Page 23 of X'nath

Vakgar chuckled, his deep voice carrying over the noise. “And just look at this—finally some females to help the future of this clan. About time, eh?”

Korak laughed boisterously, slapping Vakgar’s arm. “You mean ‘about time’ for you, don’t you? We’ll see how long it takes before they break your tough exterior.”

The others around us laughed, clapping each other on the back and exchanging greetings. It was a mix of pride and relief—these were orcs who had been fighting battles for years, and now they were seeing something new, something they hadn’t realized they needed so badly.

The younger orcs, who’d been holding back a little, were a little more subdued. They looked to their older warriors with respect but kept their eyes on the human females, as if trying to figure out how they fit into the puzzle of this strange new future.

“Tell me you weren’t out there just for the women,” one of the younger orcs, Rook, teased Greag, his voice light but carrying a touch of curiosity. “Tell me you didn’t just bring them back to keep this clan going, eh?”

Greag’s grin widened, and he shook his head. “If you think I did it for thewomen, Rook, you’ve got another thing coming. But sure, let’s go with that story. Easier than explaining the whole swamp mess.”

Vakgar nodded, his expression darkening just a little. “We did what we had to do. The swamp’s no place for any of us, but especially not for them.”

Rook tilted his head slightly, looking from the women back to us. “They’re different, aren’t they? They don’t look like us.”

“They’re survivors,” I interjected, my voice low but firm. I could feel the weight of the truth in my words. “They’ve been through things you haven’t. We all have.”

The men fell quiet for a moment, the shift in the air palpable. It was clear that Rook wasn’t the only one noticing the weight of the situation. The women weren’t just here as companions or to ease the burden of the orcs. They were part of something far larger—part of a changed future.

Greag nodded at me, his voice quieter now, almost thoughtful. “Yeah. They don’t need to be coddled, X’nath. But they also don’t need us messing this up.”

Vakgar grunted in agreement. “What they need is a safe place to breathe. We’ve got the mountains now. But the question is... do we really have a place for them?”

I looked back at the females. Some of them still looked hesitant, still trying to piece this place together in their minds. It wasn’t just the orcs that were different—it was the world around us. The mechanical contraptions, the clanging of metal, the firelit forges... it was a far cry from what they had known. I could see the uncertainty in their eyes, but I also saw their determination.

“Let them settle in first,” I said, finally. “They’ll find their place. Just like we did. But I won’t have you disrespecting them.”

Korak laughed loudly. “Don’t worry, X’nath. No disrespect here—if anyone’s going to get things done, it’s the ones who survive, right?”

The rest of the clan laughed in agreement, their voices booming with the kind of camaraderie that came from years offighting side by side. But as the cheers died down, I caught a glimpse of Gracie again, still standing quietly off to the side. She hadn’t joined in the conversation, hadn’t really let her guard down.

I took a step closer, my voice low enough only she could hear it. “You seem to have a lot on your mind.”

She glanced at me, and for a moment, I could see the weight of everything in her eyes. She wasn’t asking for answers, but she wasn’t offering them, either.

“Just... trying to figure out what’s next,” she said quietly, her voice a little more guarded than usual.

I nodded, respecting her silence. “A strong female like you, I have no doubts you’ll figure it out.”

"It’s not like you gave us any choice in the matter," she snapped. I was taken aback, yet oddly drawn to her. No matter what we faced out there, nothing seemed to dampen her inner fire—and, truth be told, I didn’t want it to.

"Well, if you wanted a choice, I could’ve given you one," I teased, trying to throw my best charming smile her way. "But then again, why would you want to choose anything other than me? I’m your best chance at survival, after all."

She shot me a look that could freeze fire. "Keep talking, X’nath, and you’ll find out just how good I am at surviving without you," she said, crossing her arms, clearly not impressed.

I laughed, the challenge in her voice only making me more interested. "I’ll take my chances. Though I do admire a woman who knows what she wants."

She scoffed, clearly annoyed, and turned away. "You’re really not as charming as you think you are."

That only made my grin widen. Something about her rejection—the way she stood her ground—made me want to get closer, to see if I could break through that tough exterior.

I took a step closer, closing the distance between us. "You know, for someone who pushes me away, you’re making it pretty obvious that you’re intrigued," I said, my voice low, teasing. My eyes swept over her face, trying to gauge the cracks in her composure.

She didn’t back away, but her stance stiffened. "I’m not intrigued, X’nath," she snapped, turning to face me fully, her expression one of pure exasperation. "I’m just trying to survive. And that means dealing with you, no matter how insufferable you are."

I couldn’t suppress the chuckle that escaped me. "You say that like it’s a bad thing. Most women would be flattered by the attention."

Her eyes narrowed, and the fire in them was unmistakable. "Trust me, X’nath, I’m not interested."

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