Too Close 3D Render, Digital Artwork by Hexdrake

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Too Close

3D Render by Hexdrake

Sharel Chathi hadn't met anyone like the strange elf before. Her tribe leader, Telmith the Ragesprinter, had told Sharel to escort the city dweller to their borders safely. Sharel was upset, of course, as it seemed she got all the shit jobs after her husband died in an orc raid. The pang of his loss hit her in the gut, but she pushed back the pain. She thought it best just do this and get back into Telmith's good graces. The elven woman smelled of flowers and somehow kept her facepaint from running while they traveled. They barely talked, usually when Sharel gave Ravarie (the name the elf went by) a command. For her part, Ravarie did as she was told and did not complain about the harsh pace Sharel set. Sharel expected the elf to be much like other city-folk that came to their lands. They paid handsomely for escort through the badlands, as the Black Talons, a band of orcs, tried their best to ensure no one made it through their lands alive.

Three days into their journey, Sharel could tell they were being hunted. Too many coincidences in the tracks. Three orcs by the look of it. They would likely be trouble, she decided, and bid Ravarie to hide. She then climbed a tree and waited in ambush, not wanting the orcs to happen on their camp during the night. Soon enough they passed beneath her position following their trail. She dropped out of the tree upon the lead orc, the tracker, balde point down and he was dead. The orc beside him went for his axe, but he was too slow and lost his arm for his efforts. She knew he was still a threat despite this and finished him off as the third orc grunted and advanced.

This one was going to be a problem she quickly realized. Orcs are both stronger and hardier than any human, and this one wore scavenged mail and wielded a falchion. She no longer had the advantage of surprise and her agility would only get so far and she doubted she could fell him by bludgeoning him to death. Still, the situation wasn't hopeless. Plenty of gaps in his armor, she thought as she shifted her gaze to his armpit while avoiding another sweep. And that is when his comrades gave him aid, though unintended. The orcs had bled out over the small clearing, making it slick with green blood. When she landed he was on her. Three-hundred pounds of orc, another sixty of mail, and the orc himself, easily outweighing her, pinned her to the ground. His knee insured she would not wield her sword against him.

Surprisingly, orcs are rather gentle when it comes to women in the tribe that do not fight; perhaps because they don't consider them a threat. But not only had Sharel fought against him, she had killed his companions as well. And while Sharel would be tortured, Ravarie would likely be raped and sold into slavery -- if she was lucky -- as orcs had peculiar fetishes when it came to elves.

She could only close her eyes as he raised the pommel of his falchion for a knockout blow. She felt hot spittle cover her chest, and then was trapped beneath his weight entirely. She opened her eyes in surprise to find Ravarie pushing on the heavy brute, trying to get him off of Sharel. The "spittle" was blood from the thin dagger plunged into the hilt at the ear opening in his helmet. Sharel shoved the orc off and stood shakily with the elf's aid.

Since that time they had become closer, far closer than Sharel intended. The elf listened with interest as Sharel spoke of the wild and the laws of her people. In return, Ravarie spoke of city life among her people, which Sharel found fascinating. Sharel wondered if she was falling for this strange elf who wouldn't last two days in the wilderness.

When they had passed through Black Talon territory unscathed, they had only two more days to Corisguar. One morning an artist happened upon them and offered to paint a picture of them for coin. Sharel scoffed, wondering what the value in such a thing were, but Ravarie handed over a handful of gold crowns - what she knew was a fortune to city dwellers - and bid Sharel to pose.