ChapterOne
Tigor
The straps preventing my mating cock from rising cut into my flesh as the cruel scent from the house next door mixes with smoke rising from the cooking pit.
“If you burn that, I’ll throw you in the fire,” I growl, grinding my molars together as my brother Mol pokes at the orange and black logs under the metal grate. “If you don’t cool the fire our meal will beruined.”
“If you do notleave me alone, I’ll be the one throwingyousomewhere.” Mol snarls toward the pool as the pink of the sunset colors the water. “You are the one that needs to cool off it seems.”
Little does he know I throw myself in that pool nightly, trying to wash away the endless aching torture that’s locked its horns into me.
Since we returned to Earth, orcs have had to re-learn many things. The nature and ways of mating are one of those things, since nearly all of our females perished on Iriaza before we were freed. The electronic collars our enslavers forced onto our necks created near immortality while worn and also gave us increased strength, size and, at the same time, depleted our natural instincts and memories.
“Let Oran cook.” Gathra, my mother, nods from the carved log seat next to the fire where she is weaving leather thread through a new chest piece. She and my sister have been busy making traditional orc clothing and selling it to orcs and humans alike since we settled in at our claim.
Mol grows and throws the iron utensil into the ground like a spear. “If you think Oran is better, let him show me.”
“Don’t pout,” my mother snaps back as only a mother can, her voice low and rough as it is with most orc females. “Mol, hang up your pride, it’s going to leave us all hungry if you don’t. We did not suffer for three hundred years to come back and eat burnt venison.”
My other brother Oran stomps toward us, leaving the task of stretching deer hides over the sides of the brick on the human structure I purchased a week ago. Inch deep imprints in the shape of his feet depress the sod of the back yard with each step. He is the largest of our family, standing a head over Mol and myself, and his demeanor has grown darker since we returned to Earth.
“Go take over on the hides.” I nod to Mol as he glares back.
Orcs are not known for their sunny demeanor, but mine has been particularly rank for days.
“Human structures are ugly.” Mol gnashes his teeth, the braid of his hair wrapped in red leather straps swinging down his back. “How you convinced us to allow you to buy this property from the Judicial Enforcement, I don’t recall.”
“Because it made sense,” I throw back. “We are outgrowing our claim with the hundred new clan members. Where are you going to put them? In your bedchamber? Buying this human sub-division is the best solution.”
“Still, ugly.” He huffs toward my structure as well as the one next door and I nearly unleash my fury on my own brother for even a mention of the house next to mine. We stand squared off, staring at each other until his tiny dark-haired mate, Raven, grabs him by the hand and tugs him away.
“Come on, grouch.” She winks at my mother who smiles back, the glow she’s had recently a result of knowing her first grandchild is on the way.
Raven waddles away with Mol next to her. She’s taken to calling him Cinnamon Roll when she thinks no one is listening, but what she forgets is that one of the genetic enhancements imposed upon us by the Moban was heightened senses, including our hearing. Raven is now three months mated, but as it is with orc females and now we know human orc mates as well, their bellies swell to full term within a few weeks. I am happy for my brother, but mating is not a priority. Securing land and growing our clan is the only focus we should have right now.
Without the strength of territory and numbers, we will be vulnerable to the Judicial Enforcement and Neo-human coalition, as well as threats from larger orc clans as time goes on. The wars and horrors we encountered when we arrived back on Earth have quieted, this is true, but there is always tension. And tension inevitably needs to find a release. The form that takes can be dangerous.
This structure I bought one week ago at the government auction is turning into a suitable orc structure with my work and a crew of other orcs who work alongside me on building projects on our claim and for anyone that will pay.
It is Sunday. It took time for us to re-learn the human measures of time when we returned. On Iriaza, the days felt endless. Seventy-two earth hours and there was no measure of weeks or months. Some few in captivity kept secret records of what they thought was the passing of Earth time, but it was only when we returned that we understood we were gone for almost three-hundred years.
“I killed it, I cook it.” Oran shoulders Mol aside.
Mol bares his teeth in response, but Raven soothes his arm with a touch and soft words before he starts a brawl with our youngest brother.
Our family gathers on Sundays, putting aside other work and leadership obligations. We are part of our clan Lakktra, but as is tradition, this day is for family. Bonding and sharing a meal grounds us and reminds us of the importance of blood.
And mates.
The thought elicits an unconscious grunt as I sidestep, my face in a twisted grimace. The straps holding my cock down cut deeper into my aching erection. Concentrating on work has been a battle since the second day here re-constructing the former human ranch-type dwelling. At first, I thought I was sick. Orcs rarely take ill, but heat and sweat had covered me.
A dizziness blurred my vision as I carried a twelve-hundred-pound timber up the ladder. The ten orc crew that works under me on construction and restoration projects had left for the day and for that, I was grateful.
The sweat and unsteadiness turned into a blinding red haze as my cocks rose and caught on the edge of the roof as I tried to step from the ladder. The world spun, I lost my balance and fell ten feet onto the overgrown bushes that surround the house.
The timber fell as well, missing me by less than a foot as my kilt flipped up and the throb in my cock, as well as the fall, turned my vision black as everything but the scent that assaulted me disappeared.
I lay there, confusion and lust battling in loops as the instincts of a thousand generations burned inside me. I knew there were humans living in the structure next door but I had yet to see them clearly.