The rock felt smooth and cool under my hands, and for a moment I paused in my walk to look at it. It was covered in green vines, but it had some jagged edges as well, meaning even at times the sand would reach here and slowly eat layer after layer away. I wondered how many years this rock had been here already, what it had seen through those years, who had rested on its surface just like I was doing now, taking a breather. It was humid here close to the river, a pressing warmth in my chest when I inhaled the air. My dreadlocks were wet and sticking to my face and back, rather uncomfortably. Sometimes I did regret letting it grow out again, the short coupe had had some advantages over the heavy mat of red locks.
For a short moment I pressed my cheek against the smooth side of the rock and closed my eyes, smiling to myself. I liked this land. Not so much the sand, but the warmth and the oasis, it reminded me of Stranglethorn in some ways. I heard a soft splash nearby and looked up, somewhat startled. It couldn’t be Lian, he’d remained back in the city, the sand too hot for his paws to walk on constantly, hurting the soft cushions underneath. Was it a crocolisk? Quietly grabbing an arrow from my quiver, I knocked it on my bowstring and turned around, making my way through the greenery towards the source of the sound. My feet made near to no noise on the soft earth, and I managed to get to the waterside without being noticed. My arrow was pointed straight at the back of an orc. Long, black hair was pulled forwards over her shoulder. She seemed to be washing it in the stream, unaware of the danger behind her. I could kill her instantly if I wanted to. I only had to release my arrow…
But of course I wouldn’t do that. I wouldn’t kill a True Blood, even though I didn’t particularly like her. Rhonya was the reason Sadok had left me, heavily pregnant and in the middle of Tanaan. She was the reason I had nearly killed him, when he told me what he had done. I had mainly been avoiding her and them together, even though Sadok and I talked things out, it still stung. Even though Mozrogg and me were perfectly fine with being together and gave each other the space we needed, something Sadok had never really been able to give me, it still hurt.
Slowly I lowered the arrow and relaxed the bowstring, clearing my throat to make her aware of my presence. Her eyes went wide and she turned, nearly tumbling into the river while letting out a surprised yelp. I felt one of my eyebrows go up a little and kept my hands on my bow, looking at her as I stepped out from the bushes properly and into the late sunlight of the day.
‘Sorry. I didn’t mean ta scare ya.” I said, my voice a bit dry and hoarse due to the hot, sandy air I’d been breathing the past few hours.
Rhonya shook her fair head and a small smile appeared on her face. Always smiling. Damn that nice smile. Her voice was soft and gentle as she spoke, so different in comparison to my own.
“It’s alright... I just didn’t expect someone to find me here, is all.” She gathered herself a bit again, settling more properly on the edge of the water, wringing out her wet hair with her hands. The droplets made soft noises as they fall back into the river, and for a few moments that was the only sound around us, until I moved to squat next to the water myself to cup some of it in my hand and splash some on my dusty face. I looked back up.
“Ya s’ouldn’t be alone ‘ere anyway, small t’in’ like ya. Dere be crocolisks an’ wasps an’ snakes. Be no’ really safe. Sadok woul’ be sad if ya get ‘urt.” Snap. Why had I brought Sadok up? I hadn’t meant to, but somehow it just came out. To avoid her eyes, I just started to pull my boots off and put my feet into the water. Rhonya remained quiet for a little moment. Her voice was as gentle and soft as always, though I could clearly hear a sharp edge to the words now.
“I know. I’m not completely helpless on my own, unlike what most of you seem to think. I can take care of myself.”
I turned my head and looked at her expression. Her eyes were slightly narrowed. They looked almost purple in this light, the blue seeming to mix with the light hint of red around her pupils. She looked determined, fierce in a way. I exhaled slowly through my nose in a sigh.
“I suppose many seem ta for’et dat at times, ya. Ya dun look very t’reatenin’.” I said, a light joking tone in my voice at the last sentence. She smiled.
“Take my word for it, it can be a blessing and a curse. Though often they don’t expect things from me, which can work to my advantage at times. But you should know, you do the same, in a way.”
I opened my mouth to ask her what she meant, feigning ignorance, but looking at her face I knew I wouldn’t fool her. So instead I just bared my fangs in a knowing grin. Perhaps we had more in common than I thought.
“Ya dun miss bein’ T’ur’ruk?” I heard myself ask. I didn’t really know where the question came from. I moved my feet through the cool water while she shifted herself a little and shook her head.
“Some things, I suppose… But there isn’t much I can’t do right now that I couldn’t do before. It’s… just a title, you know. A name. It doesn’t make who you are, though of course it gives you certain… privileges. But I was never much someone taking point, leading others, ordering orcs. I never liked that… “ Her voice trailed off a little before she continued. “I suppose it’s different as Thur’ruk though than as.. for example, a Varog’gor… They have a clear purpose for everyone to see. Protect the Chieftain, the tribe…”
I nodded to her words thoughtfully. I had admired the Varog’gor. Those I had known, at least, which were not many. Therak had succumbed under the rank, as so many before him. Orcs called it the Varog’gor curse, either they all disappeared without a trace or they died horrible deaths. So far it’d proven true for most of them. To swear your life to the chieftain wasn’t a small thing… To put his safety before everything else in your life. Not that there was much else in my life worth protecting… Mozrogg, of course. But he thought mainly the same as I did. The tribe, but that was also a Varog’gors duty. My children. Though I had never felt as close to them as some other mothers. Perhaps that was simply my survival instinct. I loved them, but with them I was slow, they brought dangers, they were loud and annoying. I was fine without them too, knowing they were well taken care of.
As I looked up, I noticed Rhonya was inspecting my face now. Perhaps she’d noticed my thoughtful expression. “Wat?”
She shrugged, before her smile grew wider a bit. Sometimes I had such an urge to smack her in the face and wipe that smile away. But I held myself back.
“You just looked like you were making up your mind about something. Black knife… Protector of the tribe. You’ve been a Gul’thauk for a long time now, following Kozgugore around in absence of a Varog’gor.”
I nodded. She was right at that part at least. I’d kept my eye on the Chief, when he was standing alone, his back to dangers. I couldn’t always be there of course. But beside Mozrogg, he was my main focus in the tribe. I didn’t have any bloodsiblings. I never really let anyone close. Only one or two had managed over the years I’d been with the tribe to get to know the real me. And it was fine that way. It was safer.
“Been a year o’ so now.” I spoke softly.
She nodded, responding. “Do you feel you would do different as an Elder? Your views, your ways, priorities?”
I shook my head and she continued: “Then you know a bit of how I feel, not being Thur’ruk anymore. I can do what I want to do, what I feel I need to do… protect the tribe in other ways. My loved ones.”
A soft sigh escaped my lips. “I wouldn’t really min’ t’oug’, I suppose. Bindin’ meself more. Learn more. Bu’ me views woul’ stay da same. Da tribe be me everyt’in’. I ‘ave not’in’ else lef’.” A sudden hand softly patted me on my leg and in reaction my eyes narrowed, but it was simply an automatic gesture from Rhonya’s part, something soothing. I didn’t move.
“Well, then perhaps you know the next steps.” She said somewhat cheerfully before standing up. She wasn’t wearing any shoes, just a simple robe. Without a word she wandered off towards the city and left me sitting, wondering what had actually happened. I hadn’t asked for any advice. Or even stated a problem…
Grumbling to myself, I splashed some more water in my face. Perhaps it was time for some more steps ahead. I told myself I’d talk to the Chief about it. We used to have pretty good talks together. He’d be honest with me.
With a grunt I stood up, picked up my boots and my bow and followed Rhonya’s trail to the city, the scent she’d left behind. She smelled like herbs, like organic things and a hint of the sharp tang of blood. It was easy to follow. Footsteps on perhaps a new path…