Child of Two Worlds
Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2011 2:16 am
The child looked up at the towering figure standing in front of her. "Fatha? I be wonderin'..." Huntsman Markhor looked down at his daughter and shook his head. "I been hopin' dat dis day would be longa in comin, but joos take afta joos motha." The child sat quietly, knowing if she asked too many questions Markhor would end the story then and there.
"Joos momma was de mos' boo'ful, sma'test little thing I ever seen. Fought like a lil'wilcat she did. Blunt end of an axe caught her on da haid and konked her out. Dey brung her back to da village to see wot she knowed about da comin' battles. She knowed a bit o'Orcish, and we gots ta talkin'. We was a lot alike, me an'her. Her hated da cities and da magics, jos' wantin to be in da woods. An'den...<Markhor blushes> I started sneakin' hers out to spend times togetha...tha chief found out and maked'she go back to her home. Wot he dinna know was joos was already on da way, little Tsiya.
Da travelin' wos jos too much for her. She maked it back here jos as joo was bein' born. <Markhor pauses for a minute, lost in thought, then shakes his head and continues.> She's wit da wilds now, like she always loved. And joo be she's daughta, and mine."
Tsiya's little face wore an outsized frown as she thought about what was just said. "So, fatha', Sukul'atae dun be my momma?" "No, chile, she took you in when joo was born. Joos sista Sil'vare was birthed jos a few days befo' you, an she raised joos up togetha. Now <Markhor scoops Tsiya up in his arms> we be needin' ta see to da suppa." Tsiya giggles, the frown leaving her face, but a shadow remaining in her eyes.
~ ~ ~ ~
The coming of age party grew ever more wild as the night went on, but three of its observers were deep in thought. Tsiya had informed her parents of her intention to leave Revantusk and seek a life with the horde. Sukul'atae had accepted her foster daughter's proclamation quietly, as she did with everything, but Markhor had broken his usual reticence to remind Tsiya of the treachery of Doomhammer, the general untrustworthiness of orcs, and the horrors of the undead. She made no reply, but the determination never left her face. Now the three sat together watching the dancing around the bonfire.
Suku turns to Tsiya and asks "Has joo been tinkin' about how joos be lookin to da peoples outside da village? Here in Revantusk joos be accepted, but as a halfbreed tha outside worl' dun be forgivin'." "Ya momma, I has. If I be goin as da troll, dey will see right away I's not one of dem. But, now dat I be grown, I tink I be lookin more like da elf side of me." "We can try some tings, see how dey be workin. Markhor, joo be acceptin she's decision?" Suku asks. Markhor gets up and quickly walks away into the woods. Suku pats Tsiya's arm comfortingly and goes back to watching the dancing.
~ ~ ~ ~
Sukul'atae stuffs a few more chunks of meat in the pack, then pulls the strap tight. "Dere you go, all set." She turns to see her daughter regarding herself steadily in the beaten silver mirror. Her tusks are gone, the flaming red hair now a subdued brown lying on her shoulders. She shuffles her feet uncomfortably and glances down at the boots which cover her toes. "Momma, da boots be da worst."
Suku looks critically up and down her daughter's form. "But it be amazin', joo be lookin jos like yous real momma. Dat be da real reason Markhor canna look at joo. He be wantin ta keep ya here, but you's too strong ta be hidin in da village all yous life." Tsiya looks up at Suku wistfully. "Do you think he'll ever forgive me?" "He be lovin joo child, o'course he will. Jos gonna take time." The two share a brief but fierce embrace, then Tsiya shoulders the pack and whistles to the blue raptor in the paddock outside. "Cloudstalker, let's get going. We have a long road ahead."
~ ~ ~ ~
"Joos momma was de mos' boo'ful, sma'test little thing I ever seen. Fought like a lil'wilcat she did. Blunt end of an axe caught her on da haid and konked her out. Dey brung her back to da village to see wot she knowed about da comin' battles. She knowed a bit o'Orcish, and we gots ta talkin'. We was a lot alike, me an'her. Her hated da cities and da magics, jos' wantin to be in da woods. An'den...<Markhor blushes> I started sneakin' hers out to spend times togetha...tha chief found out and maked'she go back to her home. Wot he dinna know was joos was already on da way, little Tsiya.
Da travelin' wos jos too much for her. She maked it back here jos as joo was bein' born. <Markhor pauses for a minute, lost in thought, then shakes his head and continues.> She's wit da wilds now, like she always loved. And joo be she's daughta, and mine."
Tsiya's little face wore an outsized frown as she thought about what was just said. "So, fatha', Sukul'atae dun be my momma?" "No, chile, she took you in when joo was born. Joos sista Sil'vare was birthed jos a few days befo' you, an she raised joos up togetha. Now <Markhor scoops Tsiya up in his arms> we be needin' ta see to da suppa." Tsiya giggles, the frown leaving her face, but a shadow remaining in her eyes.
~ ~ ~ ~
The coming of age party grew ever more wild as the night went on, but three of its observers were deep in thought. Tsiya had informed her parents of her intention to leave Revantusk and seek a life with the horde. Sukul'atae had accepted her foster daughter's proclamation quietly, as she did with everything, but Markhor had broken his usual reticence to remind Tsiya of the treachery of Doomhammer, the general untrustworthiness of orcs, and the horrors of the undead. She made no reply, but the determination never left her face. Now the three sat together watching the dancing around the bonfire.
Suku turns to Tsiya and asks "Has joo been tinkin' about how joos be lookin to da peoples outside da village? Here in Revantusk joos be accepted, but as a halfbreed tha outside worl' dun be forgivin'." "Ya momma, I has. If I be goin as da troll, dey will see right away I's not one of dem. But, now dat I be grown, I tink I be lookin more like da elf side of me." "We can try some tings, see how dey be workin. Markhor, joo be acceptin she's decision?" Suku asks. Markhor gets up and quickly walks away into the woods. Suku pats Tsiya's arm comfortingly and goes back to watching the dancing.
~ ~ ~ ~
Sukul'atae stuffs a few more chunks of meat in the pack, then pulls the strap tight. "Dere you go, all set." She turns to see her daughter regarding herself steadily in the beaten silver mirror. Her tusks are gone, the flaming red hair now a subdued brown lying on her shoulders. She shuffles her feet uncomfortably and glances down at the boots which cover her toes. "Momma, da boots be da worst."
Suku looks critically up and down her daughter's form. "But it be amazin', joo be lookin jos like yous real momma. Dat be da real reason Markhor canna look at joo. He be wantin ta keep ya here, but you's too strong ta be hidin in da village all yous life." Tsiya looks up at Suku wistfully. "Do you think he'll ever forgive me?" "He be lovin joo child, o'course he will. Jos gonna take time." The two share a brief but fierce embrace, then Tsiya shoulders the pack and whistles to the blue raptor in the paddock outside. "Cloudstalker, let's get going. We have a long road ahead."
~ ~ ~ ~