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thecandywrites · 2 years

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Zorroku and Peaches Part 5

That is really, the third part of part 3. Because part 3 is ENOURMOUS. There’s still a part four to part 3! People reading this right now are going- Wait! This isn’t what you originally put in these different parts! But I’m adding a LOT of new fun and tragic backstories! Also some Earth History to give this more depth and realism. Also face claims! So, of the three babies in the middle. Top left corner- Ori, under her is YakYak, look at that hair! Yalak and Grat’s son and that Hunky Baby is one of Silug’s sons. But also this black and white picture in the bottom right is to show how tiny Ori is when Peaches first meets her. For reference, that is a newborn, and Ori is supposed to be three months old at this point and was supposed to also at least double in size by then. So obviously, little baby Ori is very sick. And our reader is here to save her life.

Part 5

“Hey, Glasha, could you please help get my tent flap, would you?" You requested with a giggle of your own as she helped you into your own tent where Razor was still happily chewing down on his horse steak.

"Ok, everyone on the couch." You urged and they obeyed before you sat at your new desk and got some paper and a quill and an ink well and got ready to write some correspondence.

"You can stay and hang out if you want." You offered to Glasha, wanting to keep some company just in case you got any visitors in the form of Yotul and her sons who didn’t like you, you'd have a witness to whatever would happen.

"Well actually I was going to go get some snacks for the ravens, but when I come back I'll hang out with you." Glasha offered before she quickly left and tried to get as many scraps left over from dinner together as she could.

Then she returned with a bowl of them before she pulled up a chair across from the couch where all the ravens were perched on various cushions and such when they weren’t outright playing on the furniture. And the others were outright wandering around and inspecting the tent themselves. She fed the ravens as you called them each by name over to your desk to take the messages in the little holders off the raven's legs to read them, and then write down your reply on the back. You talked to the ravens and they talked back like parrots.

Glasha was completely tickled to witness and giggled even more. Especially when they talked to her too and said 'thank you' to her for feeding them, before talking to her the way they talked to you. You insisted to them that she was a friend to them as they hopped up on her lap and shoulders and arms and soaked up her affections in the form of pets and scratches, the same way they often laid on their back to get tummy scratches from you with one hand while your wrote from the other.

"So what do they say?" Glasha asked curiously as she nodded over to the correspondence.

"They're all asking the same thing, ‘if your family has mistreated me yet’." You answered honestly as you soon got tired of writing the same thing over and over again.

"And what's your answer?" Glasha asked cautiously.

"The answer is of course 'no'. I mean Yotul doesn’t like me, and I completely understand her feelings towards me. Some of your brothers hate me so much they refuse to talk to me. But that's fine by me. If they keep their distance, it would be ideal and what I would prefer them to do." You answered honestly before you cooed to the ravens.

"No, they haven't mistreated me at all! They've all been so good to me! Yes they have!" You cooed to ravens in the same cooing tone you would use with an infant. You pet the ravens affectionately as they soaked up your affections like a sponge as the others hopped around your tent, cawing 'big tent!' and 'nice tent!' the whole time which had cracked Glasha up when they first started doing that.

"What?! Which brothers?" Glasha gasped in horror.

"Uh well, I'm pretty sure I'd be raped by Winag and Silug if they got half a chance- by the way they keep staring at me like a hungry dog looks at a steak. Yalak, Grushnag and Murnag refuse to say one word to me at all. Which I get and understand. Your father told me I could choose whoever I wanted without asking them. And most, if not all orcs, or at least all the ones I’ve met before today- think and feel that humans are inferior. And I'd be pissed off too if my father agreed to have me married off to people I viewed as inferior without asking me first." You explained, feeling you could be safe with being yourself and being blunt and honest with Glasha.

"Ok, you're right about Winag and Silug. They are my half brothers and they look forward to demanding sexual intimacy from their conquests the most. And every bedroom servant they have has been a past conquest that they’ve liked enough to keep around. And they keep insisting it isn’t rape because they pay them all very well for thier “service”. But honestly, I don’t see them giving any of them much of a choice about it. Especially when every time they do it, they get a kid from it. But neither Winag or Silug will marry any of them and none of the servants are orc and no woman in the clan will go near them. They claim they just like to have intimacy with smaller women because they like the feel of it better. Or at least, that’s what I’ve told them tell my father when he’s asked them about it. And my father doesn’t approve of them doing it. And it was only Yotul’s demands that Silug be a Warchief that he was made a Warchief at all, otherwise my father claims that only Zorroku has earned that status. Because otherwise my father had refused to promote them because he didn’t feel that their behavior outside of battle warranted the promotion.” Glasha explained as you nodded and hummed in understanding.

“Honestly, I don't think they know how to fuck unless it's that way. They love to make their bedroom servants beg for it too so they can get paid to care for themselves. Because Silug and Winag only like to pay for their servants' bare minimum needs like clothing, food and shelter. But anything extra, they have to earn. As if those girls bearing them sons and daughters isn’t enough. Honestly it’s all Yotul’s influence. My mother Sharn, had she lived beyond giving birth to the twins, never would have put up with it. And she refused to have any man even accused of taking a woman without her freely given consent in her tent. And they had better be a full blown woman and not anything remotely girl like. And my mother and my father agreed against not letting such men be kept as a captain or a commander or anything like that in the clan’s army.” Glasha proudly revealed.

“But that changed when my mother died and Yotul became the Clan Chieftess. It’s like slowly but surely, her influence has seeped into her children, especially her sons and then the rest of the clan. And to hear those servants of Silug and Winug beg to have that intimacy delivered nicely and softly too- makes my skin crawl. Because I know my mother would be rolling in her grave if she knew what was really happening. Otherwise I’ve overheard those poor girls whimper and cry because of how rough my half brothers can be. It's honestly so disgusting. And I would advise you to stay away from them as much as you can and never be alone with them. I mean, they're my half brothers- and they look at me like that sometimes and it's so gross.” Glasha shuddered as she gagged and made a disgusted face.

“My father doesn’t approve of them and thier lifestyle off of the battlefield. And he’s tried to set the matter right and he’s tried disciplining them but Yotul gets in his way and insists that they never do anything wrong. Because so far Yotul has allowed it because most of them have been human so far, but she insists that they never treat an orcish woman like that. And she has told them that ‘no son or daughter of hers should ever marry a human’ and they’ve listened to her. But because of it, no other orc woman will go near them- because of their overabundance of bedroom servants and overabundance of half orc children. My father has made them all recognize as their children even if they refuse to marry their mothers. And my father specifically makes sure that the ones who have given children are at least taken care of better than the ones who have not. And that all their children are taken care of very well by recognizing them as his grandchildren to the clan and recognizing their mothers as the ones who beared those grandchildren to him. And honestly I think it’s only because he has done this that they stay at all. He treats them and their children with the same love and care he does my sisters in law and all of their children and my other nieces and nephews.” Glasha confirmed.

“I see.” You nodded in understanding.

“But where you're wrong is Yalak and the twins- Grushnag and Murnag. None of them hate you. The truth is they're all scared and intimidated by you." She elaborated and you blinked in surprise at that which prompted Glasha to explain.

“Really?” You asked, not quite believing her.

"So Yalak is naturally really quiet and actually quite shy. Because he likes to watch and observe a lot and try to figure everything and everyone out before he does or says anything. So he's still trying to figure you out by observing you. His wife Grat had no idea he was even interested in her- until he had to outright explain why he was chasing off every guy who was interested in her. Because he secretly loved her and had a crush on her but was too shy to say anything to her. But once she got him to open up, then he wouldn’t shut up unless she shut him up by kissing him. And they have two sons and a daughter now.” Glasha related.

“I see.” You nodded.

“Grushnag and Murnag, the twins, they’re my baby brothers. My mom actually died trying to give birth to them because both of them were huge babies. And Yotul had just given birth to Yalak like a few days before. So Yalak and the twins have actually been raised as triplets by Yotul. They're just really shy, even more shy than Yalak ever was. And the twins know they're kinda ugly, and they have low self esteem because of it. And you're beautiful, and they think they're unworthy of you. Because not only are you smart, and clever, and talented, and gifted, but you're really beautiful too. And they're really insecure. They're the ones who picked out your bed and the furs and a few of the interior decorations where Zorroku got the tent and the rest of your stuff that didn't come with you. Nar got you the desk and all the books though. Because he insisted that you have a library. But the clan as a whole doesn’t usually go after books and usually the books are discarded when whole chests are taken. So he collected all the ones that the horde had.” Glasha explained as she pointed to them.

“And Grat was the one who insisted on you having as many dressers and armoires as she does. Because again, she’s a Marfu Daughter, just like you. And when she married Yalak, she wasn’t used to the way my father treated her or especially the way Yalak treated her. Because he has adored her for so long and once he was free to show his adoration, he very quickly and easily overwhelmed her with gifts. Like just daily, almost hourly gifts. So my father asked her and my other sisters in law to help you not feel so overwhelmed. Which she very happily agreed to as did all the others. Especially since Grat and all the others came from other clans too. And none of them were used to women being treated so well as my father demands women be treated well in his Clan. Because he claims that ‘a man who can not treat his wife with honor, has no honor himself’. And she and the others were shocked when you brought so few clothes with you. So she made sure that you got a lot of dressers and armoires and fabric to make new clothes with.” Glasha explained as you were relieved when that part of your dream was false. Because you had met Grat and she was awesome and just as much of an easy and quick friend to you as Glasha was becoming and had hugged you and called you ‘Marfu!’ when she got to greet you and made sure to point out all the other Marfus in the family who greeted you just as happily and warmly and really made you feel welcome and they helped this whole situation feel much more normalized and more real instead of surreal. As if Crowthu and his sons regularly just rode all night just to find daughters in law.

“So the twins will be doing the furs of your bucks and wolves for you. Because they're awkward talkers, but they're better at showing their affection by doing nice things for people. They really are nice and they don’t have any bedroom servants. But either of them could get just about any other woman in the clan if they wanted to. And the few who have expressed an interest in them, they feel like it’s not genuine. And that it’s only because they’re the sons of the warchief and the last sons of my mother that they get the interest at all.” Glasha revealed.

“I see.” You nodded in understanding as you made a mental note to make an effort with them and at least draw them out and help them with their self confidence the way you had with Nar and Shuzug.

“But you have to get under all the awkwardness first. And if you have genuine feelings of affection for them, make sure to tell them and show them that explicitly. Even if it’s friendship. They’ll appreciate anything and everything. Especially since Yotul has usually saved her heart and her affections for her own sons she gave birth to. So while she nursed them, she didn’t quite love them the way she loved Yalak. And the twins have always felt like they’ve been a burden to her and they never wanted to be a burden to anyone. And while they’ve struggled with a lot of guilt, because my mother died trying to give birth to them. My father has made sure to never tell them that he ever blamed them for her death. And that women die from childbirth all the time and it was just as honorable and glorious as dying on the battlefield. And he has always told them that they were the best and last gifts my mother ever gave him. And just like with Zorroku, he has made special efforts with them and my other sisters that my mother Sharn gave birth to.” Glasha explained, her voice going soft with a bittersweetness in her eyes.

“I take it your father still misses Sharn.” You ventured.

“He does, every day. He claims that I look just like her and that’s why he has chased off every man who has ever taken an interest in me and my other full sisters, because he feels I and my full sisters are the last but biggest pieces of her left. And he still tries to honor her and her memory by honoring us. He always gives me, and my full sisters the very best in everything he ever takes in raids. He makes sure we are always fed until we’re stuffed, always clothed in the best fabrics and the best shoes and the best…everything.” Glasha related.

“My father worked so hard to earn my mother’s love, and respect and loyalty. And he gave those things so freely to her. She was from the Mountain Blizzard Clan. They’re a clan known for their ice blue skin and white, light blue and light green hair, like I have. That clan always keeps itself up in the mountains. And they actually met by a total accident on a hunting trip when my father’s hunting party and my mother’s hunting party were hunting the same grounds. She was hunting from the back of an giant ice dog. A breed that the orcs in the mountains have bred to be especially large, large enough to ride. And fast enough, even when pulling a load, that they could get from one side of the mountain to the other in just a day. And the moment my father saw her, he did everything in his power to do whatever he could to court her.” Glasha sighed dreamily at the memories of her parents telling her all about it.

“It’s why we have so much pink salt from the mountains. Because it’s the one clan my father happily does trade with as often as we can, and never raids on. I have a grandmother and all kinds of cousins and uncles and aunts in that clan that are my mother’s mother, and her old brothers and sisters and their children. And the reason our clan treats women so well is because in the Mountain Blizzard Clan- women are seen as very magical creatures, owed every respect and dignity because they are the ones who bear and nurse offspring and keep them warm and are the spiritual heads of the family. Men just hunt and kill food and get furs. But women turn those furs into clothes and take a house and turn it into a home. It’s women who can take those kills and make real food out of them. It’s women who give men a reason to live and a reason to get out of the bed to do anything. It’s women who provide children and provide a man with a family and help him grow spiritually and draw closer to the gods. And it’s women who can never be replaced.” Glash revealed as she couldn’t help but get misty eyed just talking about it.

“And it’s women like Yotul who tear down everything that women like my real mother build up. She is the only one in the entire clan who doesn't like you. I don't know what her problem is. Just ignore her, she'll get over whatever problems she has and it’s not on you to prove her wrong assumptions about you either. I mean her problems have to be with humans in general. Because she has no reason to be that hateful towards you. She shamed and dishonored my father and the rest of the family and the clan by not giving you a proper greeting. And by just outright stealing your spice without asking. And you should be getting an apology from her sooner than later.” Glasha insisted.

“It’s ok if she doesn’t apologize to me. I understand her reasons for not liking me.” You assured her.

“Well, do you know what they are? Because she won’t tell anyone what they are. All she has said is that ‘if you’re who she thinks you are, you’re dangerous’. Which Arob keeps repeating that you’re not, but she won’t believe my grandma. My grandma told us all that ‘you’re family found’. And Yotul spent all day making sure the tent was spotless, making sure the best incense was burning in all the incense burners.That the best horse was butchered and roasted to perfection and the biggest onions were roasted with it. She was wearing one of her best dresses and she was so happy and excited all day. But my father said that the moment you walked in, all her joy and happiness was immediately switched to hate. Why is that?” She asked you.

“It’s not my place to say. And if she is not comfortable talking about it, I won’t do her the dishonor of revealing anything she wants to keep private. But if she hasn’t talked about it. Please don’t push her. She has every reason to hate all humans. And she has every reason to hate me if that’s what your grandmother told her. Now I can say, I am not who she probably thinks I am. And I do not mean this family and especially Yotul any harm whatsoever. But I will not force her to see that. All I can do is prove who I am over time so that she can see it for herself with her own eyes. But until she’s ready to know who I really am. I’m not going to try to convince her. And right now, if I tried, she’d probably wouldn’t believe me anyway. And that’s ok. I’m content to give her all the time and space she wants and needs. She deserves that. And she deserves to have her feelings validated and respected. Even if she wasn’t a Clan Cheiftess. Even if she was just a clan member, she deserves that much.” You gently insisted.

“But that shouldn’t excuse her rudeness.” Glasha frowned and shook her head no.

“Please, just, I know you’ve only just met me. But trust me on this. When and if you ever find out about the matter, you’ll understand. But only when Yotul is ready to discuss it herself. Not a moment before then.” You urged her as your pen was already writing Bula about Yotul because if anyone needed to know the truth, it was Bula, Khagra’s wife and Clan Chieftess.

“Well, still, my father told us about the special conditions you have. Which is fine, it shouldn't have been a problem to begin with. But I understand that you've met and hosted almost every clan on the continent and even some farther than that. And every orc clan is different and if all you knew about us was our reputation, I could see where you would draw certain conclusions..." Glasha explained.

“Well I’m happy to be wrong. But I am curious about how Yotul came to be in this clan and came to be it’s Clan Chieftess.” You prompted.

"Oh, um about 20 years ago she was traded into this clan from the Yellow River Clan. But she doesn't speak their language well, she's taught us Yowl and often slips into Yowl when she's angry or upset or worried. But I don't know who else speaks Yowl so maybe she was traded to them from somewhere else. I don't know. She's like an onion, she has many layers of...I don't know, she's a hard woman to get to know because she just doesn't like to talk about herself or her past before coming into the clan." Glasha answered and you nodded in understanding.

"Could you tell me more about about your mother?" You asked her hopefully.

"Oh my mother was my father’s Warcheiftess under his father when his father was the Clan Chief. And when my grandfather stepped down, and appointed my father as Clan Chief, that made her his Clan Chieftess. She was his first wife and she’s the mother to Zorroku, myself, my sister Morn and the twins. But again, she died giving birth to the twins. And when my mother died and Yotul immediately took on the twins, that's when Yotul became Clan Chieftess and adopted Zorroku, myself and Marn too. And my father has never remarried again." Glasha informed you as you realized she had an accent you recognized.

"Your mother was Sharnarrah The Magnificent of the Mountain Blizzard Clan wasn’t she?” You concluded.

“Yes! You knew her?” Glasha asked excitedly.

“I didn’t know her personally, but I knew of her. Is your name really just Glasha or is that short for something else?” You asked her.

“It’s Glashnarah!” Glasha revealed excitedly as her mother’s native tongue’s accent became thicker and put such a beautiful accent to her speech as your eyes got bigger in realization as you realized what Sharn had done.

“If you’re Glashnarah, then would Marn be short for Marnasta?” You asked as you tried not to cry again but kept your tone light and curious.

“Yes!” Glasha practically squalled.

“And Zorroku is actually Zorroushku?” You asked, not quite wanting to believe the coincidence.

“Yes!” Glasha nodded excitedly.

“And the twins names are Grushnaga and Murnagah?” You asked.

“Yes! How did you know that?” Glasha asked in awed wonder.

“Your mother was Sharnarrah The Magnificent, so named because she rode a white major wolf named Lightning who was just as white as the snow and especially large. And she was both a magnificent beauty and a magnificent warrior and protector of all women and children. She was the most beautiful warrior of the whole clan. I know of her, because when the Mountain Blizzard Clan came and made an alliance with us, or at least with the Black Wolf White Rock Clan and specifically with Khagra's father for that same pink salt from the mountains. Khagra did everything he could to woo her. Even though he wasn't of age yet and already had his Clan Chieftess, waiting to grow up and mature to be ready to be married too. My mother, Regina, was one of Shanarrah’s servants, Shanarrah’s mother Jaseen saved my mother when she was a girl, and helped raised her, almost like she was one of her own. And my mother fell in love with my father and stayed in the Black Wolf White Rock Clan with him, much to Jaseen and Shanarrah’s disapproval. But my mother has always remembered her really well and has always spoken of her in awed reverence and my full name is Belladonna, I’m named after Shanarrah’s favorite flower because not only is it a beautiful flower, but it was deadly, just like my mother claimed Shanarrah was. How did your father manage to woo Sharnarrah?" You asked in awe.

"Oh he got her a herd of silvery white draft horses once her wolf, Lightning, died. And he taught all of them to take a rider and all of them to obey the same commands my mother was used to giving Lightning." Glasha revealed and you nodded in understanding.

"So how well do you speak Ragash?" You asked in Ragash, the native dialect of the Mountain Blizzard Clan and Glasha visibly lit up brighter than the sun and practically bounced in her seat and started going on and on and started talking so fast you could barely keep up with her as you finished up your correspondence and simply listened in amusement.

“That’s how you’re family found! Your mother knew mine! You speak Ragesh! Oh my father is going to be so happy!” Glasha squealed in delight before urged the ravens to go home while Glasha and yourself continued to talk and get to know each other better, using Ragesh which was your mother tongue because it was your mother’s native tongue as you never thought you’d speak this beautiful language again.

You realized it must have been fate to bring you here and to bring you to Crowthu and his children by Sharnarrah and while you were heartbroken that she had passed. This felt just as wonderful when Sharnarrah’s brother’s came to do trading in the clan and talked with your mother and you and your siblings because Jaseen was so hurt by your mother’s choosing your father over her that she refused to leave the mountain until your mother would “come home” to her. But your mother had a family of her own and her own place with Khagra and his family and his clan and insisted that she was just fine where she was.

But Jaseen often asked about you and what little, meager possessions you brought with you from home had been gifts by your adopted grandmother Jaseen who you had never met. Jaseen insisted on not giving you anything too big or too rich because she didn’t want Khagra or his family or anyone else to take it from you. And when you had been technically made a Borgan, you had been invited to come to her and her clan. But by then, you were too close with Khagra and his family to do so. You wanted to find a way to send a message to Jaseen and her family to tell them where to find you now. And to come to see you since you doubted you were free to go and see them because Crowthu did trade 32 servants for you and their weight in pink salt and adopted you as his daughter. One you doubted he’d be ok with letting go just as he secured you.

“How often does the Mountain Blizzard Clan come here or does this clan go up to the mountain to do business?” You asked her.

“Oh our winter grounds are at the base of the mountain that the Mountain Blizzard Clan calls home. I can send a message tonight to them to tell them that you’re here. They will come as soon as they can. I had no idea your mother was so close to them. They will be delighted to know that you’re a Marfu daughter here.” Glasha insisted.

“Thank you.” You thanked her before she beckoned you to her tent and immediately wrote a note to her grandmother and all of her uncles and aunts and told them that ‘Balladonna, daughter of Regina was now her father’s latest Marfu Daughter from the Black Wolf White Rock Clan and that you wanted to see them and speak with them as soon as they were able to and that you spoke Ragesh fluently’. Once she was done with the message, she put it onto a messenger pigeon and sent it off to the Mountain.

“There, they’ll get that by sunrise for sure and we’ll hear back from them by midday at the latest.” Glasha giggled gleefully before she hugged you.

“Oh it’s like I’m hugging another sister! This is awesome! I’m so happy you’re my family found!” Glasha almost cried as she happily hugged you as tight as she dared.

“Likewise Glashnarrah.” You cooed back to her.

"So, anyway, back to my father’s clan. In the Thunder Herd Clan we have four meals a day. A late breakfast, because we usually like to stay up late and sleep in late, lunch, dinner and the midnight meal, which is our biggest meal of the day, think of it as a second dinner and it's the one that’s being prepared right now," Glasha said.

“Well let’s go.” You urged her before you followed Glasha into the kitchen tent as she brought you around the kitchen itself and showed you what was what and what they had to work with. You began to find your bearings again as well as show you the small mountain of peaches from home. Then you pulled your ingredients out from your food satchel. And showed your new 'sisters' what you've brought and what you used to make that spice blend you made earlier.

Suddenly Zorroku and his brothers came into the kitchen, carrying a cut up horse carcass and put it on a leather blanket in the middle of the cooking tent and at least with the skin off, it kinda of looked like a cow....with a giant neck... and a horse's head…. But thankfully the hooves and everything below the knee had been cut off already. You put the back of your hand to your mouth to keep from vomiting at the thought of a baby horse being slaughtered even though this was clearly an adult. You could only hope that it had lived a good life and that its death was as quick and painless as possible.

"Did you sleep ok Peaches?" Zorroku asked you hopefully and you were surprised to hear him speak to you again.

"Yes, thank you Zorroushku." You answer as you nodded and tried to smile bravely in the face of a dead horse on the floor in front of you.

“How did you know my full name?” Zorroku asked in awed wonder as his other siblings, except for Glasha froze and stared at you with the same, wide eyed wonder.

“My mother is Regina, she was a servant of Shanarrah The Magnificent and she grew up in the Mountain Blizzard Clan. But your mother’s mother- Jaseeneh, who when my mother left that clan, was the Clan Chieftess, took my mother in when she was very young and raised her as her own and my mother was close to both Clan Chieftess to Jaseenah, your mother Shanarrah, her brother’s Dastaneh, Justinough. My full name is Belladonna Gardiniah, both were your mother’s favorite flowers, not because they were just beautiful and have beautiful scents, but Belladonna is especially poisonous and deadly. My twin sister’s name is Lillyannah Valleyah, also a beautiful but deadly flower. My baby sister’s names are Hyacintha and Callalilliannah, Jaseeneh’s favorite but also deadly flowers. My brothers are also named Dastaneh and Justinough after Shanarrah’s brothers because they were like brothers to my mother also. We call them by simply Dastan and Justin though, and I’m simply Bella, Lilly, Scintha and Calla. My father is a twin, thus my brothers, myself and all my sisters are twins too.” You explained in Ragesh as Zorroku’s eyes and his siblings eyes got bigger and wider as smiles bloomed on their faces.

“So it would make sense that your mother named you Zorroushku,” you nodded to him before you turned to his siblings.

“Glashnarrah, Marnausta, Grushnagah, Murnagah.” You listed off as you made sure to look each of them in the eye as you said their names as the boys were already quickly washing the blood off of themselves. But the moment you started speaking perfect, fluent Ragesh to them, they turned to you and came closer but you didn’t feel as if you were being surrounded in an attacking sense but soon encompassed before they all came in and hugged you tight as the twins and Marn were outright crying while Glasha and Zorroku were laughing as you were in the middle of a group hug.

“Thank you so much for coming! Thank you so much for speaking Ragesh to us! Yotul doesn’t like it when we speak it because she doesn’t and she doesn’t like it that she can’t understand everything we say so we have had to speak either in Pregu, Yowl or the common tongue since Mom died! You speak it so well!” Marnasta bawled into your shoulder.

“See! That’s how she’s family found! She’s family found to us!” Glasha insisted as Marnausta especially was hugging you the tightest and crying on your shoulder because it felt like having a piece of her mom back as the twins were in a similar state.

“Hey, as much as I love this, I need to breathe.” You squeaked as the air was literally being squeezed out of you before they let go but stayed close.

“Sorry.” They all apologized as they wiped the tears from their eyes.

"If you need or want anything let me know, ok?" Zorroku offered before the twins volunteered the same thing, asking if you wanted the alters to the gods the Mountain Blizzard worshiped to be brought to your tent which you happily accepted before the twins and Marnausta immediately left and got things that their grandmother and uncles and aunts had given them and that they had kept from their mother to bring to your tent to reconnect you to your true roots.

"Actually I brought you a guitar because you like music so much." Yalak offered as he pushed past Zorroku and presented you with a guitar that was wrapped up in a little blanket as you watched Zorroku's face scrunch up in jealousy which was curious to you.

"Oh wow, uh, thank you," You thanked him graciously as you took it from him, not wanting to offend him by refusing it from him.

"Uh, I just don't remember Clan Chief Khagra or my father telling you that I played guitar...out loud." You mumbled under your breath as you unwrapped it, realizing it was actually a very fine one.

"Wow, this is exquisite, thank you." You thanked Yalak earnestly, this was so surreal to you as you put the guitar's strap over your shoulder and tested the chords before Nar made his way to you too.

"But I brought you a little one." Nar said as he came forward and offered you something else. Being the youngest and the smallest of them all, he looked to be about 12 or 13, just reached maturity and his full height. The beginnings of facial hair seemed to bloom on his face too.

You carefully took the guitar off and set it down on the counter gently and carefully and took what he offered you, it was also wrapped in a nice little blanket and when you unwrapped it, you found a violin case. Inside the case was a very fine violin with its bow and a thing of resin for the bow strings.

"Oh my goodness, it's a violin! Thank you so much! I love the violin." You beamed, this was...so not real. But as much as you wanted to panic, you kept repeating the words ‘marfu daughter’ inside your head as an explanation.

You put the violin to your shoulder as they all looked at you curiously as you ran the bow over the strings. You began to play a melody before they all lit up as they recognized what you were playing, a very old lullaby that Sharn always sang before you moved from that one to another old lullaby Yotul always sang to them in her native dialect Yowl. Nar left and fetched his mother who came into the kitchen tent and stared in shock as you played the song so well. She hadn't heard it played on a violin in a long time, since she herself had never learned the instrument.

"Where did you learn that song?!" She demanded as tears welled in her eyes and you dropped the violin to your side and hid it behind you to save it from her smashing it. Since it seemed she was now angry with you as if you had been caught doing something wrong. You watched as her sons and daughters moved between the two of you to keep her from getting close to you.

"You are Yotul Koddeth of the Great Typhoon Breaker Clan from the high North. Your mother is Veggo Koddeth and your father was The Great and Mighty Clan Chief Krul Koddeth, a family name that had lasted four generations. He was a king among Clan Chiefs and it was he who had taught Clan Chief Khagra and his father the art of alliances over war when Clan Chief Khagra was a very young boy.” You began to explain as Yotul was too stunned to argue with you when her mother and her father’s name was spoken with so much reverence on your tongue. She couldn’t be upset by your praise of her father. Or that you were speaking Yowl so beautifully and fluently.

“But it wasn’t until Clan Chief Krul Koddeth was betrayed by his brother and your uncle Tangir The Bone Splitter who earned that name by splitting your father's skull in front of you and your sister and your mother because she had not given your father any sons yet. And just because your mother had not gotten the chance to give your father sons- was the biggest reason your piece of shit uncle had for overthrowing your family’s dynasty. Especially since he had three sons but by three different women, all of whom were human. And their own jealous hunger for power over your mother- pushed them to push Krul to muder his own brother despite not having the blessing from his father or anyone outside of his own warband. Since he had not even been promoted to Warchief. Only leader of a warband. He then must have sold you off, until you came into the Yellow River Clan before you were then traded to the Thunder Herd Clan. But that is all anyone here knows of what has happened to you since your father died and you came to be here.” You explained.

“But after that piece of shit Tangir sold you, your uncle sold your sister Bula to Khagra as a wife when he was only six and she was only five so you must have only been seven when you were sold. Your own mother was sold as Khagra’s family’s babysitter and caretaker and medicine woman. It is your mother and sister who taught me your mother tongue Yowl. It is they who have taught me your culture and this song and many other songs and legends from the Great Typhoon Breaker Clan and so many seafood dishes. Even though seafood is hard to come by inland. I played this song, hoping to remind you that you are not alone. And that your past, even as hurtful as it has been- is important and should be embraced rather than buried. Just because of your piece of shit uncle and his family. Your family is not forgotten and lives on and is thriving!” You announced as Yotul gasped softly but began crying tears of joy to hear it as she slowly weaved through her children to get closer to you to hear everything you would say. Not wanting to miss a single word.

“I know that Crowthu’s mother has told you that I am ‘family found’. And I know when you first saw me and saw that I was human, I know that you must have assumed that I was a descendant of your waste of orcish flesh uncle. But I can say with a clean conscience and full faith that I am of no relation at all to him. Because not one of them has remained alive- since Khagra claimed Bula as his wife. And his wedding present to her was to put Tangir and all of his wives and all of their offspring to death. So that only your father’s bloodline has survived and will walk on the ground and bless it with it’s presence. Khagra himself has seen to it and was his first act as Warchief. And Bula is his one and only wife and was his Warchieftess when he became a Warchief for his father. And then when his father and the entire clan appointed Khagra as Clan Chief, Bula became his Clan Chieftess and she is the most revered woman in the clan, the strongest and most powerful in the clan. The most amazing, and wonderful in the clan. And Khagra drapes her with as much luxury as he can afford and loves every child she has ever bore him, no matter the gender because she and all of their children are his most precious possessions. To the point that he happily let me go to an unknown clan, just to keep Bula and their family in safety and in peace at home. And I am so blessed he did because this was the only way for me to find you. It is you who is Clan Chieftess Bula’s- family found. It is you who is Dowager Clan Warchieftess Viggo’s- family found. Clan Chief Khagra has no other children other than the ones Bula has given him and their children are your own nieces and nephews! Clan Chief Khagra does not even take female slaves for himself just to protect all of his affections to keep them purely for his most beloved wife. He wears them as his armor for his heart, mind and soul.” You earnestly revealed, a proud smile on your lips as you knelt on the floor and bowed your head respectfully. But you felt it was now or never for you to tell her the truth.

“I have helped your sister birth your nieces and nephews. I have cared for them as if they were my siblings and they are my dearest friends in the world, especially the youngest Shuzug. I have even helped deliver your own nieces and nephew’s children, Bula’s own grandchildren and your mother’s great grandchildren. Everything that I know about food, childcare and medicine I have learned from your own mother’s hands and mouth, and your own sister’s hands and mouth. I have helped care for Clan Chieftess Bula and her family since infancy. And knowing about that piece of shit Tangir- I understand your hatred for humans must be because of him. And I understand why you have forbidden your own children from taking a human as a mate. Because Bula has done the same. To guard against the past repeating itself. And I swear on the life of your sister and your mother, their children and grandchildren- that I too will guard against that part of your past repeating for either you or your children, whether you have birthed them or not. Or even for your grandchildren and great grandchildren, may you be blessed to see them some day.” You swore.

“Even though I am not of your blood, I have been placed in your family. Both your past family and your current one. I know I am unworthy of the honor that is being in your family. Your mother and your sister have never once stopped hoping you had survived and done well and they offer prayers on your behalf every worship day and I have grown up hearing your name and knowing it as well as I have my own. Your mother has remarried, to one of Khagra’s older Warchief’s when his father appointed him. Dowager Warchieftess Veggo is the second wife of Warchief Tatcha. And she remains his one and only wife since he too lost his first in childbirth and she took on his baby. And thus took him and the rest of his children on as well. You now have a half brother and a half sister in the Black Wolf White Rock Clan from Warchief Tatcha. However I don't believe your sister knows that you are now the Clan Chieftess of the Thunder Herd Clan. Because Clan Chief Khagra and Clan Chief Crowthu never mentioned who they were married to and other than Khagra introducing your sister only as his Clan Chieftess, I don’t think Bula recognized any of your sons as her nephews. And I don't know if your own sons recognized their aunt or their cousins. They didn't seem like they did when they met them.” You explained as all of Yotul’s sons groaned when they realized that they were looking right at their aunt and didn’t see her resemblance to their own mother.

“Now they do.” Zorroku muttered to you with a happy smile to see Silug, Wing, Yalak and Nar groan as realization seemed to hit them like a ton of bricks.

“But I know your mother and sister will be very pleased to know how well you've done by getting this far. But if you also hate me for other reasons, I understand. Just because I was able to make one good meal, things are being handed to me whereas you've had to work hard for everything you have. Please, understand I have had no choice in this and am trying to make the best out of everything. But with your permission I would like to tell your mother and sister exactly where you, their lost daughter and sister can be found." You bravely professed in Yowl, as you knelt down and bowed your head respectfully.

You were half expecting her to cut it off or for her to call you a liar or that you were actually Tangir’s blood. You could hear small gasps from Yotul’s children who had gathered around you to protect you from their mother as you closed your eyes. Tears fell from them as you tried to embrace death. You had connected all the dots from everything your new father in law told you and one look at her you knew exactly who she was. Even if she did not want to admit it.

"She's a Clan Chieftess too? Bula is a Clan Chieftess like I am?" Yotul asked in Yowl back. She couldn’t help but laugh in delight as she just couldn't stop smiling while crying tears of joy and relief. It surprised you greatly, having expected to be cut down where you knelt or screamed at for defaming her native tongue by presuming to speak it to her based on her reaction to you earlier.

"Yes, she has four daughters and had- had, five sons. But the oldest two unfortunately died in the last raid. So now she only has three sons. The middle, who is now considered the eldest, by the name of Grecko, he has two wives, they're twins themselves and both orcs and he has 4 kids, two sets of twins, a set of girls and a set of boys who are almost a year old now, their names are..." You began to list off all her family from the Black Wolf White Rock Clan before she came nearer to you. Yotul’s children warily parting for her before she gently picked you up to stand on your feet before moving your chin to look up at her as she couldn’t stop smiling and couldn’t stop crying either which got you to cry as you continued to talk and tell her about a family which she never knew she had.

"And your youngest nephew, he's ten now, Shuzug, has a penchant for peaches, he can eat a whole bushel all by himself." You finished off before she hugged you tightly and started sobbing and laughing herself.

"Gods I usually hate it when my mother in law is right and I’m wrong. But I am so happy to be wrong about you, my beloved daughter! If Bula called you her daughter I will see you as my own to, if at the very least, my niece. And you are now just as beloved in my heart as my own daughters are. When Arob said I would be getting family back as a daughter in law, and when I saw you were human- I did think you were my uncle's child or grandchild that just didn't look very orc. Which was why I was so inexcusably rude to you and I was so scared that you were going to do to my sons what that piece of shit’s bitches did to him! And I am so sorry, I should have asked. I should have let you explain who you really were and the whole situation instead of jumping to the wrong conclusions. I am so sorry! Thank you so much for telling me all of this. I never imagined it would be like this or could be like this. Just for you to tell me about them makes me feel whole and less lonely and closer to them now than I have since I parted from them." Yotul cried happily as she was almost squeezing the breath out of you again. Glasha took the violin and its bow from your hands so you could hug her step mother back fully.

"Next time your husband goes there, go with him. They'll all be very happy to see you again." You offered as you hugged her back as tight as you could.

"You and your sister look a lot alike, you'll have to forgive me if I call you by your sister's name by accident." You admitted.

That got Yotul to laugh and her kids to relax before they went to their father and reported how you had revealed you were family found to Yotul and why she hated the sight of you because you were human and what past you had uncovered. Crowthu felt like an ass for being so hard on Yotul without letting Yotul explain her reaction either.

Then Glasha revealed to her father and her grandmother your connection to her own mother, Sharnarrah. And the fact that you also spoke Ragash too and guessed all of their full names correctly. Crowthu literally cried at hearing that. You were family returned to all of them. And he felt closer to being whole since Sharn's loss.

"I would be ok with that. Please tell Bula and my mother where I am." Yotul chuckled.

“Ok.” You nodded, happy that you had gotten that out of the way.

"Again, I'm so sorry for being so rude, I honestly thought you were my uncle's granddaughter or something and I'm so relieved you're obviously not. I'm very happy you're here with us now, daughter." She offered as she held your face and placed her forehead to yours. Of course after she kissed it and your cheeks affectionately as the two of you continued to speak Yowl to each other.

You felt so much relief wash over you and you felt you knew she was telling the truth and that you could trust her and that you were very dear to her. Which made you want to have her dear to you in turn. You could only imagine how Bula would be reacting by now. Bula would most likely be screaming her head off in utter delight and waking the whole clan up just reading your messages. And want to ride at once to

"Actually what you may not know is Tangir was overthrown by not just Khagra, but the effort was supported by your other uncle Wuglat. Who is now the Clan Chief of the Great Typhoon Breaker Clan. Wuglat and Khagra brought back the law of only full blooded orcs could ever be a Warchieftess or Clan Chieftess and be allowed into the family as an equal. And only concubine or lower could ever be allowed to be human or non orc. A law I thought all orcs had accepted and implemented before and after this incident. Which is why I'm shocked I'm here and why your sons are all trying to court me." You confessed.

"Oh, well yesterday I would have agreed with that. But you'll find, you'll be the exception to the rule. And if you look at any of my son’s other human lovers and if you see that they will not do what that piece of shit’s bitches did, then I will give them my blessing and will lift it that law of no humans in the Clan Chief’s mates because if you have sworn on Bula’s life and the lives of her children. I trust you to make good on your promise. And I no longer fear for my son’s and their future on your account. For I can feel and know that you do not mean them harm, or especially me. Because you obviously know the hurt and trouble all of that caused.You are one of us and a full fledged member of this family now. And if you were not a Marfu, I would be demanding for Crowthu to make you one this instant anyway. You'll be treated as such from this moment on, come meet my grand-kids." She invited, before she took your hand and led you out of the kitchen tent into hers where Crowthu and his sons were playing with their grand kids on the floor and was happy and relieved to see you with Yotul and especially to see both of you smiling.

"Oh good, when I wasn't Clan Chief Khagra's personal cook I was their babysitter for their kids and grand-kids." You informed her proudly which she was really thrilled to hear before she went around the room to introduce you to all the kids who you met happily.

“This is Silug’s son, Grog.” Yotul said as she picked up a baby who was wider than he was long as a human woman was holding him and playing with him.

“And this is Grog’s mother Tiana.” Crowthu introduced.

“Hi.” You both greeted each other sweetly.

“Hello there Grog.” You cooed to him as you smiled at him as he simply looked at you dismissively and then looked at his mother and curled into her chest.

“He’s shy.” Tiana excused.

“It’s fine, most babies are.” You reassured her.

"This is Yalak's son, YakYak," Yotul introduced as she picked him up and kissed his super chubby cheeks and handed him to you.

"Oh my goodness! Look at how handsome and fierce you are!" You cooed to him which got him to laugh and babble to you, you put him on your hip because he was so heavy, even though he was only a year old. He was just so round and had so many rolls which was the supreme sign of health for all babies. His thick straight blue and black hair stuck straight up on top of his head like a natural mohawk. YakYak was absolutely precious, but you couldn't say that about a male baby orc. Handsome was ok, but usually fierce or frightening or something along those lines were the preferred complimentary terms while Yalak beamed proudly that you took to his son readily.

"Which one is his mother?" You asked as you swayed in place to keep him entertained as you tried to match all the girls in the kitchen to the guys since you hadn't seen who was with who yet.

"Grat." Yotul answered and you nodded in understanding as you mentally checked Yalak's name off your list. You weren't especially keen on coming between any couple, especially one that already had children. You didn't particularly want that kind of competition because of the competition that was always palpable between Grecko's wives. So now the options were narrowed down to Zorroku, the twins and Nar.

"And this fussy girl is Ori. She’s Zorroku's only child. Her mother Medowne died giving birth to her this past winter, so Grat has been nursing her. But she is, as you can see, very fussy." Crowthu offered as he did his best to keep the little girl happy in his arm with a few toys between his fingers on the other hand, trying to distract her and keep her from turning that fussiness into full blown crying. Ori was incredibly fussy and looked extremely small for an orc her age. She looked the same size as a human newborn. You didn’t think orc babies could be so small. She even looked quite sickly which made you furrow your brows in concentration at her. Zorroku had been practicing play fighting with very blunt wooden axes with his older nephews from Silug and Winug while Silug and Winug practiced playfighting with blunt wooden swords with the other boys. But Zorroku’s attention split between his nephews and you. He hoped you would take to his daughter too but stopped and had his nephews practice their skills with each other so he could come over to watch Ori react to you closer.

"Here, trade." You offered Yak Yak as an exchange as Yotul took YakYak away from you so you could get Ori.

“Hello Sweetheart, it’s lovely to meet you. Is…Ori her full name or is it a nickname for a longer name?” You asked as you took her and your brow furrowed in concentration as you looked her over, trying to see why she was so sick and so small.

“Yes, my mother kept repeating the same name when she was dying. Orianna…”

“Oriannaregina Azalea?” You supplied as you looked surprised yet almost saddened to hear the name as you looked from Ori to Zorroku as your eyes looked just a bit pleading as they began to grow glassy with tears.

“Yes, do you know who that is? My aunts and uncles simply say that she was a childhood friend of my mothers.” Zorroku asked as you smiled bittersweetly to hear him say that.

“I know who Oriannaregina Azalea is. That’s my mother’s full name. She simply goes by Regina. My mother was the one that picked out Azalea for herself since she couldn’t remember what her last name had been. Only that her name was Oriannaregina. Jaseeneh always called her by her whole full name though. But Sharnnarrah asked for my mother as she was dying?” You asked as you laid Ori to your chest and swayed in place as you rubbed soothing circles into her back which immediately calmed her despite your heart was going out to this little one that had been unknowingly named after your own mother. You could only imagine how your mother would have wanted to be there. How if she had, maybe Sharnarrah wouldn’t have passed since your mother also missed Sharnnarrah something awful.

“But you said your mother was my mother’s servant?” Glasha asked.

“Yes and no. My mother was the first to discover how to grow breadseed from the poles in the mountain tops where the Mountain Blizzard Clan called home. And so she was in charge of planting the seeds and growing the crops. And she found it out by complete accident. But it was because of that, the Mountain Blizzard Clan survived harsh winters when there were a mass movements of peoples settling in the other unoccupied mountains. Thier movement and settling there drove away the natural prey items since the mountain clans’ diet consisted mostly of meat and mountain herbs that naturally grew there. And once my mother was able to cultivate breadseed, they had bread that didn’t need fields in the valleys to grow the wheat.” You revealed.

“Sharnarrah and my mother grew up together from the time they were children. Sharnarrah’s mother Jaseeneh saved my mother and adopted her as her own and the two were raised as sisters. But to save my mother from being prey to other clans and specifically, other humans, Jaseeneh and Sharnarrah had to call my mother their servant and had to treat her as such in front of anyone outside of their own clan. My mother regrets leaving Sharnnarrah and Jaseeneh and Dastaneh and Justinough, who were effectively her adopted family- for my father. And she regrets that Sharnerrah, nor Jaseeneh could buy my father from Khagra since my father was Khagra’s servant and friend for most of his life. Khagra and his father had hoped if they lured my mother to their clan, Sharnnarah would follow. But Jaseeneh refused to let Sharnnarah come to the clan with my mother. Because Jaseeneh saw my mother as one of her own and in her mind in heart, they had already taken one of her daughters and did not treat her well enough for Jaseeneh’s taste, or Sharnarrah’s. And Jaseeneh was not about to let Sharnnarah do the same and suffer the same and was convinced that if they treated my mother as a slave and a servant that they would treat Sharnarrah the same, no matter how much they tried to say or at least do otherwise in her presence but with just a few words from my mother’s mouth, Jaseen and Sharnarrah knew not to trust a single thing they said because when they weren’t around, Bula was especially fierce towards her because Bula saw my mother as Sharnarrah’s sister and felt the need to be domineering towards her and remind her that ‘because she married a servant of Khagra, that made her a servant too along with all of her offspring’. And it didn’t help that my mother was human and reminded Bula of her own past with her uncle.” You confessed as you just closed your eyes and held Ori and swayed with her as Ori was perfectly happy and content to have you hold her and soothe her as she settled right down and immediately stopped being so fussy in your arms.

It was probably a good thing you had closed your eyes because the look Zorroku and Crowthu shared spoke of their quiet rage about the matter as even Yotul blushed and looked away guiltily as she remembered how difficult she made Sharn’s life because of her own jealousy and worried about how Crowthu was going to view her sister and her mother over this.

“Jaseeneh has never once come to see my mother because of how hurt she was that my mother chose my father over her and her family and her clan. Jaseeneh tried to make my mother a Visla, which is their clan’s version of Marfu. But my mother was already in love with my father and would not leave him for anything or anyone. Jaseeneh has never even tried to meet me or any of my siblings. I only know of her through her sons, Dastaneh and Justinough and their families when they come to sell and trade pink salt from thier mountian and we talk and serve as their “translators”. Everything that I have that is important and sentimental to me that I brought with me, has been a gift from Jaseeneh and her family. But she always insisted on not giving me or any of my siblings anything too big or rich because she feared Bula’s jealousy or any of her daughters or daughters in law taking it away from me or my sisters because we were servants after all and of course according to Bula- ‘no servant should have anything greater than their master’. Bula wouldn’t even let my mother have any alters to her gods. My mother and my siblings have tried making small totems of wood to be either worn or placed very discretely in our home but every time Bula has seen them, she has smashed them, and rebuked my mother for worshiping human gods, even though they weren’t human at all, they were Mountain Blizzard Clan gods. But Bula would never hear of any argument and any attempt was always met with severe discipline. And Bula hates it when we speak in Ragesh. She insists that we speak only Yowl or Kitch.” You revealed as you closed your eyes tighter as tears escaped them as Crowthu looked to Yotul who put up her hands in defeat.

“That’s Bula’s business. I had nothing to do with it. I will never do anything like that to Belladonna. She is free to speak any language she wants and is free to worship who she wishes to, if Dowager Clan Chieftess Jaseeneh tried to make her mother a Visla, I will see her as one too and anything that was Sharnarrah’s that her daughters have not claimed will be hers as well. For I know Sharnarrah would be happy to have her niece back home.” Yotul quickly and readily assured her husband who smiled and nodded before Yotul ordered her servants to get everything that was Sharns that had been put into storage, to be delivered to your tent immediately.

“I’m so sorry. If Sharnarrah had told me where your mother was, I would have reunited them.” Crowthu apologized.

“Did Sharnarrah ever tell you where my mother was?” You asked him.

“No. She never did, even on her deathbed, she wouldn’t say where she was. And no one in the clan has said anything about Oriannaregina. Only that she was once a close friend of Sharnarrah’s.” Crowthu shook his hand as tears came to his eyes at the memory.

“That was probably to protect my mother and my father and my siblings because if Sharnarrah said that my mother was a sister, you would have no doubt killed us because we were not Mountain Blizzard Clan orcs, just humans, hiding in plain sight as Clan Chief Khagra’s personal servants. But the fact that Sharnarrah spoke of my mother at all, shows she must have forgiven my mother for leaving her, at least a little bit. Sharnarrah, according to my mother, was heartbroken and actually quite bitter when my mother fell in love with my father- to the point she became a servant right alongside him to stay with him. And leaving Sharnarrah and Jaseeneh were my mother’s biggest and deepest regrets. My mother was allowed to pilgrimage to the closest mountain to grow breadseed in the winter. And she could only look from that mountain to the other where the Mountain Blizzard Clan resided. Knowing she was so close but still so far away from them. My mother owed Jaseeneh her life and had repaid it by saving Jaseeneh’s and the rest of the clan from starvation several times. And it broke Jaseeneh’s heart that my mother would choose to love my father more than her, more than Sharnarrah, who was like a sister to her. Even when Jaseen’s other clan members adored my mother and tried to court her, but she did not return their feelings and politely refused their proposals.” You explained.

“What did my grandmother save your mother from?” Zorroku asked softly before you reached up and you held a handful of your red hair before you went back to soothing Ori.

“Your mother was born with red hair like you and was treated badly for it?” Zorroku asked with a deep frown as you sniffled and nodded yes.

“Why? It’s just red hair, it’s not…” Zorroku asked.

“Because red hair was seen as a curse to the people where my mother’s family resided with. They came from an area of the home world that humans came from- four hundred years ago, when the spheres converged. They all associated red hair as being a child of the devils. And they claimed it was ‘red headed devils that brought the plague and then converged the spheres’. And when my mother was born it was a light reddish blonde hair, they took it as a sign that the devils were close and that the blonder the hair got, the farther away the devils were. So while it wasn’t obviously apparent, she was immediately made the object of suspicion by her whole village.” You revealed lowly.

“But it’s just hair! It’s not something anyone can control.” Zorroku contested as the rest of his family was frowning too because this was the first they were hearing of such preposterous things.

“But it was just a belief they brought over from the home world. The older my mother got, the darker her hair got and the more pronounced the red was. Especially in the winter when she wasn’t in the sun so much. Because her hair got lighter in the summer when she was out in the sun more. Even though her skin was very white and her skin would turn as red as her hair and then freckles would dirty up her skin. The whole village saw my mother’s freckles as her skin always being dirty. And my birth grandmother tried to scrub her skin raw trying to scrub them off so that she and her family were not seen as filthy and something to be avoided.” You explained.

“But they’re so cute.” Zorroku blurted out as he argued which got you to smile and laugh through your tears.

“Then you’re the first to see them and think that way.” You answered him.

“According to the rest of my mother’s village, they associated every bad thing that happened to the village with my mother, and her family. To the point that when the green plague swept through, they put her on the sacrificial altar to their god. Since it was seen as a sign that the reason the plague came to them was because my mother was left alive and hadn’t been put to death at birth. But Jaseeneh and her clan were hunting in the woods nearby on that day. And when they heard my mother’s screams and her immediate family’s cries and screams, they came upon the scene to see my mother tied upon an alter and her family at her feet, being put to death. Their blood being splattered on my mother and the alter. Jaseeneh was incensed to see a child be put to death. So they interrupted the ceremony. And Jaseeneh cut my mother’s bonds with her own knife and took my mother as her own when she saw that my mother was only a small child and clearly too young and too innocent to be guilty of anything that deserved a punishment of death. And because Jaseeneh was the Clan Chieftess at the time, she ordered for the entire village to be put to death. Since they had already put my mother’s family to death for trying to stop the sacrifice. And they started with my mother’s mother and then her father and had started to kill off her siblings, starting with the eldest ones first, leaving my mother the only one left.” You recounted as more tears came from your eyes.

“My mother’s father’s name was Zorroushku, and my mother’s- mother’s name was Glashnarra. Her brothers were named Grushnagah and Murnagah, and my mother’s sister’s name was Marnausta. So you are all named after my mother’s slaughtered family. All because they either bore or were a sibling to one with red hair.” You explained as Crowthu and his children felt like someone had just stabbed them through the heart to hear this.

“Fuck.” Crowthu breathed as he didn’t realize the significance of his children’s names, he just thought they were Mountain Bilzzard Clan names.

“From that day until the day my mother left to marry my father. Jaseeneh saw my mother as her daughter. And Sharnarrah saw her as a sister and her best friend. And for Sharnnarrah to…” Your emotion cut off your words.

“To say my mothers name. Something Sharnarrah swore to my mother the last time they saw each other and got into the worst fight they had ever gotten into. Sharnarrah insisted that if my mother wanted to be a slave so bad, that that was her choice and that she was going to forget all about her and never speak of her again. And that her name would never pass her lips and told my mother that if she spoke hers, that the gods would bring calamity upon her for not only abandoning her and her family but them too. But for Sharnnarrah to never reveal where my mother was, means that she still loved my mother enough to try to protect her. And my mother will be so heartbroken to hear it, but so proud to have Sharn’s own granddaughter named after her. Oriannaregina.” You cooed to Ori as you kissed the crown of her head affectionately as Yotul, while she had always felt competitive towards Sharn, to know this truth pulled at her own heartstrings as she herself felt so bad for not befriending Sharn herself and making her life hard enough that she missed her friend so much to call her name out on her deathbed.

Zorroku couldn’t be more offended hearing this. He thought your red hair was so beautiful and so unique. But to hear that other humans thought it was a curse? That made no sense. Orcs loved everything red. Red was the patron color of Zighorh, the god of war. It was meant to show the blood spilled on the battlefield and every orc wore red warpaint when they rode into battle so that if they were wounded, either they or no one else would know until a warrior fell to the ground dead. Red was the color to signify for boys. Red was the color of honor and glory. And you had a head full of red. And it only seemed to awaken his need and want to go raiding, if only to provide more for you. It was such a beautiful shade of red, with deep oranges that reminded him of fires and the flames and of the sunrise and sunset. He needed to prove to you that such a wonderful thing should never be seen as a curse but a blessing! And he was grateful his grandmother put your mother’s village to death. Because if she had not, he would want to raid and destroy such a place himself at sunrise. Because righteous anger was blazing in his veins and in his heart. And he felt he needed to exterminate everyone who thought and felt that way. And from now on he would be watching every human when you were around them because if they even hinted at such a thing, he would make sure they never bothered you, let alone said such lies out loud.

#Zorroku and Peaches #Zorroku and Peaches Part 5 #what is in reality just the third of the four parts I had to divide part 3 into #But aaaahhhh the angst #orc boyfriend #orc husband #medieval orc story #did you see the historical reference to midieval europe's antisemetic views?#Sad but true.#male orc x female reader #male monster x female reader

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