Page 22 of X'nath

And just as the feeling of wonder and anxiety mixed, the orcs around us began to take notice. The moment they saw us—saw their men returning—there was a sudden shift in the air. Orcs came rushing forward, their voices booming with excitement. It was like a flood had been unleashed, as though the entire clan had been waiting for our arrival.

“Greag! Vakgar!” one of them shouted, rushing up to the two men who led the group. There was a thunderous cheer from the others as they gathered around us. It wasn’t just a welcome—it was a celebration. The women looked at each other with wide eyes, trying to understand what was happening. They weren’t just welcoming their warriors back. They were celebrating the return of something... more.

I glanced at the men, unsure of what this meant, but it was clear they had done something important. This wasn’t just a homecoming. It was as if the orcs had been expecting us. Had they known we’d arrive? Or were they simply celebrating their survival?

“Looks like they’re glad to see us,” Greag said with a grin, his voice full of pride.

Vakgar chuckled, but there was a quiet edge to his tone. "Or maybe they’re glad to see them," he said, his gaze flicking to the women behind us.

I couldn’t tell if it was a jest or something more, but the way the orcs moved—almost like they’d been waiting for this moment—stirred something in me. There was more to this than just a rescue. I still couldn’t shake the feeling that we were part of something much bigger than any of us had realized.

I stayed silent, keeping my thoughts to myself as we were surrounded by the clan. We had made it this far. But as theorcs continued their boisterous greeting, I still wondered what exactly they expect from us now. What was their plan?

And most importantly, what was mine?

13

Welcome Home

X’NATH

The roar of excitement from the clan was deafening, a wave of energy crashing over us as we made our way deeper into the heart of the mountain. Orcs poured from every corner of the cavern, their voices booming as they rushed to greet their returning warriors. The atmosphere was electric, the air thick with pride and the kind of rough camaraderie that only orcs could create.

I watched quietly, my eyes scanning the sea of faces. They were mostly older warriors, grizzled veterans of battles long past. The women among them were few, and well beyond the age of childbearing. The younger women, though I had my fair share of flirting with them, have all been mated by now. The children were all boys—young, eager, and growing fast—but there were hardly any females left to carry on the next generation. It was a harsh reality that gnawed at me as I stood there, taking in the scene.

We needed the women. And now that they were here, the clan’s survival, their future—it was all tied to their presence. Without them, our bloodlines would wither. I glanced at Gracie,watching her closely. She had been quiet, her eyes wide as she took in the bustling scene around her. She didn’t look scared, not exactly, but I could see her hesitation, her uncertainty about this strange new world.

My gaze lingered on her, and despite everything else—despite the boisterous greetings, the clamor of voices, and the celebrations—I couldn't ignore the pull. Gracie was sharp, her quiet strength unmistakable. She wasn’t intimidated by this place, but I could see her weighing everything in her mind. As much as the other women had started to settle into the idea of being here, Gracie was holding something back.

I turned my attention back to the men. Greag and Vakgar were bantering with the others, playing down the dangers we had faced, making light of the swamp and the crone’s magic as if they hadn’t almost died in that hellhole. It was typical of them—trying to maintain the façade of invincibility, to keep the morale high. The last thing they wanted was to show any weakness, and I didn’t blame them. But I knew better.

“Those dragons don’t know when to quit,” Greag said, his grin wide as he clapped one of the younger orcs on the shoulder. “But we sent them running, didn’t we?”

Vakgar chuckled, his voice rough. “Yeah, for now. But there are more where they came from. Don’t get too comfortable.”

The banter continued, but I barely listened. My eyes kept drifting to Gracie, noting the way she watched everything with that quiet intensity of hers. She wasn’t like the others. She didn’t buy into the jokes or the bravado. There was a lot going on in that head of hers, and I wondered what she was thinking… what had she been through to make her this way.

The clan had rallied around us, but there was an unspoken truth in the air. We needed these women—not just for comfort, not just for companionship. They were the key to our future. Without them, without more like them, the orc race was on thebrink of extinction. It wasn’t a pleasant thought, but it was the truth, and I could see the realization starting to settle on some of the faces around me.

As the clan members pressed in closer, offering their congratulations and making loud, exaggerated claims about how the warriors had saved the day, I stayed quiet. The noise, the laughter—it was all so much, so loud, and for a moment, I let myself drift. I had been part of this clan for longer than I cared to remember, but I had never felt this kind of pressure before. Not like this.

We had survived the swamp, but that was just the beginning. Now, it was time to see if we could make this work. Make them trust us. Make it work for all of us. But the real challenge? That was still ahead.

As the cheers began to die down, I turned back to Gracie. She was watching me now, her eyes searching mine. There was no judgment there, but there was something else—something I couldn’t quite place.

"Not exactly what you expected?" I asked quietly, breaking the silence between us.

Her lips twitched in the smallest of smiles, though there was still something guarded in her expression. "No. But it’s... impressive."

I nodded, understanding. "You’ll get used to it. And if you don’t, we’ll make sure you’re protected. No matter what."

She didn’t say anything, but her gaze softened just a fraction, and I felt that small connection between us deepen. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. And that, at least, was something.

The orcs continued to crowd around us, their voices booming with excitement and celebration. The sheer energy in the air was overwhelming, and yet, it felt like we were all part of a much larger, ancient rhythm. The warriors were glad to see us back, but they were just as eager to show off their pride in their clan. Itwasn’t just a homecoming for us—it was a statement of survival, a triumph.

“Greag! Vakgar! You’ve brought back something special this time!” one of the older orcs, Korak, shouted as he clapped the two of them on the back. His eyes flickered to the women behind us with open approval. "And I see you’ve brought uslifetoo."

Greag grinned, puffing his chest out. “We’ve brought what we could, Korak. You’ve got no idea how bad things were out there. But we made it. Just like we always do.”

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