The stench of blood and ozone hung heavy in the air. Wilgar, his axe dripping with viscous green, staggered back, his back burning with the searing pain of the troll's acid. He ripped off his coat, the fabric dissolving into ash at the touch of the vile liquid. The troll, a hulking beast of muscle and rage, roared, its eyes burning with a malevolent gold. It toppled backwards, a guttural scream tearing from its throat as it crashed into the undergrowth.

  Lyam, his bow drawn and arrow nocked, loosed another shaft. It found its mark with a sickening thud, burying itself deep in the troll's thick neck. Wilgar, seizing the opportunity, leapt forward, his axe a blur of motion. With a mighty swing, the blade bit deep, splitting the troll's skull open. Brains and bone rained down as the creature shuddered violently and then lay still, a grotesque parody of life.

  But their victory was short-lived. In the distance, a guttural roar echoed through the forest, a sound that sent shivers down their spines. Orcs. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of them, were closing in. They had no time to mourn their fallen foe.

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  Mounting their weary horses, they spurred them into a frantic gallop, the pounding hooves a desperate rhythm against the encroaching darkness. Days of relentless travel had etched exhaustion into their faces, their muscles screaming in protest. Yet, they dared not stop. The Orcs were coming.

  As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long, eerie shadows across the forest floor, they found a small clearing beside a gurgling stream. They tethered their horses, the animals trembling with fear, and washed the blood and grime from their bodies. The air was thick with the scent of pine needles and damp earth. They ate sparingly, the dried meat tasting like ash in their mouths. No fire tonight. They couldn't afford to attract unwanted attention.

  "I'll take first watch," Lyam said, his voice gruff. "You take the second, Wilgar. Rest well."

  Wilgar nodded, his gaze drawn to the sky. A million stars twinkled, offering a fleeting sense of peace. But the peace was shattered by a chilling realization. The forest, usually alive with the sounds of nocturnal creatures, was eerily silent. An unnatural stillness had descended upon them.