As the sun begins to rise, Aleia finally stops pacing the beach, having not slept the entire night, leaving her exhausted. Her clothes are damp and stiff from the ocean mist, with sand covering almost every inch of her body. She finds Valhiki, who’d stayed seated in the sand the entire night, quietly staring out at his beloved ocean. They haven’t spoken for hours since Aleia pleaded with him to explain more about the upcoming Ora Tribe tradition that will take his life.

“It’s the Ora way” he had said to her so gently. Matter-of-factly.

“The Ora way can be changed!” She pleaded, “why must you die?”

Valhiki stared out to the ocean as he always had. The stars and moon lit up the night sky, twinkling beautifully above them.

“Aleia, may I enjoy my final night?” is all that Valhiki had said. His tired voice cracked as if he was holding back tears, and she knew she should not say another word. Instead, she paced the beach, wondering why - of all the beautiful, peaceful traditions of the Ora Tribe - did this one have to be so harsh? Why would Valhiki rather die than demand change in the so-called tradition?

Aleia argued with Valhiki in her thoughts the entire night through between her bursts of worry and panic that seemed to periodically drown out everything else; She had come to care deeply for him, and didn’t want him to die. In her mind she argued the points she deemed valid, but the pretend arguments all ended the same:

“It’s the Ora way.”

Defeated in her quest to find a way to change the inevitable, and having thought of every defense she could think of but knowing Valhiki would shut them all down, she finally plops down next to him to watch the sunrise together. Her presence doesn’t move him; his eyes unblinkingly watch the rising sun, taking it all in one last time.

Aleia scans his face, the wrinkles that had not been there a year earlier when they had met, along with the sunken look of his eyes and cheeks. The disease had taken its toll, and Aleia knows that. She sees how tired he is, knowing that it isn’t all due to the lack of sleep.

Aleia finally speaks, breaking the hours long silence. Her voice is hoarse, and tired.

“It’s your disease, isn’t it? It’s getting worse.”

Valhiki doesn’t reply. They watch the sunrise and the rippling waves that will still come and go even when Valhiki is gone. The thought brings tears to Aleia’s eyes.

“Maybe we can find a cure.” She says, knowing there is no cure. “Maybe there’s still time” She says, knowing it’s too late.

Valhiki turns and smiles at her, his face calm and peaceful. She knows that there is nothing left to argue. Nothing left to fight for. He’s made his decision long ago, and all she can do now is cherish the time she has left with him.

She tries to hold her tears back, not wanting to show any weakness in front of the chief who had never in his life shed a tear, no matter the circumstance. Valhiki slides his hand over hers, and almost unwillingly, as if a power comes from his touch, she releases all of the built up pain and worry she’s housed all night long through gulping sobs with two raging rivers of tears flowing down her cheeks. She folds his wrinkled hand into hers, knowing it will be the first and last opportunity to do so.

As the sun brightens the sky and the village due to awaken, the tears finally begin slow from Aleia’s eyes. Valhiki gently squeezes her hand, grabbing her attention just in time for her to see a single tear drip from his cheek.

“It is time.”

-----

“Look here, Lei.”

It was his nickname for her. One he said through gentle smiles.

“What is it?”

She was young then, and had felt so vulnerable in her smallness.

“See that? It’s called-“

He was her mentor. Her savior. He had made her feel safe in a world that had hurt her.

“Can I do it, too? Can you teach me?”

She wanted to learn all that he had to teach. Her anger ran rampant inside of her, but he managed to keep her focused.

“It’s important, Lei. You must pay attention. Don’t let anger fuel your learning.”

He knew there was something special about her, and he wanted her to know what it was.

“Master Eli, I don’t know how I’d get by without you.”

She knew that with him, anything was possible. She believed that they’d always be together.

“You’re strong, Lei. Brave... and most of all, powerful.”

Until one day...he was gone.

----

Aleia’s eyes opened to a flickering orange on dark walls. She felt a throbbing pain in her chest and reached up to try and somehow smother it, though her singed fingertips stung angrily, so she rested her arm back to her side.

“Good to see you awake” a voice came from the darkness. She turned her head to see who it was, but the blur in her vision caused a dizziness in her head, but she could not make out the figure in the dark.

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“You are still unwell. Please, drink.” The voice said, and Aleia felt a cool, smooth item press against her lips. At first she hesitated, wary of what she’d be consuming.

“Please, it will help.”

The voice was soft and kind. She parted her lips and accepted the thick liquid that coated her mouth and throat in its sweetness. Before long, she felt the pull of sleep against her eyelids and fell blissfully into a dreamless sleep.

Aleia awakened to a warm sunbeam against her cheek that had been welcomed through a window-like aperture in the wall. She carefully sat up, wincing through the pains in her hands and chest, and looked around. The room was small, with just a wooden stool next to a small table. Beside her was an equally small fireplace that had died out some time ago, it’s coals barely alive with glowing red embers and smoke that wisped into the air, filling the room with a wonderfully oaky scent.

Aleia carefully ran her hands over herself, sighing in relief as her hooded robe had not been removed, though the hood itself rested against her back. She quickly threw the hood over her head and stood from the straw-plush bed, making her way to the small table where she found her satchel with the journal and flask still inside.

Throwing it over her shoulder, she headed to the makeshift door that glowed with sunlight beyond it. Slowly she pushed it open, allowing the brightness into the small mud hut. She stepped out, her head aching from the radiant sun, blinking several times as her watery eyes adjusted to it. She looked around, at first confused as to where she was. She stood in a village of orcs, all busy in their own way and paying no mind to her, many hurrying by her with smiles across every face.

She observed small groups chatting and laughing with each other. Others worked on building more mud huts, while the rest looked busy hauling supplies and materials around the village.

“Ah, there you are.”

Aleia turned and saw a short, thin orc hurry up to her, a staff taller than himself aiding him with each limping step. The hump in his back had forced him to permanently hunch over.

“And how are you feeling?” He asked.

Aleia nodded in greeting before saying “fine.”

The hunched orc nodded his staff toward her hand.

“Those fingertips still need tending to. I’ll have Bunshida pay you a visit this evening. Her healing balms will surely fix them up.”

Aleia examined her blackened fingertips. It was then she remembered the drunken man outside of the village. She squeezed her eyes shut, concentrating on her memory, trying to recall what had happened. As if the memories were locked behind a wall in her mind, she could not summon them.

Opening her eyes, the small orc waved her on to follow him.

“Allow me to show you our village.” He smiled.

Weaving through the crowds of orcs, who all gave waves and smiles of welcome to Aleia, the small orc waved his staff toward a group of huts that looked freshly built.

“We’ve had to make more dwellings, you see.” He said cheerfully, “homes take up so much of our land space. Workspaces, such as lumber processings, and metal workings, are situated beyond our walls, on the southern side of the village.”

Aleia made note of how compact each hut looked. The population must be constantly expanding, but with the small amount of empty space left within the walls to build houses, they’ve resorted to building them inhumanely small. This troubled Aleia, as she knew that within a few months they’d have no options left.

The only free land Aleia could see were the small footpaths that wound throughout the village, though Aleia assumed even the paths would have to be used for housing too, if nothing changed.

The small orc guided Aleia through the winding paths, explaining to her that the tribe was the first ever orc tribe that resided near the sea in all of Ablimech.

“Other orcs never thought of the sea as home.” The small orc said, “but the Ora ancestors saw the bounty it could give.”

Aleia walked silently behind him, listening to the joyful sounds around her. The orcs seemed genuinely happy, even within their great walls that kept them so tightly packed inside.

“Now this is where we all come together for a feast at the end of each week.” The small orc said as the path widened to a grand opening, where two long tables extended wall to wall in either direction. A large firepit sat right in the center of the opening with massive chunks of chiseled seaglass encircling the fire pit, leaving it shimmering beautifully in the sunlight. Dangerously close to the pit were footpaths that wrapped around it, allowing village traffic to pass through.

“This is a place to celebrate and give thanks to our Goddess, Ne’lyrna, who provides us with fertile soil for our crops to grow strong and plentiful.”

The small orc turned to Aleia, a questioning look upon his face.

“I...must apologize.” he said, “I somehow lost myself in the excitement of a visitor, and have yet to introduce myself.” He smiled lightly, extending a long, bony hand out toward Aleia.

“I am Chief Valhiki, leader of the Ora Tribe, and you...?”

The chief?

Aleia smiled, trying to conceal her surprise.

“No need to apologize, Chief Valhiki” Aleia began, gently taking his hand into hers, “My name’s Aleia.”

Valhiki nodded happily. “You must be terribly exhausted.” He said, looking around, “I’ll have some food and gluknuk delivered to you in a moment, but first, I want you to meet my son-“

“FATHER!”

A thunderous voice called from somewhere within the village. The power of it seemed to shake the ground itself. It certainly had startled Aleia, causing her whole body to shudder. Valhiki hadn’t moved at all, but simply smiled and nodded.

“Right on time.”

From behind a cluster of homes came a towering, muscular orc. Two large, sharp tusks petruded from his bottom jaw. A long black ponytail held up by a band of rope sat upon his head. On his face sat a permanent grimace, and a loud, deep voice to match it. He was unlike the rest of the villagers. He wore nothing but a loincloth, while the rest of the village dressed in tunics, pants, blouses and skirts. His body was covered in tribal tattoos that glistened against his rippling muscles; a physique that could not be matched within the village. And those tusks. She had noticed that none of the others had them at all; he was the only one.

As he hurried to the pair, she had quickly come to the conclusion that this was an orc not to be messed with.

“Father, I must speak with you!” He said, crouching down to meet Valhiki’s eyes.

“Kog’lik” Valhiki said, turning toward Aleia, “I’d like you to meet Aleia, our honored guest.”

His eyes slowly panned from his father to Aleia.

“Aleia, eh?” Kog’lik said, his voice deep and threatening.

Slowly he stood upright, his large body shadowing her. She tried not to tremble, but her body betrayed her and shook as if it had suddenly began to snow.

“An honored guest?” He growled.

Aleia attemped to stand stiff and straight, hoping she could control her trembling, but when he took a step closer to her, an electric shock went through her body and everything inside of her yelled for her to run.

Just as she began moving away, she found her entire hand, along with a quarter of her forearm, wrapped in his massive grasp. She released a yelp as her body shook violently. She opened her mouth to scream out, to beg for mercy! To cry! But before she could, the orc gave a howling laugh and screamed

“WELCOME, WELCOME! GOODNESS, HAS IT BEEN AWHILE SINCE WE HAVE HAD AN HONORED GUEST!”

Kog’lik released Aleia and placed his hands on his hips, a wide smile spread across his face.

She felt dizzy and unsteady on her feet from the quake she had just experienced, not to mention the fear that bubbled inside of her, leaving her nauseous.

“N-nice to meet you” Aleia managed, her eyes still bouncing around her skull and adrenaline rushing through her veins.

“Kog’lik, please. Be more careful with those brutish handshakes, will you?” Valhiki scolded, “You’ve frightened her to death.”

“Aw, Father, she’s fine. I didn’t scare her at all!” Kog’lik said confidently.

Just as he finished his sentence, Aleia leaned over and vomited on the ground before collapsing face first into the bile.

“On second thought...” Kog’lik said softly, staring down at the unconscious girl, “I think you’re right.”