11.

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The inside of the main house was cozier than Adam expected. The timber frame gave way to a painted interior, the walls overlaid with warm yellow. Animal pelts on the floor, stuffed heads mounted on the walls, and photos lined the shelves. Lots of photos. Adam observed them as he was led deeper into the house, watching the pictures turn from full-color digital, to grainy, then finally to old-timey black and white. The most curious thing, Adam noted, was that in decades past, G'Kalis used to be a much larger clan.

The young man wasn't allowed time to dwell on that, though. The orc women brought him to the dining room, ready to feast in celebration for the arrival of their Chieftain prospect. Though with his batch of she-orcs, the "celebration" turned out to be almost entirely business. At least the food was good.

Adam brought his fork up, eyeing the piece of juicy meat stabbed on the end. Boar loin, cooked to medium rare and seared. He popped it into his mouth and chewed, breathing in as the tasty juices rolled over his tongue.

Beyond the culinary delight, Adam could hear Clan Matriarch Heralda speaking to him.

"Registering you as part of Clan G'Kalis was necessary once we came within five months of clan dissolution." Heralda sounded tired, perhaps a little empathetic to the human's situation. But not apologetic, Adam noted. "I hope you understand."

Adam knew he had every right to be upset with the twists and turns his life had taken in just these last few days. But curiously, Adam found that he felt rather calm. Yes, there was the ordeal with Sayla and her untimely interruption during the tourney. He absolutely felt a bit sore about that. But regarding the Clan situation with Jen and the rest of her family? Adam was almost… excited. He wanted to help them.

The young man swallowed his bite of boar and immediately began sawing off a piece of his loin cut again.

"It wasn't a problem." He said to the eldest G'Kalis. "Clan privileges actually got me out of final exams."

Adam put on a small grin, glancing her way. She was seated to his right at one end of the dinner table. The seat directly across from her, far at the other end, remained empty. 

My seat, Adam knew. Once I become chieftain… 

"It was sending Sayla that caused problems." Jen muttered beside him. She had already finished her cut of boar, her plate clean but for bits of meat and the juices she didn't mop up with her bread. Now, his girlfriend was sitting back with her arms crossed, sending a hard look towards her Clan Mother.

Again, Heralda was unapologetic. The older woman gave a small shrug.

"I would have gone myself if not for my duties as matriarch." Heralda explained in an even but firm voice.

"You couldn't have sent Druma?" Jen leaned forward, her voice becoming low and harsh.

Fighting back a wince, Adam decided not to get involved in the family spat. After all, he wasn't part of the family yet. 

On the other side of the table, he spotted Sayla eyeing him and Jen with a sour look.

Heralda continued on, paying no mind to the tension.

"Sayla is faster. And I thought she was better able to impart the urgency of our situation."

"I always understood the urgency of our situation." Jen shot back.

"Then why did you spend so long playing house with your human?" Sayla cut in, her words coming blunt like a hammer.

There's not a subtle bone in her body, is there?

Adam breathed in, expecting an argument to break out right at the dinner table. But the angry shouts and clattering of chairs never came. Instead, there was Akari's voice, firm like iron, rising over the rest.

"Enough." The Clan Mystic declared, speaking with the authority of ancestors long passed - or so Jenakka had explained to Adam. Akari gave Sayla a long, hard stare. "A champion should know when to temper herself."

A period of silence fell over the table, no one moving, no one speaking. Adam found his eyes dancing from she-orc to she-orc, watching their faces. Their beautiful features had become hard like stone, but their eyes had become fierce like fire. All of them, save for the bookish Druma who seemed to share Adam's unease.

Sayla rose from her seat, her hands planting on the table as she did. She hadn't gotten particularly dressed for dinner, wearing black sweatpants and a white, sleeveless tank top. Despite his frustration with her, Adam couldn't help but drink in the sight. Difficult personality or not, Sayla was as beautiful as Jen was. Tall and fit, her body was firm with lean muscle but womanly all the same. The young man could still appreciate the Clan Champion's strong, healthy, feminine form, particularly the narrow swath of gray skin over her belly that her tank top couldn't cover. Adam found his eyes captivated by the lines of her abdomen, delighting in the tautness of her belly… right up until he drew his eyes upward and found Sayla glaring at him.

For a moment, he thought she'd shout or curse him in anger. But Sayla said nothing. Instead, she fumed in silence and turned away.

"The human has a name, you know!" Jen called out heatedly to her departing Clan Sister. Adam reached over and took her hand in his, hoping to calm her down.

But there was no point. Sayla had left to her own devices and the tension at the table had been broken. The Clan G'Kalis returned to conversation.

"Her frustration is not entirely unfounded." The Matriarch said pointedly. The elder she-orc took a swig from her mug of beer. "You waited a long time to confirm your choice, Jenakka. Almost too long."

Hearing her Clan Mother's words gave Jen a moment of pause. Adam gave his wife-to-be a sidelong glance, watching her deflate under Heralda's scrutiny. It was not a sight he was used to seeing. Certainly not from Jen.

A moment passed before the green redhead finally answered.

"I… I had to be sure."

"So are you?" Heralda asked.

Adam went and squeezed Jen's hand, a warm reminder that he was indeed there for her. For her family. Jen locked eyes with him then, the faintest smile breaking across her face. Her teeth shone brilliantly, her modest tusks especially glimmering against the light.

Jen turned her eyes back to Heralda. Her body and spirit seemed to rise together, swelling with surety.

"Yes. Absolutely." She answered with iron conviction.

For a long moment, Heralda silently regarded Jen and Adam both. Her silver-gray eyes narrowed, studying her Clan Daughter and the prospective Chieftain she had brought to their homestead. On the other side of the table, Adam could see Akari and Druma doing the same - though they attempted to hide it by continuing to eat, stealing quick glances Adam's way when they could.

Eventually, Heralda let out a long sigh. She leaned back in her chair, the tension slipping away from her body. The hard expression she wore dropped from her face, replaced with tired acceptance.

"Fine. So be it." Heralda relented. She eyed Adam again, more curious than judgmental now. "We don't have enough time to go look for someone else anyway. We'll put him through the trials. The only other choice is the dissolution of G'Kalis."

"Which is no choice at all." Adam finally spoke after his lengthy silence.

Heralda blinked, taken aback. But the shock was very brief. An instant later, the elder she-orc returned to a calm, if hard, balance. Though Adam swore he could see the tiniest upwards quirk at the corner of her mouth.

The Clan Matriarch breathed out a short, dry laugh. She shook her head, turning back to Jen.

"At the very least, you chose a human who understands." Heralda commended her Clan Scholar. Beside him, Adam saw that Jen was beaming. "But only time will tell if he has the nerve for it. Finish your food. Then go get some sleep - I assume you two are sharing a room. We'll begin the trials first thing in the morning."

- - -

Jen's childhood room. Adam never expected he'd ever be standing there. 

It was cozy, he found, just like the rest of the main house. And shockingly girly as well! Stuffed animals on the bed - the queen-sized bed with floral sheets. Not to mention the colors. Reds, purples, and pinks, seen on the sheets, the drapes, the posters, the painted patterns on the walls. Even the scents were pleasant, from the dim candles upon the dressers and upper shelves, and the flowers resting in small vases. 

Lavender. Jasmine. Vanilla. Feminine.

Adam liked it. The atmosphere was… alluring. Just like Jen. Almost enough to put him in a lovesick trance.

Thankfully, Druma was there to rein his mind back to a state of reason and rationality. The Clan Historian was speaking quickly to her elder Clan Sister, a youthful nervousness creeping into her soft voice. Shockingly soft, especially for an orc. Though Adam was quickly learning not to be surprised by such things.

"Do you need any extra blankets or anything?" Druma inquired. Adam could see the teenager fidgeting with her fingers, taking occasional glances his way. It was to be expected. She likely hadn't met many humans. And if what Jen had told him was true, Druma hadn't met many men at all. "It can get pretty cold at night."

"No thanks, Dru. We're fine." Jen dismissed the younger she-orc with a small smile. Adam watched his wife-to-be set aside the stuffed toys on her bed, clearing them away from the pillows.

The lovely redhead shared a look with Adam. Like there was a joke that he was supposed to get. But for the human male, there was no dice.

"Are you sure?" Druma asked again.

"Druma. We'll find a way to manage." Jen answered pointedly, giving her younger Clan Sister a look.

That look seemed to kill any protest the teen she-orc might have had. Hells below, Adam thought she might have looked downright flustered. Druma gave a quick nod, turning to leave. But as she moved towards the bedroom door, she met eyes with Adam and came to a halt.

Adam took in her features, her cute, cherubic face, her small nose, her pert lips, her short hair. Even her tusks were smaller than those of the rest of the G'Kalis women - and she-orcs tended to have modest tusks in general, barely larger than normal canines. Her eyes were big and brown, doe-like. Already Adam could feel the youngest of the G'Kalis was invoking protective instincts within him.

And as the human observed, the youngest she-orc observed back. Like her Clan Mother, she regarded him. But Adam could tell that this was different. She wasn't judging him. She was studying him. There was… interest in those big doe eyes. Eager interest.

But the moment was fleeting. A second later, she tore her eyes away from his, suddenly finding the wall behind him much more interesting.

"I hope you pass the trials." Druma told him quickly. Then she turned and left, closing the bedroom door behind her.

"Uh… Thank you?" Adam said dumbly to the closed door. He pursed his lips, knowing there was no recovery from that. He turned to Jen, wearing a mix between a wince and a smile. "She seems nice."

Jen, who had watched the whole thing unfold, snorted. She continued to pluck stuffed animals from her bed. Adam watched them go, one by one. Bears, boars, seals, dragons, serpents, cutesy plushies all deposited onto the floor at the foot of the bed.

"She likes you." Jen said to him. "They all do. Except maybe Sayla."

"Maybe?" Adam repeated, a dubious grin playing at his lips. Jen rolled her eyes.

"She'll come around. Eventually. Or we'll make her come around."

Adam noted that Jen's voice had become a bit terse at the end. He raised a brow.

"A bit harsh, don't you think?"

Jen turned around then, crossing her arms as she sat back onto her bed. 

"She requires a heavy hand sometimes." Kicking off her shoes, she gave Adam an even look. But behind her blue eyes, he could see the frustration with her Clan Sister. Jen could very well have been angrier about the tourney debacle than he was!

But rather than dwell on that, Adam found himself… distracted. Jen - like many of her she-orc kin - seemed to have an uncanny ability to become alluring whenever steamed with emotion. Even now, Adam was drawing his eyes up his wife-to-be's body, taking pleasure in the way her jeans fit snug to her legs, her thighs, and the wide swells of her hips and rear. Even better was the shirt she was wearing. One of his shirts, sitting proudly upon her chest like a planted flag, hanging like a curtain over the swells of her bosom. And no bra underneath from what he could tell, betrayed by the faint outlines of stiffening peaks poking through the fabric.

Jen's voice pulled Adam back to the world of reason. The human blinked, stunned at his own… distractibility.

"Adam. Thank you for this." Deep emotion colored her words. Adam knew it was time to listen. "I've said this before, but… I can't tell you how much this means to me."

"I have a pretty good idea. If our places were reversed… I can't say I wouldn't have done the same thing. Your clan is your family. And family is everything."

"And now you're part of the family, too." She said meaningfully.

There was warmth in Adam's heart then. And in his gut as well. A rising fire. He smiled.

"Not yet. I've got some trials to pass, remember?"

Jen scoffed, throwing a dismissive wave.

"The trials won't be a problem for a guy like you." A teasing glint swirled in her eyes and her lips spread into a wicked smile. Her voice became sweeter, tauntingly so. The next words, she sang. "I believe in you, my brave knight."

She was trying to rile him up. As always, it was working. A hell of a girl was Jen G'Kalis.

Ignoring the pleasant and hungry heat that was spreading through his body, Adam gave a short laugh.

"I won't need to slay any dragons, will I?" He half-joked. Dragon hunting was illegal in Stakaria, but the orc lands had their own laws.

Jen pursed her full lips, humming. A lovely sound. Adam noted then just how tight his clothes felt. Especially his jeans.

"The biggest thing you'll need to slay is Sayla's ego. But we'll destroy that bridge when we come to it." 

His beloved she-orc rose from the bed - and Adam found his eyes drawn to the way her shirt - his shirt - was stretched so delightfully over her breasts. And yes, Jen was absolutely not wearing a bra.

"Right." Adam cleared his throat, smiling dumbly as Jen strode forward on bare feet. Each step closing more distance between them. "So are you sure about the blanket situation? What if it really does get cold tonight?"

Jen raised a brow, giving him a knowing smirk. Then she reached down and in a fluid movement had her shirt drawn up over her head. 

Yep. No bra. 

Big green breasts filled Adam's vision, dark nipples staring back at him. Hard and stiff, poking out from emerald mountains. Like they were demanding his attention.

Jen undid the button of her jeans next, hooking her thumbs under the waistline and dragging the fabric down her long, toned legs. 

No panties, either.

Rich, smooth green skin, so much of it now on display. Lean muscle and luscious curves mingled together to make a she-orc. His she-orc. Her wide hips, her flat tummy, those full, ripe tits, the cute little tuft of red hair at the nexus between her legs, they were all waiting for his hands and his hungry mouth. Her eyes, radiant blue, locked onto his. Waiting. Daring.

Adam understood then. He understood perfectly.

"Body heat." He grunted out, his voice strained - much like how his cock strained against the inside of his pants. "Right. That's smart."

Jen giggled. Lovely, feminine music. The best a man would ever hear.

"And fun." She added, her voice low and sweet like honey. "Us she-orcs can be very efficient about such things."

"Heralda told me to get some rest." Adam warned. But he knew it was no use.

"And you will." Jen gave a brilliant smile, her hands reaching out to undo the button of her human's jeans. Adam did nothing as she pulled the zipper down. The pants soon followed. "But only after I'm done with you."