There was not much to see on the way back to the camp. The trolls simply lumbered along in silence, over the hills of snow. After awhile, the terrain became more jagged and rocky, one of the trolls roaring out every now and then as they stepped on jagged gravel and pointed rocks jutting up from the ground. They came across a wide stream, which had slowed to a snail's pace, the roaring water reduced to a frozen slurry. Not daring to set foot on the unstable mix of ice and water, the trolls found a set of stepping stones, hopping over them with Vega hoisted up on their backs the whole way.
After crossing the stream, the faintest trace of smoke became visible on the horizon. The trolls grinned, chuckling as they successfully navigated their way back. Climbing another rocky hill, a set of giant, wooden pillars set up in the form of a wall revealed itself, a stack of smoke rising from within to indicate the tribe's bonfire. Marching towards the gate, the guards that stood on duty on either side lurched in disgust at Vega's smell. "That'd better be a tribute for Rk'stl, you heathens!" One guard snapped in a hateful fashion. The trolls gave their nods. "We'll have her beaten into submission... She'll work the stables and tend to the barracks like a good whore! As all human filth should!"
With this, the guards exchanged amused looks at the thoughts, one looking back at the troll up in the tower. "The gate! Open it up!" He spat. In mere seconds, a series of chains were pulling the frigid iron bars up, just enough for the trolls to go through. They did just that, the sounds of singing and festivities getting louder as they neared the center of the camp. As they walked down the paths, which were neatly cleared of snow, small, wodden hovels covered in fur tarps presented themselves, mostly devoid of their usual residents. As they stopped in the center of camp, at the bonfire, it became clear why.
Before them, around the bonfire that was lined with various tributes to Rk'stl, the troll king, including meats, human bones, gold artifacts, and so on. A band played in front of the fire, female trolls dancing almost completely naked in circles around the fire as trolls sitting at tables on the sides drank and sang along with the music. On a throne on the far end, Rk'stl sat, tense with both massive hands clutching the armrests as he observed the festivities. Everything seemed to slow as Vega's scent rolled into the other troll's nostrils, who stopped drinking, stopped singing and dancing, stopped playing their music as they looked towards the returning trolls in confusion.
"We bring no fresh meat for our kin... But we do bring an unwanted guest." One of them grunted, the trolls throwing the net holding Vega out in front of them, which hit the ground with a, 'thud.' Upon sighting her, every troll there went nuts, shouting, screaming, and roaring in protest as they reached for their weapons. "Enough!!!" Rk'stl's voice rang out, the king along with a young Hyoite female walking over. He had her by the hair, throwing her down onto the ground in front of Vega. Kneeling, he glared at Vega, spitting something in a hostile fashion. "He... He says that you must be rather foolish to enter this part of the land uninvited..." She translated fearfully.