World Crisis and Orc Opportunity [Daily 10,000 Words, Please Subscribe]

Ashenvale, Orc camp.

Saurfang had already returned from Theramore. Negotiations with the Night Elves had turned into endless wrangling. The Orcs could not offer any better terms, while the elves had shifted their focus to harassment and attrition. In the end, Saurfang left a low-ranking Orc officer in Theramore and returned to the Ashenvale camp himself.

The moment he entered Thrall's main command tent, he heard a ruckus inside. The senior Orc officers were holding a meeting, and the place was filled with clamor.

Saurfang approached the guard at the entrance. The guard immediately saluted him.

The Old Orc asked quietly, "What happened inside? Why is it so noisy?"

The guard glanced inside, then stepped closer and whispered to Saurfang, "The elves have been harassing us badly lately. The chieftains of every clan want to stay in camp and don't want to go out to work."

Saurfang frowned. Since when had the Orcs become so cowardly? They were actually fighting to remain somewhere safe, unwilling to go out, afraid of the elves' harassment. Was this still the Horde he knew?

"Quiet! What are you making all this noise for?" Thrall's voice rang out, finally suppressing the commotion.

He continued, "I know everyone has been frustrated lately, worn down by the elves' harassment. We can't catch them in battle or kill them, yet there are more than a dozen attacks every day, costing us dozens of men. It's gotten to the point where no one wants to go out and work. But I believe our great Orcs will not be frightened by such a minor difficulty. Starting tomorrow, my Frostwolf Clan will take the lead in going out to cut lumber and hunt. Then the other clans will take turns. Do any of you have objections?"

There were no more opposing