everything to do with Guldar’s interference. “I know what I’m doing. I’ve fought harder battles than this. If you want me to stay behind and gather herbs, fine. But don’t expect me to like it.”

  Guldar’s gaze was unyielding, his voice calm but firm. “Your place is with the orcs. You can’t have it both ways—glory and the frontlines or mundane tasks. And right now, we need you to follow orders.”

  Kragg gritted his teeth, his massive hands curling into fists. He wanted to argue, to challenge Guldar’s authority, but he knew better. The warlock’s magic was a force to be reckoned with, and Kragg wasn’t eager to test it. Instead, he turned his attention back to the fallen harpy, his anger simmering just beneath the surface.

  “And what about the harpy?” Kragg snapped, gesturing toward Sora’s unconscious form. “What do you plan to do with him?”

  Guldar’s eyes flickered toward the harpy, a calculating glint in his gaze. “We’ll take him with us. We’ve invested too much to leave him behind. Orders are orders.”

  He turned away, his cloak billowing as he addressed the remaining orcs. “Get that harpy and bring him along. We’re done here.”

  Kragg watched as the orcs moved quickly, gathering up Sora’s unconscious form with grim efficiency.

  The anger still burned within him, but he knew better than to defy Guldar openly. The warlock’s magic held its own kind of power, one Kragg wasn’t eager to test.

  As the orcs began to clear the area, Kragg took one last look at the fallen harpy. There was a flicker of respect in his heart—the harpy had fought bravely, despite being outmatched.

  It was a rare thing, to see such spirit in a young opponent. The young creature had earned his grudging admiration.

  But now, that admiration was tinged with frustration. Kragg had wanted to prove himself, to claim a victory that would have silenced the whispers of doubt among the orcs.

  Instead, he had been robbed of that chance, his glory stolen by Guldar’s interference.

  As the orcs began to move out, Kragg fell into step behind them, his massive frame casting a long shadow in the moonlight. The memory of the fight, and the harpy who had nearly bested him, stayed with him.

  He would remember this moment, and when the time was right, he would find a way to reclaim his glory.

  For now, though, he had no choice but to follow Guldar’s orders. The warlock’s words echoed in his mind: Your place is with the orcs.

  Kragg knew it was true, but that didn’t make it any easier to accept. He was a warrior, born for battle, not for gathering herbs and chasing after children.

  As they left the battlefield behind, Kragg’s thoughts turned to the future. The harpy was a wildcard, a creature of potential and danger.

  What Guldar planned to do with him, Kragg didn’t know. But one thing was certain—this wasn’t the last he would see of the young harpy. And when the time came, Kragg would be ready.