Page 8 of Halfling
He’d need things for this. He’d gone through most of his supplies on his hunt, his clothes and furs were soiled. And he certainly had nothing for the human.
His eyes flicked to the main storage tent, two down from the one he guarded. This area of camp was quiet, and he didn’t see any sign of whoever had just walked past. He counted to ten in his head before creeping down to the supply tent.
Inside were all manner of things any orc could need, and he made quick work of taking his fill and more. Panic made his movements jerky while dread pooled in his stomach. He’d always felt like something of a thief when he came in here, had been told more than once that a half-orc should only get half supplies. He never lingered here, never took more than he needed. But this time was different.
He grabbed furs, rations, an extra canteen. A small flask of tincture and a pot of healing salve. A bed roll and one more fur, from the bottom, just so no one would notice.
He took all of it with no guilt, just a hope that it’d all fit in his pack.
Back outside, he kept his breathing steady and his gait unhurried as he returned to the tent with the human in it.
But before he got there, his heart lurched to see Fulk walk out from between tents a ways up the path.
The older orc glanced at the large load in Orek’s arms but that didn’t stop a friendly grin from stretching across his face.
He lifted a hand in greeting, and Orek returned it with a nod, willing his uneasiness not to show all over his face.
Fulk was a good male, always kind and patient with orclings and easy to talk to. He’d been an accomplished hunter once, but after a leg injury left him with a limp, he’d turned to smithing. He stayed around camp mostly, contributing where he could. Everyone liked Fulk, it was why they forgave him for not being a hunter anymore. That, and he was Krul’s older brother.
But he’d always been kind to Orek, never one of the males who harassed or beat him as a youngling. Orek had even hid in Fulk’s tent a few times when Kaldar and the other males were out looking to torment him.
“Back finally, Orek?” Fulk said. “You’ve been gone from camp many days now.”
“This last beast took me on a chase.”
“That the beast in question?” Fulk nodded at the bulk in Orek’s arms, his eyes twinkling.
“No,” said Orek with a grin. “Just restocking. I…I’m leaving again. For another hunt.”
“Another? So soon?”
“Anything for the clan.”
“Hm,” Fulk hummed in his throat. “That was a fine hunt I saw roasting over the fire. I think you’ve earned a few days in camp.”
Orek shuffled, glad at least that someone knew it wasn’t Kaldar who brought in that kill.
“C’mon now,” Fulk said, turning Orek down the path. He gave his shoulder a slap. “Let’s get a good seat by the fire and a full plate. Few things in this world are better.”
Orek had never had either, and a sharp longing tugged at him at the offer. It’d be easy to agree, to slip away with Fulk and take a place beside him at the fire. The kin would indulge Fulk for a night if he wanted to sit with the runt. Orek could indulge himself in the fantasy that one day, when he’d finally proven himself to them, this would always be how it was for him, a spot at the fire, a full plate.
But it was mere fantasy—and wouldn’t change that a human woman sat in that tent, awaiting a fate worse than death.
“I can’t,” Orek said. “I was ordered to guard the tent.”
Fulk looked over his shoulder at the tent, a hard, flinty look overcoming his usually genial face. He made an unhappy grunt before sighing and patting Orek’s shoulder.
“Perhaps it’d be best to leave camp after all. Tonight…it won’t be pretty.”
Orek kept his face blank, trying to hide his surprise. Fulk seemed to know and disapprove. Had he felt the same way about Orek’s mother?
If so…why had he said nothing?
With another sigh, Fulk bid him farewell and headed for the communal fire, his limp more pronounced.
Orek watched him go, as always rather mystified by Fulk. Both he and Krul were shrewd in their own ways.
When Fulk rounded the far tent and disappeared, Orek dropped down next to his pack to organize everything he’d brought.
