Mermaids are Menacing (Book 2) Complete

10.) Night hunt

After the big meal everyone took a nap and I mean everyone. Mothers, children, men all fell asleep. The weirdest part is most of them didn't go home to sleep. On the ground, leaning against houses, piled in groups, anyplace was acceptable for sleeping.

This place must be safe, I thought. No one would sleep in a place frequented by monsters like I had experienced on my way here. Gorza and Ortha leaned against eachother just outside the door of the house. Ortha snored, some drool leaked out the side of her mouth and down Gorzas arm but she didn't seem to mind.

"Thank you Gorza." I said sitting down.

She grunted in affirmation.

"The clothes I wore when I got here, where are they?" I asked.

"Clothes in hut." She said with a yawn.

"Was their a lock of hair in them?" I prodded. There was a chance that the last piece of my son had been lost to the ocean. Sinking out of reach but I had to know. "It would be black and small tied with a knot."

"Not seen hair." She said with her eyes closed.

My heart deflated. Another loss to add to the pile. I sighed heavily.

"Check boat tonight." She added.

Oh the boat. Or even the shore. It could still be there after a month, waiting to be picked up. The desire to find my missing treasure was strong. I didn't want to nap I wanted to be on the beach combing every inch of the rocky shore for a few strands of hair. Despite my wish it was time to sleep, and I wasn't going to get anywhere if I tried to rush a band of Orcs to go to the beach, so I layed down and tried not to think of each second daylight that was being wasted.
...

Meandering. That was the only word that could truly describe the speed that we traveled. After everyone packed up at a snail's pace, the entire group left to go to the ocean. The path was well worn and the tree growth trimmed back. If a branch grew into the path or overhead a green arm would reach out and snap it with one hand.

At first I tried to run ahead the path was so well marked it would be impossible to get lost but Gorza grabbed me by the back of my dress and pulled me back.

"Orc walks in line." She said putting me down.

"But Gorza I am not an Orc." I argued.

"Bait lives with Orc, Bait acts like Orc." She said sternly. "Orc walks in line."

I nodded begrudgingly.

"Where do I stand." I asked.

"Bait adult, stands behind Ortha." She said pleased. I didn't know why this made her grin. Maybe it was because I acted within her expectations but away I went and my growling torture began. It is hard to be last when you want to go fast. The chief set the pace.

There were children and old people alike on our walk. All the adults carried something with them. The women carried nets, long polls, or big knives. The men carried thick wooden bats dyed red or giant hammers. I can't imagine what they build to need such large hammers but it must be huge. I should just ask Ortha.

"Hey Ortha." I said starting to ask my question.

"Shhh." She hushed me over her shoulder. "Bait not talk in line." She said quietly.

Another weird rule. Why not? I wanted to ask but that would be breaking the rule more. Now that I thought about it no one els was talking either, not even the babies.

The Orcs didnt talk but there footsteps where still loud in my ears and I felt the vibration of many steps crawl up my leg through my shoes. The uniform was shredded but the boots were still usable. Although they didnt smell the best after there dip in the ocean.

Despite what Gorza said the trek didnt take half the night. It did take a few hours to reach the beach but the sun had not set yet. A stong fish smell assaulted my nose and the dawned of birds and waves were dominating my senses.

The Orcs were busy right away. Picking up firewood, digging a hole with their hands in the sand, and creating a structure with those five  polls. Two sort of A framed with a poll running acrossed the top. If they threw a blanket over the top and pinned the corners to the poll bases it could function as a tent.

"This way Bait." Ortha said. She led me a distance away from the others. The little canoe was right where I had thrown it. It fell far from the water, up into the tree line of the woods. The bost was upside down but I quickly flipped it over. It lulled to the side and I began to take stock of my few possessions.
The blankets were stiff but mostly undamaged.
One knife made it to shore.
Three canteens.
A single shirt.
And a knot of black hair half covered by sand.

I squeezed the piece to my chest with a deep breath. I tucked the strand into my boot. It was the only place I had to carry things.

"Ortha! Bait! To me!" Gorza yelled from the crowd. The Orcs stood around a fire in the twilight sun. The green bodies were all huddled around with their heads together.

Walking to them over the sand was an odd sensation. My weight shifted with each step unexpectedly and my tail jerked swiftly side to side for balance.

"Bait shhewzz make walk funny." Ortha remarked. He feet were uncovered by any protection. The skin around the bottom was unusually thick, like a single callus.

When we reached Gorza, Orcs were already dividing themselves into groups.

"What's going on?" I asked, remarking on their behavior.

"We harvest! Bait do a good job and raise status. Bring pride to pod." Gorza said pleased.

"What do I need a staus for?" I asked.

"Orc need status, Gorza of first rank but Bait has none. Raise status be happy." She educated me..

I still wasn't sure what a stays was or how to raise it but it seemed important.

"Strategy tonight, make fish crazy again." She announced.

It didn't take a genius to figure out how that was going to be accomplished, mostly because the groups were looking at me expectantly.