Lost to the Orcs (Oyeon Orcs)

Chapter Twenty Six Mate and Mine

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX: MATE AND MINE

Hani is teaching me how to weave these dried grasses, that were collected during the summer, into baskets. “What are these going to be used for again?” My fingers take the grass and lifts it up to layer one beneath it. I lay it flat before lifting another flat one atop this one.

“Foraging. Well, some will be used for foraging. The bigger ones that Garret is making,” She points to her mate who is slouched on a sort of bed like mattress, with one leg propped up on the other, his hands working through the weaves easily while he practically dozes. “Those will be used for stacking furs away from the ground for those without shelves or for the deeper storage. We also use them for drying, or for clothing, toys, soaps. Just depends.”

“Like the one you made me?” I bump her with my shoulder when I say ‘you’. She giggles, her eyes crinkling at the corners with glee.

I am happy that we’ve moved past out first interaction. Since then, I have searched her out for many reasons. She is familiar even if she isn’t from where I am from. It is nice having someone who isn’t hostile to me like many of the Orc women I’ve met so far.

“Sort of. That one was one of a kind. I was bored and there was damaged seaweed that we couldn’t really use for anything even for eating,” She sticks her tongue at me in a blech sort of face, “so, being bored, I decided to create something. You have to start it when they are still rather wet so that’s why we’re using these dried grasses instead of seaweed.”

I nod. “Well, this summer you’ll be able to show me.” I use a pinkie nails worth of this putty to paste two ends of a grass together. When it dries it becomes like cement. I continue my weaving.

Her fingers slip and she stares at me agape. “You would do that?”

I blink at her, also pausing in my weaving. “Do what?”

“You’d let me teach you?” She blinks at me in shock. “I mean, more than this?”

I shrug. “Why not? You know something I don’t. Heck, I know you know how to read. I can’t. You could even teach me that.” I didn’t think I could surprise her more. But here I am, staring at a shell shocked Hani. “Hani,” I giggle. “Are you okay?” When she doesn’t respond I snort laugh. “Garret,” I call. His ear twitches but he doesn’t necessarily respond. “I think I broke Hani.” A soft snort before her mostly silent mate comes over. He pokes her and she continues her fish out of water face.

“Och. You did.” He sighs and leans over her before taking a chomp on her shoulder and neck. Hani squeaks before swatting at him. “Fixed.” He chuckles and saunters away.

“I should beat him.” Hani grumbles and I laugh. Which makes her laugh.

“He’s sweet.” I smile.

She hums. “Yeah. He is.”

“So, when is the baby due?”

“Next Adsen.” I blink at her. Next winter? What the hell is that supposed to mean? Like twelve months of pregnant? Who the hell is pregnant for twelve months?! “Like you.”

I choke on air. “Excuse me!?” My words are a squeak of protest.

“Och, no. no. Do no’ make the woman fear Hani. You are due next Adsen.” I nod sagely of course. He would know. He is an Orc and Orcs must know about this heat thing and– “ She is due mid-Fen.”

I choke on air again. Hani looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. Her face contorting in concern and if disturbed had a facial expression. Maybe a tad bit of fear. “That’s like in four months!” I gasp.

“No. It’s five.” I blink at the Orc, who is now nonchalantly laying back in his spot like I didn’t almost die because of air.

“That’s half a normal pregnancy! ”

Hani laughs. “ My pregnancy is normal. In fact, because it is an Orc I will have the babe early. Normally, I would be pregnant until after next Adsen. Likely next Fen.”

I’m going to die because air inhalation. “How is that normal?” I squeak. “Where I come from it’s only nine months!”

Hani’s eyes very nearly bug out. “Only nine? How does a baby develop? Can they even walk?”

“Your babies walk?! ” I hold up both of my hands before she starts talking. “No. Never mind. Don’t tell me. Please. I don’t want to know. I’m overwhelmed as it is.”

“Sunkissed?” U’snar’s sweet voice calls from down the hall. Garret sits upright but continues working. I guess this is his ‘at attention’ stance? I hum for him to know I’m here. He steps into the open doorway and a soft sigh escapes me. Look at him. No shirt. No shoes. Just pants that look like they’re gonna fall off his hips. They’re precariously being held up by a poor flimsy little string barely, if you’d call it a bow. It’s like he made half a bow and gave up. “Ach I see you are alright then. You felt distressed.” He rubs his chest right where I feel his feelings on me.

A light bulb goes off. “Wait a second. I remember you doing that.” I point at Garret. “Isn’t the whole ‘mate’ thing only for people like me? The ones who are in heat?”

All eyes blink at me. “No, Little Lost. Mates are for ’he bond. For those like you, it is stronger. Deeper. But they too can have one.”

Fear seizes me. “Does that mean SHE –” I feel myself start to hyperventilate. No. She can’t have a bond like that with Jae. Wouldn’t I feel him feeling her? I feel like that would be so damn slimy. My breaths hitch and I feel the world pinpointing.

“No. NO.” U’snar pulls me into his arms. “Ach, no Little Lost. Jae did no’ mate her. Only you. Orc’s o’ly mate once. Only you, Little Lost. Only you.” I hiccough, trying to seize my air once more. Trying to get through this panic. In and out. Mom always said. Through your nose and out your mouth. You got this. Holy crap you’ve got this. I clutch at his chest and breath in his earthy scent. Like nuts on trees. “Come. We go pretty mate.” He gathers me into his beloved and strong arms, making our excuses to Hani and Garret before- carrying me to our room where we cuddle until I am calm again.

“I hate this.” I whimper. “I hate her. ”

“Donnae hate Little Lost. Takes so much. Too much. Hate fills with bleakness. Dribbles like ink an’ thick like honey. Weel no’ save you. Weel only hinder.” His arms clench tighter around me like a bear hug.

A soft exhalation, almost a snort leaves my nose. “I never knew you were so good with words.”

“Was it no’ my words that trapped you in my arms?”

I laugh, recalling his little lies to chase me. “No. I don’t think so.”

“No’ think so?” He bellows with outrage before rolling me to my back and straddling my thighs. The humongous Orc starts to tickle me. I laugh and shriek and giggle and plead. “No’ think so, Little Lost? My sunkissed. Pretty mate?”

“I give!” I shout. “I give!” this one is a giggle as he stops his wiggling insistent fingers. On a gasp I shout, “You snagged me with your lies!”

U’snar’s mouth gapes wide. “SLANDER!” He shouts, falling off the bed and blowing a big raspberry on my belly. “What say you, Jaedason?”

My head turning to the open doorway I see him standing there. My chieftain. My mate. My Jae, with the most beautiful smile on his face. It stretches his cheeks wide and makes the sun shine through his honey eyes. “Ach, me thinks t’was lies that wooed her heart.”

U’snar feigns indignation. “I told none.”

My mate walks towards me but instead of his sweet citrus scent. All I smell is sour Sumira. I recoil before he touches me. A snarl on my lips. “Don’t touch me.”

Pain lances through his golden eyes, more honey than hardened candy before it passes and he takes a step back, his hands in the air as if to ward me off. “An accident.”

“My ass.” The words are a hiss of fury.

Jaedason grits his mouthful of sharp teeth. Biting back a curse. What does he expect? Me to accept him into my nest, my sanctuary smelling like that? No. Never. I will never do that. Ever. And he damn well knows it.

The rational part of my brain understands that Jaedason didn’t do anything. He didn’t purposefully touch the woman. He didn’t get into contact with her to have her mark him with her sexual scent. Because that is exactly what that is. It’s not a casual walk up and brush. That is forgivable. No. This is not an accident. This is bullshit and I want to drag her to the pools again but this time I want to drown her.

“She left a room with another Orc. Her pleasure was on him. Was on her. Ay did no’ mean to, sweet. Am sorry. Ay was rushing here for youer distress. Wasnae looking. Smelling. Only rushing. Apologies, my mate.” His golden honey eyes whisper over me with sorrow and my soul cracks. “Would you bathe me?”

I nod soundlessly and we gather fresh clothing and warm towel like cloth.

~~~~~

After some time in the bath, that jealous creature inside me lets Jaedason close enough for me to smell him, after I’d made him scrub his poor skin raw. It shows him nearly pinkish green. I still smell her on him. So, I grab the soap Hani made me that only I use and I lather him gently in my scent and soap.

When he is completely washed and cleaned, I hug him tightly. My head to his chest, his chin on my crown. “Apologies mate.”

I make a dissenting noise. “No more. I know it is not you. It is her. I cannot even bear to think about you smelling like her. Thinking of her. I dislike her to bloody hell and back. You are mine. My mate. MINE.” I hiss with finality.

“Ach.” He murmurs, his lips grazing lightly against my hair. “Youers. Only Youers.”

~~~~~

The day’s events still taking turns rushing through my mind, I find myself awake when I should be asleep. U’snar’s snoring is usually enough to drop me off into dream land, but not today. So, I watch Jae by the candle light. “Talk to me.” I whisper to him. His golden gaze highlighted by the candle flame, look down at me from his leaning position.

“If you werenae gravid Ay would bring out my pipe t’ soothe you t’ sleep.” He says softly.

I bite my lips, trying not to laugh. “I’m pretty sure you’ve handed me your pipe once or twice just today.”

His eyes sparkle at my humour, crinkling at the edges as he gives me a flirty wolfish smile. “Ay ken you would be correct.”

Imagining him, in his harem pants leaning against pillows and soft things, smoking a pipe, kind of makes my insides liquid. “You smoke?”

Jae shrugs. “It is meh-di-sin, Ay think is youer term. Helps with sleeping. No’ recommended for ones gravid with kits. Ay donnae get sleepless phases often. Especially no’ with you in my arms. It mostly happens when we are travailing. Ay donnae sleep well on ‘he ground.”

“And the carriages? Hani mentioned some time ago that you had those. Didn’t even know you guys had beasts large enough to pull something like that!” I say a little too loudly, nearly waking U’snar. Who snorts, but cuddles back into my neck. Breathing me in. Murmuring unintelligible words into my skin. I pet his hand cupping my belly.

“We were no’ always nomadic, you ken?” He states.

“Oh?” My brows arch in surprise.

“Ach. Stories passed down from parent t’ kit say we once bred beasts for food, o’ perfected crops. An’ we fought each other. For those lands, for those beasts, for those crops. Wasnae until ‘he Fae people came an’ turned ‘he battle in ouer favor. My kin’s favor.” Jae murmurs, slouching further, getting closer to me.

“Fae? Like Fairies? Wings and all?” Disbelief is in every syllable of my words. Orcs is one thing. But Fairies?

“Aye, they were small. Like humans. But had pointed ears an’ wings. Did magic. But none have been seen in o’er 200 years. Some say the magic was bred out o’em. Their wings an’ their ears also.” He reaches to caress my ears. A gentle graze of his finger tips.

“So you think humans are Fae descendants?”

Jae shrugs, the candle light dimming. “Mayhap. But we’ll ne’er know. No’ like there are fae t’ correct ‘he stories.”

“True. But it is sad to not have a recollection—a record, so to speak, of this people and their culture.”

Jae hums softly, my eyes drooping. “Some believe they still live in ‘he forests. Trapped o’ closed off from us. We were friends; Orc an’ Fae. But Humans came from nowhere an’ many despised us. Why? We’ll ne’er know either. So, t’ protect us, we traveled across ‘he lands of Orckin t’ Orckin. There are still more o’ us than humans. But ‘he humans are expanding. An’ this keeps us safe. Also, Ay ken it is t’ stop any uprisings.” He huffs a soft laugh.

I nod, my head bumping his shoulder. “Thank you. For telling me more about my new home.” I yawn, finally feeling sleepy.

Before I drop into nothingness, I hear a rumble beneath my cheek, “Any time my mate.”