19. Sarod

19

SAROD

I 'm still riding the high of our victory, basking in the glory of another zyrphix win. The roar of the crowd echoes in my ears, a thunderous applause that sends shivers down my spine. I clap Thokk on the back, grinning from ear to ear, my body aching but my spirit soaring.

"Helluva game, captain," he says, his voice hoarse from shouting. His face is streaked with dirt, blood, and sweat, a testament to the brutal match we've just endured. "That last play was something else. I really thought the ball wasn't going to make it in!"

I nod, feeling the familiar rush of pride swelling in my chest. My heart's still pounding from the adrenaline, and I can taste blood in my mouth from a split lip. "Couldn't have done it without you lot," I reply, gesturing to the rest of the team. We're all battered and bruised, our bodies a canvas of purple welts and angry red scrapes, but the thrill of victory makes the pain worth it. Every ache is a badge of honor, a reminder of the hell we've just been through and conquered.

As we're laughing and recounting the best moments of the match, I notice Zorg's expression change. His brow furrows, and he glances over his shoulder, a look of concern crossing his face. The kid's always been a bit jumpy, but something about his sudden shift in demeanor sets me on edge.

"What is it?" I ask, my good mood faltering slightly. The adrenaline from our victory is still coursing through my veins, but now there's a tinge of unease mixed in.

Zorg hesitates, then leans in close. His eyes dart around, making sure no one else is listening. "I saw something weird just now when I went to the bathroom," he mutters, his tone urgent. "Grokus... he was dragging some human woman away. Looked like he was up to no good."

My stomach drops at the mention of Grokus. That bastard's always been trouble, but this? This sounds like it could be serious. I clench my fists, feeling the ache in my knuckles from the match.

"What woman?" I demand, my voice sharper than I intend. The words come out like a growl, and I can feel the muscles in my jaw tightening. "What did she look like? Tell me everything you saw."

Zorg looks taken aback by my sudden intensity, his eyes widening slightly. He takes a small step back, as if afraid I might lash out at him. "Uh, small thing. Brown hair. Looked scared shitless," he says, his voice wavering a bit. He shrugs, trying to appear nonchalant, but I can see the unease in his eyes. "Didn't get a good look, but she was definitely struggling. Grokus had her by the arm, and-"

I don't wait for him to finish. My mind is racing, piecing together the description. Brown hair, small... it has to be Josie. The triumph I felt moments ago evaporates, replaced by a sickening dread that twists my gut. My fists clench involuntarily, and I can feel my heartbeat pounding in my ears. The taste of victory turns to ash in my mouth as I imagine Josie in Grokus's grip, terrified and alone.

"Where?" I growl, grabbing Zorg's shoulder with enough force to make him wince. "Where did you see them?" My voice is low, dangerous, barely containing the fury that's threatening to explode out of me.

He points towards a shadowy corner of the arena, away from the main crowd. His eyes are wide, concern etched across his young face. Without another word, I take off, shoving my way through the throng of celebrating fans. If I find Grokus, I'm ripping his head clean off of his shoulders. Without a doubt. The thought of it brings a savage smile to my face, my teeth bared in a snarl.

I tear through the arena, my blood pounding like a war drum in my chest. The roar of the crowd fades to a dull buzz in my ears, drowned out by the rush of blood and the singular focus of my rage. Every second that passes feels like an eternity, and the thought of Josie in Grokus's clutches makes my blood boil. I imagine her brown hair tangled in his meaty fist, her small frame dwarfed by his bulk, and it drives me to move faster, harder, shoving aside anyone foolish enough to get in my way.

"Josie!" I roar, not caring who hears me. My voice is raw, primal, filled with a desperate urgency that I've never felt before. But my call is swallowed by the boisterousness of the celebrating crowd, lost in the sea of cheers and drunken shouts. I curse under my breath, my eyes scanning frantically for any sign of Josie or that bastard Grokus.

I search every dark corner, every shadowy hallway, my heart pounding in my chest like it's about to erupt out of my ribcage. Sweat trickles down my back as I push through the swarms of revelers, my eyes darting frantically from face to face. But there's no sign of them. The realization hits me like a punch to the gut, stealing the air from my lungs - they're gone. That bastard Grokus has taken her from the arena.

Panic claws at my throat, threatening to overwhelm me, but I push it down with a growl. I can't lose my head now. Josie needs me, and I'll be damned if I let her down. The thought of her, scared and alone with that brute, fills me with a rage I've never known before. It's like molten lava in my veins, burning away everything but the need to find her, to save her. It's in this moment, standing amid the chaos and noise, that I realize just how much she means to me. She's not just some tavern girl, she's not just some thief - she's become my whole damn world.

I spin on my heel and sprint back to where I left my team, shoving past drunken spectators and dodging spilled drinks. Relief washes over me when I see they're still there, huddled together near the arena's edge. Their familiar faces are like a beacon in the storm of my emotions, and I surge towards them, already formulating a plan.

"Listen up," I bark, cutting through their chatter. They fall silent, sensing the urgency in my voice. The air around us feels thick with tension, and I can see the worry etched on their faces. "Grokus has taken Josie. We need to find them, and we need to do it now."

Thokk steps forward, his brow furrowed deep enough to cast shadows over his eyes. "The human girl? Why would Grokus-"

"It doesn't matter why," I snap, my patience wearing thin. I can feel the anger bubbling up inside me, threatening to spill over. I take a deep breath, trying to calm the storm in my chest. "But she's my property and I don't intend to let him get away with this." The words taste bitter in my mouth, but I know it's what they expect to hear. "She's in danger, and we're going to help her. That's all you need to know."

I see the confusion on their faces, along with a lot of surprise. To their credit, they don't question me further. Instead, they nod, ready for action. I can see the shift in their posture, from relaxed to alert, and I'm grateful for their loyalty. Zorg, the youngest of our group, cracks his knuckles, a determined glint in his eye. The others follow suit, preparing for whatever comes next.

"Alright, here's the plan," I say, my mind racing faster than a zyrphix ball across the field. "We split up. Thokk, you and Zorg head to Grokus's usual haunts. Check every sleazy tavern and back-alley dive you can think of. Shit, even look under the rocks if you have to. The rest of you, fan out across the city. I want eyes and ears everywhere. If Grokus so much as sneezes, I wanna know about it."

I pause, looking each of them in the eye, my gaze lingering on each face. I can see the fire of loyalty burning in their eyes, and it steadies me. These aren't just teammates; they're my brothers in arms.

"If you find anything - anything at all - you come to me immediately. I don't care if it's the middle of the night or if you're taking a piss. You drop everything and find me. Understood?"

They nod in unison, determination etched on their faces like war paint. I can feel the energy in the air, crackling with anticipation. We're more than just a team now; we're on a mission, and by the gods, we're gonna see it through.

"What about you, captain?" Zorg asks, his young face etched with concern and eagerness to please.

I feel a snarl tugging at my lips, my tusks gleaming in the dim light. "I'm going to have a chat with some of Grokus's... associates," I grumble. "See if I can persuade them to share what they know. If not, I'll just beat the shit out of them until they comply." My fists clench involuntarily at the thought, knuckles cracking.

"Sarod is serious about this one," Grul remarks, gesturing towards me with a meaty hand. His eyes meet mine, and I see the understanding there. We've been through hell together, and he knows when I'm not fucking around. He offers me a firm nod, his voice gruff but loyal. "Alright. We'll help you, Captain. We'll get you your human girl back."

Damn right. I'd expect nothing less from my team. These orcs, they're more than just teammates - they're my brothers. And right now, we're going to war. Not on the zyrphix pitch, but for something far more important. For Josie. The thought of her makes my chest tighten, a feeling I'm not used to. But I push it aside. There's work to be done, and by the gods, we're going to do it.