"Why are there orcs here?!"
The thought flashed through Seja's mind. She hurriedly suppressed her confusion, bent down into the snow, and merged with the white all around her. At the same time, she covered her scent with snow to avoid being detected by the orcs' keen noses.
Farther away, Semiya likewise hid herself in tacit understanding. She gripped the Bone Spear at her waist and silently watched the snowy forest.
Before long, three orcs clad in thick wolf pelts and bone ornaments strode into view with heavy footsteps.
The burly orc in the lead tightly gripped a crude skull hammer. He first had the other two orcs search the surroundings. Only after they found nothing unusual did he walk over to the snow elk, whose blood had already frozen into ice crystals.
"Ice cones, a spell?"
The orc crouched down, dipped a finger in the blood and licked it, then stroked the elk's body to feel the lingering warmth.
"Someone was hunting here. They didn't leave long ago."
"Ulf, could it have been those savages?" one of the orcs replied in a muffled voice.
The burly orc stood up. "Mm. Kaku, carry this snow elk back to the tribe first. Kira and I will head to the savage tribe and meet up with the chieftain."
"If they don't hand over the full summer food tribute, not a single one of them will get away."
"Alright." Kaku answered with a low growl. The muscles in his arms bulged as he heaved the heavy elk onto his shoulder and trudged through the deep snow toward the woods, leaving a trail of deep footprints behind.
"Move. Don't let them run."
Ulf waved his hand and led Kira swiftly toward the savage tribe, circling in from another direction.
Only after the two had