The Elf shuddered as the Orc turned in her direction.
Her gaze moved from right to left, while he kept staring straight at her.
'Yes, it wouldn't be the first time.'
Truth is, he wasn't looking at her at all right now.
'To move her and keep her captive, the cage is used. Because the cage was hard to carry and move around, the rope is used. Thanks to the rope, I can curl my back and have the cage rest on my back. My hands take hold of the rope and are used to keep the cage balanced. If my posture is right, then the weight is on my back, not on my arms! It's much easier to move it that way! The most important part is… The fact that something is used! I need to use something other than my body to even the field!'
The Orc discovers one of the particular abilities that make humans so powerful and versatile.
'If my fist isn't enough, then I have to use something harder!'
The usage of tools. But also,
'Something like a rock wouldn't be enough. I would have to get too close. If they grab me by the wrist or something, I will lose! I need to be able to attack while staying a good distance away from them! What I need is…'
Tool creation.
'To make something that will help me do that!'
The first part of that tool was already staring at him.
'If I can find a rock with the right shape, I can use the rope to wrap it around something! A tree branch maybe? A big enough bone? Anything will do if it's long and strong enough not to break! Yes! That'll work!'
The Orc clenched his fists as he finally found a way to turn it around.
For a moment, he forgot that he was staring in the Elf's direction, who was momentarily taken aback by the frightening smile on his face.
Realizing that, he turned his gaze away.
'They seem to be asleep. The cage is closed. Piggy has the key. He's completely asleep. I'll have to leave for a moment.'
He looked at the Elf for a moment. The Orc walked over to her and unwrapped the rope from around the cage.
He gulped.
The orc did not want to leave her alone, or with them.
'This is the best thing to do…' Still, he turned away and, seconds later, disappeared into the forest's wilderness. 'For the both of us!'
The Elf frowned for a moment, holding onto her torn clothes dearly.
It wasn't the first time that he was leaving alone. For one reason or another, Orcs had the common decency of leaving to relieve themselves. Still, minutes passed without him coming back.
'Please…'
Her heart started beating faster and faster.
She remembered the time spent without him earlier, when he had walked into the darkness of the forest alone, when he had been sent to make sure there wasn't anything dangerous waiting for them there.
The Elf remembered the anxiety and fear she felt when the thought that he might have died crossed her mind.
What would happen to her if he died? Let alone the possibility of escaping, the thought of what those three would do to her was enough to make her hands tremble and her teeth chatter.
'Please come back.'
About twenty minutes had passed.
'This,' The Orc smiled. 'Is perfect!'
In his hand rested a thick and sturdy branch that measured about 85 centimeters(2 feet and 9.5 inches).
Tied around the end of the thick branch was a rock one and a half times the Orc's fist in size.
'It might be harder than my fist as well.' The Orc chuckled, scratching his nose. 'This is good. Now I just need a good opportunity to use it and-'
His mind suddenly froze.
'I made the weapon, but I didn't plan what to do with it. How do I hide it?'
The Orc thought for a moment.
'I'll just have to disassemble it. The rope will go back to the cage. It took me more time to find an appropriate branch than it did to find the rock. The latter can be discarded. How do I hide the branch? Maybe if I keep it against the cage, stuck to it thanks to the rope, they won't even notice it.'
In the first place, no one other than him ever really gets close to the cage.
'Maybe I can give it to her? Can she hide it somehow? Would she even understand what I'm trying to do?'
The fact that he could understand her words but that he did not have the ability to talk was indeed a problem.
'I'll go back for now. Quietly and stealthily. I can hide it in the bush next to the tree for now.'
Minutes later, the Orc was about to re-gain the make-shift camp. Before he could do so,
Groan-
He quickly hid behind the thick tree and peeked.
'Dummy…'
The Orc smiled.
'He's leaving. Probably to pee.'
The opportunity presented itself faster than expected.
His eyes quickly scanned the area. Hideous and Piggy were fast asleep.
'I'll follow him!'
The Elf, who had just let out a sigh upon noticing his return, frowned in confusion.
'Did he just circle around the area… And follow Dummy?' She gulped. 'In his hand, was that…?