The Signs of Incursion (1)

The torches are lit around the rogue's settlement. Several moon elves and orcs are jovial and welcoming the arrival of the hunting group. Their group is small with a total of 53 members, both of orcs and moon elves. Strange enough, all of them look like young adults. Their ages are not that far from each other so they can understand tacitly on most things.

They are pretty tight-knit due to their small number and their extreme experiences as a 'rogue'. They are sharing a strong sense of belongingness that is forged as they go through challenges.

Some little orcs, ages nine to thirteen, who are supposed to be slumbering are now awake and running around excitedly, staring at the bountiful prey that the adults hunted. 

"Meat! Meat! Meat!" The five tiny orcs are chanting. This is subsequently followed by slurping sounds being heard from the children, making the adults laugh out loud.

"How was the hunt?" Sibal directly asked Ilian. Nine, his little brother, is left in their house sleeping.

The chubby and supposedly talkative moon elf just gave a restrained smile to Sibal's question. 

The male orc, upon sensing the strangeness of Illian, took this as an opportunity to look at the state of the hunting group.

Sibal now noticed that the other members of the hunting group were disheveled and downcast.

At this time, Xagrien came out with Luis. The moon elf lord is still rubbing his sleepy eyes, he just woke up from the sounds of the movements outside.

He looks at Xagrien with pouty lips, trying to imitate an aggrieved little baby who was denied milk. 

This guy invited him to sleep with him and he willingly jumped in, thinking that they will share a bed and he will sleep with someone's warmth around him.

However, his expectation failed to meet with reality. Luis slept alone with a thin animal skin blanket cradling him in disappointment.

Luis saw the lively figures of children running around this late at night. The concern is written on his wrinkled brow. The moon elf lord looked at Xagrien and asked.

"How can they be awake at this time?"

Xagrien's expressionless face showed a little crack this time. He heaved a sigh and answered the question of the moon elf lord in a somber tone.

"When you are living in the wild, anything can happen in your sleep. Those children are raised in the wilderness for a long time so they formed this habit of sleeping while staying alert."

 Xagrien whispered to Luis, helplessly. "I can't say that they ever slept comfortably. Those children are not afraid of hardships and I am sure that they will be willing to serve you as long as they are with us. So I ask you, moon elf lord, to provide them with a place where they can grow safely and sleep comfortably."

Luis erased his childish pout and put on a solemn expression. He didn't expect that those bubbly kids had a backstory like that. Luis can feel the slight pinch in his heart so he opened his mouth and made a promise.

"You don't have to worry about that. The moment that I accept them as my people, they are bound to get everything that I can offer just like everyone else."

Luis stated that as a fact and walked matching the pace of Xagrien.

However, it was deemed to be hard work.

Even if he walked with his biggest strides, he cannot catch up.

Luis stopped in his tracks and stood a little far away from the group. 

Xagrien raised his brows, askance.

"I am afraid that they might feel oppressed by my presence so I'll stay at a safe distance," Luis answered the silent question of Xagrien. He doesn't want to intrude on their festivities as an outsider and he judged that it isn't the right time to expose himself. Not when his eyes are still tearing up from abrupt sleep.

"Don't worry, I can still hear everything in this distance," the moon elf lord motioned his pointy ears with a smug face.

Xagrien stared at him for a few seconds and then turned his back to approach the newly arrived hunting group.

Luis harrumph at the moon elf's action.

'This rascal, really. He will act like he is respecting me as the moon elf lord when it is convenient for him. But he will treat me rudely most of the time.'

The moon elf lord jumped up to the nearby tree and leaned on the trunk while crossing his hands. He watched the damned hottie walk towards the group.

Luis is impressed at the sight of two different races peacefully and warmly mingling with each other. There are about six adult orcs and those five mischievous children. This is an extraordinary feat considering that most moon elves are exclusive to their own race.

Luis touched his chin and thought deeply about this. The reason must have stemmed from the lack of communication with other creatures and living in this secluded place.

Luis clenched his fist and his eyes are shining with naked determination to open up a new and different for his moon elves.

It would be great to replicate this sight to a wider extent.

"I think the kids should go back and sleep." Luis heard the low masculine voice of Xagrien. His statement is serious and authoritative. 

Luis shook his head in dismay. 'What a boomer.'

The moon elf lord felt pity as he witnessed the five little orcs stop playing around.

However, he is surprised to see the children standing in a line like a well-trained soldier.

Luis' feelings are playing between pity and admiration. They are still this small but they look like the child soldiers that he used to watch on tv in his past life.

"Wendell, lead the other children back to their house. We will prepare the meat so you can have a tasty meal tomorrow." Xagrien once again commanded.

Wendell, an orc who is probably around 13 to 14 years of age, nodded to Xagrien in obeisance. He appears to be the oldest of the group. The children formed a line and did as they were told, it all happened without much fuss and it left Luis impressed.

 'How come there are obedient children like that?' The children that he knew personally are all stubborn. You will need to cry bloody stones just to make them obey.'

How enviable!

Of course, there is still the youngest orc who playfully bid their goodbye to the adults.

"Brother Ilian! Let's have barbecue tomorrow! Make sure to cook it the way you cook your own, we will not eat it if it's not as delicious as yours!"

The healthy looking disheveled moon elf forced a smile and answered in a dismissing yet gentle tone.

"Yes, yes, it's already this late and all of you are still awake. How are you able to transform early if you are not healthy? Now go on and sleep."

After the children left, Ilian said in a gloomy voice to all their companions.

"I think we made a grave mistake."

Most moon elves who stayed behind are confused after hearing that.

Sibal, who knows that something is up, decided to step up and lead the entire group.

Something serious must have happened.

"Come on,-" However, before he could even finish one of their comrades voiced out his observation in a worried tone.

"Wait, didn't Nereen come with you? Where is he? His injuries from the other day haven't healed yet, right? We manage to find some herbs that can be used on the wound,"

The atmosphere turned colder and heavy after these words were said. Especially the hunting group.

"Let's put away the meat and talk somewhere else," Sibal stated to break the ice.

Xagrien nodded in cooperation then shot a meaningful glance in Luis' direction.

The moon elf lord, of course, has seen that simple movement. 

He is watching the male moon elf very closely.

Luis enhanced both his sight and hearing as he watched the moon elves do their thing.

After storing the meat, Xagrien and the others moved to an open space that is near the waterfalls. It isn't that far from their houses so they are confident that if anything happens they can run to help the children.

Luis followed discreetly while maintaining distance.

All the adults formed a circle. The night is cloudless and the moonlight seems to be extra bright tonight. They didn't have any problems with the illumination so they can see each and everyone's expressions

Their faces are coloured with unspoken worries. How long has it been since they've been gathered like this?

Not even during the incident days ago when some of their comrades came back with injuries.

After settling down, Kalux, a young moon elf with an earth ability spoke. His body is looks solid with firm and bulky muscles. He has this strong and mature air in him.

Kalux came out with the hunting group so others who are clues listened to him.

"We need to destroy all the tunnels that we've built as soon as possible."

However, the words that came out from Kalux stirred quite a big reaction from the individuals who are left in their settlement.

"What? Why is that?"

"Are you crazy Kalux? You spent a great deal of effort to plan and make that with you brother! What is wrong with your brother Manulus?"

Manulus, who looks completely different to his brother Kalux with his thin physique, heaved a heavy sigh. Those tunnels are product of their thorough planning and physical efforts. However, they do not have a choice since those abomination are breading there.

"I agree with my brother. Let's destroy the tunnel." Manulus declared after sometime.

He then turned at Xagrien and said, with his voice slightly cracking. "Those creatures that you warned us about, they are everywhere. We tried to avoid them but they got us. Those root crawlers killed Nereen."