Page 89 of Valpar

I felt the bodies of my tribe come around us. They were blocking out the light sources and the darkness made me hold on to my miresa tighter. She grabbed the strap that hung over my chest, watching the males gather in a semi-circle around us and bend their knees, then laid their hands on their thighs.

“You have officially claimed me, little fairy. I am your male.” I puffed out my chest.

My little fairy tugged on my leather strap. “Like with your parents?”

I nodded, my eyes warming. “Yes, but none of us have ever seen a claiming ceremony. We were all brought to life after. I suppose they wanted to relive it at least once. Now that we do not have to fight for females and breeding rights, we don’t have to do it any longer.

My miresa blushed and shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know, I think it should still be done, at least every once in a while. It’s a history, it shouldn’t be forgotten.”

“I think it is because she liked all of our muscles.” Taghig ran his hand up and down his torso and I let out a growl.

Olur patted Taghig on the shoulder. “We wanted to perform the Icha since we didn’t get a chance. We all knew that Calliope would have chosen you, anyway, but we wanted to at least try.”

My female leaned her head on my shoulder. “I think they might have been doing this as a joke, but really, it was for all of them. Continuing a tradition.”

I squeezed her arm tighter and grunted in agreement. The Icha would be loud. Once the females had chosen their males, the tribe would harbor no hard feelings— at least while the female was around. The orcs would gather, bang their chest, yell and scream, show their tongues and scream a battle cry. This send-off was more to let off steam for an orc who did not gain a female.

And I was the only male, I would not have to wait my turn to be with her.

I growled, happily, my hand raking down her back and cupping her backside. She squeaked, and I pulled her up into the crook of my arm so she could sit up higher, so she could see what my tribe was going to gift us both.

Their blessing, their surrender.

The surrender was the best part. They will never try to take her from me, never try these foolish games ever again.

My female’s smile was wide, and I felt jealousy flow through me, but the way she held onto my neck and did not give the other males affection through the games kept me grounded.

Olur’s mighty roar echoed through the clearing, his heavy footfall causing the ground to tremble. The gathering appeared disorganized, their movements reminiscent of the teachings from their elders. In a synchronized effort, they aligned themselves behind Olur, emulating his actions. The thudding sound of chests being struck and feet stomping reverberated through the air. The onlooking crowd remained hushed, their anticipation palpable as the tribe unleashed a cacophony of unintelligible roars, soaring into the sky.

The light sources continued to set as they continued for over ten minutes, slamming their hands into one another’s chests and backs. They jutted their jaws forward to make frightening faces like when they went into battle. My chests puffed up as I watched. This is what my orgamos, and my seeded orgamo must have felt like when they claimed my ogamie.

Once the orcs finish pounding the dirt, their heavy feet creating a resonating thud, they let out one last roar that echoed through the arena. The crowd, filled with anticipation, remained still, their breath held in suspense, until the deafening silence of the orcs engulfed the air for a fleeting moment. Then, a thunderous cheer erupted, reverberating off the palace walls, as the spectators released their pent-up excitement. Amidst the uproar, the young ones, eyes wide with wonder, attempted to mimic tribe’s fierce dances, their tiny feet tapping against the ground in playful imitation.

Olur and Taghig approached, giving us a nod. My female held onto me tighter and placed her head under my neck.

“The ceremonial bedding is being brought.” Taghig wiggles his eyebrows. “We know that you are waiting to... uh,” Taghig scratched his cheek and looked away. “But this is part of the ceremony.”

My miresa climbed higher up on my shoulder, her short dress coming up too high for my liking, and I shielded her backside with my hand. “Why are there so many blankets and pillows? What’s it for?”

I groaned and wiped my hand down my face.

“No,” I groaned and faced the tribe. “Not this. I will not give you this.”

“It’s tradition! They want to uphold some of what we lost. What better way to celebrate than with your miresa?” Olur said.

It was a tradition to have a large claiming ceremony, then a celebration. However, the tribe found that this was a celebration enough. After being at the ball and the claiming, they want us both to be bonded, in the open.

They had not witnessed a female body. They wanted to know what to do. I would not let them figure it out from me.

Did they not understand that I could not? My female was not ready and my possessiveness over my female was far too great to let everyone in the kingdom see her naked before me.

“I cannot do it!” I hissed at him. “You know this! I will not—do that to her. I will not do that to us. As long as my drums beat, I will not expose her body to any other male. Only I can see her in her flesh!”

The orcs around me tilted their heads in confusion. It would be confusion because past matings had taken place out in the open. The tribe was to witness it. We were all possessive, and I did not like, nor did past orgamos like our females subject to others watching but it was true. We did not have markings to mark our females like the Bergarians did. No permeant bites. Witnessing was our only way it--was tradition.

Things were different now. I had my female. Soon they would get theirs. I did not want to share anything of my female.

King Osirus strode up to us, seeming to have heard our conversation. His face was not strained with anger, nor was he showing any signs of being upset. “You have a dilemma, I see?” His voice was calm.

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