The quiet crackling of the fire filled the cave, its soft warmth fighting back the chill of the forest night.
Henry and I sat cross-legged by the flickering light, sharing the last pack of snacks I had stashed away in my bag.
The others were off in their corners, either sharpening weapons or resting their eyes for what was supposed to be a calm night.
Henry, who rarely initiated conversation, glanced at me and broke the silence.
"Sky," he said, his voice steady but curious, "what about your life? How was it?."
I shrugged, popping a piece of dried fruit into my mouth.
"Not much to tell, honestly. It was... boring."
"Boring?" Henry raised a brow. "You're in the military now. Doesn't sound boring to me."
I snorted.
"Yeah, well, I didn't exactly plan to end up here. I was just an average guy in an average life, that barely could survive. Then, you know, my dream was always to be a part of something big that would help the world, and here I am. Guess life decided it was time for some excitement."
Henry nodded, but his expression was unreadable.
"Sounds more like you didn't have much choice."
"Did you?" I shot back, curious.
His lips twitched into something that wasn't quite a smile.
"No. Not really. But I had a purpose, at least."
"Revenge," I said quietly, meeting his gaze.
"Yeah." His voice was a low growl, the kind of tone that didn't leave room for argument. "It's the only reason I keep going."
We fell into a brief silence, the firelight dancing on the walls around us.
In some strange way, I felt like we were the same.
Two guys stuck in a world that didn't care if we made it to the next day.
The only difference was, Henry had revenge as his reason to fight.
While I fight for...
Survival.
Trust me it sounds selfish but that is the most important thing to be concerned about in this world.
When we finally finished the snacks, we leaned back, letting the exhaustion of the day settle in.
"Guess we should get some sleep," I said.
Henry nodded.
"Yeah. Big day tomorrow."
We curled up in our respective corners, the soft crackle of the fire the only sound in the cave.
One of the other soldiers took the first watch, his silhouette barely visible as he stood near the entrance, weapon in hand.
-----
I don't know how long I had been asleep when the sound jolted me awake.
A faint, distant rustling that didn't belong to the forest.
"Everyone up!" The soldier urgent whisper carried through the cave, sharp and cutting through the grogginess.
I sat up immediately, grabbing my weapon.
Around me, the others were stirring, their movements quick and tense.
Henry was already standing, his jaw clenched and eyes scanning the cave entrance.
"Strange noise," the soldier whispered, his voice shaking. "Something's out there."
We all moved to gear up, the air thick with unease.
I couldn't help but notice Henry. He wasn't just alert, he was furious.
His hands gripped his weapon so tightly his knuckles turned white, and his breaths came fast and shallow.
"Henry, you good?" I asked, my voice low.
He didn't answer.
His eyes were fixed on the cave entrance, a storm brewing behind them.
The leader motioned for us to move.
Weapons ready, we crept toward the sound, every step deliberate and cautious.
The forest outside was eerily still, the moonlight filtering through the dense canopy and casting long, shifting shadows on the ground.
And then we saw it.
At first, it was just a shape, a massive, hulking figure shrouded in darkness, its presence suffocating.
My heart stopped as my mind struggled to comprehend what I was looking at.
Then it stepped into the faint moonlight, and the world seemed to tilt.
A towering beast, muscles rippling beneath mottled green skin, tusks gleaming in the dim light.
Its eyes glowed with a predatory intelligence, and its lips curled into a grin that promised nothing but death.
I swallowed hard, my throat dry as I forced the words out.
"That's... that's the Orc Lord."
The others froze, their faces pale with fear.
Henry, however, didn't move.
He stared at the beast, his entire body trembling, not with fear, but with rage.
The Orc Lord's grin widened as it raised a massive hand, the movement so fast it blurred.
I felt it.
Something was behind me.
Before I could react, there was a sickening crunch.
Splat!
The sound of flesh and bone being crushed was heard.