Chapter 15: The Cursed Warlord

Aiden's paws pressed into the damp earth as he and Solara moved through the dense, fog-covered forest. The eerie silence was unsettling, broken only by the occasional rustling of unseen creatures. Ever since they had escaped the goblin ambush, Aiden felt an inexplicable presence watching them.

"I don't like this," Solara murmured, her golden feathers glowing faintly in the darkness. "Something is here... something old."

Aiden sniffed the air, his sharp wolf senses detecting a strange, almost rotten scent. "You're right. We're being hunted."

No sooner had he spoken than a low, guttural growl echoed through the trees. The fog shifted, revealing a massive, hulking shape—a towering Orc Warlord, its body covered in jagged scars and dark runes that pulsed with a sickly red light.

"You dare trespass in my domain?" the orc bellowed, gripping an enormous battle-axe.

Aiden's fur bristled. This was no ordinary orc. The dark energy radiating from its form was unnatural, almost... cursed.

Solara flared her wings, embers flickering in the air. "That thing is infused with dark magic."

The orc wasted no time in charging. The ground trembled under its weight as it swung the axe in a brutal arc. Aiden barely dodged, rolling to the side as the blade slammed into the ground, splitting the earth.

Solara shot forward, releasing a stream of white-hot flames, but the orc raised its arm, absorbing the fire like it was nothing. Its runes flared brighter.

"It's feeding off magic!" Aiden shouted.

Solara cursed under her breath and shifted tactics, using her talons to slash at the orc's exposed chest. The attack barely left a mark.

Aiden knew they couldn't win in a head-on fight. He had to be smarter. His mind raced through his knowledge of battle strategies. If magic wasn't effective, they needed a more physical approach.

"Solara, aim for the legs!"

She didn't hesitate. In a swift motion, she dove low, raking her talons across the orc's knee. The beast roared in pain and staggered, giving Aiden just enough time to leap onto its back.

With all his strength, Aiden sank his fangs into the orc's neck, aiming for a weak spot between the runes. The creature howled, thrashing wildly, trying to shake him off.

"Hold on!" Solara called, slamming her beak into its face. The orc stumbled, dropping its axe.

Aiden took the chance and dug deeper, feeling the sickening crunch of bone. The orc's movements slowed. With one final snarl, Aiden tore through its throat, and the massive beast collapsed.

For a long moment, the only sound was the heavy breathing of both warriors. Then, Solara spoke.

"That... was terrifying."

Aiden stepped back, his fur matted with dark blood. "Yeah. But we survived."

Solara nodded, but her eyes flickered with unease. "That was no ordinary orc. Something—someone—made it stronger. And whoever they are… they know we're here."

Aiden turned his gaze toward the darkness of the forest. The fight was over.

But the real danger had only just begun.