Page 7 of Claimed By the Orc Emperor

Early morning hours are my favorite time of day. Everything seems so still, almost like even the very trees are taking a rest to recharge for the day. Small animals scurry about, the sounds of their footfalls or rustling calming me like only nature can.

Before I left my tent, I checked the map to see how far I would have to hike to reach Sumner Cave. It’s about five miles away, further than I’m used to hiking, but a doable distance. I’ll just have lunch in or near the cave before I head back.

As I hike, flashes of a plot come to mind, not really coming together, but giving me hope that it won’t be long before it all makes sense. It’s not until I’m about halfway to the cave that the plot starts to play through my mind like a movie. I hustle to pull out my notebook and pen to jot it all down.

I lean against a large beech tree and prop my notebook on my knees so I can rest comfortably while I plot. Some people would use their phones as it’s easier to walk and type or even to dictate, but the plot unfolds better when I write it by hand.

My hand moves across the paper at lightning speed, smudging some of the ink as I try to get the words from my head down on the page. The worst thing about being a lefty is I always have ink on my hands when I’m writing quickly. Any other time it would irritate me, but right now, I’m too excited to care. A smile stretches across my face as I scribble down the notes in my head.

Once I finish plotting, I grin down at the paper. I filled in six pages in my notebook for the second book, and three for the third book. I’m sure I’ll add more for them both, but right now, it’s enough that I have the overall plot. I even know how the series will end.

I read over my notes one more time, satisfied with what I have. It’ll make for a good series. And the main characters will fuck in chapter three, so I’m really thrilled about that.

After Kai showed me the measuring tape for fifteen inches, I gave my alien a twelve-inch schlong. Alien book dick and real human dick are different, so book dick can be a foot long and my MC will take it like a fucking champ.

Happy with my words, I stuff the notebook back into my bag and continue my hike. I could turn back, since I have what I need, but I want to see Sumner Cave.

Like Kai said, it’s been rumored that the people who’d gotten lost or disappeared here entered Sumner Cave. There have only been two confirmed missing person’s cases—one person was found dead from an animal attack and the other was found with a broken leg miles from his campsite days later—but that doesn’t stop the rumor mill from churning, making up all kinds of stories of monsters and serial killers stalking the woods and snatching up unsuspecting prey.

Give me a fucking break.

I push through the break in the trees where the cave is and behold it in all its creepy glory. It’s nestled on top of a steep hill, the entrance wide and a little scary looking. But none of the stories of the cave are true, so I’m not worried.

Planting my hands on my hips, I look up at the sky…

…and a droplet of rain lands in the center of my forehead. As if satisfied with the small warning of what is to come, the skies open up and dump rainwater on me like I’m a fucking beacon for bullshit.

“Fuck,” I shout, hopping over a few rocks to get to the cover of the cave. I slip once and roll down a few feet, but catch myself before I can go down too far.

I push myself off the ground and hop over the rocks—successfully this time—and dash into the cave. I’m soaked by the time the lip of the cave shelters me.

When I’m shielded from the storm by the cave walls, I pull my pack from across my back and reach inside, checking that my notebook is dry. I let out a long breath when I find my outline safe from the downpour. Ink bleeds and a heavy dose of rain would ruin all the progress I made for these notes.

Stepping back to the mouth of the cave, I take a look out over the forest below. Though the rain is coming down hard as fuck, it’s beautiful. The sun is still shining through one of the fat gray clouds, causing a shaft of light to drift through to the ground. A rainbow reflects off the sheets of rain, the bright colors making me smile despite myself. Everything is illuminated, making the world look brand new. The scent of pine needles, fresh earth, and the clean air surround me like a blanket.

It’s fucking perfect.

I take a seat at the mouth of the cave, bringing my knees to my chest and wrapping my arms around them.

Watching the rain always makes me think of my mother. She told me when she was pregnant with me, I kicked like mad whenever it would storm outside. It was her favorite story to tell me, and it never fails to make me smile when it storms.

I sigh and look out over the landscape. The trees lean a little to the side from the force of the wind and the strength of the rain, but it’s not scary. I feel safe under the cover of the cave. Besides, storms never bothered me much. They mean cleansing and the start of something new.

After about twenty minutes of the rain showing no sign of letting up, I figure I can explore the cave for a bit. It’s what I came here for anyway. Besides, if there is something in here that will ravage me, who am I to deny them their meal?

Or their pleasure?

I brush the dirt and grass from my pants and pull out my flashlight before I shoulder my backpack once more.

The bright light illuminates the walls of the cave with shadows dancing and reflecting from the beam. Some of the walls are interspersed with roots growing through the cracks, giving it an eerie, yet beautiful aesthetic. I stop and pull out my phone, snapping a few pictures of the uninhibited growth of the grass and roots and other wild things.. No matter what, the grass will find a way to grow, even through the tough cave walls. It’s admirable.

I wish I could send the photos to Kai. He loves it when I get excited about stuff like this. When I get service, I’ll send them to him, even though I’ll be on my way home.

Slowly, I trek through the cave, the smell of the earth getting stronger. I breathe in deeply, holding it in my lungs for as long as I can as I continue forward. The further in I walk, the more the air smells stale, a slight hint of mildew and decay in the air. But it’s the natural scent of the cave, so I enjoy it, glad I get to experience it.

About twenty yards or so into my exploration, the cave splits off into two different directions. I can either go left or right. When I reach the junction, I shine the light down both directions. From what I can see, both go further than twenty yards, but I don’t see other offshoots, so I doubt I’ll get lost going either way.

I’m not sure which entrance to take, so, under my breath, I say, “Eeny, meeny, minny, moe,” flicking the flashlight over each entrance. When I finish the little nursery rhyme, my light lands on the right. “Right it is,” I say, and walk in that direction.

---