The Orc Chronicles Urim

Chapter 2

"Are we there yet," Dura complained.

"We have made this journey every year since you were a child and every time you complain." Ugor hissed. "Even the elf hasn't complained and she's weaker than all of us."

Dura looked back at Plum who was trailing behind. She was tired, but she hadn't complained not one time.

How beneath me, Dura thought, being compared to Plum of all people.
    
For more than three weeks Plum had been traveling at an orcs' pace, she was exhausted. Brandyl silently kept his eye on her and would stop and rest when he thought she was pushing herself too hard.

"It's not that far now," Brandyl said, waiting for her while everyone else went ahead.
"Look just there in the valley." He pointed. "That's Dimmore, you can see orcs arriving from all over."

"Wow," Plum replied. "It's nothing like I imagined."

Surrounded by snow-covered rocky mountain peaks, green grass as far as the eyes can see, a quiet flowing river directly in the middle of the village, luscious and vibrant flowers, and the tallest trees she'd ever seen.

"The most fertile land in all of Sapphire," Brandyl said.

"It's so beautiful," Plum tried to catch her breath. "I can see why the humans want Dimmore so bad, and why the orcs fight so hard to protect it."
      
          Plum had never seen so many orcs. They came from all over Sapphire. The young, the old, the married, the unmarried. It was a bit scary and overwhelming, to say the least. All the eyes were on her. Outsiders were not a normal sight at the hunt- nor were they welcomed.

An outsider, the whispers started. Must be Chieftain Brandyl's adopted daughter, I heard she was an elf. Why would he bring her here?
  
Suddenly Plum felt self-conscious and shrunk down trying to make herself invisible.

Dura, embarrassed by all the attention ducked away as soon as she was able without being obvious. She knew this would happen and wanted to separate herself from it. She had the eyes of Urim, notably the greatest orc chieftain ever.

"Dura! You finally made it."

Dura heard her name from the crowd and looked around as though she didn't know who was calling her.

"Glasha." Dura greeted, rolling her eyes. "How are you?"

"So I hear Brandyl brought his elf daughter," Glasha snickered.

Already, Dura thought, we just got here. How could she know?

"Yeah, she slowed us down and complained the whole way," Dura said. " It's a miracle we made it at all."

"What is he thinking bringing her," Glasha said.

"The hunt isn't for outsiders."

"Especially one as weak as her," Dura added.

"But I can't speak to what Brandyl is thinking," 

"You can't? He's your chieftain."

"He's your chieftain too," Dura whispered to herself.

"Well I'm sure Urim and the other chieftains will have something to say about that, why is she even here?"

"Whatever," Dura said. "It's not my concern. But Plum is hoping to find a mate."

"What! Is she serious?" Glasha laughed. "Who would marry her? No one, and this year I'm sure Urim will ask me."

"Ask you what?" Dura hissed.
"To marry him of course. Everyone says it, I'm the obvious choice, his perfect match,"

"Is that so,"

"Yes, at last year's hunt, Urim could hardly keep his eyes off me." Glasha boasted.

Bitch, Dura thought. Urim would never look at you let alone marry you, how conceded.
   
          Plum smiled wide as she took in the beauty of Dimmore. She was scared, nervous, and excited. She tried to ignore all the unwelcome stares, but it was obvious that she was not welcome. She could hear the not-so-polite whispers and some orcs didn't even bother to whisper.