Page 6 of Simon

“Coast is clear,” Elmira said when she tied the horses to the post. “Come on, Lucy, stretch your legs.”

I went to the side of the wagon, being careful not to trip. I was still getting used to wearing the moveable, breathable, and comfortable corset dress that most of the non-shifter women wore, which I felt at odds with. Once I reached the edge, Dutton was there with his hand held out.

“Come on, I don’t bite...” he chuckled, “... hard.”

Elmira let out an enormous sigh and crossed her arms. “Stop fucking around Dutton!” She glared at him and flipped him off. Elmira stomped over and put out her hand for me, then led me off the wagon. “Can’t find good help these days. It’s a damn shame. Come on, I’ll grab your tent.” She shot one more warningglare at Dutton, who smiled back and held his hands up in mock surrender.

“I’m gonna gut him from navel to nose,” Elmira said under her breath.

I looked back and forth between the two. Was I sensing something there? He was staring at her even though she had already turned. She had a swing in her hips and tossed her hair over her shoulder.

Mating rituals were not my forte, but that was something I was going to have to watch. Are they mates or just sexual partners?

I covered my mouth and laughed, as we walked away and saw the campsite being set up. Tents for each couple, except for Dutton and Elmira, who were stealing glances at each other. Mine was nearly finished and just in time because darkness was falling.

When I put the finishing touches on my bed, we heard stomping coming through the woods. Then, a deep barrel of laughs came from the other end of the clearing. The horses tightened up on their reins, neighing and pulling, trying to get away from their posts. Two of the males went over to settle them, while I stood from my tent and held on to one of the poles for comfort.

A large, orc male was pushed into the clearing first, stumbling to one knee. He was large, like I expected, with a long braid down to his waist with both sides shaved. A loin cloth was the only thing covering his private areas, and straps of leather covered either side of his chest. He roared in anger and stood up quickly, facing the woods, only for another orc to stride out confidently. He was leaner than the first, with short hair, with no braid- reminded me of an ordinary, popular haircut the shifters had- and a wide smile on his face.

Definitely more approachable than the first.

“Greetings!” The one smiling raised his hand to wave at us. “I am Sugha, son of Eman, and this is Durz, son of Forge.”

Durz stood, the dirt flying up around his bare feet. He patted himself down and strode forward. “Yes, I am Durz. Where is the human female, so I may smell her?”

Mary freaking Poppins!

Chapter Three

Simon

Thewindhadshifted.

I laid down the tool I used to dig under the soil and got the nutrient-rich roots I had been craving. I didn’t know what they were called, but they bled a deep red and my mouth watered when I saw the bright liquid gush from the ground.

The root was sweet with sugar. It reminded me of the mouth-watering treats Calliope, the human I had protected for such a long time, would feed me beneath the table of her former home.

I perked one ear up to listen for any unfamiliar sounds, and my other hand reached inside the hole, too hungry to wait. Wetness seeped onto my fingers. I never thought I would have had such body parts, but here I was.

I took the handful of roots, letting the liquid drip down my wrist, arm and elbow, and trotted to the stream. My hooves, which I now only had two, were easier to walk on, as it had been some moons. I used to have four. I was so sturdy and confident with four, but now with two hands—with thumbs—I could do many tasks I never thought I would be able to.

I wasn’t human, but not quite animal.

I pushed the roots into the stream, letting the dirt wash away. My taste buds changed when my appearance did. I could not eat everything in sight anymore. Food tasted dirty, when before I did not care about taste. Now, grit gets into my teeth, and it stays for days and hurts my stomach.

I pushed the roots into my mouth and let them crunch under my back teeth. My front teeth now had sharper points. They were no longer flat for me to be able to pull up the grasses from the soil. No, I can do much more now, such as tear and rip into food that I had no desire to eat before.

Like meat.

I had gained a new craving, one that I would have found repulsive in my past life. The texture and taste had been enlightening. Preparing it had been difficult, so I had resorted to stealing it from others who had prepared the bloody material. The enjoyment of seeing orcs blaming one another and trying to figure out who had stolen their prized food had been entertaining.

I let the last of the root slither down my throat. That was when the wind shifted again and new smells filled my lungs.

I had become attuned with the Wood. The shadows, the smells, tastes, and sounds, and there was a change that was quite unfamiliar.

The orcs were the primary beings that lived here besides the two human females. One was Ellie, mate to the leader of the tribe, and the other was Calliope—my best friend in my former life. I knew their smells quite well, but these unfamiliar scents were new to the Wood.

I raised my head with a sense of anticipation, my ears perking up as I trotted towards the destination the Wood guided me to. The vibrant leaves rustled and the branches swayed, their inviting gestures and gentle whispers seemed to call out specifically to me. In that moment, a peculiar sensation washed over me - as if the foliage was communicating, speaking directly to my very essence. These natural elements had become my steadfast companions ever since my transformation into what I was now.

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