Aelira watched Azrael creep forward, his hand signaling them to follow.
She exchanged a glance with Astrid who was perched silently in the branches above. Astrid gave a tiny shrug, a gesture that spoke volumes. They both knew.
Astrid had seen the larger group of orcs from her vantage point in the trees. A whole pack, not just the lone one Azrael had spotted.
Aelira, with her heightened elven senses, had felt the heavy, brutish presence nearby long before Azrael even noticed the single scout. It was dangerous, stupidly dangerous to engage here.
She had wanted to tell them, to order a retreat. But then she saw Azrael, playing the leader, gesturing for them to follow the sound of the lone orc. He was so confident, so oblivious. And Astrid… Aelira could practically feel the simmering amusement and annoyance coming off the catgirl.
