The Savage Caves - Prologue
Prologue
The entrance to the cave was a jagged, rocky path that looked like it had never seen travelers. A yawning black cave mouth stretched deep into the earth, veering off to the left and hiding its path behind heavy stone walls. Thick scrub grass grew all around the hollow opening, running along the sides of the rough entrance and atop the large hill that housed the natural tunnel. This dark green grass was dotted with tiny yellow wildflowers that buzzed with insects as the last bit of winter melted into the comfort of spring weather in the Flanaess. Rezrek sneered, slamming his heavy booted foot down onto a butterfly that sat on a flower. He ground his boot hard and looked up at the open maw of the cave.
His jaundice orange-yellow eyes, set deep within his large skull, searched the area as he mused. He saw nothing. His habit of growling as he thought was in full force; a deep, low rumble spilled from between his fangs and he furrowed his thick brow. A black flea skittered across his dark brown fur and he idly scratched at it, flakes of dandruff dropping to the ground as he did. The armor he wore, strips of metal and piecemeal leather chafed him and soured his already bad mood. He shifted backwards, turning to look at the small outcropping of trees they’d just left and the dense forest beyond.
The other members of his group stood nearby, impatiently shifting back and forth.
Erzmer picked his teeth with a sharpened branch, rolling his thick black tongue around a wide mouth as he tried to dislodge something from his sallow, rotting fangs. He winced suddenly, growling as he tore the stick from his gum and spat blood on the ground. He pulled a chunk of meat and fur out, regarded it for a moment and then popped it back into his mouth. The bugbear chewed noisily and nodded to Rezrek with a snort. Erzmer was a full head shorter than Rezrek, part of the reason why Rezrek led the group of bugbears, and while Rezrek knew Erzmer hated him he wouldn’t ever challenge his authority. The heavily built warrior knew he couldn’t best Rezrek in a fight.
The leader smiled as he stared at the other bugbear; Erzmer turned his own yellow-orange eyes away in respect. And fear. The seven others that formed their party were similarly built; thick-bodied males, covered in fur ranging from dark brown to light tan. All were filthy from travel through the woods and a fight with an unwary group of humans they’d stumbled upon several days past after leaving the Marsh of Háelor to the east. Rezrek patted the trophy he’d collected from one of them, a priest of some human god: a fine, well-made warhammer with a wicked spike on the end. The handle had the raised image of a larger and smaller circle, with branching ruby orbs. He’d torn it right from the man’s grasp before bashing the weakling’s head in with his bare paws. The memory of feeling the bone crush under his strength made Rezrek smirk. Another of the group, Thrunk, had chopped off all the human’s hands and nailed them to his shield. One hand still held a ring with a strange symbol on it that Rezrek didn’t recognize.
It smelled horrible but Rezrek had to admit; it looked intimidating. Thrunk was missing his left ear, and had a squat, ugly face. He needed all the help looking strong that he could get.
Leden, the smallest of them, slunk up to Rezrek’s side. The larger bugbear held back his natural instinct to strike the simpering warrior but held his hand. Rezrek knew Leden was a female but the others in the group were too stupid to recognize it. He didn’t know why Leden lied but he knew she was also the only member who could use the crossbow they’d taken a while back and she was a good shot with it. When Leden spoke, her voice was an affected gruff rumble like Rezrek’s natural tone.
“Rezrek, Leden scout.” She nodded, her light yellow eyes scanning the entrance before Rezrek and pointing a spot to the right side. “There, there! Tracks, Leden sees them. Many tracks!”
Rezrek slammed his fist into the side of Leden’s face, sending the smaller creature reeling to the ground and pulling a pained whimper from her lips. Rage boiled in Rezrek’s eyes as he yelled, his words biting and sharp. “Rezrek sees!” He hadn’t seen anything but he was not to be challenged. A challenge would be seen as a weakness in Rezrek. He was not weak. The others in the group growled in response to Leden’s comment and leered at her prone form. The smaller bugbear whined, turning her head away from Rezrek and nodding.
“Tracks,” another bugbear, Mord, repeated. “Humans?” He wore a thick chain shirt, barely stretched over his barrel chest and a long sword was slung at his side with cord. Drool rolled out of his open mouth and cleft palate. He made a snorting noise and a thick line of snot drew back up into his nose.
“G-goblin.” Leden’s response was shaky and uncertain. She looked ready for another of Rezrek’s strikes. But the leader didn’t hit her again. He only nodded to Mord, dismissing the prone female with a huff. Leden got to her feet and scrambled back, rubbing her furry cheek as she did. The others hissed at her, jeering and making rude comments.
“Goblins,” he said, as if the knowledge were clear as day. “We go in. Goblins submit to Rezrek. Then we bring goblins up, take humans. Burn Fairbye.” He smiled a vicious, toothy grin. The other bugbears smiled as well, shifting weapons at the ready and snarling responses.
A growled chorus of “Rezrek! Rezrek!” was taken up by the group including Leden, though she didn’t look at their leader.
Rezrek placed his filthy fingers into his mouth. He whistled loudly, the sound traveling far in all directions. The other bugbears quickly shifted away from the forest edge as the sound of something large growled a response and moved forward through the forest. Leden let out a whimper and held her crossbow tight to her chest. Rezrek smiled.
It felt good to be feared. Click for Chapter 1
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