Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE

K ari's eyes flew open, her heart racing as she jolted upright. Sunlight streamed through a canopy of leaves overhead, dappling the forest floor around her. The crisp mountain air bit at her skin, a stark contrast to Charleston's humid warmth, and she blinked rapidly, trying to clear the fog from her mind.

The events of the previous night came rushing back – the icy lake, the enormous green-skinned men, the realization that she was no longer on Earth. Fighting back a wave of panic, she cast a frantic look around. She sat on a makeshift bed of furs, a woven blanket covering her lap, surrounded by the towering trees. A small fire crackled nearby, wisps of smoke curling into the morning sky.

Wulf sat a short distance away, his massive frame hunched over as he sharpened an enormous knife. The sunlight slanting through the trees glinted off the blade and highlighted the sharp angles of his face and the wicked curve of his tusks. Beside him, Lothar gestured animatedly, his voice rising and falling in what sounded like an argument, but one that seemed more playful than serious. Wulf only shook his head and ignored him, a small smile twisting his lips as kept his attention on his task.

Seeing both of them so clearly, her mind finally supplied a name for them - orcs. It seemed impossible, but then everything about her situation was impossible. Part of her wanted to sneak away, to run and find somewhere to hide from these intimidating men, but instead she found herself studying Wulf. Despite their differences, the strong angles of his face were oddly attractive, and there was something reassuring about his powerful frame. Those strong arms had held her so protectively when she woke in night and been overcome by her emotions. She'd felt... safe in his arms despite her fear and confusion.

Her racing heart began to slow, her panic easing as she studied him. The connection she'd felt upon first meeting him still hummed faintly in her chest, a strange warmth that both comforted and unsettled her. She hugged her knees to her chest, wrestling with her conflicting emotions. Clearly the most important thing to do now was to find a way back to her world, but a part of her, a part she didn't quite understand, was still inexplicably drawn to him.

Lothar threw up his arms, apparently giving up on the argument. He shot her a quick, mischevious glance, then strode away, disappearing into the dense forest. Wulf watched him go and then her heart skipped a beat as his gaze shifted to her. His eyes held hers for a long moment and that same spark of electricity washed over her. His eyes were dark but not the brown she'd expected. Instead they were a deep, mossy green that seemed to glow slightly in the shadows beneath the trees.

He finally looked away, breaking the connection, and set aside the knife he'd been sharpening. Despite her attraction, she tensed as he rose to his full height, towering over her even from a distance. He approached slowly, his movements as deliberate and careful as if he were approaching a frightened animal. When he spoke, his deep voice rumbled through the clearing, and even though she couldn't understand what he was saying, she found herself relaxing slightly, despite her lingering fear.

He knelt beside her, his massive form still dwarfing her even as he tried to make himself less intimidating, and pulled out something out of a pouch on his belt and offered it to her. It looked exactly like an apple, and ordinary Earth apple, and the sight of something so familiar amidst all this strangeness made her chest tighten.

She hesitated for a moment, eyeing the fruit warily, but then her stomach growled, reminding her that she hadn't eaten since... well, since before she'd been transported to this world. Cautiously, she reached out and took the apple from his hand, careful not to touch him.

As she examined the fruit, turning it over in her hands, she also found herself sneaking peeks at him from under her lashes. His fierce appearance - the green skin, the sharp tusks, the rippling muscles - was undeniably alien. Yet there was a warmth in his eyes, a concern that seemed at odds with his warrior-like exterior.

She took a small bite of the apple, and its sweet juice flooded her mouth, the familiar taste unexpectedly comforting. He smiled at her, emphasizing those intimidating tusks, but her fear had eased and she found herself returning his smile hesitantly.

As she ate, she looked around again, noticing the unbroken expanse of trees. The enormity of her situation hit her anew as she took in the towering trees, their branches swaying gently in the cool breeze. A corresponding shiver ran down her spine. It was all so strange - or was it?

As she looked closer, she noticed familiar shapes among the foliage. Was that an oak tree? And over there, something that looked suspiciously like a pine. Moss covered the ground beneath the trees, along with thick clumps of what looked like ferns, but the vine with long purple leaves climbing the closest tree was unlike anything she'd ever seen. How could some things be so familiar and others, like the vine - and Wulf - be so different?

A parallel universe, she thought, the idea both thrilling and terrifying. It explained the similarities, yet highlighted just how far from home she truly was. Her stomach churned as she realized the implications. She'd never been much of an outdoors person - her idea of roughing it was a hotel without room service. Now, she was stranded in the middle of the wilderness in a world where even the air felt different, unfamiliar scents and sounds mingling with the familiar.

Wulf had moved over to the remains of the fire, his movements smooth and efficient, as he swiftly created a small blaze. He clearly knew how to survive out here. She, on the other hand, wouldn't have the first clue how to start a fire or find food or water. The thought sent a shiver of fear down her spine. As much as part of her wanted to run, to try and find her way back home, she knew that without Wulf and his brothers, she wouldn't last a day out here.

The extent of her dependence on these strange men was sobering. She was completely at their mercy, reliant on both their knowledge and goodwill. At least Wulf had been nothing but kind to her so far, she thought as she watched him. Maybe, just maybe, she could trust him to keep her safe in this strange new world. In which case the first step was to establish a means of communication.

She studied the remains of the fruit thoughtfully, then looked up to find Wulf watching her. Ignoring that strange little thrill when their eyes met, she held up the apple core and raised her eyebrows questioningly.

He immediately nodded and returned to her side.

"Ava," he said slowly, tapping the core.

"Ava," she repeated, the unfamiliar word feeling strange on her tongue.

She said it again, trying to mimic his pronunciation, and he nodded encouragingly, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Emboldened by this small success, she looked around the camp, then pointed at the small clear fire he'd built.

"Fyr," he said, his deep voice rumbling.

"Fyr," she echoed, committing the word to memory.

She moved on to the furs she'd slept on, the trees surrounding them, even the sky above. With each new word, she felt a tiny spark of accomplishment. She'd always been good at research, at piecing together information from disparate sources, and she did her best to apply those skills to her current situation. She listened intently to the sounds he made, trying to discern patterns in the language.

She noticed some words seemed to share similar sounds, and wondered if they were related somehow. But she also noticed that several of them were very close to English - "tre" for tree, for example. English shared common roots with several languages - did the similar words derive from one of those?

Pushing that thought aside to consider later, she focused on repeating each word multiple times, drilling them into her memory. A pen and paper to make notes would have made it much easier, but she refused to be deterred. As they worked their way through more objects around the camp, she was increasingly aware of Wulf - of the spark when their eyes met, of the unexpected surge of heat when their hands touched, and of the warmth of his smile. She found herself returning those smiles, her initial fear giving way to curiosity and determination.

She was in the middle of repeating "sten" for a smooth river rock when a slight noise in the undergrowth caught her attention. Egon emerged from beneath the trees, moving with startling silence for a man of his size. He was carrying a woven basket filled with leafy greens and the sight of food made her stomach growl. It also reminded her of more pressing needs.

A wave of embarrassment washed over her as she realized she needed to use the bathroom. How on earth was she supposed to communicate that? She fidgeted, trying to think of a way to express her need without words.

Taking a deep breath, she caught Wulf's eye and pointed to herself, then made a vague gesture towards the trees. He gave her a confused frown, and she bit her lip, then mimed the action of pulling down pants and squatting.

Understanding dawned on his face, followed quickly by what looked like amusement. He nodded and stood, gesturing for her to follow him. Her cheeks burned as she got to her feet, avoiding Egon's gaze.

He led her a short distance away to the side of a small, clear stream, then guided her downstream, to a secluded spot behind some bushes. When he showed no signs of leaving, she made shooing motions with her hands, trying to convey that she wanted privacy.

He shook his head firmly, pointing to the surrounding forest with a serious expression. It seemed harmless enough but he clearly wasn't going to leave her alone in this unfamiliar wilderness. Sighing in resignation, she pointed at him, then made a turning motion with her finger.

His lips quirked, but he nodded and turned his back, giving her what privacy he could. She quickly took care of business, grateful for the sound of the stream masking any noises.

When she finished, she approached the water's edge, then knelt down and dipped her hands into the stream. The icy water made her gasp, but she washed her hands as best she could, then splashed more water over her face, wiping away the lingering traces of her tears. The cold made her shiver, but she felt a hundred times better when she'd finished.

As she stood, shaking off her hands and then wiping them on the coarse linen of her borrowed shirt, she gave Wulf a quick Look from the corner of her eye. His posture was tense, alert, and he seemed ready to spring into action at a moment's notice as he scanned the area for potential threats. Despite her lingering embarrassment, she felt a surge of gratitude for his protective presence.

"All done," she announced, and he immediately turned back towards her.

His eyes flicked down over her, lingering for a moment on her bare legs, and she felt a corresponding surge of heat. She did her best to ignore it as he inclined his head, then gestured for her to accompany him.

She followed him back to their makeshift camp, her cheeks still flushed from the awkward bathroom experience. As they approached, she caught sight of Egon hunched over the fire, stirring something in a battered pot. The aroma of cooking food made her stomach rumble again, reminding her how long it had been since she'd eaten. The small apple had only been enough to stay her hunger for a short time.

Egon glanced up as they neared, then quickly averted his gaze. She noticed how he angled his body, keeping the scarred side of his face hidden from view, and she crossed to the fire.

"Good morning, Egon."

He gave her a quick, startled look, then looked past her at Wulf. She frowned at hm over her shoulder, hoping he wasn't going to resume his previous possessive attitude. He opened his mouth, then closed it again and she gave him a quick smile before turning back to Egon.

Egon ladled what looked like a thick porridge into wooden bowls, then added a handful of fresh greens to each bowl, stirring it into the hot mixture, his massive hands moving with surprising delicacy.

"Gr?d," he said quietly, holding out a steaming bowl to her.

"Gr?d. Thank you."

She pointed at the noticed flecks of green mixed into it and gave him an inquiring look.

"Urter."

"Urter," she echoed, committing the word to memory.

Giving Egon another smile, she carried the bowl over to a log next to the fire. Wulf immediately sat down next to her with his own bowl, close enough that she could feel the heat radiating from his body. Even though she was aware of the possessiveness in his actions, his presence felt... comforting.

She took a cautious bite, humming thoughtfully as she tried to decide what it resembled. The porridge was surprisingly savory, with more depth of flavor than oatmeal and a pleasant chewy texture, while the greens added a fresh, slightly spicy taste. She looked up and saw Egon watching anxiously.

"This is delicious. Thank you."

A small smile twisted his lips as he ducked his head in response, then filled his own bowl. As they ate, she found herself stealing glances at Wulf and Egon from under her lashes. They looked unreal, as if she’d found herself on a movie set, but the hard bark beneath her, the crips mountain sir, and the hearty, unfamiliar food were all too real. This was no movie set, no elaborate cosplay. They were real orcs, and she was truly in another world.

Another rustle from the trees announced Lothar's return. He strode into the clearing with a pair of small, furry creatures slung over his shoulder. They had long ears like rabbits, but their fur was tiger-striped in shades of orange and brown, and that odd sense of disorientation washed over her again. Lothat saw her watching him and flashed her a roguish grin that seemed at odds with his fierce appearance.

Wulf growled, but Lothar ignored him, grinning again before dropping his catch near the fire and pulling out a wickedly sharp knife. She quickly averted her gaze as he began to skin and butcher the animals with practiced ease. The casual brutality of the act drove home just how far she was from her comfortable life in Charleston.

She focused on her bowl, trying to ignore the wet sounds of Lothar's work. Wulf seemed to sense her distress, placing a quick hand on her shoulder before he rose and went to join his brother. By accident or design, he placed himself between her and Lothar and she took a relieved breath. Until she could find a way home, she would have to accept her new reality - but the longer she could avoid some of the harsher realities, the better.