"Seriously, what was Chieftain Urim thinking, putting his trust into an elf who knows nothing of our kind.” Chieftain Agronsk said.

“She killed a steedsaaker,” Yolmar said.

  “It slipped and fell,” Agronsk said. “It fell."

“We were… all there,” Torgan said. “We all… I saw what happened.”

Agronsk swallowed hard. Could Torgan know?

“Yes we all saw what happened, the elf,” Yolmar said.

“Plum,” Torgan corrected.

“Yes, Plum killed a steedsaaker with a bow.” Yolmar continued.

“It fell,” Agronsk repeated with clench his teeth.

“Only cause Plum put an arrow in its eye. Plum did the horde proud this day.” Torgan said.

“Yes,” Yolmar laughed. “She fought more honorable than your disgrace of a son.”

“Leave my son out of this,” Agronsk said.

“Your son disgraced the hunt, Urim should have killed him,” Torgan said.

“Urim! oversteps.” Agronsk said. “He thinks himself Chieftain of the entire horde when he's only chieftain of the Blood Horde.”

“The horde respects him, I respect him. He's done a lot for the horde, like single-handedly opening up trade with the elves of Orrin Sirine and he's at least willing to talk peace with the humans,” Yolmar said.

“Peace with the humans after everything they've done. It is stupid and naive to think the human will want peace.” Agronsk grunted.

“The humans fear and respect Urim. As long as he stands there will be peace.” Torgan said.

"But Sapphire no longer see us as mindless beasts. That's because of Urim. People are actually willing to talk to us because we're no longer warmongers. I for one am not as young and sprightly as I used to be. The horde tires of constant war, I tire of war.” Yolmar said.

   “I too spent the better part of my youth fighting,” Torgan said. “My pride, my arrogance, and ignorance cause me to lose three sons and two wives, and for what, a few scars I wear as a badge of honor. I would gladly erase every one of these scars if it would bring my family back.”

“Both of you have become weak in your old age. We are orcs.” Agronsk said.

Torgan grabbed Agronsk by his collar. “We are sons, brothers, husbands, father, and uncles. Urim is the only one of us who look past what we are, and sees what we can become.”

“If you want Agronsk, you can challenge Urim,” Torgan said.

“Yes, you can kill him and your son can take the credit.” Yolmar laughed.

A low growl rumbled deep from Agronsk's throat as he clenched his fist. He pushed Torgan aside stumped off.

    Agronsk watched in utter can disgust as the horde celebrated Plum. The champion of the hunt. Had the steepsaaker not fallen. It filled Agronsk with rage to see the orcs celebrating Plum, an outsider.

“To Plum,” the orcs cheered. “To the only person to ever take down a steedsaaker with a toothpick.”

    The orc cheered they celebrated that they eat roasted steepsaaker and got drunk.

“Sister,” Orgul yelled picking her up. “You did good, little sis, father is so proud.”

“Where's father?” Plum asked.

“Probably fighting off all the orcs who now want to marry you,” Orgul joked.

“Oh,” Plum said.

Orgul could see she was visibly upset,

“Plum you killed a steedsaaker with nothing more than a bow that in itself is worthy of a drink,” Orgul said, taking a mug from an orc walking by.

“Here drink,” Orgul said handing Plum mug.

“What is it?” Plum asked, sniffing the drink then turning up her nose at the strong smell.

“It's grog,” Orgul said. “ Drink it, it'll put hair on your chest.”

“I.. don't want… hair on my chest.” Plum said.

“Just drink,” Orgul said pushing the mug to her lips.

Plum reluctantly jugged the grog. She just killed a steepsaaker, she couldn't be defeated by an orcish drink.

It tasted horrible and burned her throat. A warm feeling enveloped her body, and she felt happy and cheery. She was happy and she wanted everyone to be happy.

“Plum, I…”

“Brandyl! Father, happy am I see you too,” Plum said hugging him. “I kill a steedsaaker.”

Brandyl, he thought, she never calls him by his first name. “Plum, are you drunk?” he asked.

Plum's eyes slowly shifted left then right then left then right again, “Noooo,” she said shaking her head yes.

“You smell like grog,” Brandyl said.

“Pfff, pfff,” Plum said sniffing herself, “No you smell like grog.”

“Orgul! What did you do?” Brandyl said.

“Nothing father, I just want to celebrate,” Ogrul said.

“So you thought you give a five-foot, five hundred and a fifteen-pound elf a drink made for a seven-foot three hundred pound orc?” Brandyl said.

“Yeah, well when you put it that way, it does sound kinda dumb,” Orgul said.

“Come on, Plum I think you need to sleep it off,” Brandyl said.

“Awe, I don't wanna go to sleepy I'm not bed yet,” Plum said.

“Oh, your definitely sleepy and you're going to bed,” Brandyl ordered throwing Plum over his shoulder.

He was so mad at Orgul all he could do to keep from giving him a good pounding was walk away.

“I don't wanna go to sleep, I went to sleep last night.” Plum protested.

“Your going to sleep,” Brandyl insisted.

“But I'm not… Gneth, Gneth,” Plum called. “How's the leg?”

Gneth gave her a thumbs up.

“Good,” Plum said. “I hope you catch gangrene and your leg rots off.” she whispered.

“Plum, that's not nice,” Brandyl said.

“Hff, served him right,” Plum said. “He pushed me in front of that steedsaaker. If Urim hadn't pushed me out the way, I'd be a Plum Apricot pancake.”

“WHAT!” Brandyl yelled firmly placing Plum on her feet.

“What? What?” Plum said.

“Plum! What did you just say” Brandyl asked.

“Ummm…. I saiddddd…. That Genth… Urim hi Urim, Urim hi.” Plum said waving hysterically.

“Urim Chieftain, this is my Brandyl, and he's trying to make me go to sleepy and I'm not even bedtime yet.” Plum said.

“Plum Apricot, are you drunk?” Urim asked.

Plum sighed, “Why does everyone keep drunk asking me if I are.” she shrugged her shoulders.

“Because you are,” Urim said.

“Urim Chieftain, I think I wouldn't know if I was drunk.” Plum said.

Plum was now seeing double, “two Urims,” she smiled.

Urim was spinning. She fell to her knees closed her eyes as her head fell in Urim’s lap.

Urim smiled.