Your Orc tried to fool himself. You’d be back in a few weeks, there’s no point in dwelling on you. You’re not a stupid human woman by any means. And you’d been living with Orcs for the past few years, there’s no way you’re going down easily.
But that didn’t stop him from worrying. Your Orc would have gone with you, but due to it being a winter season, Orc hunts would have increased… And being caught travelling with a human woman would have put an even bigger target on his back than usual.
There was safety in numbers, so he had to stay with his camp.
He resolved to sit and wait by the entrance of his tent every morning and evening, watching Orcs leave and re-enter the camp with game and food. Your Orc hoped that you’d be in toe, following and chatting animatedly with other Orcs.
And every time, he was disappointed.
He neglected his duties in the camp, even after some encouragement from other Orcs around him… But when your Orc Boyfriend showed no intent to move, they started to worry for him.
The whole camp never realised how much of a detriment your separation would be to the Orc.
To distract your Orc Boyfriend, some of his closer Orcs cajoled him, “come on, let’s go hunting. The longer you sit there, the worse you’re going to feel. She’ll come back quicker if you busy yourself.” Said Kass – a hunting Orc.
“Yeah,” Crux agreed – another hunting Orc, Kass and him were never parted, even for a moment – “time always go by slowly if you’re waiting on it, c’mon!”
“I have to be here for when she gets back.” Your Orc huffed, crossing his arms.
The two rolled their eyes, “you haven’t done anything but sit there for weeks. Leaving the camp will be good for you, come on.”
After being poked and prodded by his two friends, your Orc begrudgingly agreed to go on a hunt with them.
Hunting was always harder in the winter. All the animals worth eating went into hibernation or hid simply because of how cold it was.
Luckily, your Orc and his others found prey rather easily. It felt good to blow off that anxious energy. Kass and Crux thought that your Orc Boyfriend had set a new record for catching wild animals in these icy conditions.
After a long day of trudging through snow, tying up the animals they had caught, your Orc and his friends returned back to the camp.
As they neared the camp, a familiar laugh pricked at your Orc Boyfriend’s ears. He stopped in his tracks, Kass and Crux stopping too.
“Is that…” Crux asked.
The laugh came again, louder this time.
And that was when your Orc knew. Dropping the dead carcasses, he took off into a run to the camp.
His friends shouted curses at him, but he didn’t care. His heart in his ears, blood thrumming through his veins, he charged through the camp and found you.
You stood in front of the clan Elders, handing them huge dried bundles of herbs, red nosed from the cold, but smiling. Alive and safe.
As much as your Orc wanted to sweep you into his arms, he couldn’t ignore the slight irritation that you had returned in his absence.
So, as quietly as he could, he crept up behind you. The Elders tried their best to ignore him as he got closer and closer. “The one time I leave camp,” he growled, bending down to the side of your head, “and you dare to come back so I can’t greet you!?”
Before you could turn to face your Orc Boyfriend, you were swept off your feet and pulled into a rib-cracking hug. Your Orc grinned as you let out a shout of surprise.
Throwing your arms around him, you squeezed him back. “I missed you so much!” You told him.
“He was miserable without you.” Your boyfriends company had come back into the camp, looking disgruntled. “I’ve never seen him looking like such a sad sap.” Kass snorted.
You rolled your eyes at them and kissed your Orc’s forehead, “aww, did you really miss me that much?”
Your Orc shot Crux and Kass a glare as they smirked, happy in their vengeance. But he grumbled, burying his head in your neck, “yeah.”
“Well I’m not going anywhere like that again.” You reassured. “That trip was a nightmare. And I’m sure the Elders have got enough of that herb to last a few years.”
Looking at the Elders, they nodded before turning back to return to their own tent. “C’mon, let’s catch up.” You said as your Orc put you down. “I want to tell you about the dragon who nearly ate me.”
“A dragon nearly did what?”
“Just kidding, I wanted to see your reaction.”
Your Orc rolled his eyes as you laughed and went off to your shared tent. Smiling, your Orc Boyfriend followed behind you, happy that you had returned, safe and sound.
He gets teased at work for his respectful disposition. (In reality he is just racking up brownie points with your father!)
He sits outside with the other orcs for lunch everyday. While they talk about the girl across the street, he is busy admiring the butterfly that landed on his leg. “Silly butterfly. I’m not a plant.”
He is quite the feminist!
One time there was a court case involving your father, naturally you wanted to go. However, being a woman, you weren’t allowed to go into the courthouse. You were devastated. Kirga took you home and dressed you up to look like a man, just so you could go to court. This included resizing on old shirt of his, stuffing your hair in a hat, and binding your chest.
He went to a women's rights march with you. He got weird looks standing beside the meeting hall, surrounded by a group of women each two feet shorter than him.
He enjoys when you watch him sweat. He could be doing anything, but if he’s sweating he wants you to see. He thinks it makes him look like a hard worker, like a real man, who can take care of you. Respectfully of course. You won’t complain though. The way he chops wood, makes your heart flitter!
He is completely aware that you are smarter than him. Most of the men he knows treat their wives and mates like they don’t know anything. He absolutely loves your intelligence! He often comes inside with questions about philosophical things, then he pretends to understand your well thought out answer.
