The Outcast Orc and the Runaway Princess (Pt. 1)

It wasn’t a dark and stormy night, but rather a sunny afternoon with no chance of rain in sight. The weather didn’t matter to Amira because whatever the weather, she was still bad at fishing. Orcs typically went after large game like moose, elk, and sometimes grizzly bears to keep up their diet of almost exclusively meat and zero vegetables. She’d never really met any other orcs or even other half orcs, so she wasn’t really sure if the tales were true or made up by humans wanting to scare their children into behaving. Regardless, Amira couldn’t kill a bear with her bare hands or cut the jugular of a deer with her tusks. So, she stuck to fishing.

The little stream ran, vein-like through the forest, bringing along with it small fish. Amira sat on the riverbank, her fishing line lazily trailing in the water, her thoughts drifting as aimlessly as the current. She mostly thought about the intricacies of preparing and cooking fish, how she would season it. Could you eat the skin? 

Amira thought of fellow travelers who seemed to have no qualms about eating the skin, the innards, and even the eyes. She couldn't fathom the idea of swallowing fish eyeballs, but she was willing to try it once if it meant getting a proper meal. At that, her fishing rod twitched in its place. Amira perked up, going to pull in her first catch. It took some struggle, the small fish apparently still having the will to live. However, she finally managed to pull it out of the water, but only after falling off her perch and into the dirt below.

“I don’t mean to say I’m a fishing expert, but I’m a fishing expert,” she said, dusting herself off and inspecting her catch with a satisfied grin.

A toad croaked in response. It was a tough crowd today.

Amira caught herself two more fishes to keep as rations for the next few days, before she started a small fire and clumsily prepared them into something that could loosely be called edible. She ate without much preamble, tusks tearing into meat and patches of skin that were left behind. Amira was so lost in her frenzy that she didn’t notice that she’d also eaten her rations for tomorrow, only interrupted by the fact that she had nothing left to eat. 

The same toad croaked, as if to rebuke her for her lack of foresight and control. Amira let out a brutish grunt, something she’d normally feel shame about, but it did the job of scaring the toad back into the stream.

The sun was still setting, casting the forest in a pale yellow light that was just enough to see by. Perhaps Amira could catch a few more fish before it got too dark. Humming, Amira cast her line yet again, catching a glance at her reflection in the stream. The appearance of pointed ears, small tusks, and dark green skin stared back at her. Amira looked away from the face that not even a mother could love. At least, not a human mother. She shook her head and focused on the task at hand—not starving to death. Self pity didn’t fill her stomach, after all.

By the time the sun disappeared behind the trees, Amira had caught four more fish, built up her campfire, and even took a much needed bath. She finally settled down on her bedroll, using her cloak as a blanket. The night was even pleasant and warm, and the stars blinked awake one by one to tell her good night. 

The evening was perfect, too perfect. It was only natural that something had to ruin it. 

Amira had only been asleep for a few moments when a rustling in the bushes had her reaching for her axe. She hoped whatever was in the bushes was something she could fight off with an old, blunt axe and not a sword. She didn’t own a sword, nor could she wield one. Amira wasn’t sure she could wield her hatchet effectively against an opponent (trees certainly didn’t count). 

So, she stood there, grasping the handle of the axe, and forced her face into a snarl. 

The bushes continued to quiver in the dark as whatever beast or being approached. Amira’s hands sweated and trembled as she held the axe in front of her and her heart beat in her ears as she prepared to pounce. 

Finally, whatever was in the bushes emerged into the clearing. Instead of launching into an attack, Amira’s breath left her in a quiet wheeze. 

The human girl that had come from the bushes started at the appearance of one orc girl clumsily holding an axe.

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A/N: What do you want to happen next??