Darkness: Chapter 9 - Frenzy

His stomach tightened, twisted. It had been a fair few days since the last scraps of sustenance had plummeted from above. The last dash had been made by Vrex while Krogon had been searching the final side tunnel. To his dismay, after climbing down a steep wall that had once carried a waterfall, he found only a flat empty bottom that led nowhere, blocked.

Where else is there to go?

His stomach shuddered again. The angry shudder vibrated through his body, and no doubt anyone else in the cavern could hear it, in turn he could hear the rumble of other hungry bodies too.

Their starving us on purpose, pushing us to barbarity.

He sat forward, opening his eyes to be greeted by his old friend the darkness. The main chamber was quiet, aside from the occasional meek grunt or rumble of starvation. Perched here on the ledge he was ready at a moment’s notice to make his run of the gauntlet.

Vrex timed his turn to rest very well.

The other Orc slept quietly to his left, curled up into a muddled, sleeping ball at the other end of the ledge. Hunger promoted lethargy as the body conserved its strength; after all, being awake was a lot of effort.

Click...

His ears twitched, straining to the source. It came from above, high up as an echo. It was time. His body shifted into a leaping pose, ready to lunge downward and sprint toward whatever scraps were thrown down.

Don’t take any risks, if you can’t win, don’t fight...

The scraping of stone rose, light burst forth from the hole far above in an eye blinding explosion of colour. He didn’t have time to let his vision adjust like the others, he needed to move now and get there before they could hone in on him...

Now!

He leapt, his heart racing as he landed on unsteady, thinning legs below the ledge. The noise of his landing prompted other sounds around the cavern, rustling, growling, snorting and drooled hisses. They were getting ready as he threw his already tired legs forward in a dash. The lights dazzling rays had finished blinding him, his eyes had adjusted, and the pool was within leaping distance, the rushing air above heralded the fall of something followed by cruel laughter and jeering.

Jeering? Why would they jeer food—

Splash!

Water exploded upwards in a plume of spray. Whatever had hit the water was bigger than a few scraps, on top of that it was thrashing and wailing too.
“Augh! Ack!” It splashed wildly, dragging itself to the edge of the water, hauling itself onto the rocky lip near the bare feet of the Blademaster. A human, male, clad only in a torn shirt and trousers. Scraps finally followed into the water, but those would play second place to what was to come...

No, no, no... not now, not now...

The human raised his eyes to meet his, instantly widening in terror he scrambled to crawl away. A slick wet worm on the rocks, scurrying from what he thought to be another terrible Orc. Sense soon gripped Krogon’s throat while his heart drummed in his ears.

”Run you fool! Head for higher ground!” He spluttered, only for his body to be smashed aside with terrible force from his right. He flew, to his own left as a massive shadow thudded past him. Striking the ground he did not slide but hit with force, his shoulder popping with dislocation as he landed.

Move, get to safety before they make a move on you too!

His exhausted, mal-nourished body protested as hot spiked of pain shot up his left shoulder. The ligaments and muscles shuddered with agony as he propped himself up.

”No, no! Mercy! Please! Please!” His eyes shot to the pleading, the human was backed into a corner, the massive body of the ogre that had displaced him looming over its mark. All around other shadows stalked about, on ledges above and awaiting in the wings of the dark.

”Flesh... warm... flesh... mhrghmm...” The ogre that had been elusive up until now frothed over the prospect of fresh meat, opening his hands as he lunged forward to grab his prey. However, the human had energy in him yet and barrelled sideways out of any grasp, only to find himself in the loving embrace of the troll, Drooler.

”Aught--!! He wasted no time, sinking his saliva dripped fangs into that soft pink shoulder, tearing away a bloody chunk to the sound of pain spurred squealing. The pig ran in, grabbing an arm with stunted hands to then sink in his own mangled teeth.

Animals, bastards, do something Devilstep, do something!

His head whirled, pushing himself along with his right hand while his left sagged at his side. His body did what his head would not, acted on survival instincts and moved for safety.

“Grah! Mine!” The ogre roared, having rounded and throwing the other two off his meal. Grasping the startled human with both hands now, throwing his teeth at the wailing body as it was pushed flat to the ground.

“Gn—no-no please!” He was cut short, those ogre jaws sinking into that soft flesh flank. The troll and Quilboar stalked around, moving in to try and grab a bite, bloodied arms flailing to try and push them off with little desperate success.

Kill them, do something, act!

His mind protested but his body continued dragging him away, toward a tunnel he knew to be safe, its maze of winding corridors known only to him. He watched, unblinking as the female Orc and her starved child leapt in now too, all of them tearing, biting and scrabbling. All the while the screams filled the cavern and echoed upward with the reply of mocking laughter falling back down. Vrex sat on his perch, watching with hungry eyes.

He wouldn’t, would he?

Each movement of his right arm made his left feel as if the bone was ripping his flesh apart, the pain surging to the forefront of his thoughts while his eyes remained locked on the scene before him. The screaming had stopped, the frenzied noise of eating had begun.
When he at last reached the mouth of the tunnel he could still see the human as the light began to fade, the stone high above being pushed back into place. Those lifeless, terror filled eyes looking back at him as he lay flat on his back. The last glimmers of light vanished, while that body was pulled apart for every morsel. The cracking of bone, the tearing of flesh, the squabbling of the feast...

The thundering beat of an angry heart...