Page 56 of Mountain Orc Daddy

UZUL

“WOAH!” Blair takes a nervous step backwards into me as the bonfire roars even higher. I hold her close. Something that, not too long ago, I was worried I’d never get to do again.

Her beautiful face is illuminated by the flames as she looks up and smiles at me. My face starts to feel warm at the sight, and not just because of the roaring fire. I’ve literally been in battle with this woman and she still makes me feel nervous.

“Don’t worry,” I say as I hold her tight, feeling every curve of her body against mine. “I won’t let you fall in.”

“So, tell me again, what is this tradition?” Blair looks around at all the orcs around the giant bonfire, in the midst of celebration.

“Well, in the Broken Maws Tribe, after every victory, we build one of these bonfires to mark the occasion. The bigger the victory, the bigger the fire.” I look at the flames as they seem to reach as high as the trees. “The idea is that, if the victory is great enough, the fire will be so large that our ancestors, and anyone who fell in the battle, can see it burning in the afterlife, and know to be proud.”

“I bet they’re very proud,” Blair says as she leans into me. “Have you told your tribe yet? About…”

I know what she is referring to. My whispered promise on the battlefield as she helped me to a place to rest and be healed properly. At first, she told me to wait, to give it time before I claimed such things, but I know in my heart where I belong.

It’s next to her.

“No, not yet.” I look around at my tribe. Today has been a great victory for us. But it has also made something else abundantly clear, we can’t keep to ourselves anymore. If we do, it could mean the end of us. “But now is as good of a time as any.”

I step up onto a large rock near the campfire. My tribe’s celebrations immediately fall silent. They know this means a speech is coming. They look at me with eager anticipation. But now I worry they won’t like what I have to say.

“Broken Maws Tribe! Today, we won!” My tribe breaks out in cheers. “But victory would not be ours without the Morgan family.” They now cheer for Blair and her family.

I look down at Blair. She blushes as all the orcs cheer for her. Phineas raises his drink, Mara smiles widely, Remus shows off some magic, and Jade does a polite wave. They deserve all the praise they are getting, and more.

“If it was not for them, the Broken Maws Tribe would be no more. And that is a problem. For so long, we have kept ourselves isolated, thinking it will keep us safe. However, ultimately, it was our relationships with the outside world that truly saved us. It’s time for a change.”

My tribe begins to murmur to themselves.

“What does that mean?”

“Change what?”

“What is he saying?”

Rogar steps forward. "Chieftain, what are you saying?”

“It’s time for the Broken Maws Tribe to leave the mountains and enter the world out there. Enter society.”

My tribe’s murmurs grow to full blown yells. “The outside world just tried to kill us!” “You have to be joking!” “His father would never-”

“Please, listen to him!” Blair tries to yell but is quickly drowned out. I grab her by the shoulders and heave her up on the rock with me. “Everyone! Listen to me!”

The tribe grows quiet. Listening to her with the same anticipation they usually give me. She really earned their respect today.

“Uzul is right! Keeping yourself isolated is actually opening you up to more danger! The world outside this mountain isn’t like it used to be. There are communities of supernatural beings living together peacefully. Witches, shifters, and hopefully soon orcs, all looking out for each other, keeping their friends and neighbors safe.”

“But,” Rogar says. "We were just attacked by witches. How can we live alongside them, knowing some might attack?”

“That coven does not represent all witches. They were rogue, caught up in the old ways, and they paid for it today.”

“Believe me, Rogar.” I place a hand on Blair’s shoulder. "Not all witches are like that. Most are perfectly fine people.”

“What about the rest of the world? What about humans?” Rogar looks around at the rest of the tribe. They all nod in agreement with them. “Are we really supposed to believe they’ll accept us among them? We’ve heard stories of the old days, storiesyourfather used to tell Uzul.”

“Some people might look at you funny, but in the past few years there have been great strides to get normal humans to accept the supernatural living alongside them.” Blair looks up at me. “Right, Uzul?”

“In the time I spent down in the city with Blair, I was never made to feel out of place. It was like I had always lived there and no one gave me a second thought. It can be like that for all of us!”

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