“How do you know that name?” Ghruz stared at Silviana with sadness, and a twinge in their heart. The last person who uttered that name died in their arms, a wound on their soul that wouldn’t heal.. “How do you know that name?” they repeated.

Silviana froze in place, a beat of sweat running down her cheek. “I… I heard you talking to yourself the other night.” Silviana spoke reluctantly.

Ghruz looked at their hands, blood dripping from their knuckles, the white of bone showing through. The adrenaline was wearing off, and exhaustion and pain hit them like a dragon. They gritted their teeth through the pain.

“You followed me?” they said, anger in their voice.

Silviana stepped forward, holding her hand out to Ghruz. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry, you just left camp—”” she pleaded.

The orc slapped her hand away. “YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE FOLLOWED ME!” Ghruz yelled.

Silviana recoiled back, her cheeks damp with tears.

Ghruz pinched their brow and looked away, exhaling deeply. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap. We’ll talk later. It looks like the others need help with your queen. Go help.”

“B-but your arm!”

“Silvi, please just go.”

The elf’s hesitant gaze locked with the orc’s, before running off towards Titania.

Ghruz grunted in frustration and hit the ground with their fist. Their arm was still covered in a black flame. It produced no heat, but the metal of their armour had fused to their arm. They looked around for their axe, seeing it laying a few meters away. They picked it up, and tore the sash off their waist, then pulled a flint from their belt.

Kneeling on the ground, Ghruz set the sash alight, laying the head of their axe in the flame, until it singed black. They grabbed the axe, looking over their shoulder to make sure everyone else was preoccupied, Silviana gave one more glance over their way, but she too, turned back to the queen. They lifted the axe into the air, and brought it down on their bicep with enough force to slice cleanly through, blood gushing from the stump.

Ghruz felt their vision blur, and bit their lip so hard that a bead of blood dripped down their chin. The orc pressed the flat of the searing axe against the stump, the wound hissing and sealing over. They couldn’t hold it for any longer, the world going black, and their body hitting the ground with a dull thud.

————————————————————————————————

“Fawn! You’ll have to hit harder than that if you want to defeat a Scourge raider!” said the clan handler sternly. They held their palms out and snarled at the young orc. “Now hit me like you mean it. Show me that you are an orc and not a fawn.”

The small orc’s shoulders heaved with each ragged breath, having been sparring all morning. They raised their fists and lunged forward with a furious blow, colliding with a smack. The solidly-built handler reeled back from the force, their eyes going wide with astonishment.

The young orc smirked, lowering their fists. The handler nodded in approval, walking up to their pupil. “Yeah, that’s more like it.” They launched a powerful blow into the whelp’s stomach, and the child collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air. “But don’t let your guard down. I didn’t say we were done, so get up and earn your name.”

The child felt tears welling up in their eyes, blinking them away. They would not cry. Combat was not a time for tears. They slowly got up, their breath gradually coming back to them. The young orc raised their fists, and launched themselves at the handler.

————————————————————————————————

Ghruz could feel the gentle rhythm of carriage sway underneath them, and they opened their eyes to the dim candlelit room. They turned their head to see Sliviana leaning against the wall in her seat. Her delicate cheekbones framed perfectly in the moonlight, a wisp of hair across her eye. She was covered in grime and dirt, but Ghruz’s heart still raced.

They went to wipe their brow, finding their arm wouldn’t move. They couldn’t even feel it. Ghruz turned their head to see their arm missing entirely. The orc gasped in shock, and Silviana’s eyes went wide on full alert as she shot up from her seat, hitting her head on the ceiling.

“How long have I been out?”

Silviana rubbed her head with a pained look, before sitting across from Ghruz. She cast her gaze to the side, and bit her lip.

“You’ve been asleep for three days,” Silviana said softly, her eyes darting to the stump where the orc’s arm once was. “About before—”

The orc ignored her. “How’s Titania? Has she recovered?”

Silviana smiled gently. “Yes, she was barely marked. She insisted I look over you while she drove the carriage.” The elf’s sapphire eyes glinted in the moonlight. “So if it’s a bit bumpy, that is why.”

Ghruz rolled onto their side, their rich brown eyes locking with Silviana. “I somehow feel even less safe now than against that monster.” Ghruz chuckled, before immediately regretting it, pain shooting through their body.

Silviana shot Ghruz a sympathetic look. “Are you sure you are okay?” she said in a hushed tone.

Ghruz sat themselves up with a grunt, the blanket covering them sliding off and almost slipping to the floor before they realised they didn’t have a left arm to support them. Silviana shot her arm out to help, but the orc brushed her off. “I don’t need help. I can sit myself up.”

Silviana nodded, a silence drawing long between them. Ghruz sighed and shook their head, and rested their body against the carriage wall. The orc glanced at her; the moonlight shone in such a way her sapphire gaze was like a shattered gem. Her lithe form draped in once gorgeous and lavish silks, now tattered and dirty. It didn’t matter to Ghruz, they could drink in Silviana til the sun came up.

They pulled their blanket over their shoulders and held the blanket open, clearing their throat. Silviana looked at Ghruz, an eyebrow slightly raised.

“Come, Silvi, keep me warm.” Ghruz smirked, knowing full well they both had their enchanted amulets around their necks.

Silviniana flashed a scowl, before quickly shifting into less than subtle embarrassment, hesitating for a moment before moving to the other bench. The orc wrapped their thick arm around her shoulders, pulling the blanket over her.

Ghruz sighed contentedly, the elf’s bony form pressed against their own. It felt like their heart was trying to escape their scarred chest. Silviana rested her head on their shoulder, her delicate hand resting on Ghruz’s lap.

The orc stiffened, their breathing becoming erratic. It’s been too long since I was like this. Decades since I was like this with— No, my wounds need to heal. I need to move forward.

“Hey Silvi.”

“I still haven’t decided whether or not you can call me that.”

The orc hesitated for a moment, regulating their breathing, before squeezing Silviana’s shoulder. “Ghruz isn’t my name,” they murmured.

The elf pulled away, staring at Ghruz intently. “I… I figured.”

“I just gave Titania a random word. I wasn’t expecting to stay in her company for so long. Names are sacred to orcs, and mine carries a lot of pain.” The orc rested their head on the wall with a dull thud. “You were the first to say my name in thirty zeniths.”

Silviana squeezed the orc’s thigh, nuzzling her head against the orc. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled.

The orc lay their head on the elf; her strawberry blond hair was softer than silk, and the scent sweeter than that of lotus dew. Their calloused hand slid down the elf’s arm, caressing her hand tenderly.

“You can call me Lailah, Silvi.” Lailah spoke softly, the sound of the carriage almost overtaking their voice.

Silviana chuckled, nuzzling the side of her head on the orc’s shoulder. “Okay, Lailah. You can call me Silvi.”

Lailah held the elf close, and nuzzled her ear playfully with their slanted nose. “You didn’t have a choice.”