Chapter 5
(I give up on tags. This shit gay as fuck. Get over it. I have.)
Colborn was the first to rise, waking up in Kilroy's arms, huddled against his chest. His eyes came into focus on the embering fireplace, then the tiny shaft of light cascading through the mouth of the cave. He went to move, but the hulking Orc holding him tightened his grip.
"It's time." Colborn poked his breast, expecting the beast to wake and open his eyes. Instead he just tightened his hold, his eyes refused to budge.
"I don't wanna play 'wake the bear'..." Colborn spoke quietly.
"Then stay here with me." Kilroy mumbled, hoping to go back to sleep.
"Just because you drank too much?" He teased.
"No, my nuts are still trying to replenish. Need to sleep in." Kilroy smiled to himself.
"Then you need breakfast, not sleep." Colborn poked his chest again. "Besides... I'm sure you got a few loads left in there if you really need 'em."
"I'm only gonna need one if you keep it up." Kilroy wrapped his legs around Colborn, locking him in place as much as he could.
"Well you're welcome to suck it out of my dick if you really need to." Colborn didn't have much recourse, but didn't seem concerned.
Kilroy cracked open his orange eyes, seeing Colborn look up at him with slight annoyance. "Please?" Colborn murmured, as if he didn't want the others to hear. Kilroy relented, releasing him from the death grip. "You are lucky you're my favorite bottom."
"I've been your only bottom for a long time." Colborn reminded Kilroy, even if he knew he was just saying it to say it. He took the opportunity to rise out of the bedroll and begin a half-assed attempt to find his clothes.
"That's a good point, you gonna hit the road so I can find another?"
Colborn pulled his underclothes on, struggling to get the last little bit over his ass. "You'll have to kill me first."
"That... sounds like a lot of work. Guess it's just easier to fuck you." Kilroy rolled over to his other side, after Colborn raked his trousers over his thighs.
"Suit yourself." Colborn wasted no time once he was dressed, it was time to make a meal for three orcs, two elves, and a human. "I guess the elves prefer their own company." He noticed their tight embrace as they slept.
"Could have fooled me." Kilroy figured if he was going to lay alone, he would get no sleep anyway, and decided to rise. "I never knew you liked the taste of elf, Colborn."
"Only cute ones." He replied, unphased by Kilroy's teasing. He had quite a lot of notches on his belt when it came to that.
Once Kilroy was fully dressed, Colborn was already knelt by the fire, bringing it back to a roaring inferno with the bed of embers and a few pieces of firewood. The alpha caressed Colborn's face, and in response Colborn rested his head against Kilroy's leg.
"Will it ever change, Kilroy?" He asked.
"What?" Kilroy looked down at him.
"This." Colborn put his hand on Kilroy's leg.
"Oh. I don't think so." Kilroy was more laissez-faire in his tone.
"You don't think so. Not very comforting." Colborn pulled his head away and focused on the fire again.
"These elves... they've complicated things." Kilroy was never one to mince meanings.
"Yes, you need a few more loyal Orcs." Colborn had accepted that. "So... Lyra and Orien could."
"Like you said, loyal Orcs." Kilroy pressed the wrinkles out of his tunic. "It's her clan they're for, remember? Do you expect family to kill family by my order alone?"
"Maybe if you order them to, super tough like. I give you permission to use your pillow-talk voice." Colborn had gotten the fire going again, physically and metaphorically.
"We both know where this is leading, best not to fight it. Just let it happen." Kilroy ran his green fingers through Colborn's smooth hair gently.
"I didn't mean use pillow-talk to me, right now." Colborn moved away from his touch.
"Very funny." Kilroy decided to let him be, and walked out of the mouth of the cave. The sun was just petering over the horizon, most of the sky still grey and blue. The rays of light warmed the wet forest floor, filling the air with the smell of moss. He took a deep breath of the fresh air, eager to start the day now that he was up and about. It wasn't particularly warm, but Orcs were naturally resistant to the cold. Even as the draft of wind climbed up his spine, Kilroy barely felt a thing. His gaze fell on the pile of logs he'd been working on the past while. They still need to be peeled, shaped, stacked. He knew exactly where the first structure was going and its purpose. A clan hall, right in front of the rock face that formed a split in the path to the campsite.
"Chieftain." A rugged deep voice spoke, behind Kilroy.
When Kilroy turned around, the world seemed to change each time his eyes set themselves on the scenery. Standing there was an Orc, slightly darker shade of green than Kilroy. He was in full iron armor with fur sticking out, a sword tied to his waist, shield on his back, orange eyes staring back at Kilroy. "The Herlar raid will be here soon. We should prepare."
Kilroy's body stiffened, noticing the collection of tents behind the Orc. Various humanoid shapes moved to and fro, campfires and pots roaring. Children of all different mixes intermixed with the adults. Orc guards stood at the mouth of the cave, spears and shields in hand. He returned his attention to the Orc addressing him. "Who are you?"
If he was confused, the other Orc did not show it. "Very funny, Father. You should be watching from the gates." He went to walk past Kilroy, only an inch or two shorter.
Kilroy grabbed his armored arm, finally noticing that he too was wearing armor. Kilroy's suit was hardened steel, while the other Orc was banded iron. "Tell me your name."
"We don't have time for this." After the Orc figured that Kilroy wasn't going to let go until his question was answered, he relented. "It's Colroy. Recognize me, old man? Your beard has gotten more grey than I realized."
"Colroy..." Kilroy's gaze softened, and he let go of the Orc.
"Come now, Mother is waiting." Colroy hurried past Kilroy, toward the wooden wall that separated the settlement from the tall northern pines. Next to it was a clan hall, three stories high, sitting against the rockface that led to two separate wooden walls. Dozens and dozens of Orc warriors filled the in-between, guards at the entrance to the hall, and at each wall and gate on either side. Some were lime green, others more emerald.
Kilroy felt a massive weight on his back, but even he recognized the feel of a greatsword in its sheath. He touched his beard, pulling it into view, seeing it was at least half grey. He felt the same, but there was no way for him to tell how old he was now. What foul magic is this? Colroy noticed he was still standing there and shouted for him.
He decided to play along with whatever path this... vision was leading him down. Kilroy followed Colroy, closing the distance while they approached the western wall. A long stairwell led to the battlements, and on the right side was a small tower where archers could fire down. Kilroy looked back into the settlement, where a battalion of soldiers formed, a sergeant giving orders with a banner holder at the front of the lines.
Colroy tapped Kilroy's shoulder plate and led him into the small watchtower. Inside were half Orcs, armed with elven bows and arrows, looking out the murder slits. And behind them stood a gilded, slender armored woman with platinum blonde hair flowing down her royal steel chestpiece. When she turned to see who had entered, she smiled brightly. "Ah, my heroes have arrived." Aravaris still had her fiery passion, but it was redirected through a glass of affection. She hugged Colroy briefly, and closed the distance to Kilroy with speed and grace. "Welcome to the war." She kissed Kilroy with exuberance, her slender fingers running through his thick beard.
"Aravaris..." Kilroy hid his true feelings of shock and confusion. "Where's Colborn? Cirdan?"
Her eyes flashed with emotion, which one he could not tell. "Oh, are you having trouble remembering again, my love?" Aravaris turned to Colroy. "You didn't warn me."
"I'm sorry, Mother. I thought it might pass." Colroy sounded truly apologetic, not an emotion that came naturally to Orcs.
"Well, no matter." She turned back to Kilroy, both her hands holding his jaw, beard and cheeks. "I'll stay with you til it passes." Aravaris whispered so sweetly, kissing him again. "Colroy, hold the tower for me, dear."
Aravaris led Kilroy by the hand, down the stairwell and past the small army of Orcs and half Orcs forming, toward the clan hall. The entranceway was carved into an arch, with the facsimile of Kilroy, Colborn, Orien, Aravaris and Cirdan painstakingly crafted into the wood. The guards and people walking around noticed the two, but made no motion to stop or impede them. The elf woman brought him into what looked like a war room, with a large table in the center. On it was the terrain of the entire province painted, pieces sat near each settlement, showing the collection of opposing forces. She sat Kilroy down next to the map, pulling a chair up in front of him so she could sit with him, and hold his hand. "How are you feeling, Kilroy?"
