Darkness enveloped the land like a sheet of cold blackness that breathed ice crystals and spoke of shadows and death. No insects stirred. No predators loped across the open expanse. Gnak felt completely exposed. The few sounds that did interrupt the night sent him sprawling to his belly, ceasing in his movements for long moments, straining his ears into the night for any sign that he was being hunted. It was strange being out of his element. Here he was the prey. Gnak didn’t like it much.
Racing as fast as his long legs would carry him, it was only four or five hours after dark when he made the far side of the valley, as this point was its widest. Reaching the far side, he climbed atop a tall rock and peered out over what lay beyond. Nothing.
Nothing but rolling hills extended to the north for as far as he could see, which was much further in darkness than daylight. All the way to the horizon ahead, hills populated the land covered in a dense layer of tall grasses and weeds. Listening carefully, he could now hear the scurrying of rodents and grunts of other foraging animals. If the opportunity presented itself he would have to try and obtain a more suitable meal.
With nothing left to do but charge ahead, he stalked off through the tall grass, following game trails where possible in an effort to hide his passing. As the hours passed, he missed opportunity after opportunity for game that he could have bagged if he had managed to keep his spear, but with only a sword he had not yet managed to make a kill. The remainder of the night came and went, and no change appeared on the horizon ahead. For several hours into the morning he continued on, hungry, with nothing better to do than wade through the grass and peer into the distance. His stomach growled constantly, a fact that he blamed for the sudden retreats of several small hares. He should have at least sharpened a stick into a spear before leaving the trees behind. If he was going to be a chief he needed to spend more time thinking about such things.
As the morning grew warmer and birds began appearing in the sky, Gnak laid down in the shallow valley between two hills, thoroughly hidden by the grass all around him. Upon the warm grass, he found himself more comfortable than he had been since leaving his home, and drifted off into a deep restful sleep. It was well after sunset before he rose again.
Slumbering heavily, his mind began to drift, first to his tribe and then beyond. Before him stood the burning camp of a rival clan as cheers arose from behind him. Up the flames and smoke climbed, as he turned to see thousands of Orcs, every one of their gazes turned on him as if expecting something. Then they vanished.
Again his dream twisted and he watched as Orcs hauled huge stones, dragging them in teams with ropes upon rolling logs. Looking up the worn path they traveled, Gnak saw something he could have never imagined. Upon the face of the tallest peak of the southern Rancor mountains a great structure was being erected. It was thick and mighty with high walls and soaring towers. It spoke of strength and might, and it made his heart proud at the sight. But then too it was gone.
Another vision followed and again Gnak was standing, though this time he found the air hard to breathe as the wind whipped at his face. Turning, he found he stood atop one of the mighty towers of the great Orc castle, and below him a mighty force stood at the ready to march to war. And then, as quickly as the dreams came they were gone, and darkness swallowed Gnak whole, carrying him into deeper sleep where he remained for the rest of the night.