Chapter 94
Grikavo
He watched his new battle-brother.
His inner power races, even at rest.
His fingers drummed, trying to feel the rhythm.
Chaos
He shook his head sadly, ponytail swaying.
I can hear his inner wounds, bone cracked, organ bruised.
The blindingly bright light from the sky drowned the undergrowth in stark contrast, washing everything in monochromatic gray.
Shifting shadows, and constant cries of distant beasts, hinted at the danger surrounding them.
Ken’s dark eyes were hard as he rose to a half crouch, head snapping to a slight rustling sound.
Garuke took it all in a glance.
Still hurt…
But still alert, dangerous.
Destined for strength.
Or death.
“...Grikavo…”
“What was that there buddy?” Ken asked, eyes still locked onto the darkness, channels flaring with strength.
Garuke chuckled, shaking his head again, ignoring the strange way of speaking.
It is just small animal.
So strong, but blind, like infant.
The new-found battle-brother confused him.
His tribe is so… wrong.
No survival skills.
Makes too much noise in the woods.
Fights wild like an animal.
Skin, movements, singing strange songs… all wrong.
What an odd orc.
They were taking a short-rest, recovering.
The slash of blinding power in the sky was closer now.
With the safety of his ally, he closed his eyes, listening to the rhythm.
Back and forth through his bodily tempos, high and low, loud and soft.
Everything has a rhythm.
From my skin.
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To my bone.
Even hair.
And the large creatures hunting us.
He studied his battle-brother.
Unaware.
Garuke flowed to his feet, dual bone clubs sliding smoothly into his palms.
Ken was back to his feet, rhythm screaming.
Garuke pointed off into the darkness, at the nearest closing beast.
His battle-brother became a blur, streaking into the bushes with an explosion of sound.
He is no hunter.
SHHRRRIIIEEEK
A large, two-leg lizard came flying through the air, crashing into their rest-spot.
Its foot-long razor sharp beak parted, emitting a scream, strong back legs tearing at the dirt.
Larger than a wolf, it was covered with a colorful rainbow plumage.
A surprisingly intelligent eye darted around, confused at its sudden turn of fate.
Ba-duh-Ba-duh.
The sounds silenced the creature, skull shattered.
He squatted and spun, mirrored clubs looping, each deflecting a descending claw.
The many-color feather-lizard tumbled out of the leap, scrambling.
Garuke slipped up, ivory sticks a blur.
duh-duh-duh-duh-duh-duh-duh-duh-DUH
He moved with the beast as it regained its footing, each strike building.
On the last beat, the rhythm collapsed, as did its whole rib cage.
Blood fountained from its beak, dropping it instantly.
Garuke spun on Ken, as he was walking back into the rest-spot.
He flicked blood from his fists, a look of disgust on his face.
A large three-toed slash was weeping blood down his side.
Just takes wounds. Like an idiot.
“Frelvok.”
Ken, noticing the judgmental grunt and look, threw his arms up with indignation.
“What? It's just a little blood.”
He clapped his hands.
“Alright, breaks over, the light of the gods waits for no orc.”
God's light?
Strange God.
Garuke jumped to his feet, following after his energetic, still bleeding ally.
Like he is trying to draw danger.
Strong orc. Strange orc.
“Okay buddy, let's try this one more time…”
He gestured at his clubs, then acted like he was banging them together.
A smile broke upon Garuke’s stoic face, as he pulled the clubs from their loops.
Thud-thud, BANG.
Thud-thud, BANG.
Thud-thud, BANG.
Ken took a big breath.
“Buddy, you're a boy–make a big noise playing, in the street–gonna be a big man someday,
You got mud on your face, you big disgrace.
Kicking your can all over the place, singin'.
We will, we will rock you!
We will, we will rock you!”
Garuke didn't know the words, but the cadence was infectious.
He began to vary the strikes, catching the edge of his bone clubs against a nearby stone to create a ringing clink on the third beat.
"See! You're a natural, Gary!"
Ken shouted over the rhythm, his voice slightly strained as the movement pulled at his wounds.
The orc didn't know who 'Gary' was, but he liked the noise.
It was a rhythm of defiance.
A rhythm that said the monsters in the dark were the ones who should be afraid.
Garuke’s laugh rumbled in the night.
He rapped his clubs, louder, matching the beat Ken had started.
The night felt a little less dangerous.
What a fun orc.
