A second chance - Trail around the mountains

"Take the river if you wish to avoid being seen, but know the Orcs hold sway in those hills. Remain vigilant, and you'll passby their strongholds in no time."

The Ranger had said before departing at the suns first light, and he'd been right. About the water, and the orcs. The latter Brulk had found out without much glee, testing his metal against theirs.

Brulk had come across a campsite, it's fire still lit and it's occupants missing. Brulk took no time in looting what value remained before any company returned. An arrow flitted into the earth a mere foot from Khelem, and Brulk dove for his shield. A second arrow dinged off it's curved edge as two orcs hurtled towards him from downhill, Brulk drew his axe from its loop in his belt, tossing it's sheath on the ground, and tackled shield first into the quickest of his foes. His weight wasn't enough to push the creature back, but his momentum stunned it for a moment long enough for him to hook his axe around it's knee and force it down. A quick wrist motion sent the axe's blade through it's skull.

The second's weapon arrived before it did, as did a third arrow. The arrow missed by a few feet, but the crudely crafted battleaxe echoed it's strike through Brulk's shield causing the Hillman to let out a fighters roar.

The orcish bowman moved closer for a better shot and Brulk kept his footwork defensive. He hooked his axe around the orcs next blow, allowing himself to be pulled forward with it's movements. His axe flew from his grip, and he jerked his fighting knife from it's place in his bracer. He found it wedged between the Orcs jaw before he'd chance to think, and in time for a fourth arrow to be shot his way. It thudded into the other Orcs hind as it clumped to the ground. "Still alive.." Muttered Brulk, more from habit than any real requirement. He slipped his body in a pivot, reaching for his knife as he moved, and holding his shield ahead of himself.

A fifth arrow managed to pierce the shields rawhide covering, and the sixth whizzed uncomfortably close to what might pass as Brulks 'good' side. Closing the distance didn't take long, but it felt like an eternity to Brulk as arrow after arrow sprung in his direction. He tossed his knife through the air, spinning it blade over butt, but it clattered off the mountainside rather than the Orc. Enough of a distraction for him to barrel into his foe, mind. The two took a tumble down the hills slope, more'n a few feet. The creature had breath fouler'n Brulks, and that took some effort. He slipped a knife from his belt, and felt his foe jerk straight as it pierced flesh. Another knife came from his boot, and this one found his foes throat with a satisfying hiss of air.

"Still alive." He repeated with a sigh, glancing back up hill at Khelem. The beast watched him as it's namesake would have. more'n likely for the best the real Khelem Dur was back in the dirt, Brulk reckoned. The old warrior would have had more'n a few words for Brulks skills if he could see how he'd slipped in recent year.