They were around here somewhere.  Brigitte's clan of Dryads have long had to deal with the orcs and other Feyr that had long ago roosted in the Lonely Forest.  Her clan is one of the last holdouts to leave, precious few Fey races can live the forest any longer.  Most had become prey for the Feyr and could not survive the continous assaults.  Even commanding powerful magics only held the inevitable at bay for so long.  Lately, the number of orcs nearing her clan's secret village were increasing.  Emboldened by the emergence of a great orc champion, Krulius.  His harem even has two of Brigitte's sheild sisters taken by him during raids.<br/><br/>Still, the orc fortress-city at the southern tip of the forest was too far for these many orcs to supplied directly.  With help from the city of Far, they have managed to banish or disrupt several orc fortifications in the northern half of the Lonely Forest and keep the tide of Feyr at bay.  At the clan meeting scouts had returned to reveal that they had seen a large troop of orcs following upstream the small river that feeds the many creeks her city use for water.  Perhaps their base camp was up that way, but how could they get so close, build a new camp and march about unseen by her people?  A plan would be made by the first and second circles, once the base was fully scouted.  Help would be sought, if needed and an attack would commence.  Brigitte was of the third circle, she would mostly likely be chosen in the assault plan, but once again she would not be part of its construction.<br/><br/>She shouldn't be so dis-heartened.  Afterall, she is the youngest member of the third circle and only the second one in the history of her clan to reach such a high status so young.  The one that went before her became a legend to her people, that was centuries ago.  Brigitte can remember the words of the shield sisters of the first circle when she was sent out on patrol, 'Scout, do not attack!  It is night, there are many Cursed beasts in this forest.  Their numbers have increased four fold by our count.  It may have something to do with these orcs..."<br/><br/>They scout in threes, with her skill she had managed to seperate herself from the others who were probably backtracking now to find her.  She found herself at the river where the orcs were spotted, in the dark of night.  The strange sounds of the forest fall on deaf ears as her pride and eagerness swell inside her.  She peers downstream.  She knows it is dangerous.  Soon the others will arrive and they can be on their way once more.