Chapter 1

The wolf's blood splattered on the ground, at the armoured Orc's steel sword slashed across it's back, The black furred wolf hitting the ground, whining in pain.

The Orc walked to the wolf, and flipped his sword to hold it back words. He knelt down to the wolf, and held it still, bringing his bloodied sword up. His white eyes gazed at the tip of his sword sink into body of the wolf, hearing it's last pained whine, as it then closed it's eyes, falling limp.

The Orc pulled his sword out of the wolf's body, and put the bloody piece of steel in it's sheath. He fixed his black pony-tail, placing it to the back of his head, picked the wolf up and huffed it over his shoulder, and then another wolf that was behind him, carrying it by his hip.

"This should make a good dinner." The Orc said to himself, as he then carried it through the woods, to come to what looked like a fort of sorts. The walls were made of large logs that were sharped at the top, and he could see some Orc brethren standing guard by the entrance.

"Krazak! You've returned!" The male Orc with dreadlock hair said, waving his hand to him

Krazak motioned his head forward, smiling. "And I've returned with dinner." Krazak added, showing the two wolves he carried.

"Come in. The young are starting to get hungry." The male Orc said, as he then opened the large log door for Krazak, Krazak walking in to see the inside of his home. His tribe. A large bonfire in the middle, made of large logs that was shaped like a pyramid. He could see child Orcs running around it, as some simply sat next to the fire to stay warm.

Krazak walked to the fire, as he then whistled, to catch all the children's attention. "Father Krazak!" They called in excitement crowding around him. "Did you bring us dinner!?"

Krazak showed the two wolves he carried. "You're looking at them? It'll take time for us to cook it. In the meantime, I'll tell you all a story while we wait."

The children cheered in excitement to hear another of Krazak's many stories. He was known in the tribe to me an Orc of many talents. A jack of all trades. An Idol to the children. He sat down in front of the bonfire, as two other Orcs came to him and took the wolves, Krazak thanking them. He then turned to the children and leaned to them. "How about I tell you the meaning of my name and how I earned it?" He suggested.

Considering they were only child Orcs, they didn't speak their own language perfectly, nor did they know what his name meant. But they were all very eager to learn more about him. "It all started when I was 12 years old. My father, Khazun Dulg, look at him and said," Krazak pointed his finger forward, mimicking his father's movement at that moment. "Son, it's time for to earn your name. We will travel to Raven Rock, and you will climb The Red Mountain. As you will earn your name, Krazak Dulg, Mountain Climber." Krazak said, though to the English language, it didn't translate the same way.

"We travelled to Raven Rock, occasionally coming across some danger. Bandits, ash monsters, those sorts. But when we made it to the edge of the mountain, we stopped, and my father gave me my first weapon. A small sword. Not a dagger, a small sword, made of pure steel. He handed it to me-"

"Umm, where's that sword now?" A little Orc girl interrupted.

"It's broken. I left it with my father's grave." Krazak answered. "He handed it to me, and said, 'Go son. Earn you name. And return with you head held high.' The travel up that mountain was a difficult one indeed. Hills so steep, and it got hotter as I climbed higher. I eventually made it to the very top, and I fell on my knees, feeling accomplished, like I really did earn my name. And the view... I'll never forget the view of the ocean, and all of Raven Rock." Krazak said, with a smile on his face, and his eyes looked up, remembering when he did see that beautiful scenery.

"But my legs were killing me, and what was worse was I had to make my way back down. I nearly fell all the way down, but I did as my father told me." He then leaned to the kids again, looking at them all. "I kept my head held high, as I saw that proud look on my father. And from that day forward, I was known as, Krazak Dulg."

The children cheered in happiness. "Tell us another! Tell us another!"

Krazak laughed, as he stretched his arms. "Alright. I've been on many, so I'll need to think of one." He said, with a small smile.

"Krazak! A bunch of Huskir's dogs want a word with you!" An Orc called out from the gate.

Krazak looked back at the gate, the kids looking as well. He sighed and stood up. "I'll be back." He said to the kids.

"Are they gonna hurt us?" A child asked nervously.

"If they do, hide the houses. I'll deal with them." Krazak said. They were familiar with people attacking their home. Not for raiding or any of the sort, just because they were Orcs. "Untrusting" as they were called.

Krazak walked to the gate, to find three guards from the city of Senchal. Men in full suits of armour. "What do you want?" Krazak asked, in an intimidating tone.

One of the guards leaned his head to the side, to see the Orc children sitting by the bonfire. He had no reaction, but a small grin. "Children sitting by a bonfire. I thought I smelt bacon."

The two other laughed with him, Krazak giving an angered look. "Give me a good reason I could force you to swallow your own teeth."

"I'd love to see you try, pig." The guard said, standing closer to his face, and spat on him.

Krazak was ready to make this guard regret his actions, but he had to be an example to the children. He was known for being a great fighter, but he had to show wisdom. "What do you want?" He repeated himself.

"King Huskir asks of a job from so-called 'Brave Orc' Krazak. A giant has been spotted and is believed to be carrying an imperial child with him. He requests of you to find this giant, slay it and return the child to whomever he belonged to." The guard explained.

"What? Can't handle it yourselves?" Krazak said, figuring they wouldn't want the help of an Orc, knowing their political stances.

"This giant isn't like the rest. It's smarter, faster, stronger. And you hopefully overpower one of those talents." The guard said, insulting him again.

"Keep those insults coming. It'll only make me want to accept the request even less." Krazak said, then turning around. "I'll accept it when I'm given respect."

"King Huskir is offering anything you desire as a reward. As long as you get this job done." The guard spoke up.

Krazak turned to him, now finding this job tempting. "Anything?" Krazak asked, wanted to clarify.

The guard nodded. "As long as it isn't illegal." The guard added.

Krazak looked at the children, seeing their worried expression, while some wore angry expressions. He turned his head back to the guards. "Consider it done. I'll deliver the boy personally."

"Good." The guard said. They then all turned and walked off, until he stopped and looked at Krazak. "Try not to hurt the child, if you mind. He's an imperial child. Wouldn't want you to hurt the poor boy on pur-"

The guard then took a rock right dead center to his forehead, looking to see one of the children standing next to Krazak. "Go! We've had enough of you!" He yelled.

The guard scoffed at the kid. "Teach your child manners."

"You haven't a great example yourself." Krazak talked back. He then looked at the child. "Go back to the bonfire." He ordered the child, the child nodding and walked away. Krazak then looked at the guards one last time, before the gate closed between them.

Krazak walked back to the bonfire, sitting down and crossing his legs. "Sorry, children. It's a request from the king. I'll have to head out soon."

"Father Krazak? Why are they so mean to us? What did we do to them?" One of the children asked him.

Krazak looked at the child, seeing his mixed expression of sad and confused. "It's just how they are. But know that not all people are like that, child. There are many that accept our race, along with others."

The child looked at the bonfire. "Really? I thought everybody hated us."

Krazak shook his head. "Some people just hate others for reasons we don't understand. Perhaps he had a bad first impression with Orcs as a child." Krazak explained, in a way that the children would understand. "But don't be like those people. Hate the person for what they did, not what they are." Krazak added, to give them another piece of his wisdom.

The children looked at each other, actually understanding what he said. They then nodded. "Yes, Father Krazak."

Krazak smiled, seeing that they listened to him and understood what he said. It made him proud to know that they actually listen to him. He was a father figure to them after all.

Dinner was served after some time, each child being fed a large piece of cooked wolf meat. They also had fruits on the side, some of the kids being fussy and not eating it. Krazak had some too, since he was hungry himself, and he had that giant to hunt later on. But raised the question for him. What did this giant want with the boy? Or was it just mindlessly taking him there? Either way, it was his job to find this child and bring him back safely. After he finished eating, he made sure the children were all tucked in bed and brought to sleep.

And with that done, he grabbed his sword and shield, and went off, to find this giant. The guards forgot to tell him where this giant was located, so he was on his own in terms of finding it. But he could handle it. He hunts, so he knows how to track a beast. "Good luck, Krazak." One of the guarding Orcs called out to him.

Krazak raised his fist up, showing he was ready for this. It was night time, so hunting would be harder, but striking a giant at night would be wiser, rather than waiting until it is wide awake in the morning. One thing he did figure out on his own was that the giant had to had been near the city of Senchal. The child must have ran off while the giant was out, and got nabbed them. With that sense of direction in his mind, he looked around the fields of Senchal, walking along the grass fields.

He would then stop to the sound of his boot making a squishing noise, as he looked down to see a dung pile underneath his foot. He had a disgusted look, but he inspected it closer, to realize this wasn't any sort of animal dung. "Giant dung." He then saw some footprints made along the grass, it's weight leaving marks on the ground. He had a lead, now he just had to follow it.

He followed the giant prints that were left on the ground, to find a cave with a torch that lost it's ember by the entrance. It was dark in there, but he could see light coming from inside, knowing it was light from a fire. He decided to go for the stealthy approach and walked low and quietly, seeing markings and furs everywhere. Some bear, some wolf. Not a lot of variety with this giant.

He stopped himself, to hear the loud and deep breathing of the giant. Hiding behind a wooden beam, he peaked his head, to find the giant resting, and a cage covered in furs, to cover whatever was inside. Seeing the giant was asleep, now was the time to strike it. He slowly unsheathed his sword, as his quiet steps grew closer to the giant.

"Hmm!?" The giant made in suspicion. It then sniffed the air, to turn and look at Krazak, and stood up. It roared at him and swung it's large fist at him, Krazak ducking to avoid the punch. Krazak slashed at it's knees, but the giant barely even flinched. The giant grabbed Krazak and threw him across the room, slamming him back again the cage.

Krazak got back up and held his shield up, as he watched another fist come to him. He ducked against and slashed his sword right to his face, leaving a deep cut across it's face.

The giant made a pained grunt, as back handed Krazak, but Krazak blocked the punch, and pushed it back. The giant rushed to Krazak, Krazak dodge rolling out of the way. The giant then crashed into the cage, as he destroyed it, and it all came crumbling down. Krazak stood his ground, waiting for the giant to get back up.

Just then, out of the rubble and furs of the cage, a boy ran out and hid behind Krazak. Krazak saw the form of this boy's head, it being thin, almost in human, with the redness around his eyes. But his attention was drawn to the giant, as it got back up and ran to him again. "Get back, boy!" Krazak ordered the child, but he stayed behind him.

The giant kept running to Krazak, Krazak then uppercutting the giant with his shield. He then stabbed both knees of the giant, making it fall to it's knees. Krazak then grabbed it's head and spun it's head to the side, a loud crack of it's neck being heard. The giant fell to the ground, lifeless.

Krazak stood still to catch his breath, and looked back at the boy, looking at his deformed head. Krazak had never seen anything like this before. He kneeled to the boy, seeing he had a red mark on his arm, thinking he was dragged by the arm by the giant. "Are you alright? Where do you live?"

The boy blinked, just staring at Krazak with a blank expression. Krazak figured that this boy must have been raised by this giant, or he just didn't learn speech yet. Either way, his job was done, and he had to bring him back. He picked the boy up and placed him on his shoulder. "I'll take you home kid." He said, as he then went out the cave, and walked back to Senchal.

He brought the boy to the king, and informed that the giant has been slain. And he brought back the boy, only to find out that the king had never seen this boy before in the city. So, Krazak was left with one option. To take him in the tribe. The others might not agree with it, but he wasn't going to leave this boy behind.

His reward was whatever he wanted, and he requested of him to send months worth of food and supplies. At least to keep them going for months, or years if they were smart. They left King Huskir's castle, Krazak being left with the boy. "Mac." The boy spoke up. Krazak looked at him, as then the boy pointed at himself. "M...Mac."