Shorter

Night fell and morning came about, the sun's heat fell on me as I sat by the campfire where the siblings last had been at, neither Tisha or Taer had made it back to camp.

Everyone since awhile back had woken to being their duties, packing everything we owned onto the wagon, all knew that my plans were to march towards the mountains.

I reached for my axe and had a look around, overlooking the dismantling that was quickly progressing.

It was easy to tell that Elba had begun taking a position of power, keeping an eye on everything in the way I would, a shaman and sorceress isn't bad to have around as a local leader.

I gave her a nod as if to say, "I'm heading out." She gave me a supportive look, and not long after I'd left camp, jogging ahead through where I'd seen the two siblings run off towards.

The path they had gone down wasn't hard to find, the tracks being two muddy prints each were easy to follow, but I slowed down as I found something that made upset.

The four imprints turned into eight as then sixteen were visible, they had been greet by something, a party of humans perhaps? But there wasn't any blood nor anything that made my nose itch.

The prints left by Tisha and Taer were both easy to distinct, the rest of the imprints had been fiercely dug into the ground, tearing apart as if hooved.

My thoughts ran to cavalry, humans having ridden to catch up instead found the two, but that didn't quite make sense.

Thinking for a moment I realized I probably had little time left to catch up to whomever had taken the two, running at full speed I went further from camp, knowing they'd catch up eventually.

On escaping the plains I found myself by the mountains I'd wanted to reach, standing in-between a wide cut seemingly going through straight through and providing little shelter, large enough to fit a caravan through.

On inspecting the pathway I felt eyes fall on me, as if someone had it out for me.

The steep slopes surrounding the cut provided natural hiding spots for those intended an ambush, as large rocks and ridges would hide soldiers alike bandits with ease.

On inspecting the ridge I picked up on a tune, a fine song which eerily brightened the passage.

These tunes were trying to mess with my mind as I felt a piercing of sorts hit my lobe.

Tired of the mind tricks I exhaled and let out, "your tricks won't work on me!"

A dainty voice rang out in response. "They all say that!" His annoying chuckle had me clench my grip around the handle as I felt more resolve in battering the shit out of whomever was playing on the flute.

But the tunes stopped and far from myself appeared a creature who skipped up on a large rock, it was a Satyr with a sturdy lower half.

How couldn't I have thought of that, they're like mountain goats with large horns and able bodies, perfect mountaineers.

The satyr glanced at me with a curious look. "No need for bloodshed, visitor." His fine smile showed clearly as he drew his long finger across a book sized harp. "What are you seeking?" He asked.

"Seeking, you wouldn't have seen two orcs enter the passage."

He seemed hesitant to answer but kept his assured smile to ward of any doubt.

"Two females then, orcs... They did."

"And they're safe? May I ask if you played them the same tunes you did me?"

"Well, a satyr will play for all visitors. But, they're, alive... They're doing well-" His voice cold and even less sure, his eyes shifted around the rocks before locking eyes with me again.

"Satyr! They way you said those words, it makes me wonder if you're telling the truth."

With great finesse the Satyr jumped off the rock, his tunes playing yet again and before I knew it several dozens of Satyrs came to view.

As I had a look back down at the sole Satyr standing just ahead of me, his flute and harp unequipped as in his hands were a large blade. "Do you have a deaths wish?"

He let out a simper and spoke warmly. "Don't take me for a fool, I've killed tougher beings than large orcs, you're a nuisance and I'll rid your head off your shoulders!"

He stomped with his heavy hooves and waved his arms, the rest of the Satyrs triumphantly cheered him on, as if he'd already won.

Before I'd prepared he'd launched himself at me in a quick spurt, his stompers sending small pebbles far back as he scraped his hooves against the sturdy path.

I in turn lunged myself towards the satyr who had quickly closed our distance, a swing of his hit my knee and cut my thigh, the rough iron blade wasn't sharp enough to cut any deeper than about half an inch in, but in doing so he'd made his final mistake.

I wasn't going to take these hardened mountain men as prisoners, I had no use for foolish half donkeys that are headstrong and fought things they couldn't possibly hope to beat.

I grinned lightly as with my left hand I pushed the Satyr back, he undoubtedly tried to balance himself, no less he had too little time as my right hand clenched his chest piece, throwing him to the ground.

Seeing this his people skid down the slopes and formed up, before I gave them the chance to rescue him I'd put the axe's head to his chest and let it slowly crush him, the weight enough to break his internal organs as ribs one by one had popped.

This obviously had the rest made angry and it wasn't long before they all charged me with fervor running high, I spared no one and simply swung my axe as uncaringly as possible, arms and legs flew off as blood stained the ground.

Sparing no one except for two who'd thrown their weapons away and bowed like plebeians, begging their goddess for forgiveness. "Spare us... We didn't fight, we said too leave the orcs alone... We, we'll take you too them..."

I sighed and looked around me seeing the carnage I'd caused, it'd cost me nothing but the Satyrs were proven to be quite stupid. "Lead the way-" I said pushing them forwards, following behind as they clambered towards the peak.

They took me to a smaller ridge which acted as a roof to the ground beneath, there under the coverage lay both sisters.

Tisha was wounded and by her side, closer than comfort sat three Satyrs.

Without much cause I'd gripped the men and before I knew it myself, they were without heads.

The sisters who moved sluggishly looked up on hearing the carnage ensue, they were alive to the very least and hand't been killed.

I leaned down gripping Tisha who fell asleep in my embrace, carrying her down the hillside into the canyon, the caravan had only just reached the entrance, waiting for us to get down.

We made it to them, and seeing Tisha hurt a spot was quickly made in back of the wagon, she was patched up by Elba and helped along by the rest.

Things weren't nearly as bad as I had feared, now free to pass our road ahead would lead us past the mountain-range.