Page 6 of Claimed By the Orc Emperor

I step inside with a smile on my face. The cashier, Tanner, glances up from his magazine and grins at me.

“Hey, Rainn.” He pauses, taking in my attire. “Camping again?”

I’m a frequent flyer here right before I go camping, so he knows that’s exactly why I’m here. “Yep.”

“How’s the writing going?”

Tanner knows I’m an author, but he doesn’t know my pen name or exactly what I write. I wanted to keep that private so he doesn’t look at me weird if he knew I had sexy little twinks, beautiful women and hot non-binary people bending over and getting fucked by monsters. I don’t think I’d be able to look him in the face if I did.

“It’s going. Got an idea that I need to work out. The fresh air and trails will help me think.” While we talk, I grab all my favorite snacks that I plan to eat over the next few days. I usually camp by a stream to fish and I also bring some canned foods to hold me over, but junk food is my weakness. I like to munch on unhealthy shit while I brainstorm.

Tanner nods as he rings me up, stuffing my purchases in a bag. “It’s a slight chance of rain today, you know that, right?”

I frown as I turn and look out the window closest to me. The sky is pretty clear, with only one or two fluffy cumulus clouds floating around. Doesn’t look like rainy weather to me. “You sure? I didn’t hear anything.”

He shrugs and hands me my bag after I pay. “It was on the weather app. I check every morning to see if I have to drive to work since I just stay a bit down the road. It said rain in the next hour or so.”

Fuck, I hope not. I really want to get this book started and can’t think in the confines of our apartment. If it rains, it’ll definitely throw a wrench in my plans.

Searching the skies for another minute or so, I feel confident that the weather will hold while I’m hiking. As long as it doesn’t come down too hard, I’ll chill in my tent and work until it stops. I have enough food with me that doesn’t require cooking, though if it rains for too many days in a row, I’ll have to cut my trip short.

“I think I’ll be fine,” I tell him. “It’s clear out there.”

Tanner nods, but doesn’t look convinced. “The weather can turn quickly. Be careful out there. Set up your tent first so you’re not struggling in a downpour.”

Sound advice. “Definitely.” I wave goodbye and head out.

My normal spot by the stream isn’t in use, so, as Tanner suggested, I set up my tent immediately. It takes no time at all to arrange my bags inside and unroll my sleeping bag.

Once I’m finished, I take another look at the sky, those two clouds the only ones visible. Still, I’m nervous about venturing too far from my tent in case the weather changes quickly. I curse myself for not checking the weather app on my phone before I left the store. I don’t get service out this far, so my phone doesn’t refresh to show me the projected forecast for the rest of the day.

Instead of hiking to Sumner Cave like I told Kai I would, I decide to just take one of the trails nearby. They’re short, but no less beautiful than one that wends deeper into the woods.

Before I leave, I ready my fire pit, circling a patch of firewood and kindling with rocks to contain a fire. It only takes me a few minutes to set up the pit to my liking, then I shoulder my pack and start my hike.

ChapterFour

Rainn

The next day,I wake up to a crisp morning. It’s so beautiful out here, the sounds of nature waking me from my slumber. It didn’t rain yesterday or even overnight, so I’m not sure what Tanner was on, but whatever. I still got to hike and stretch my legs, so I’m not complaining.

I crawl out of my tent, close my eyes and tip my head back, breathing in the crisp scent of the morning air with a smile on my face. I love it out here. If it were up to me, I’d live here for the rest of my life.

Well, maybe not. I might say I want to live in the wilderness, but I wouldn’t be able to give up the comfort of four walls and central air. Though it would help me save money.

My mom left me and Theodore a sizable inheritance when she passed, which is the main reason I can afford to write full time. Living in a tent would keep my bank account full…

..though there would be nowhere for me to store my dildo collection. Yeah, nevermind, I’ll stick to living in society.

Sighing, I open my eyes, then frown. Fucking large as fuck cumulonimbus clouds dot the sky, looking gray, puffy and ominous. “Son of a bitch,” I mutter as I stand and post my hands on my hips. I really fucking wish I had service so I could check the estimated start time for the storm that is sure to come. The smart thing to do is to climb back in my tent and hike another day, but I don’t want to. My blood is thrumming through my veins, the thought of a miles-long hike making my shoulders relax.

I’ve camped in the pouring rain before and wrangled out a plot after a day or two. But nothing gets my creative juices flowing as well as stretching my legs and pushing my endurance to the limit on a long trek.

Fuck it, I’ll chance it.

After I wash my face in the nearby stream and brush my teeth, I cook a breakfast of fish I caught and some of the food I packed and enjoy sitting in the brisk morning for a while.

Once I’m finished eating and clean up my site of any food that may attract animals, I check my bag to make sure I have my notepad and some pens. Locating the items, I zip my backpack up, tie my boots tighter, and start my hike. The morning is heating up, so maybe the rain will hold off for a little while longer.

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