The first rays of sunlight made their way over the horizon, making me squint my eyes due to the sudden brightness. I didn’t turn away though, merely closed my eyes and enjoyed the warmth of the morning sun on my face. Light snoring was heard from beside me. My hand found Timurs soft fur without looking, gently stroking the soft fuzz on his ears while he slept. Uurekh was lying curled up between the front paws of the wolf. It had been a good choice to find a companion for him after Lian had passed away. There was just some level of company, of comfort that I couldn’t give either of them. Especially now we needed to get used to one another again, shift the bond a little after the recent events.
A true daughter of the wild, like me.
The words filled my head and made me smile. I wasn’t sure I deserved such high praise, but those words had stuck with me the most. I woke up some mornings, my thoughts filled with hunting memories, running through the woods with my pack…
I opened my eyes, looking over my shoulder towards Razor Hill.
My pack. The burdens on my shoulders had never been higher than now. I had taken them up willingly of course, but it was going to take some getting used to. How times change…
The talk yesterday between me, Nakobu and Gaar’thok had made me think about all that again. How I had started on my own, so unfamiliar with anything outside my little bubble that I grew up in. My life had been Qa’ajn, Lian and the jungle. The Troll had done his best to teach me at least some things, but I had lacked greatly in social skills with others, especially Orcs. Never did I have the responsibility over anyone besides Lian while we grew up together. Never did I actually care for someone else besides my little family there.
My gaze travelled over some of the orcs that were waking up now and went on their morning duties or practices, my hand still gently stroking the soft fur of the wolf beside me. He was awake now, eyes open. Perhaps sensing my thoughts. He’d been picking up on them more and more lately, yet had pulled away again slightly recently. I didn’t blame him. We’d work on it, all of us together.
Trakmar had changed my life. I had told him multiple times, but I still wasn’t sure how aware he actually was of this fact. Kicked out of camp by a Varog’gor after I just found the Red Blades, Trakmar was the one to find me and convince me to come back with him. He was the one who taught me how to balance my own nature with the orc traditions and history. How not to lose myself, but to become a proper part of it anyway.
And now, I was a Varog’gor. Keeper of the code. Protector of the Chieftain and the clan as a whole. Risen to a position and responsibility I had never thought of reaching, when first meeting the Red Blades. There was no way back anymore now.
It had changed everything. It had changed… me.
Yet I had never doubted the choice to start training as Varog’gor. Even knowing most had ended up dead or insane during the clans history. The burden was a heavy one, after all.
I looked back towards the now slowly rising sun and pushed myself to my feet, stretching myself out. A stab of pain shot through my right shoulder as I did so, but I ignored it. The wound I had gotten in Felwood had still never really healed, a very wide ugly scar taking up most my shoulder now. Perhaps I should’ve found a proper healer for it after all. Maybe let someone take a look at it still…
“Time for morning run, Timur. Coming along?†I spoke softly to the wolf. He raised his ears and stood up to stand by my side. Uurekh lazily just rolled over again. Doubt I’d be able to get him moving for the next hour or so.
There were things I needed to arrange. Plans to be made, orcs to speak to. Not many in the clan had seen the other side of me, and hopefully it would stay that way. But if needed, I would step up and be the one to catch the blows, the target, the one for people to direct their hate to if things are not going as they want and someone needs to interfere. And I’d be ready to defend myself or anyone unjustly targeted by others.
Stalker and Striker. Hopefully only Stalker had to show herself to the world, be that in full or not. But Striker would be ready if needed, I could feel it.
I set off on a jog, the wolf by my side. It was promising to be another beautiful day.
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