Apologies for the second short chapter! Currently working on the third, could be done within a week. This chapter features Shara. Enjoy!
Location: Orisinium, High Rock
Stronghold of Sahgorim
Date: 4E 110, Turdas, 26th of Sun's Dawn
Time: 5:50 AM
"How pleased the Stronghold will be to know that I have made a fortune in their name!" Reveled Shara Gra-Dulak, daughter of Makolak Dulak, on her way to her former Stronghold, finished of all the quests that she had as an adventurer. Shara brought home many Septims to share with her Stronghold. Before she ventured off into the unknown, Sahgorim was hanging in the balance. Shara decided that making a pretty penny would make up for all the lack of resources of their small, poverty-stricken Stronghold.
It was a glorious day of celebration for Shara; she slew many a bandit to earn such a hefty coin purse. Even the weather, in it's springtime atmosphere, reveled in feats only heard of and tales never survived to speak of. The wind tickled the face of the female Orc with such a warmness that Shara knew would be liken to those of the stronghold upon seeing her after months of absence.
After treading onward for what had seemed like months but was in actuality days, there it was, Sahgorim! Opening the gate, Shara awaited eager bloodkin to come running to greet her. Instead, the adventure-exhausted Orsimer was met with absolute silence; silence unfitting to a hard-working Orc stronghold such as this.
"Hello? Is anyone here?" She called out to the abandoned structures, hoping a face or two might emerge. "Hmm. Perhaps they all lost track of time and are amusing themselves inside the Longhouse." Shara reasoned with herself. Entering the Longhouse, the firepit was left to burn and the pot over it left to cook. Smothering the fire and cooling the pot, Shara said, "How odd. Someone has indeed been dwelling in here recently but not a soul is within the encampment."
Deciding to investigate, Shara turned around to open the door back out to the Stronghold and make her way to the mine – why every Orc would be in there, she hadn't the foggiest idea but it was the only remaining place her eyes hadn't observed. Her hand barely touch the knob of the door when a chill ran up her neck; there was an intruder that somehow escaped her attention. A blink of an eye later, she swiped the Orcish dagger from its holster on her hip and the blade was then placed firmly on the neck of said intruder.
"Who are you? How dare you trespass on Stronghold grounds, I-" Pausing a moment to take in the face before her, Shara sighed with relief, recognizing the individual now. The familiar one then place their hand on her shoulder. "Galom! You startled me! Not easy to do, even being of the same kind!" Shara jokingly pointed out, easing with a sigh, relieved that she had restraint; for if she had none, her beloved-to-be would be dead. The two shared a tender hug; something Shara had missed in the time she was gone, even through all the intense and exciting action of adventuring through Orisinium.
"Apologies. Have you returned to come home finally after what has seemed like an eternity?" The male orc asked, looking deeply into his long-missed lover's eyes. Galom caressed his 'lovely warrior' with a tender touch, pulling her to him, expressing his anxiety-turned-joy to see Shara.
"Yes, I've finished my adventures and gathered all the available loot! I have brought enough coin to last us months!" Shara went to eagerly reach for her pouch when Galom gently reached for her wrist.
"But Shara, darling, you know the Orsimer have no need for money." Galom gently said.
"Yes, we operate by very different rules, I'm aware of that. But Galom, my love, you are to be Chief one day! You know how in desperate need of supplies and resources our stronghold is! You of all people know that is why I left Sahgorim."
"Indeed, I do. But my father has grown restless, grown tired of waiting for what he called 'trivial' matters. I had to talk him out of cutting you off from our people! You know he has little patience; he cannot sit and do nothing for too long before his need for action gnaws at him. My father only lasted a few weeks when he and the others all left here. I told him he should not leave the Stronghold unattended but he insisted, saying that if he, as Chief, does nothing, there won't be anyone left to defend a Stronghold. I feared for the safety of our belongings and earnings but most of all, our home; so I stayed behind in case thieves and bandits were to take such an opportunity as to sneak into our silent Stronghold and do their worst." Galom explained.
"You always did volunteer for the most dangerous of jobs."
"Very true." He laughed.
"What did your father end up doing after those few weeks passed by?"
"He and a few others would leave to go find a Breton or two to loot off of. Unfortunately, not many Bretons they looted had good supplies to help us. Trading was not preferred but if he found something worthless to us, like a soul gem or powerful staff, he'd get a nice trade of whatever supplies we needed from other Strongholds that need the items we did not. This lasted for some time but my stubborn ox of a father…he was desperate to gain a good amount of food for the Stronghold. It had been days or a week at least that the usual hunting party had brought anything with exceeding nourishment; he was more ravenous than the rest of us. He tried to put a large price for the staff he found. For the buyers wanting the staff, it was worth something but not the amount my father demanded. An argument broke out and then eventually a fist-fight. We were forced to abandon the trading and think of an alternative idea. Scraps had been our daily meal and by this point, father could only see meat." Galom expounded what other information he could for the absentee.
"So, where did they go, love?"
"To hunt, more or less. Father said that he would take every abled body to gather skins, meat, and anything else worth using and hunt for three days without pause. Three days wouldn't have much profit with supplies but doing so without rest would. It has already been nearly a week and none of them have returned home." Galom sighed and sat down on the nearest chair with all his weight dropping like an anvil; sinking from standing position to sitting position with severe stress in his eyes.
"I am as worried about our Family as you." Shara comforted her lover with a circular-motioned upper back rub.
"You know me better than I could imagine." The two shared another kiss but this one was slightly more passionate than the one before. "Come, I think I know where they might have ended up."
Readers, what will happen to Shara? Will they find Galom's father? Will he welcome Shara home after his impatience?