The Lost Villagers Series: The Stone Road

The five adventurers were already in awe of the creatures size, but when it spoke they were even more in shock. The creature wasn't wearing shoes, its pants only went to its knees and the creature was wearing a vest made of dear skin. The creature did not move at all when the adventurers came around the corner. It was almost like a statue standing there. The only reason they knew it was real was because it asked the adventurers a question. “We are traveling to the City of Trayton,” Rexin responded to the large creature. The creature huffed at the response and asked, “Why did you choose this road? Are you looking for trouble little human?” “Are you looking for trouble, whatever you are,” Zare responded with a smirk on his face. The creature focused it's attention on Zare, staring hard at the human traveler as Zare stared right back at the large creature. Then the creature said, “We are not to be trifled with, human.” There were several loud grunts in the forest surrounding the five adventurers. Trees were shaking and there were branches cracking and breaking all around the adventurers. The horses were getting anxious with all of the noises around them. “We are not to be bothered with, creature,” Zare responded with confidence. The large beast huffed again and said, “The Orc clan of Organion will not be conquered.” The five adventurers looked at each other in wonderment at what the big green creature just said. “What is an Orc,” Brox asked. “What's an Organion,” Carrene asked as well. The large creatures stance lightened a little and it said, “We are Orcs.” The five explorers looked back at the creature and Rexin asked, “Who are Orcs?” The creature slouched a little and it looked a little confused. It scratched the top of it's head with the club it had in it's hand and said, “I am an Orc.” Then it dawned on the five adventurers what the O-R-C meant around the huts on the maps. “That's what the O-R-C meant on the map,” Carrene said in a surprised tone. The orc standing in front of the adventurers had a perplexed look on it's face and asked, “What does O-R-C mean?” In a very relaxed manner, Zare said, “It spells orc. It was on the map that showed us the way here and we didn't know what it meant until now.” “Oh okay,” the orc said in an understanding tone. “That makes sense.” Then Carrene got an idea. She pulled out a map and asked, “Do you know what GO-BL-IN means?” The orc looked at the forest in bewilderment and shrugged it's shoulders. It looked down at the ground and was scratching it's head again, but this time using the large axe in it's other hand. “I'm not sure,” the orc said after a bit. “Can I see the map?” “Sure,” Carrene said as she rode Caregiver straight up to the large orc. Caregiver was a little nervous and neighed loudly as the horse got close to the orc. “Here have a look.” The orc stood next to the horse and looked at the map that Carrene was holding. After looking at the map for a short while the creature stepped back from Carrene and Caregiver and said, “Okay.” Carrene asked in an excited voice, “Do you know what it says?” The orc shook it's head and said, “No. I can't read.” Carrene was very confused and asked in an annoyed tone, “Then why did you want to see the map?” The orc looked up at Carrene and said, “I just wanted to see the map.” Carrene was getting more annoyed and asked, “Why?” The orc shrugged it's shoulders and said, “I don't know, but it looks like goblin territory.” Carrene rolled her eyes and had a disgusted look on her face. She then turned to her four friends and said, “It stands for goblin.” The other adventurers all in unison and relief said, “Oh, okay.” Brox asked, “What's a goblin?” The orc standing next to Carrene said, “They are small nasty little creatures that only come out at night. They steal anything they can and eat anything they can. Like a warthog.” “Thank you Mr. Orc,” Carrene said as she put the map away. “You are welcome, little human girl,” the orc responded. “Did you figure out what GO-BL-IN means?” Carrene smiled to herself and then said, “It spells goblin.” “Oh, really,” the orc asked in wonderment. “Yes,” Carrene said with a giggle as she rode back to the other members of her party.