Page 34 of X’nath (Dark Orcs of Helfallow)

34

A Feast fit for the Gods

X’NATH

T he fire crackled in the center of the clan’s gathering, casting dancing shadows across familiar faces of friends and family. The rich scent of roasted meat wafted around us, and a hearty stew simmered in a massive cauldron beside it. The men had outdone themselves today, bringing in a massive kill—a wild boar so large it could feed the entire clan for days. Laughter and conversation filled the air, the usual banter between friends and lovers flowing freely.

It was a great day to be alive. A great day to be part of the Savage Claw Clan.

I leaned back against the log where I sat, enjoying the warmth of the fire. Our warriors joked and drank, sharing stories of the hunt, while the women laughed in their own groups. Sophie, the smallest of the human females and the first to open herself up to a new life with our clan, stood with the others, glowing as she spoke of her love for Greag. She wore loose clothing, nothing new as many of our coverings were much too large for her.

"Well, Greag, I think it’s clear whose virility won this round," said Borba, a teasing grin on her face. She took a long swig from her mug.

We all stopped chattering and swung our heads in Borba’s direction.

Greag let out a hearty laugh, looking pleased with himself. "Of course, Borba. No surprise here. It’s not just my strength that makes me the best," he boasted, his tone dripping with pride.

Sophie rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the smile on her face. She placed a hand over her stomach, her cheeks flushing. All of the women around her began chatting excitedly over the news. "I’m just happy to have someone who can actually keep up," she teased, sending a playful jab at Greag’s boastful nature.

The laughter of the group grew louder as the women raised their cups in a mock salute. "To Greag," Borba said, lifting her mug. "May his strength keep growing—and let’s hope he’s got the stamina to keep up with Sophie’s cravings."

The entire table roared with laughter, and Greag took a dramatic bow, a wide grin plastered on his face. "I shall never fail her. I’ll be the best father this clan has ever seen," he declared, before turning to Sophie, lifting his own cup. "To you, my love, and the child we’re going to raise together."

"To Sophie and Greag," the clan echoed, lifting their own cups in a hearty cheer. The camaraderie was infectious, and for a brief moment, I allowed myself to enjoy the warmth of the celebration.

Then, a voice—one I hadn’t expected—cut through the laughter.

“Well, well, Sophie’s not the only one who has something to celebrate.” The voice came from behind me, and I turned to see Greag’s grin faltering as his gaze flicked to me, then to the others around the table.

The murmurs spread like wildfire across the clan. Some of the men chuckled, and the women exchanged knowing glances. My chest tightened as I followed their looks. What was Greag implying?

I turned to look at Gracie, who had been sitting quietly beside me. Her gaze was distant, her posture tense as though she was somewhere far away. I felt the tension building in the air.

But Greag wasn’t done. “What, you think I’m the only one here who knows how to have a good time?” he boomed. “X’nath, here, has been keeping something of his own under wraps.”

The eyes of the clan shifted to me, and my heart skipped a beat. The whole place went silent for a moment, the intensity of their gazes too much to ignore. I could feel Gracie tense beside me.

"Well?" Borba asked, smirking as she raised an eyebrow. "What’s this? You’ve finally found a woman who can handle your... intensity?"

A few other women laughed, some even jokingly murmuring about the nature of my previous ‘trysts,’ but they were all light-hearted, far from malicious.

“It’s no surprise that my Gracie would be the one to make me work for her affections,” I grinned, a surge of pride bubbling up as I pulled Gracie onto my lap and held her tightly. The progress we’d made between us pleased me more than I cared to admit.

But my instincts told me something was off. As the jokes continued, I turned to Gracie again, searching her face for some sign, but she was so still, her eyes fixed on her plate.

I could sense the undercurrent of tension in her body, the way her fingers were clenched tight around her mug, as if she were ready to run but I couldn’t understand why. After our tryst in the forest, she seemed relieved, more willing to accept my companionship on our walk back to the clan. But now, she wasn’t joining in on the laughter, and her usual fire was gone, replaced by something else.

When the conversation turned back to Sophie and Greag, I leaned in toward Gracie, lowering my voice so only she could hear me. " Lak’osh ," I said softly, "what’s going on?"

She turned her head toward me, her lips curving into something that was supposed to be a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. "I’m fine," she murmured, her voice quieter than usual.

I wasn’t convinced. I reached for her hand, threading our fingers together and squeezing them gently. "You’re not fine. What’s happening?"

She hesitated, glancing around the table as if she were looking for an escape route. It was a familiar pattern I had come to learn.

"I’m just... a little overwhelmed," she said at last, her eyes flickering to Sophie’s belly region and then to Greag. "Everything’s just... so much."

I could feel her heart racing beneath my touch, and I didn’t buy her excuse for a second. She was hiding something, but I couldn’t force it out of her—not here, not now.

"Do you want to leave?" I asked, keeping my voice low. "You don’t have to stay here if it’s too much."

She nodded quickly, but there was a flicker in her eyes that told me this wasn’t just about the celebration. There was something more, something unspoken that she was holding back. I disliked this feeling. As a warrior, I thrived on being prepared, but how could I be ready for a battle when I didn’t even know who— or what— I was fighting?

She stood up, and without a word, I followed her as she made her way toward the edge of the gathering. It needed to be a quick exit, and I could feel something tightening in my chest. I didn’t like the way she was pulling away from me, not when I could feel there was something deeper weighing on her.

As we walked, the other orcs, sensing the shift in the air, began their usual teasing.

"Going somewhere private, X'nath?" Greag called with a knowing grin. "Don't keep her up too late. We wouldn’t want you both to be too tired for tomorrow's hunt."

A few of the others laughed, joining in with exaggerated winks and elbow nudges.

I smirked. "I’ll be sure to save some energy for the rest of you," I shot back, keeping my voice light, though my thoughts were on Gracie’s retreating back.

Karg leaned in. "We all knew it wouldn’t take long for you two to leave the party. After all, who could resist a night with a warrior like you, X’nath?" He chuckled, nudging his mate, Erin, beside him who slapped his chest playfully.

I didn’t rise to their bait. Instead, I gently escorted Gracie back toward her home, my hand brushing the small of her back protectively. The warmth of her body against mine did little to ease the tension brewing inside me.

“ Lak’osh? ” I asked softly, though my voice held an edge of concern.

She didn’t respond immediately, her gaze firmly fixed ahead. The chatter of the clan behind us faded, but I still heard their teasing echoes, as if they knew, too.

When we reached the door of her home, I paused, giving her a sideways glance. “You don’t have to be alone with whatever’s on your mind. As much as I talk, my ears are just as good as my mouth,” I said with a wink.

I waited for her response, but the silence between us stretched out like a long, awkward pause.

“Gracie,” I prodded, my voice softer now. “You’re making me work harder than a warrior in the heat of battle.”

"I’m fine," she muttered, avoiding my gaze. "Just… a lot on my mind."

I knew better than to press, but the knot in my stomach told me that this wasn’t over yet. "Alright. But don’t think you can hide from the clan forever," I said with a playful grin, my tone light, though my concern was anything but. “One of them is bound to come by food to make sure you have your fill of our spoils from the hunt.”

She gave a small, strained smile, but it did little to calm the unease that was settling deeper within me. As an only child, I had always looked to my parents as the model for what love and companionship should look like. My father’s devotion to my mother was a constant, something I admired greatly. He loved her with a fierceness that never waned, and when I was born, they said their lives only grew richer with the addition of me. But that all changed the day he lost her—on a mission outside the mountains.

I went from witnessing a love that blossomed, to watching my father crumble in her absence. He became a shadow of the man he once was, consumed by grief and anger, taking it out on anyone around him. It was painful to watch, but it taught me something vital. I saw what love could do to a man—the heights it could lift him to and the depths it could drag him down to.

Yet, amidst the pain, I remembered my father’s words: that love was always worth fighting for, even with the looming threat of loss. He never regretted loving my mother, no matter the price. And I knew, deep down, I wouldn’t regret loving Gracie either, no matter what challenges we might face together.