Sun shone bright and strong in the forest. Passing green leafed limbs that tried to block out the light, a little always found its way through. My mother told me life was like that. Evil reaching high to block out all the Good in the world, but Good always found a way through. You can learn much about life from the forest. I have lived here for as long as I could remember, just me and my mother.

From the stories she told me, my father was a brave man who fell in the Battle of Kaza. His sacrifice allowed my mother, still weak from my birth, to take me away into the forests that surrounded the city. We hid from the orcs and she raised me alone.

Since the battle all those years ago, orcs had often been seen roaming the lands. Disjointed tribes that had returned to their more primitive lifestyle.

Over all it has been a good life in the wilderness. As with anything it was not without complications. My mother has grown sick and I fear she will not last much longer. Being only a boy I tried to do all I could to ease her. Maybe if I was good enough she would see me grow to be a man. "Ven. Ven you are making that face again. Are you thinking hard of something or do you feel ill?" A soft voice broke me from my thoughts. Her question made me smile a little.

"Forgive me mother. I was only thinking." She smiled and brushed her fingers through my hair. I smiled and moved from her side.

"You know child, I see your father in you every day. I wish to tell him the gods answered his prayers the day you were born. My son, born in war with the orcs." She smiled.

I returned her smile and headed for the door. "I will get the chores done. Please rest or maybe sit outside. It is a beautiful day today. If you feel hungry let me know and I would be happy to make us something for lunch. I can check the traps and see if I find a rabbit." My mother nodded. As mothers go she is a beautiful woman. Kind and smart. She told me my father taught her how to make snares for small game and she taught me in turn.

I had a few snares set up around our home and a few times a rabbit or two would be caught. Mostly my mother's small garden made most our food. I made my rounds of the traps and found the prey I was looking for. A rabbit was making the scared cries of a captured animal. I smiled. "Maybe a stew tonight. Add a few carrots. I am sure mother would love it." I took hold of the struggling animal. With a quick twist I ended its struggle and undid the trap. Once complete I returned back to my waiting home. A whistle escaped my lips as I walked back.

I have not been around anyone else my age, but mother always told me I acted more grown up than a ten year old should. I always just replied, "Because you need a man to watch over you. I am the man of this house." She always seemed to be proud of that answer.

Moving through the woods I chanced upon tracks of a small band of orcs. Their tracks lead east, heading north, while my own was west and south showing that it seemed we had just missed each other.

The house grew closer as I found my way through the rough, overgrown plants. Many tried swatting at my face or pulling at my cloths until I eased myself free from their grasp.

I was about to emerge from the brush, when the sound of talking reach my ears. The talking was rough and garbled. The sounds were mostly grunts and many like someone clearing their throat. My heart pounded as my ears took in the sounds of orcs.

What were they doing at our home? Where was my mother? Was she safe? All these questions filled my mind. I couldn't see her body straight away. That did not mean she wasn't dead inside the house. I stood motionless for what seemed like hours, though only minutes in reality. My body was tense and my blood boiled. There were two of them from the sounds of talking. They were adults from what I could see. Standing close to seven feet tall and surely weighting close to three hundred pounds, the orcs looked about the area. A scream flew from the house and one of the orcs threw my mother down to the ground. I gasped as I clutched my hand over my mouth. The sobs of my mother seemed to have hidden my sounds from the orc's ears.

My mother groveled at the orc's feet. The Orc kicked her away and my mother began a fit of coughing. The orcs laughed and jeered at her. The Orc that had grabbed her, pulled her hair to raise her head and exposing her neck. As the other laughed, the first drew his knife and readied to cut her throat. My mother's voice rang through the small clearing that held our home. Her tear stained her face and her voice fell on deaf ears. The orcs didn't care what my mother offered as she begged.

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All they wanted was to see her blood be spilled. My blood pounded in my ears. I felt a tightness in my chest as the whole situation played out before me. The knife hovered inches from her throat but I couldn't move or make a sound from where I stood in the forest. I felt ashamed that I was too afraid to rush to my mothers aid. Adding to the fact of the monsters toying with her made it much worse.

Then it happened; the knife slide slowly across her exposed neck. Slowly blood fell in drops, and then faster into a river down her neck and onto the forest floor. Watching the scene made something in me stir. It sounded like something in my head gave way and red filled my vision. I charged from my spot in the forest and covered ground silently to the unsuspecting monsters.

Rabbit in hand, I took hold by the head and swung the body forward to slap the Orc with the knife in the face. A meaty hand rose up to bat me away but I managed to duck and roll between his legs. The other orc laughed at his friend and decided to assist in the assault.

He took a large club from his belt and swiped at me. Mere inches from impact I managed to jump back in time to avoid the blow. The moment my feet touched the ground I charged again. Rabbit flung through the air and landed soft blows that sounded like, well a child swinging a rabbit. The Club Orc seemed to have been surprised by a face of rabbit and dropped his club. I raced for it and used both hands to hold the heavy weapon. My lungs labored and heart pounded in my chest. The club was heavy and dipped often. The Knife Orc pushed his partner out of the way and charged at me. I couldn't dodge and keep the club. Thinking quickly I decided to lose the weapon. Just as the Knife Orc reached out for me I dropped the club and rolled to the side.

The orc's foot landed on the discarded club and his balance went with him. He flew awkwardly and landed hard. I gave no ground and rushed at the fallen Orc. I knew if he got hold of me I would be dead. The moment my body landed on his I found a blade at his waist and drew it. The blade shined in the light seconds before it was buried over and over again into the belly of the beast.

I let out crazed screams as my arm worked furiously at its task. A few times I made stabs to the neck and chest. The Club Orc made to rescue his companion from the little devil I had become. I kept hold of the knife as the Orc swung his own club at me and connected a solid blow. Adrenaline coursed through me, temporarily blocking the pain I was sure going to follow. Slowly I stood to my feet. Green blood of the Orc splattered me from head to toe. My face covered in filth. My own blood filled my mouth as I eyed the remaining monster. Before the Orc looked smug and happy. With the death of the other he looked unsure and a little frightened.

Their brood was one of war and fighting and was done since birth. Nothing would make him back down. He took hold of his club and eyed me before letting out a war cry and charged full force at me. I let out my own and charged at him with the knife in hand. The Orc swung and I jumped to the side. The hand flicked out and the blade bit into the leg of the creature. It was small, hardly noticed by the brute. I needed another advantage as with the first. I was too small.

Quickly I scanned again and found the discarded and broken rabbit. I raced to it and rolled as the orc's club slammed the ground behind me. With rabbit in one hand and knife in the other, I swung the rabbit across my body. The Orc thought it was the blade and tried stepping back only to take the blade in the groin. The Orc howled and fell to his knees. I then began slapping the Orc with the rabbit until I stuffed it deep into the loud orcs mouth and pushing my fist close behind.

I began beating the rabbit deeper and deeper into the orcs throat till it began choking on it. It's eyes filled with hatred as he tried to grab at me but only having me slip away. The green skin lightened a few shades before he fell over to join his friend, dead in the dirt. My labored breathing filled my ears. My heart pumped and I promptly threw up my insides.

I felt hot tears run down my face and my heart broke with each drop. Now that nothing moved I looked over at the body of my mother and collapsed before her. My face was buried in her back when the sound of clapping reached my ears. I grabbed the knife I had discarded and turned to the sound. I was ready for anything but I knew I would die if I fought. I was too weak.

My eyes focused on the form of a man that was standing near a tree just outside of the clearing the house stood in. He wore black robes and his face was covered by a cowl.

"Impressive. Most impressive indeed. I must say that was by far the most stupid but amusing thing I have ever seen. To think that not one, but two orcs seasoned in battle were killed by a rabbit. You show promise kid."

His voice was dark and husky. He sounded like he breathed in the smoke of a forge much too often.

"I have a question to ask you." The man walked over to the dead orcs and examined each of them. He nodded and looked back at me. I felt a chill move over me and my breath got more labored. This man made me feel like I was a small bunny walking across the path of a wolf.

His eyes were all wrong. They were empty though his voice was upbeat and kind.

"Join me. Or rather serve me. If you do that I can guarantee to make you like me. Or you can stay here to die. I am sure many more will be coming soon."