Nearly two years since he found the little thing of a human child crouched by the hut he slept in. Dark hair half up with small pearls adorned in her hair and wide gray eyes that took in everything in her gaze with childlike awe. Light blue dress with a pale purple trim and white lace edgings were caked with mud at the bottom of her dress skirt. Not knowing how she found her way into this prison for his kind had him speaking before he could stop himself. From there, things spiraled. He could take the pain and suffering the stinging bites of the whip gave him, but she could not. From hearing her pleading to hearing her own father order for her to also be whipped kindled something within him. An old and familiar feeling that hadn't been felt for so long as he turned to watch them force this slip of a child to the post next to him. The kindle within soon grew into a rage that blinded him in his need to stop what was being done to her all because she was empathizing in her pleading. When he came back to wakefulness he found himself in a holding cell beaten and bloody.

Months passed as they kept him locked in the small cell. The fresh whipping marks scarred over joining the many more on his broad back. His left tusk was now only a few centimeters in length as it had been broken from that day. News of the girl was only whispered by guards bored on shift. That was few and far. Soon those months turned to a year and some months when a young woman came to see him. It started when the guard slumped in the chair he sat one hand still gripping the tankard. A minute later soft taping of feet came into view on the stone stairs, pausing for a moment, then resuming. Standing before him was the young woman. Blue eyes held his own amber ones. She glanced over her shoulder once then back to him. "I can not stay long. Are you the one that protected Vineta? The little girl that was being whipped as you were?" He nodded slowly, eyes slightly narrowing in confusion. "Good."

"Why?"

She blinked at hearing the deep rumble of his voice. "She is in need of a protector. One that is not in the pockets of her father. It will take me some time but I came down here to let you know what I am planning."

Thick brows pinched at her words. "She hurt?"

Lips thinned as blue eyes grew distance a little. Sadness showing. "Yes, she is. Her father nearly beat her to death after finding news of his wife disappearing with his son." A low growl could be heard but the young woman ignored it in favor of information. "I heard how you broke your chains to protect her."

He roamed his gaze over this human as he worked to speak the language of humans. "I did. She took punish. Not meant for. Tiny. Child. Too harsh."

The woman nodded in agreement. "Blackmoore is known well for his temper. Temper that leads to him becoming violent. Something that should not be directed to his own child. That is why I am here. Would you be willing to stand before her as her shield? To protect her from any that want to harm her for she will have many that will try just from being his daughter?"

"I'm orc. Why not human?" He asked with a jerk of his head to the passed out guard. She turned, glancing over her shoulder as well. "They would still take orders from Blackmoore. If he deemed in a raging fit to make her protection leave, they would, as he is their commander." She stated turning back to Sok. "You would not as you are not loyal to him." She tilted her head a little. "She needs someone, someone that would take her well-being as their priority. I have had to watch her grow up in a family that did not want her. Heard things that she has had to endure at the hands of her own parents."

Sok remained silent in thought. He should not think of this girl, but knowing that harm still befell her didn't sit right with him. Even during his time in the wars with humans he made sure his orcs left children and women alone once they realized humans didn't allow their females to fight. They may have terrorized much during the first years of them entering into this world but Sok understood after studying them that females weren't to be messed with. Unlike their own kind, where both genders fought, their enemies did not. He remained steadfast in his honor as an orc even when many of his kin changed. That honor was what made it hard to truly dismiss the pleas of this woman. A huff left him. "Protect? Tiny child. I will."

The woman gave a slight bow of her head at his answer, her face kept serious even if he could see the relief blossoming in her eyes. "Thank you. For agreeing. It shouldn't be long before it happens but it will still take some time." He gave a grunt, watching her leaving. Almost an hour later the guard groaned signaling he was waking up groggily.

The next few months passed some more. Then a feeling in the air had Sok alert, amber eyes quick to flint around in preparation. The sun was barely passing noon when sounds of multiple steps filled the quiet dungeon. Having spent too much time in the presence of humans, Sok was quick to lower his eyes and hunch a little more when the figure of Blackmoore appeared.

"Ah, the orc bastard that revolted that had thirteen of my men killed that day. You know, I've been thinking this over." He said taking his time to pace before the holding cell, his voice clear of slurring that was usually prevalent in the man. "You orcs are nothing now, but you still hold much of your prowess even after these many years being held. I have a precious daughter that is in need of a pet."

Sok remained still under the devious eyes of this human. Pet. Anger was quickly smothered knowing it would do no good for him right now. Precious? How can he say that when he took to whipping her. The sight of her bleeding back still sickened Sok. She was so small and boney that even only getting three strikes, it had done deep damage.

"You have an age on you but I know age is where wisdom comes. You ugly bastard all scared up from seeing many battles. Battles that you came out alive and probably stronger than before. You already seemed to show protectiveness to my sweet daughter that with long consideration I would make you be her guard. You would be unarmed and collared." He paused, standing before the orc. "Look at me you brute."

Sok did as ordered. Steel gray eyes peered deeply into amber eyes. "Understand this, brute, you are a pet. A slave, nothing more. You will take orders and do them, whatever she asks you to do. She will be your main priority and if it comes to death, you will take her place." Blackmoore tilted his head some with a raised brow. "Understood?" Sok could only nod. It seemed the woman had done what she said she would.

Blackmoore smirked. "Good." Lifting a hand he gave out the order. Several guards poured in, beating Sok down. Even with his thick orc skin he could feel the beatings as the wooden beating stick rained down on him. He fought against his pride and honor to remain kneeling as they stopped. One of them came forward and buckled a thick leather belt around his neck, the jeerings from those around filling the dungeon. Once they finished Blackmoore stepped into the cell, grabbed a hold of the collar and pulled his face close to Sok's. "You orcs truly are ugly." he sneered, taking in the wrinkles, broken and chipped tusks, and graying hair. "You better protect my daughter. She is my heir." With a shove he let go of Sok.

The men that still surrounded Sok started to jab the beating sticks into his ribs forcing him to stand. A low grunt was exhaled as the bruises from his earlier beating were starting to be felt more. He followed Blackmoore up the stone stairs and into a hallway. Sunlight filtered in from windows causing Sok to narrow his eyes having spent so long in the dark dungeon.

A few minutes of walking led them to a small garden with a fountain in the middle. Sitting on the bench before the fountain was the girl. Grown some in the nearly two years since he last saw her. She turned in her seat, eyes catching him, before moving to her fathers. The fear was deep in her gray eyes but she held control of her features that led to her looking somewhat disinterested. Blank. So young and yet, already trying to master control over her emotions. She was quick to stand and curtsy to her father then clasping her hands behind her back as she moved around the bench to stand before the group. The slight tremor not escaping the old war orc.

"Father." Her voice was soft as she greeted the man.

"Ah, Vineta, I have a present for you!" He stated joyously, hands clapped loudly as he spun to hold out an arm towards Sok. "You remember this beastly brute?"

Vineta looked at Sok as they roamed over his face, taking in all that she remembered of the orc. The blank look she gave him sparking a little in recognition. "Yes, I remember him. He broke free allowing many of your men to be killed in your carelessness." Before she could take back what slipped out she crumpled onto the bench behind her. Her yelp of pain echoing the garden as her hand covered her left cheek. The guards that had come with them were not giving anything at witnessing what happened.

"You dare speak to me so brazenly." Blackmoore snarled steel-gray eyes drilling into his child while he lowered the hand he used to smack her. Wide teary eyes peeked up through inky locks of hair as she stood back up, head bowed and shoulder hunched more. "Sorry Father. Voice lower and softer than before as if she was trying to sooth the angry beast that was her father.

Blackmoore growled as he turned to the orc. "Seeing as I already have an orc named Thrall…what should I name you? Oh! I have the best one. You are now Bozo." Glancing to his daughter. "Vineta, meet Bozo. He will be your guard until his death. Whether it be from age or a blade. I will leave the two of you. Be sure to show Bozo who's in charge."

Vineta peeked at the back of her father as he left with his guards. Slowly she felt her shoulders untense at the growing distance. Getting the courage she glanced at the orc before her. Even after two years she still found he towered over her frame. What was different this time around was he didn't seem as scary to her as he did when she was six. He had lost much of his mass and his green skin seemed paler but he still held muscles that retained much of his fierce and powerful nature.

"Is your name really Bozo?" she asked tensely, her body prepared to receive more hits. Seeing the way she tensed after her question had Sok kneeling where he stood. Her confused blinking was returned as he was now eye level with her standing. His move had been correct as she slowly laxed her body. Slowly he raised a large meaty hand to his chest. "Sok."

"Sok?" came her soft voice. A small smile fluttered on her tiny lips. "I…I like that better than Bozo."