Iwait for Anna to get ready in the living room.
I’m already dressed for the meeting.
I took a shower much earlier this morning while she slept. I shaved, shined my horns, and brushed my teeth and tusks. All of this I do normally, but I must admit I was making sure I was more presentable than normal because my sexy female is here. Then I went into the kitchen and made breakfast for the two of us. She needs to be fed and is unable to cook for herself, having lived in urban centers for so long she’s used to ordering food and with none of that available as easily here in the Northern Maine wilderness, I will take on the role of cooking for the both of us. I’ve always cooked for myself while living in my own cabin and doubling the amount of food and learning how to cook foods a human would find more palatable, will be no hardship.
I assume the scent of the food finally woke her up. I enjoy having Anna here with me, and cooking for her. It’s nice to not eat and get ready alone in this cabin. It’ll be even better whenwe are hopefully at a point where we can wake up together, preferably naked, in the same bed.
When Anna entered the shower, I went into my bedroom to change from my pajamas into dark pants, leaving my chest bare like all orcs in the commune. Our skin runs hotter than a typical humans’, leaving less need for clothing. The tribal tattoos across my shoulders and arms are on full display, and I’ve made sure my horns are shiny and clean. I glance at myself in the full-length mirror on my closet door. The humans in Truckee referred to me as the “scary” Irontree, which I found comical. Here in the commune, I only appear average. Kelt is taller than me and even old Rothgar has more scars that the rest of us.
Now I shift in my favorite chair as I wait for Anna.
We’ve covered a lot of subjects, talking more than I ever thought possible in the short time she’s been here. Last night my female felt comfortable enough to share with me what really happened at her previous position, and why she’s been in hiding and who is after her. Anger again rushes through my veins, at the thought of any humans wanting her dead, in order to cover their own fraud and greed. It’s disgusting and I will make sure they pay for what they’ve done to Anna as well as to the former colleague they murdered.
My bride is going to be free of those human criminals, no matter their power and status in the human world. Modern orcs live relatively quiet and law-abiding, trying our best to get along with the humans, who are an obvious majority species on the planet we share. But when we put our minds, strength and secret wealth to one objective, our depth of resources would surprise even the most elevated humans.
Orcs are always better to have as friends than enemies.
The cabin is warm from the fire I built earlier this morning. I don’t need the heat myself, but Anna does. It’s one of those smalladjustments I make without thinking, keeping the temperature comfortable for my human.
The shower turns off in the hallway bathroom. She’s been in there for a while, probably trying to calm her nerves. I don’t blame her. Walking into a room full of orcs and telling them you’re being hunted by a US Senator and a Tech Billionaire isn’t exactly a casual Tuesday activity.
The scent of her shampoo drifts through the cabin. Something floral and clean. The bathroom has completely transformed since she arrived yesterday. Her female products are everywhere. Skincare bottles, special shampoos, lotions, serums. I find these human rituals endearing. Evidence that my female is settling in, making this space hers.
Though she doesn’t have much to settle in with, beyond these products which I assume are most important to her. I can only ascertain two sets of clothes that she’s rotates through the washer and dryer. One outfit is washing right now while she wears the other. She’s making do without complaint, but I know the other Brides could help her order more. The commune has arrangements with delivery services for fast shipping. I’ll mention it after the meeting.
My thoughts drift to what I can purchase for her. Proper clothes, supplies, everything my future Bride needs to feel comfortable here. The gold my family line has accumulated over centuries means I have resources most humans can’t imagine. But I won’t overwhelm her with that information yet. One thing at a time.
The bathroom door opens and Anna pads down the hall, then she moves around in the bedroom. The closet door opens and closes. My hearing and sense of smell are sharper than a humans’. I can easily hear her getting ready, taking her time. I can also scent her anxiety even from here. Part of me wants to goto her, pull her into my arms, tell her it’s going to be okay. But she needs this space to prepare herself.
Yes, we have much to finalize today, working together with the other members of my commune to keep Anna safe, but my heart, mind and body are flooded with a concurrent buoyancy, a rush of happiness, because essentially my female is with me, and this means she’s safe.
There’s a knock on the front door.
I cross the living room, open it to find Kelt standing on the porch. I’d heard him approach in his vehicle but waited patiently until I heard the knock. We’re dressed similar in pants and boots, his broad green chest bare to the late morning air. As head of security, Kelt always looks like he’s ready for a fight. Scars mark his shoulders and arms, evidence of a life spent protecting the commune, even from other orcs.
“Keric,” he greets with a nod. “I was out, finishing morning patrol and thought I’d stop by and check in. You two ready for the noon meeting?”
“Almost. Anna’s getting ready.”
He glances past me into the cabin, then back to my face. “Your parents aren’t back yet.”
My chest tightens. “How long?”
“At least a couple more days. They are so far out they have only intermittent communication. They were able to send word last night letting us know their hunt is taking longer than expected and they’re starting their way back.”
I nod slowly, processing this. My parents are a hunting team, like Whelan was before he found his Bride. They go out for a week at a time, tracking deer and elk in the northern territories, providing meat for the commune. It’s important work. Necessary work. And they move slower because my mother can’t hike as far and fast as an orc, but my father doesn’t mind because he’s with his bride and she’s happy.
But damn, I wish they were here.
“Understood,” I tell Kelt. “We’ll introduce them later.”
“Your mother’s going to be disappointed she missed meeting Anna when she first arrived.” There’s a hint of amusement in his voice. Maggie Irontree has been waiting for her only son to find a Bride for at least a decade.
“She’ll get over it.”
Kelt’s expression softens slightly. “You must miss them.”
I shrug, trying to appear casual even though the truth is more complicated. “I do. But they’re doing important work. The commune needs the meat they provide.” Inside, though, the longing is stronger than I want to admit. I’m certain my mother would love Anna. She’d take one look at this brave, stubborn human and claim her as family immediately. And my father would respect Anna’s courage, her intelligence. They’d both be proud I found someone like her.I’mproud that a human of Anna’s caliber would consider mating with me.
