Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

ORO

Zura watches me the entire time she is interacting with Rosad . I can tell by the look in her eyes that she is slightly worried about how I am going to react to the news that she has claimed Rosad as her own and what that means for us and our younglings.

What she doesn't realize, but I will discuss with her at a later time, is I couldn't care less if we ever have any biological younglings. I know firsthand that there are many younglings who would thrive in a positive environment. Now that I know Zura feels the same as I do about the younglings that have either been abused, cast aside, or their parents are now gone, I can see the patter of many tiny feet in our future.

With a sheet wrapped around my waist. We all eat together, and for the first time in many rotations, my mind is comforted. The anger and depression that had taken their hold on me, has gone now that I have bonded to Zura . I catch myself smiling as she talks silliness to Rosad , and I'd let myself relax until the floor of the fortress suddenly shakes beneath my feet. " Zura , take Rosad and check on the others below. I must speak with Father ."

Grabbing my tattered clothes out of the floor, I run into the refreshing chamber to dress, reminding myself on the way to stop by my barracks and get the remainder of my stuff. Zura has also finished dressing and is pinning her hair up, when I come back out. Kissing her passionately, I am turning away when Rosad's little arms circle my leg. Picking her slight frame up, I kiss her cheek. Her eyes are full of tears.

" You will come back?"

" One way or another, I will return. I give you my word, Rosad . I have a very important task for you in my absence, and that's for you to look after your mother while I am gone. While I am away, I need you to assume the role of my little warrior princess." I hand her a knife I have belted to my side. It is so large it's practically a sword in her small hands. Taking the sheath, I strap it around her so that the knife is now on her back. " Now you look like a warrior. When I return, I vow to teach you how to wield this correctly. Leave it in its sheath for safekeeping until then."

Walking up, Zura puts her hand on Rosad's shoulder, tugging her back alongside her legs. I sink my hands into Zura's hair and lean down, pulling her forehead against mine. " You keep my heart safe."

Turning , I force myself out of the room. Now that I can feel Zura's emotions, it's much harder to be out of her presence, but our people need me. As I walk through the main hallways towards the outer walls. There are Orcs scattered everywhere inside the fortress. I expect to see tears and the horrible smells of death. Instead , I am relieved to see many with a starburst of pink lining their eyes. Glancing around for Father , I spot Radyr instead standing next to one of the smallest female Orcs I have ever seen. Gripping his shoulder, I turn him towards me. " Radyr , have you seen Father ?"

He grasps my arm in a warrior's shake, a large smile on his face when he sees me. " OrO , it's good to see you old friend. Have you met my mate, Vasha ?"

" I have not had the pleasure." She smiles timidly up at me, her eyes sparkling bright pink under her eyelashes. He tugs her under his arm, holding her close. " I would have lost her if not for Zura's new ruling. I owe you both a debt I can never repay."

" You owe me nothing old friend, but the grounds continue to shake under our feet and I am seeking Father's whereabouts."

" The last time I saw him, he was headed towards the docks. Would you like me to accompany you?"

" Rest while you can with your mate. I will call for you if needed."

I don't wait for him to acknowledge me before turning to leave. A few others stop me. Saying similar words before I can escape the confines of the Fortress . The devastation I see once I step outside the gates is still overwhelming to my senses. Even though I've witnessed this destruction from the beginning, my mind is still in refusal. The sound of large transports coming through the atmosphere has me heading towards the main port. Father's immense form standing in the middle of the docks is hard to miss.

How he always knows we are near I will never know, but even with my silent steps, he turns towards me. Though I am slightly larger than him, my father's presence is always all-consuming.

" Right on time, OrO , I was just about to send for you. Your brother will be arriving soon."

" That statement doesn't really help me, Father , as I have several if you recall."

" Hard for me to forget, son. MeK and his personal crew will be here in the next shuttle soon. He sent transports ahead full of supplies that I will need your assistance with. I sent your Captain of the guards Azog out, looking for several others to help unload these. He has been a great help this past rising.

" However , before we talk any further, son, I must ask you for your forgiveness. I never should have taken Zlana's word that you were out of range of the comm units. You were mistreated and neglected and almost killed because I did not push the issue to speak to you personally."

" Father , she gave you no reason to not believe her words. I hold no ill will towards you. After all, you made it up to me rather quickly by appearing at the very moment I needed you most. You made quite the entrance."

He growls, " Several times now, I have only been moments from losing one of my own, and that is unacceptable. Once we get started on your world being rebuilt, I plan on having SCOUT look into better ways for all of us to stay in contact."

Standing there side by side, we watch the large shuttles land. " Where is XuL ?"

" He is evaluating the removal of the structures left standing. SAGE sent a shuttle during last darkness that was full of maintenance bots. Right now, they are retrieving any and all items that can be saved from the buildings that are unsafe for us to enter. The items will be logged and hopefully returned to their owners. The fortress and the barracks seem to be the only dwellings not harmed by the wrath of Mount Caldera . XuL is in the process of cleaning out the old so that the new structures can be built in their place."

" But the grounds continue to shake. Should we be concerned?"

" SCOUT is investigating the reasons as to why this occurred in the first place. He assured me that the worst is now over. Before he left, he said that we should proceed with getting your people back into their dwellings and their lives back on track."

" I will need to speak to Zura about the funds needed in order to feed the survivors. Especially until the grounds can heal and crops planted to replenish our coffers."

" Your grandfather, or should I say the Elders , have been contacted and they are sending aid to prevent the destruction of the economy or the desertion of Xuias due to this disaster."

" Father , my words of thanks are not enough. The efforts you have already made are greatly appreciated. To assure so many are taken care of…"

" OrO , I've had lots of help. I've only started the wheels rolling. I am not here alone, and neither are you. Even if you are used to only depending on yourself. Neither you nor Zura saw this path coming, but it now lay ahead of you even if it's uncharted. I have complete faith that the two of you will rebuild Xuias in a new light. This planet will prosper."

" Father , I appreciate your confidence in all this darkness, the damage to our world weighs heavily on my heart."

" That is only to be expected, son. I would feel the same if it had been Darverius . The world around you may look different, but all can be rebuilt and in time the forest will grow."

Another shuttle lowers off to the side and we head near it as the ramp lowers down. MeK nods when he sees us, quickly walking our way. Father grabs him in a hug, and then he turns towards me, grasping my arm in a warrior's shake. His forearms are larger than my own from that massive hammer he packs with him.

" Brother , it is good to see you. Father was just informing me of your impending arrival."

" Good rising, OrO , I wish I was here on better terms. I can tell from the view above that we are going to have our work cut out for us, but if my new system works, as I have designed it. Then we will have your people back in their own private dwellings quickly. I can see that even in all this darkness. I owe you a congratulation from the glowing runes now dancing all over you."

" Yes , the Lord of Light has blessed me with a mate, however, things have not been easy."

" Most things are not, brother. I am on a strict timeline, as I have a new design being created in the factory district of my planet and I will need to oversee its production shortly. Let's take this time to catch up while we walk towards the area that is to be rebuilt."

" Constantly on a timeline, brother."

" My life is busy, as our sector is always in some sort of discord. There is always the need for a better design or idea. Life isn't patient."