Open Chronicles Ohgrack Larc Rakka! (A heart lies beyond my home!)

[Orrak Lan]

Prowler's face darkened some with the rush of blood, and her head bowed to show acceptance of the elder's kindness.

"Your father shows us great kindness, and consideration," she said.

Would it be offensive to deny that they were mates? Would it sour the deal? Part of her laughed inside of her own thoughts.

Whatever the result would be, she would rather leave the kindness undisturbed. She closed her eyes and bowed a little deeper still, to the elder. Rose and turned her mismatched eyes onto the young man's. "We search for kin, for one small, that resembles him," her hands motioned, gestured to show the diminished stature, and with open palm, drew the attention Skull-hammer. "She is missing, and we do not know where she may have gone, perhaps, you have seen a young ogre on your travels? Or, Other ogres, beyond the forest?"

 

[Skull-hammer]

Ogre, the Small-folk word for his kind.
Skull-hammer did not truly understand the image it conveyed in them but he wondered if all the Small folk had such words. Was there a word for Prowler among them?
He quietly pondered this as he listened and tried to learn.
Prowler was asking about his niece again, this much he knew and his interest showed in his face, in the slight leaning forward if his bulk. The flickering of his eyes between them.

The Elder spoke and pointed towards Prowler but then shook his head and finished his words.
Then it was the young speakers turn.
"My Father says that many come here. That there was an Orc two days ago but no Ogre passed by."
He was not particularly happy looking when he delivered the news and again when the Elder spoke more.
"My Father says he is sorry that he cannot help you. That his words are unworthy of your fine gift. He asks what else we may do for you."

Behind them Spune had sat and was keeping an eye. The fire crackled between them and sent sparks high into the air.

Orrak Lan

 

[Orrak Lan]

Prowler frowned, though it was a small and momentary thing. She would not let herself show displeasure, after they had been invited into their caravan for the night.

It was foolish of her to think they would find a lead so easily. An Orc had come through, but, that was hardly a lead at all. But then, they had thought her and Sull-hammer were mates. One and the same. Perhaps...

"Please, young one, tell your father, there is no need to be sorry, you have opened your wagon to us, and shared your fire, this is an act of great kindness shown to a stranger of different peoples," she said with calm in her voice as the fire crackled. "Could you tell us what this orc looked like? Any particular stylings, markings, or, a unique tone of skin?"

Perhaps she was acting out of desperation, but she could see no other lead before at this juncture. She would make sure it was exhausted before she moved on.

Her eyes remained on the young men around the fire, and the elder. She paid little attention to Spune in that moment.

Skull-hammer

 

[Skull-hammer]

A cold wind gusted past them. Smoke swirled and rose upward.
The Elder spoke again his words were lost as his son translated over him, only a word or so behind.
"The one who passed wore her hair in a long braid and had only one tusk."

Skull-hammer lurched forward at the word "tusk". He knew that, it was a long tooth. That was her name.
"LONGTOOTH!"
His word was blurted in loud excitement. So great was his outburst that the fire between them swayed away from him.
His great bulk became animated, lively causing the young Gnucker men to reflexively reach for their knives.
Behind them Spune was standing quick as a whip and ready. The air was suddenly thick with the threat of sudden violence.
"WHERE GO?"
Eyes wide with glee he heeded not the danger he was presented with and did not care what fright he gave them now. Longtooth had passed this way and he would find her.


Orrak Lan

 

[Orrak Lan]

Skull-hammer's voice boomed, and even Prowler winced from the shock of it, so drawn in to the Son's voice she had been.

The shift of the tall one seemed to shake the very ground beneath her feet. His energy, dialed up, and the Gnucker men moved to tension.

Prowler raised her hands, motioned for peace, for calm with her gestures, the gentle pulse of her palms tried to tamp down the energies that threatened to boil over into violence.

A motion behind her, a stir of armor had her head turn. "No, please, calm," she urged them all. Turned to Skull-hammer, put a careful palm against his side. "Skull-hammer, calm, calm, you cause fear in them," through the tips of her fingers, she could feel the great beat of his heart. Its quickened pulse there beneath the pads of her digits.

She let her hand rest against him. Hoped that maybe, he would feel the steadiness of her own pulse in turn.

Her eyes turned to Spune, their mismatched stare showed no fear of her own, only a deep calmness. A readiness that never seemed to leave the pools of her gaze. "He is only excited," she said simply. Turned to the others. "Glad, to learn of this news," she said slowly. Let the cold wind stir, and hoped it would cool their heated hearts. "Please, we want no violence," she smiled to the young men with their knives. The red lines of her markings curved to highlight the warmth of her expression. "We are glad to hear this news, to learn of this... orc with one tusk," she bowed her head to them again. And hoped she had done enough.

Skull-hammer

 

[Skull-hammer]

To try to push back an ogre is to try and stop an avalanche with a sword. Even not opposing Prowler directly it would be clear that, should Skull-hammer will it, she would not be able to stop him.
On his large face he struggled to contain himself. Frustration mixed with hope as his inability to ask his questions and be understood strained against his urgency.
"SHE... LONGTOOTH, WAS, HERE!"

Behind him Spune was inching closer, hand on weapon. He heard Prowlers words but his instincts were just as loud.
The Elder even seemed agitated by Skull-hammer and his outburst. His son and the other moved to protect him.

Skull-hammer huffed and looked about.
Others had hidden now. Prowler was right, he had frightened them. Her hands on his chest. They were so small. All of them were so small.
He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself.
His hammer dropped to the earth with a thud. He was not going to use it here.

Orrak Lan

 

[Orrak Lan]

The hammer fell to the ground. And at least Prowler felt some tension slip from her frame. Her heart still quickened, as she'd felt the rumble of the earth itself pulse through the towering ones flesh and bones.

Her own gift, the pull of blood magic, had made itself known behind her eyes. The milky white blindness of her right eye turning rouge. And she was glad she did not have to wield them.

"Many thanks, Skull-hammer," she said to him in a soothing tone. "Peace," her small hands peeled their touch from the broad plain of the ogre's chest.

She settled herself, still near the towering one, still close, to show that she did not fear him. In hopes that the others, who had spoken to her so far, had shown some small measure of respect, may notice their own quickness to fear.

Not that she blamed them. The towering people were a force of nature unto themselves. Like treefalls and landslides, once they were set to motion, little to not could stop them.

With calm and careful measure, Prowler cast her gaze onto Spune. Gave the young man a chilling look. One that promised more trouble, should violence come to pass. No easy prey.

But that same look was gone in a flicker of the fire's light. The play of shadows across her face, returned her placid expression.

"I thank you, for your grace," she said to them all, but nod her head to the Gnucker folk. "Please," she deepened her bow. "If you could tell us the direction in which the one toothed orc went, we will be on our way, and consider this a deal well struck,"

Skull-hammer

 

[Skull-hammer]

Spune gave a nod to Prowler and stopped moving closer. His eyes watched on though and he waved down the interest of those other guards who had begun to take notice.

Beside her Skull-hammer breathed out his frustration in deep, low sounds. He had to wait now and lacks as his people tended to be waiting was seldom in their nature. If a thing is to be done let it be done.
But Small-folk waited. Talked much. It was visibly difficult for him to relax now. His shoulders gathered their strength as the muscles tightened and his eyes were still wide and dark when the Elder spoke, his son translating yet again this time with audible nervousness.
"The one you seek made north towards Alliria. Travelling the coast roads. Go now and fair well."
Polite words did not hide his fear as much as he might have hoped.
The cloud of unease Skull-hammer summoned hung heavy over them.
Again he found that he owed Prowler much more in a short time than most others might.
When he looked down at her he saw the red in her eyes and his face softened.
"I, am, sorry!"
His voice was low with humility.

Orrak Lan

 

[Orrak Lan]

North, towards Alliria. To the land of traders and commerce. Fortunes and failings as common as stones and sand.

Her face set. Jaw solid, and mouth shut. "Thank you," she said with a bow of her head, but could see the fear plain on his face. Nothing to be done.

A shift, from the towering one, his attention pointed toward her, and she met his gaze. The words that met her struck her patience. What good did it do now.

A breath in through her nose. A long breath out. "We must leave," she communicated to the towering one. Her face still tight. The red lines of her tattoo, still and tense. "North and east," she said a little colder. Her voice just a bit softer. "We will make camp, down the trail," and she would keep watch.

Why. She wasn't sure.

---

Skull-hammer

 

[Skull-hammer]

Skull-hammer moved. It was as if a boulder decided to take a walk.
The single minded direction of the Forest Ogre cultural mindset led him northwards to out of the camp and beyond.
He did not consider it rude thought it was to the small-folk. If you had somewhere to be you went there and unless you had to stop you didn't.

After several of his large paces he looked back to check if Prowler was still with him.
The nuance of what had happened missed him. He knew they had to leave but not why either of them needed to feel badly about it when they had another destination to go to.

Why stay where you are not supposed to be?

About him the amp guards were slowly herding them out. Not too close but definitely a presence. The tension was not gone, not yet and ironically enough the surety of Skull-hammer's movement towards the north exit did not seem to abate it at all.

Her face was still sore though he could read that well enough. She was disturbed by something.
"What wrong?"
He asked.

 

[Orrak Lan]

For every long stride the towering one took, Prowler took two. Her pace quick, steady, and pointed as they moved to the perimeter of the camp.

She did not like that they had a tail. And the tail did not try to hide itself. Their position a snare around them, that ushered them out.

It twisted her stomach. Filled her with a hot feeling down in the pit of her gut. Not just that they would treat them like wild beasts. Blatant threats, that would be put down at a moments notice. But that she could feel her mind turn to accommodate their thought. That she felt anger, at them, but so too at Skull-hammer.

Her mood remained dark, even as distance was put between them and the edge of the campsite. Step, by steady step. Each plod of Skull-hammer's shaking the earth beneath them.

He asked her what was wrong.

Her eyes narrowed. "Much," she said, shortly. Huffed a breath out from her nose. "Small folk," no, she was small folk too. Yet she understood. Not everything. But she understood what it was to be looked at with distrust. To see fear in the eyes of others, for little more than existing. "Skull-hammer," she slowed her stride, and came to a stop. Her brow knit together.

She needn't care for any of this. They had only just met. Spied him tending a turtle. A turtle!

She laughed. "How is Tum-tum?" she asked.

 

[Skull-hammer]

Skull-hammer inclined his head at this though he could not keep the confusion from his voice.
"TUM-TUM, IS, GOOD. SLEEP."
With care he reached into his satchel and retrieved the small reptile with a blue spiral of wide painted on its back.
Tum-tum had his body tucked into himself and true as Skull-hammer had said, was asleep.
He was always asleep before sundown. When it got cold in the air.
"TO HOLD?"
He offered his pet to Prowler. He found holding Tum-tum to have a calming effect, perhaps it would be the same with her.
He did not seem concerned with the Small-folk gathering about them though they did pause to wait as the did. Not coming closer but watching.
Spune raised a hand to halt them.
He and a few others had still not raised their weapons.

Orrak Lan

 

[Orrak Lan]

Orrak took the large turtle that was within its shell. In Skull-hammer's hand, the creature did not seem so big. In her own two, the creature was near the size of her entire torso. Heavy too. She gave a small huff of a laugh. "Thank you," she said, and adjusted her grip upon the shelled turtle, a lift of her thigh helped bring the creature up into a better hold.

Through her fingers she could feel the slow rythm of the creature's beating heart, even through its plated carapace. An ocean of difference between the proud drum of Skull-hammers. Steady and sure as the strides he took so easily.

A long breath was let out from her nose, and her shoulders eased. "We must be careful, Skull-hammer," she said as she looked up to him. Her white eye, still pink, seemed to deepen to vibrant carmine. And she could see the collection of blood that gathered and pulsed in those living things about them. From squirrels, to bats, to Spune and his men. "Walk, softly," she said, looked down to Tum-tum. A bundle of red veins that webbed and latticed to form the sleeping creature. "If the small folk feel fear, they will harm us, Skull-hammer, do you understand? They will stop us,"

She turned, slow and withe even measure, and strode forward with Tum-tum still in her arms. The sturdy weight of the turtle did help her feel more at ease. If only just.

---

Skull-hammer

 

[Skull-hammer]

Great soft plodding feet was the only sound he made as he followed Prowler out of the camp.
He spared few glances around as it seemed to increase the tension.

Slowly they left the Camp together but even when they cleared the grounds Spune stood at the northern exit and watched them. His face passive but his hand still next to his weapon.

The evening was getting dark now.
In the cold night it was easy to miss the heat of the fire and the promise of a dry bed.

Skull-hammer's heart grew heavy as they marched along the northern road. He could go on walking until morning but he was getting tired.
Hope had exhausted him.

He did not speak. Only looked forward to the north and the places beyond the trees.

In Prowlers arms Tum-tum breathed steadily continuing his sleep. A bit of mucus bubbled in his nose, making a soft wheezing noise.

Orrak Lan

 

[Orrak Lan]

"We should make camp," Prowler announced in between her steps. "It has been a long day, and rest will do us both good," she said, Tum-tum still in her grasp, and the gentle whistle of their slumber making her think of her own needs.

She found a spot where the ground felt warmer. Where the pine litter and soil had been warmed by the sun, and where the day star's heat still lingered. She let Tum-tum down first, then her bow and her spear. Her pack came next. Each piece laid down with easy measure.

She straightened her spine and moved to the perimeter of the even ground, clear of shrubbery and bramble thorns. "I will get us wood for a fire," she said with a nod. She stopped and turned to Skull-hammer. "Dig us a pit?" She asked, her voice calm, her cadence measured.

Skull-hammer

 

[Skull-hammer]

He nodded response.
With hands bigger and stronger than shovels he knelt down and with great and slow motions he scooped earth up and out. Making a wide fire pit, the earth packed about the rim he broke with deep divides to allow air flow and lined it with large rocks.
His hand became filthy so he tore the bark from a tree and rubbed his hands in the sap, letting it collect the dirt as he rolled it about and through his hands. When he was done a thick wad of sap and muck was left behind.

Then he began to tend to his rations.
He still had half a bag of maple covered apples and a goat leg.
That was enough for now.

Finally he got about the most important job.
Witch care he dumped the old pine needles from the pocket in his bag which he used to store Tum-tum and carefully replaced them with fresh dry and unsoiled ones.
He would be at this until Prowler returned.

Orrak Lan

 

[Orrak Lan]

In the woods, alone, prowler thought on the day that had passed them by. Her mind turned the events over in her head. A morning of hunting and foraging. A snared rabbit she had eaten. Some pine nuts good for roasting still in her bag. And a mountain of flesh, hunched over and gentle as it tended to a turtle.

She shook her head, as she picked up another twig. Another branch. Her fingers wrapped around a pinecone.

She stilled, and turned her head back toward the direction of their camp. Bundle of kindling in her arms. A shift of her weight as she let out her breath and felt the cold creep into her skin. Chill down into her bones.

With a quiet rustle and nary a crunch underfoot, Prowler appeared from the shadowing woods. A feint smile on her face as she watched the towering one shift the earth with his large hand.

"You make hard work easy," she said with a hint of warmth, and settled down next to him. Laid the firewood in the space between them. "A gift few have," Gentle and with measure, she began to pile the small bits of tinder into the still warm soil of the pit.

Skull-hammer

 

[Skull-hammer]

He didn't quite know what Prowler meant.
Partly because he still had gaps in his understanding of the language but also because what needed doing was simply done. Hard, easy. It didn't matter to him or many of his people.
"IS TO DO, SO DO."
He said gesturing to the fire pit.
When he was done with the sack he left Tum-tum out in the cold. The turtle would sleep and wake to the warmth of a new day.
His food he began to lay out on a rough blanket.
He did not know what food Prowler had but he took three of the maple apples in his hand and offered them to her. In his palm they were as milk sweets by comparison.
"FOR YOU!"
And set them to the edge of the blanket for when she was done with the fire.

Orrak Lan

 

[Orrak Lan]

It was a simple sentiment. Honestly said. She could not help but smile, as her hands scooped the bundles of pine needles, dry and scattered about the ground. "So do," she repeated, and let loose the needles mixed in with dust and dirt.

Shortly, a neat pile of tinder had formed, dry lichen and twigs and thin branches stacked there above the mound like little pitches of tent. His large movements caught her eye, and she saw the glisten and sheen of the sweeted apples.

But another reason to smile. She bowed her head. "My thanks," she said slow of tongue. Generous, as well as kind. So oft a rare combination.

Her hands dug through her things, and found a small stone, runic patterns carved into its glassy surface.

A circle that surrounded a tight spiral . She raised the obsidian disk to her lips, and whispered words of the aberresai to it. The small stone grew hot against her skin, and the runes glowed bright. She laid the stone down into the bundle of stringy matter, a thing like a nest that began to crackle and catch, and she shift the twigs atop it, piled them, small to large. And bent low to blow strong breath across the emergent flame.

She rose. "North and East," she said, and turned to look at Skull-hammer as the pink dusk turned purple, and the cold wind swept across them. "More small folk," she said. "You must learn," she said slowly, as the flame crackled hungry. "To speak, like small folk,"

Skull-hammer

 

[Skull-hammer]

He listened with all the patience of his kind.
Prowler was so patient with him and he had cost them a place to stay. That didn't bother him so much but he saw Prowler trade something that was not returned.
The dagger was gone and he knew the personal power of such things.
He owed her his patience and his time.
"I, KNOW."
His breath was deep and heavy.
"I, AM, SORRY."
It was his doing that they had to leave, had to miss the camp and its safety. He didn't mind but out here Prowler was vulnerable in ways he was not. Few beings or beasts dared an ogre, even a sleeping one.
Her magic with the fire was pleasing though. The warmth reached his face and he put his large palms out to gather more.
"I, WILL LEARN."

 

[Orrak Lan]

Prowler nod, and turned back to the nascent flame. It grew, happy and luminous against the deepening dark around them.

A moment of quiet as their hands worked to feed the fire.

"I can help," she said. Maybe too softly over the purr and rumble-crack of the campfire blaze.

 

[Skull-hammer]

For a long time Skull-hammer sat watching the fire.
He ate and thought.
After a while, just long enough for Prowler to think he was finished thinking he spoke.
"I WILL LEARN, YOU WILL HELP. I WILL PAY."
He thought of the fine crafted dagger again. The darkness about them made the world small. Just them in station outside a burning orange star.
Tum-tum had fallen asleep.
The wind blew embers up into the smoke and sky above them. He loved the smell of woodsmoke and how it clung to his clothes.
When he turned his large head to look at Prowler he was reminded again of how small she was to him. How frail by comparison and how he must conduct himself gently in this world of the Small-folk.
"TELL, WHAT YOU WANT?"

Orrak Lan

 

[Orrak Lan]

"Pay?" she asked, with some surprise in her voice. Set some of the pine nuts into the well of a flat piece of wood she had found, scoot it near the fire. She nod. "Suppose that is only fair,"

She could feel him shift, as the embers caught in the breeze, and sailed on high. She turned her mismatched eyes up to greet his gaze. A smile met his demand. "To not worry about you, Skull-hammer," she confessed. "To help you, best I can," her eyes shift back to the flames. Felt their warmth growing.

She took her waterskin, and rinsed her hands. Dried them. Then one of the caramel apples, and felt the delightful stickiness of them on her freshly rinsed fingers. It was enough to make her laugh, a small little huff of breath before she took a bite out of it, and savored the layers of sweet ness that mingled with the tart.

When she finished chewing, she looked at the gift he had given her. "I'll think on how you can pay me though, in exchange," she nod.

Skull-hammer

 

[Skull-hammer]

Skull-hammer gave a committed grunt and kept eating in silence. Usually he would need a good deal more for himself but candy and sweets helped with that somewhat. Still he popped the apples in his mouth like they were blue berries.
Soon he was finished and turned his mind to preparing to lay down. His blanket, which some might call a cloth tent, was heavy and took up plenty of space. It was a busy day and he did not sleep the night before.
His mouth opened and let forth a yawn that sounded like a lion.
"YOU WORRY, WHY?"
He understood that the world was dangerous and that as had just happened he would find his way difficult but he was not concerned with them harming him, not really. and though he had no delusions about his own invulnerability he knew himself and how tough he was and perhaps more importantly, how fragile the Small-folk were.

Orrak Lan