"Hurry up! Get in! ”

The rough yelling of the human guards came from the doorway, and it sounded like they were herding something into the enclosure. But Kerga didn't look away. They don't throw anything alive into the orcs except for one identical orc. And he'd seen enough orcs, too many.

So he still lay on the damp ground, looking at the sky, wondering if he should get some sleep, as a third of the people here are doing. But it was hard because he had just woken up.

Never mind. He thought listlessly, as long as I keep lying down, I will fall asleep sooner or later.

Just then, Kerga heard footsteps. Lightweight, flexible and firm. It was the footsteps of a fighter who was ready to defeat his enemies, and Kerga used to do the same, but he hadn't done it for a long time.

He lay on the ground, motionless as the footsteps approached him, and then stopped. The man looked at him, then said softly, "Hello?" ”

It's orc language.

Kerga turned his head, it was just a knee-jerk reaction, if he had to choose, he would not be interested in doing so. But instinctively took a step faster, so he turned his head anyway, and then saw a pair of bright blue eyes.

Blue.

It's not red...... Not like us.

His mind was so sluggish that it took him two or three steps to turn the corner. With a little consternation, he propped himself up slightly, staring at the new orc.

"How?" He asked slowly. Not really interested in the answer.

The new orc crouched down, his voice still soft, but clear.

"Mind if I sit here?"

"You can sit wherever you want." Kerga replied crudely. Just don't bother me.

He should have said the second half of the sentence as well. The other sat down, but did not look away, but sat cross-legged, with his hands on his knees, his back straight, and in good spirits.

This guy is so weird. Kerga finally got interested. He tilted his head to glance at the guards to see if the humans were aware of the anomaly, and then realized that they were in the blind spot of most of their vision. Fences, bushes, and other orcs block out possible peeps, and perhaps that's why the newcomer came to him.

"You," he said, "where did you come from?" ”

Blue Eyes looked happy as he asked himself. He smiled and put a hand to his heart, "Sal of the Frostwolf Clan greets you, compatriot. ”

Kerga's eyes widened in astonishment. He had heard of the two names, but their meanings were very different. One is a pure orc clan, and the other is a pet driven by humans.

"I've heard that there is an orc raised by humans called that." He said tentatively.

"Oh, that's me," Sal said calmly, "I was indeed raised by humans, and I used to serve them. But I escaped, returned to my parents' clan, the Frostwolf Clan, and found my true self there. An orc. ”

His face shone with pride, his eyes were sincere and enthusiastic, and his head was held high. Kerga stared at him in amazement, unable to believe for a moment that the orc had ever been chained.

"But you're still caught by them." With a bit of rebellion, Kerga pointed this out, "Now you're back in the cage. ”

"As long as my soul is free, fellow man, nothing can imprison me." Thrall said with a smile, and then his expression became serious again, and his gaze swept over the orcs around him, "But what about you? Are you like me? Do you want to get out of here? ”

This is not the first time Kerga has encountered this problem. Humans have asked him, orcs have asked him, and even he himself has asked himself. But each time the answer is "no". It's not that he's incapable, it's that he's not interested in getting out of here. He could easily jump over a high wall, and he could break the necks of the lax guards one by one with his bare hands, but why would he do it? There was no reason for him to do so. He didn't want to fight, he just wanted to stay, and it was enough to stay forever.

As those eyes stared at him steadfastly, Kerga felt a wave of emotion, and he hesitated for a moment on a choice that he did not understand, and finally succumbed to the feeling of slackness.

"Nope."

Sal had a disappointed look on his face. Such an expression stung Kerga deeply. He didn't understand why, maybe it was because the other party was as scrappy as his old self and firmly believed in something. This made him feel ashamed, and in order to get rid of this shame, he involuntarily excused himself.

"You don't understand, we've lost our power." "We were defeated, we lost completely, we had nothing," he said. ”

Sal encouraged him to continue, with a listening expression: "But why? "How did this happen?" he asked. ”

"I don't know how this happened, but... The chiefs, and the warlocks, the commanders, they have power, but what do they do when we fail? No! Kerga was suddenly furious, unprovoked, silent for a long time, but so strong that he himself was surprised that he did not notice that his eyes were burning like fire, and in the twilight glowed a terrible red, "They promised! They say we will have a new home, a new world, able to feed our families and feed our people, just like Draenor once was, just like we did before we abandoned the shaman! But now ......"

He looked around, at the depressed orcs.

"—and now we're like that." Kerga said in a low voice, hanging his head, "A plate of loose sand, listless, slaughtered animals." ”

A sorrow rose in his heart. He had never felt sad before, and he didn't even have the energy to produce such emotions. But there was a special power in Thrall that infected him, and he poured out all his thoughts.

"But we weren't meant to be like that." Sal said, leaning over in concern and putting his hand on his shoulder, "We shouldn't go on like this." ”

Kerga shook his head in despair.

"I don't even know why it's going to happen, and I don't know how to change it. It's like being wounded, and then everything flows out of the wound, and there's nothing left. I don't want to think, and I don't want to fight. He looked at Sal, "But you, you still have the fighting spirit, so you shouldn't stay here." I've heard that some are still fighting, those who are outside the walls. ”

Sal's eyes lit up: "You mean, there are people like me?" ”

"The most powerful one I've ever heard of is the Hellroar of the Warsong Clan. He has not yet been defeated. He and his clan fought against humanity and themselves on the west side of the continent. ”

"I've heard his name." "He was a very tenacious, great fighter with an iron will. ”

"Yes." Kerga nodded in agreement, "He's the same as us, but he's never thrown in the towel." ”

"I'll go find him." "But until then, I still want you to leave with me." ”

"I said we didn't understand—"

Thrall interrupted him with a wave of his hand.

"You don't know, but I know what to do, compatite." He said, "Let's go back to the old days, like our fathers, to honor the teachings of all spirits, to keep the glorious creed—would you?" ”

"Glory ......" Kerga chewed on the word, feeling his mouth full of bitterness. He looked like he wanted to say something, but in the end he just sighed.

"It's not about my desires." "Of course I hope, but even if I do, it won't change anything," he said. ”

Sal didn't say anything, just put his hand on the ground. Kerga followed his gaze in bewilderment, not knowing what he was going to do.

At first nothing happened, but slowly, the brown earth was dotted with green. Kerga's eyes widened in shock as the green grew taller and taller, growing from small shoots to grass and flowers, as if it had been growing all summer.

He looked up at Thrall in disbelief, and the young orc smiled at him. He lowered his head again to look at the flowers and plants, and even reached out to pull them. The fragrant and slightly bitter smell of grass juice suddenly filled the nostrils. It's not an illusion, it's not a trick, it's real.

Kirga's breathing suddenly became heavy. He trembled uncontrollably, his mind went blank, he stared at Sal tightly, and said hoarsely, "Are you a shaman?" But the shaman is already ......," Kerga paused abruptly, "Wait, you're a frost wolf!" Is it really the Frostwolf Clan? The one exiled by Gul'dan? ”

"That's why we're keeping our old traditions alive." Thrall lightly touched the petals of a flower at hand, "My teacher is Drektar, and he is a powerful shaman. It was he who led me down this path. ”

"—We are by no means hopeless, fellow citizens."

Kerga stared at the grass, unable to speak for a moment. Sal waited quietly.

"Are the elemental spirits still willing to accept us?" Finally, Kerga asked softly, his tone sounding as frightened as a child who had made a mistake, "Are the spirits of the ancestors still willing to protect us?" ”

"Of course." Sal replied in the affirmative. He realizes that the Kirga is looking to him for guidance, not about age or experience, but rather as a warrior looking to the shaman and the spirits behind the shaman, as they have often done in the past in the clan. So he stared firmly at those blood-red eyes.

This gaze is actually very rude, and most of the time it has a provocative tone. But this time it was different, and Kerga seemed to find solace in Saar's strong faith. He was visibly perked up. Sal is keenly aware of this change. So he strengthened his tone and continued, "All souls have never abandoned us, fellow citizens. It was we who gave up on ourselves. And we can change ourselves. Let's get back on the right path. ”

Kerga listened, pondered. Thrall gave him time to think. Finally he bowed his head, but this time not out of frustration, but out of respect and gratitude from the bottom of his heart.

"You're right, shaman." He said, "I should do this...... I can do the same. ”

Sal was relieved to see that the red in his eyes had become much clearer. Something awakened from the heart of this long-decadent orc. He's no longer confused, he knows who he is and what to do.

"And everyone here should do that." He said, looking at the orcs around him, and Kerga nodded knowingly as he looked at him.

"It's not an easy task. They are more sinking, more sluggish than I am. But you have to give it a try anyway. He said, and then realized something, "—that's what you're here for, isn't it, shaman?" ”

"Yes." Sal replied in the affirmative, "And I'm sure we can do it." ”