Captured Prey

He awoke with the smell of smoke and stench in his nose and the taste of blood in his mouth. Han Solo blinked twice and slowly looked around him as he tried to make the two images he had of the world sync up. When they did, he realized his hands were tied behind his back and he had rope strung around his neck. For a brief moment he panicked, thinking a hanging was to be his fate. Hangings were rather rare in the galaxy, as crueler methods were available, but it still prevailed in some parts of space, mainly the Outer Rim. Yet, he quickly realized the rope that clung to his neck was a collar just as it was a collar around that bandit, Ithwine's neck and, surprisingly, Boba Fett's. The bounty hunter's helmet was gone and he had a nasty slash across his face that showed he now only had one eye.

That was to his right. To his left was a man he did not know but he was wiry and had a mop of red hair, all the redder for the blood. His head was lolled back and his mouth was open but he still breathed long, if raspy, breaths. Han turned his attention to the fire and, to his horror, saw multiple deformities moving about it. He had seen many species in his time, but there were few that could compare to the monstrosities that he saw before him. One such monster was talking to a smaller such being next to him.

"Too many lads were killed by that green Gondorian wizard. It took ten of them to take him down and keep him from creating the fire. I don't think we can keep on going. We need to head back."

"I agree," responded the smaller one in a sickly voice. "We've seen enough. The Master can now be sure. Wizardry is becoming stronger. I think the Grey is finding them. We need to keep our distance from him. I think he was wandering about the area once dawn arrived. We should move soon."

Han was about to say something when a rustling was heard and the monsters all looked to to the tree-line. Three other monsters emerged, and came up to the large monster who had been speaking. The large monster grunted.

"Narsock, you swine. Where have you been? You could have saved us a lot of trouble."

Narsock snarled. "We found trouble ourselves. More than enough. Just ask Othgark and Grinn. And we lost Yelcknach."

The larger one clenched his fists. "He was the best archer sent. What did you lead him into?"

"Some wizardry. We ran into two rangers. They killed Yelcknach. We got one but something came. And it ripped the other ranger before the ranger could do anything. We didn't even see anything so we booked it. You would have two if there was only three of you and Yelcknach had gotten it."

The smaller monster frowned. "All the more reason to head back and report to the Master. Raiding and scouting parties are getting more dangerous."

"Excuse me," came the voice of Ithwine. I don't mean to complain, but these little strings around my hands are rather loose. It can be irritating."

The monsters looked over at the string of prisoners (for that is what they were as Han came to see). The small one with the sickly voice came over, wringing his hands. "So nice of you to alert us to that fact, "he said grinning. "Let me help."

The monster bent down and fiddled with the rope around Ithwine's hands. Han could see that Ithwine was very good at lying but Han could see a small grimace as the ropes tightened. However, the man quickly righted himself and smiled.

"Thank you so much. It was awfully uncomfortable."

The monster took Ithwine by the head and held up a knife to his face. "It will be much more uncomfortable if you don't keep quiet, you scum."

Ithwine eyed the knife, the monster, and the knife again. "I get your point," he responded with a condescending look.

The monster snarled and walked back to the fire with the rest of his compatriots. They continued to talk and gestured often in the direction of the prisoners. Han looked across Fett who was drooping with his head on his chest at Ithwine. The bandits flashed him a quick smile and then went back to a pained look as he wriggled his hands in an effort to keep the circulation going.

After half an hour, the monsters, or orcs as Ithwine whisper to Han, began to move. The prisoners were brought to their feet and set off to follow the bulk of the orcs. The group of orcs were around twenty, a number that had dwindled apparently from a good thirty or so. The "wizardry" had taken its toll and the orcs were none to keen on losing any more. They set off in the morning light, pushing, dragging, biting and lashing their prisoners onwards. Han, Ithwine and the red-headed companion of the bandit were able to hobble along well enough but Boba Fett had to be carried as was C-3PO. The droid's voice circuit had been cut off somehow when the orcs first rushed the group. Chewbacca growled and snarled as he was tied to a log and dragged towards the back of the party. As the sun grew, the tempers of the orcs dwindled and they pushed the prisoners harder. "Wizardry" was always behind them.

Sweat had been pouring down upon Han the entire day and he was about ready to give it all up when the orcs suddenly decided to stop. Apparently, whenever the lead orc was tired enough, the entire party would stop, or whenever an issue arose among the orcs. From what Han could see, the stop happened because of the latter. The big orc (the leader it seemed) and the small orc with the sickly voice had come to blows over whether to send out scouts behind them to cover their tracks and confuse any pursuing enemies or to rush as fast as they could to the "Master". A brief pause was called as the two leaders convened in a soft yet intense conversation, punctuated by what Ithwine called "Black Speech Swears".

The prisoners were pushed to the ground in a clump of short bushes and told to keep quiet. Han slowly peeked his head above the bushes and saw as the orcs milled about waiting for their leaders to make a decision. He saw Chewbacca's pole thrown to the ground with the Wookie under it and Han gritted his teeth. C-3PO was thrown next to a tree unceremoniously. The yellow lights in his eyes had gone out hours ago. Boba Fett, now awake and a look of pure hatred in his remaining eye was thrown amongst the rest of the prisoners. Han looked at the beat up bounty hunter.

"The hunter captured it appears," Han noted.

Fett gave Han a withering glare. "Sometimes the prey only looks like he's captured. I've seen it often enough. But you are wrong if you think I've never been in these kind of situations. The difference between others and myself is that I'm the prey that survives."

"I prefer never to think of myself as the prey." Ithwine nodded to them both. "It feels to constricting. I'd rather not be that boxed in. Always have the attitude that you are in command of the situation and you always will be."

Han raised his eyebrows. "Generally I can talk my way out of most situations. However, I'm not so sure here."

"Talk is overrated," Fett said. A spark came from the bounty hunter's wrist as his flame thrower briefly lit up. The ropes fell from his hands, burnt. He looked at the other three with a sly smile. Ithwine smiled back. Both of his hands came up and he shook the bounty hunter's hand.

"Good work. You aren't the only one with tricks up his sleeves. Orcs are mistrustful by nature and I assumed some keep knives in their boots. I was right. That orc tightened my wrists rather tight but I did get his knife. I've had my rope in a knot that I can easily get out of. Ingenious if you ask me. No one ever expects the rope to be in a knot just for show. I've never met anyone who knows that trick. But just like you, I never could get used to being the prey." Ithwine rubbed his hands gleefully.

Han looked at the two of them and then at his wrists. "This is awkward. A little help maybe?"

Ithwine was busy untying his red-headed comrade. He glanced at Han "Why? Why should we not leave you here?"

Han smiled and nodded towards Chewbacca on the pole in the distance. "Because I have the Wookie."