In the clearing near the wooden fortress, the resounding thuds of stone axes and the roar of crashing trees echoed back and forth. Thrum, Brok, and Gorg were busy felling straight-trunked trees.
Ryker was planning to build a much more comfortable, sturdy house rather than continuously living inside a stone cave. To make that happen, he had ordered the Orcs to focus entirely on gathering as much high-quality lumber as possible for the foundation.
Near the outdoor fire pit, Cora was busy managing the camp's food supply, cooking wild mushrooms and wild potatoes from yesterday's hunt in a large stone cauldron. The savory, herbal aroma of the stew drifted through the air, bringing a sense of calm amidst the noisy labor of the Orcs.
Just as the steam from the cooking began to billow, Aria wal
