Page 59 of Shared By Two Orcs

I sit on a patient’s bed, glancing around the hut’s small interior. There’s room enough only for three to stand and move around comfortably. I grip the green sheets upon which I sit when there comes a numb pain inside me.

Focus on something else Willo!

I look ahead of me, inspecting the shelf hammered to the wall. Lined upon each column were clear jars containing herbs and liquids of various colors. Beneath the shelf is a desk, piled high with scrolls and quills as well as journal entries, no doubt research into new medicine. A cart stands to my right. On it are various tools, some sharp, some blunt, all threatening nonetheless.

Hopefully she doesn’t have to use those.

Just then, the door to the hut opens. In steps Mursha, donning a black set of healer’s robes. She pulls her hood down, revealing magnificent tusks without a chip in them. Her black hair flows down over her face as she slicks it back behind her ears. Her light blue eyes sit above a thin nose.

“Thank you for waiting,” she says. “I’m sure you’ve seen just how bloody some of the orc’s brawls can get.”

“Oh I know it,” I chuckle before grimacing.

A look of concern comes over Mursha’s face. She drags a stool over and takes a seat, leveling her gaze with me.

“Tell me what’s wrong.”

“I woke up feeling dreadfully ill,” I mutter. “Not like anything else I’ve felt before.”

“Hmm. Did you consume any alcohol last night?”

“No.”

“Did you eat anything foul?”

“No.”

She strokes her chin, studying me with an intense gaze.

“Have you had sex recently?” she asks.

“Yes.”

“Alright,” she answers, throwing a palm to my forehead. “Okay…” she mutters, running a hand over my belly. Closing her eyes, she presses on my stomach ever so slightly. It’s then there comes a kick, causing her to retract as I gasp in both pain and shock.

“Well then,” she chuckles. “I think we know what has you feeling ill. All I can say is… Congratulations.”

I smile, throwing my hands over my mouth as I gasp in excitement.

“I’m going to concoct an elixir of sorts for you. It’ll help to reduce the pain.”

A few minutes later, I’m walking out of the hut, still in disbelief of the news. As I’m dealing with my own exhilaration, the thought of Duma and Yamarz pops into my over active head.

“How am I going to break it to them?” I ask myself. “Maybe I can- Oh shit.”

I’m suddenly hit with a troubling thought.

What if one of them feels left out? I don’t want to cause a fight between them…

I reach my front door, fumbling around with the key until I get inside. Shutting the door behind me, I take a deep breath, setting my elixir down on the kitchen counter. I look at the sun, realizing I don’t have much time to think of what to do. The time is approaching for me to go meet my partners for a group date.

I retreat to my bathroom once more, splashing some water on my face before deciding to take a bath. The usually relaxing water does nothing to calm my mind, still running rampant with anxiety.

A mouthful of the elixir calms me down somewhat as I begin getting dressed. I throw on a loose top so as to conceal my small bump. A few stressful minutes pass before it’s time to go. I leave my house still unsure of how to break the news.

“Maybe I’m just overthinking,” I say to myself. “This is exciting news, I shouldn’t let it worry me… I can only hope for the best.”

I spot Duma and Yamarz sitting beside one another on a bench beside the gate. I wave at them. Upon spotting me, they rise to their feet, pulling bags onto their backs. They greet me with warm hugs and kisses.

---