Page 76 of Orc's Possession
“I need a gorja.”
Verig approaches, one hand hooked on the leather straps crossing his chest. “I warned him humans wouldn’t do well here. Your species is too weak in spirit.” His eyes run over me. “And physically frail.”
“I’m not running off. I want to catch up to Atox.”
“Why?”
“None of your business. You can either point out where I can find a bridle and saddle for the gorja or get out of my way.”
“You cannot ride Boz.”
“We won’t know that until I try.”
When he steps closer, I reach for a knife I no longer have. Verig growls, then grips the base of the gorja’s long neck. “Grip here, female, then swing your body up.” He demonstrates in one fluid motion that I know I won’t be able to replicate. This male has muscles on top of muscles and he’s so damn tall. If I make a fist, I can see the faint outline of a small bicep. But why embarrass myself?
“I’m shorter than you. I’ll walk him over to a boulder and get on that way.”
He chuckles.
“This isn’t funny. I need to find Atox. He’s upset.”
“It is not like Atox to leave camp in a fit of anger. My guess is that you are the reason he is upset. Return to the tunnels.”
I hold on to the back of the gorja as it undulates beneath me. Such a strange sensation. The three pairs of leg move sequentially, like a caterpillar’s body.
“Apparently, I didn’t make myself clear. I’m going to find Atox, with or without a gorja.”
“This gorja doesn’t like you.” Verig points to the spines that have risen along its neck and tail. “I will find you another.”
“Why would you help me when you clearly don’t like me?”
“Because you are persistent. Atox says there is much he admires in you, but I have not seen any such qualities until now.”
“He admires me?” That shocks me. And makes me question myself more than ever. I was sure he was ready to move on from me. I don’t want whatever we’ve built together to end in hatred. I’ve hurt him, but that was never my goal.
“You don’t think much of my people,” Verig says as he approaches another gorja, the second largest in the pen.
“I guess that’s something we have in common. You and Atox don’t think much of mine.”
Another chuckle, this time with more of his tusks showing. “I am starting to like you, female. Come, I will take you to Atox.” He pulls himself onto the gorja with ease and lowers his arm to me.
“I can ride on my own.” I have a stubborn streak and a little too much pride, considering the idea of riding one of these beasts by myself terrifies me. But I hope to prove something to Atox. And me. That I can survive here, be like any other orc. I need to prove myself worthy of him, regardless of my ability to conceive.
ATOX IM GRAK
When I left the settlement,I ran for two hours, trying to clear my head. Now I sit by the river, pondering my future. I want to keep Paloma, but even a grak does not always have the freedom go do what he wants.
I told my warriors I would get a female from the moxxels if my human did not conceive. I spoke those words before I took Paloma. Before I came to know her. Much has changed since then. She challenges me in a way that makes me better, stronger.
The females I’ve had in the past… I can’t even recall their names, let alone their faces. Not that I want to. They are not my female.
I can no more walk away from her than I can my people. And yet the quandary remains. What will I do if she cannot conceive?
“Atox?”
My head snaps up at the sound of my female calling me so far from the mountain.
“Atox, please, where are you? We’ve been tracking you.”
