Greg left a contingent of orcs and kobolds to guard the mine, their squat figures vanishing into the shimmering haze of the wilderness as he turned back toward the settlement. The remaining orcs and goblins fell in behind him—a ragged procession of clanking armor and guttural murmurs, their boots grinding against the cracked, sun-scorched earth. The air hung heavy with dust and the faint tang of sulfur—a reminder of the demon realm's unrelenting hostility.
"What's that sound?" Greg muttered to no one in particular, halting mid-step as a low, mournful howl cut through the stillness, barely audible beneath the wind's dry rasp. He tilted his head, straining to pinpoint it, his sharp eyes narrowing against the glare. A hunch tugged at him—something worth investigating.
With a curt wave, he beckoned his forces onward, leading the motley army toward the noise, their shadows stretching long and jagged across the barren ground.