After the War (Razgriz x Lagertha)

Deep in the land of Zurith, a massive fortress stood proud and high. Its silhouette blazed against the skyline, making it seem all the more ominous. For it was the main stronghold of the Holy Order, a group dedicated to spreading the word of God and bring all under their banner. Or face divine extermination by the High Priest, a man hell-bent on ridding this world of all those that would defy God.

This order, directed by their despotic chief, started a cleanse of the land, viewing any that did not subscribe to their God as heretics and parasites. This decreed, handed from the High Priest himself, included those labeled heretics even from the villages their 'Holy Knights' are meant to protect. Families were torn and friendships destroyed as executions are carried in public display, sometimes in the dozens by the day, so that all may know that their God is without question the most important and only deity worth worshiping.

However, not only the citizens but any sentient creature that refused to accept his glory were targeted. And even some of those that did, mostly those of hybrid or more slanderously called 'Chimeras', did not fail to incur the Order's wrath. Many of those deemed heretics and parasites and even demons tried to escape persecution, but few succeeded. The combination of the enchanted armor from their Knights and the talent of the Spell-casters at the Order's disposal proved too much for most to handle. The body count grew and grew, the unceremonial funeral pyres sending columns of ash and smoke into the heavens, darkening the skies as the Order pressed on in its divine mission.

There was one, however, that did have measurable success against them: The Iron Wolves, a band of brutal berserker warriors possessing inhuman strength and ferocity that laid waste to many of their camps. But even they sustained heavy losses and without some form of assistance, would too succumb to the same fate. Their chieftain, a hulk of a man dressed in patchwork armor consisting of shards from the Knights he alone felled, knew this all too well and went to a tribe of what his people called 'Fox-Eared', those most commonly known as the Kitsune.

Having struck a deal with a local Kitsune tribe, the odd fox-people would at their backs to provide arcane defense. The battle between the Iron Wolves and the Order raged on for years, the barbarians making noticeably progress towards their stronghold. And as they went on, they also aided other tribes besieged by the Priest-decreed purge, the survivors joining their number and increasing their force strength immeasurably. Soon enough, the newly re-banded Wolves marched on the High Priest's fortress and broke through the line of soldiers surrounding the main fortress. Bodies from both sides littered the killing fields, roughly forged siege weapons pounding the fortress with projectiles and battering rams. Only after a hard-fought battle, the massive force was able to breach the perimeter, capture the High Priest and end him, shattering the Order for good and the surviving remnants fleeing to escape the coming vengeful persecution of themselves.

Three months after their victory over the Order, the Iron Wolves' chieftain declared a tournament: He or she who emerged victorious would carry out their end of the bargain, such was the way of the Wolves. Thankfully, no one else perished; though it was questionable if they would be able to fight again in any measurable time-frame. By the end of it all, it was in fact his sole bodyguard Orgoth who emerged the champion of the Wolves. Per their deal with the Kitsune, their strongest was to be sent to the central village to serve the Queen until such time that they would be able to choose to stay or come rejoin their brothers and sisters.

Orgoth took nothing with him but his weapons - twin longswords that each weighed roughly one hundred pounds and perfect for cutting Order Knight armor - his set of protective guards and the scars of his past. Standing at seven feet and eight inches tall, he was comparable to a giant. His musculature bulged against his iron-hard skin, the numerous healed lacerations evidence of his many months in battle. Like most of his kind, a flick from a meaty finger could shatter even the largest boulder, so great was their strength. The short black hair on his head was mussed and ragged, serving only to enhance his wildman appearance.

Orgoth knew better than to reneg on a deal made by the Chieftain, but that didn't mean he particularly cared for it. A heavy scowl was set on his face as he approached the village boundary, already feeling the eyes of their sentries hiding in the woods burning into his back. And as he took the next few steps, a dark-skinned Kitsune appeared before him, arms crossed and her robe flitting for a moment before staying still. "State your business" she demanded, slitted eyes narrowing. Orgoth's hands tightened on his weapons, "I am Orgoth, warrior of the Iron Wolves, First Guard to Fang the Strong. I am here to give my services to your Queen, as was in the arrangement between our tribes."

Her eyes seemed to glance over his figure, a small smirk on her face as she replied, "Very well, you'll follow me then. I will deliver you to her." And like she was gone, her long legs carrying her like the wind, the massive titan's footfalls thundering as he followed her to the best of his ability.

A distant rumble could be heard approaching the village gates, the two male guards - slender-figured men dressed in light armor covered by yellow and brown plain robes, one having long white hair and the other a medium-length brunette - immediately alert to the presence; before long, their slitted golden hues widened at the encroaching behemoth, readying defensive spells even though it seemed doubtful one would be so foolish as to attack the central village head on. Even more so that the assailant would be alone. "Oi, calm down; that mountain's with me. He's here to see Tiri!" the Kitsune leading Orgoth said to the guards as she landed gracefully in front of them. The guards seemed uneasy, especially once Orgoth himself approached the gates, their gazes telling a slight dread dwelling in them.

"Not bad, barbarian. Not even winded? Impressive for someone your size." the woman smirked, one guard adding "...H-hey, Rihna,I don't think it's wise to anger him" but Orgoth spoke up, his voice baritone and thundering, "She speaks as to what we are. How that is an insult, I do not see. Now if you would be so kind to stand aside, I have business with your Queen." The other guard just nodded, "O-of course, she awaits you in the furthest hut. You can't miss it." And just like that, Orgoth was given a privilege few outsiders could claim to have: He was allowed to not only approach, but enter the main Kitsune homestead himself.

Some of the others, each having their own number of tails - the most four and the fewest one - looked over to Rhina guiding a massive titan through their village towards the Queen's residence. They approached, the two female guards possessing seven tails each, watching patiently before opening the doors inside. "Behave yourself, Wolf." the one to his left warned gently, not too eager to make him enraged but also needing to let him know to tread carefully. Orgoth snorted derisively and continued inside, intent on getting these formalities out of the way so that he could continue with his chieftain-designated duty.

Rihna approached the throne and gave a bow, one arm crossed over her chest to her opposite shoulder as she said excitedly, "Your Highness Tiri'ol! I give you Orgoth of the Iron Wolves! Orgoth, please step forward to state your business!" before standing aside to let the brute approach. The young boy in her hair seemed to let out a muted whimper, the brute's fierce gaze going to the golden orbs that appeared from the flowing golden locks of their Queen, his aura of violence likely spine-chilling for one so young. For a moment, their eyes met before Orgoth broke contact and turned his attention declared as he crossed his swords over his massive torso, "I, Orgoth of the Iron Wolves, First Guard to Fang the Strong, have come to honor the pact between us! For your services in dethroning the High Priest, I am at your beck and call! That is my solemn vow!" He then dipped his head slightly as part of his ritualistic greeting, waiting for the Queen to acknowledge his presence.

Orgoth raised his head as the Queen addressed him, seeing the frightened young boy bury his face into her clothes to hide from the monster in the room. He had figured the boy was young, the gaze alone was enough to give that away immediately. He knew his stature was intimidating, but that was part of the reason he trained and battled as much as he did. To give a terrifying aura to those that challenged him with weak wills, to ensure he fought and truly fought only the strongest.

Orgoth was silent as she descended, explaining his duties and expressing her surprise at his size, his own piercing gray eyes looking into her slit-pupiled purple ones. Normally, men would have wilted under the immensity of her power and beauty, but it was increasingly obvious that this giant before her was no ordinary human. No, none of the Iron Wolves fell under any category of normalcy.

So, he was to be a bodyguard, was he? Fine by him; meant anyone that came after her would taste the wrought-steel of his swords, feel their bones shatter under the force of his might. It was a thought he relished, savored...But that would come later. He would need to get acquainted with the village layout and the weakness in her home's defenses. Being this was a Kitsune village, he had no doubt there were powerful wards in place to prevent intrusion, but with the threat of Order remnants still lingering, one could never afford to be too careful. Their bitter, crushing defeat made them desperate and hungry for vengeance, especially after seeing the man who brought them together so crudely hung like a trophy from atop their own fortress.

However, Rihna was not expecting the Queen to address her; she paused a little as she tried to consider what she exactly wanted. Being a seamstress in hobby, she almost always asked for thread to help stitch or design the clothes for her village. But earlier today, she had come across an Arachnotaur that was selling her own silk for a coin. "Um...My Queen, if it's not too much trouble, might I have some coin? There's a new material I discovered, but I'm afraid the one selling it is fairly set on coin-trade only." she then asked, rubbing the back of her head in nervousness and giving a slight laugh.

Rihna seemed to squeal in delight as she brought forth the coin; of course, this particular Arachnotaur knew quite well the value of a Kitsune's silver. Rihna would probably have more silk than she might know what to do with, but that was fine! "Ah! M'lady, thank you greatly! May the Old Ones smile on you!" the dark-fleshed Kitsune giggled gleefullly, rushing out of the hut to meet the spider-like merchant. But the titan merely stood at the ready, waiting for what she might suggest. The 'mighty' before him was a bit unnecessary, as every full-grown Wolf was a berserker able to rampage without relent.

However, Orgoth would decide not to correct her as he then followed her on the guided tour of the village. He was shown residences, market stands and businesses, none of which seemed to appeal to him so far. "To be honest, we hunt larger game and dress very lightly, in many cases in the village not at all." True enough, in the Wolves' community it was very common to see men, women and children walking bare; it made them feel free, much like the four-legged beasts their clan was named from. And their most pried game was the Yaui Goa, an eight-legged spherical monstrosity with armor as tough as their own, strength that surpassed them and several mouths that shot viscous poison globs, able to kill even the toughest Wolf with just the contact alone. It could easily be described as an apex predator. Sure, it was a tough creature to kill...But butchered properly, the meat yielded from their bodies would feed their entire village for many months.

He took note of the locations of the huts, seeing the one he would call his own; it was very close to the Queen's residence, and the layout made sense: Warriors encircling the perimeter would give the younger Kitsune and the Queen ample opportunity to flee if worse came to worse. But it was here the pair came upon an enormous structure, the smell of the fumes very familiar to the Wolf: This was a forge, and a hot one from the heavy iron scent he picked up.

"Aye, the Wolves work with forges so hot the great fire-spewing mountains weep with envy! I'm delighted to see one proud of the smithing arts; it is quite honestly one of my favorites!" Orgoth declared, proudly to Wao who seemed to grin and ask, "I have to say, I wouldn't have expected anything less! Speaking of smithing...Those swords you have. You make them yourself?" The massive warrior seemed to grin, "Aye, and many Order cowards they fell. My Wolve's Teeth shattered and broke so many, and look how sharp they stay!" Wao chuckled a bit nervously; seemed this man was zealous as a warrior, not that it should have surprised him.

"Mind if I hold it? Just for a second, I mean?" Wao asked, wanting to get a feel for the weapon's balance. At this, Orgoth laughed quite loudly and extended the blade hilt-first, clutching the edge between his fingers, "By all means." But as soon as Wao grasped it and the barbarian released, the blade fell to the ground with a tremendous vibrating rumble, the poor kitsune's fingers trapped under the grip. "That's...a heavy one, for sure.." he choked, holding back tears as he then strained, able to lift it up with great effort and his entire body shaking from the effort; true, Kitsune were stronger than the average human, but this was a weapon designed by Orgoth specifically for cutting down anything in his way. "There's no way....*huff*...you can use this in battle. It's way too heavy!" he strained to say, face scrunched from the exertion before Orgoth took his blade back, letting the smith breathe more easily once more.

Orgoth then grinned even more, and with a mere flick of his arms shot both swords completely skyward, the blades disappearing into the black of the night sky. "I suggest you stand back a few paces, Queen Tiri'ol." he then said off-handedly to the woman accompanying him. Wao just stared up, his eyes wide in shock; he wasn't seriously going to try and catch it, was he? And there Orgoth stood, arms crossed as if this was completely normal. "Y..you're not serious are you? What if they come down right on top of you?" the Kitsune stammered, to which Orgoth replied, "That makes it more fun! We play this game all the time, we call it one of the 'True Wolves Tests'. If you don't have confidence to catch your design, you do not deserve to wield them!" A very faint whistling could be heard, and the glint of the sword flashed in the light of the young moon before hurtling straight down towards Orgoth. And with what seemed like inhuman reflexes, he reached out to his sides and neatly caught both blades, fingers gripping the handles quite firmly. Wao let out a sigh of relief, rubbing his brow as he asked"Listen, please don't do that again, yeah? You just got here, we don't need you skewering yourself alright?"

Orgoth gave a low rumbling chuckle and turned to the Queen, "I believe we have found something I would like to do. But the journey here was long; I believe some rest would do me good. Unless there is anything else I should know about the village?" He seemed non-chalant about nearly turning himself into a human pike, but then, the Wolves were a rather 'unhinged' bunch to begin with, especially when it came to proving their ferocity and bravado.

"Oi, see you around tomorrow Orgoth!" Wao called out before he closed the doors, leaving the giant with their Queen as she took him to where he would be resting. The different huts they passed through were somewhat narrow for him due to his broad shoulders, but he managed to maneuver fairly well for one so sizable. Once they reached, the warrior was able to get a better look: The outside was rather simplistic; in his own camp, they slept on the ground using boulders and mounds of dirt as their resting supports. So he expected his own to be as such, even if he was surprised by the inclusion of mixtures and springs for bathing. Private bathing was very uncommon among his clan; a local water body always served as both their wash and fish supply if it had any. Plants, however, were common as they often used soaproot to clean themselves of grime and sweat after a hunt.

Stepping inside, Orgoth's surprise only grew as different gem-like growths sprang to life, bathing the entirety of the huts interior in a radiant blue glow. And though the light gave Tiri'ol a radiant halo of light much like the humans considered their God to be, the barbarian was more interested in the light spectacles themselves. He'd never seen such things, even more so when the floor beneath his feet changed instantly. The fact that he was supposed to be the only sleeping here was also strange; their instincts called for sleeping together as a group, changing sentry duties every few nights to ensure the security of their camp. It was only the first night though, and Orgoth was nothing if not adaptable.

After all, the existence in the Wildlands demanded it, else it meant death.

But when she pointed to the main dining area, Orgoth felt a similarity to home: The smoke reminded him of the large roaring fires their clan kept, and the times where he would have to work to keep it going during the heavy storms in the cold seasons. "It is more than alright; it's exactly how the iron Wolves ate. Together, everyone in sight. It was a time to remember why we lived, how we lived. Eat, drink and be merry, for you might not live to see the next light of day. We didn't have huts, however; we dug in and built dens much like the Tuns Goa of old." he explained, turning back to face her.

"I will join you all shortly. Thank you for the offer." he replied as she left, the door barely closing as he dropped his weapons and already began stripping his armor, showing that the scars went further than imagined. His bronzed flesh rippled with muscle as he let each piece fall, the last being the heavy boots of his feet before he climbed in, expecting it to be cold but finding it a pleasing warm. He saw no fire, however, wondering if this was a brand of magic used to heat the spring or if it was naturally hot like this. Regardless, he cleaned himself thoroughly, the gnarled scars felt quite prominently beneath his thick fingers. Each one a physical memory of a battle past, a victory had. The ragged hair received a rinsing, the dirt coming out easily as he then reached for one of the mixture bottles. He opened it a little only to close it tight again, his sensitive nose bombarded with overwhelming scent; trying another, he found it much milder and decided to use that.

Within a short window, he was clean and re-placing his armor when he heard a knock at the door. All he had on was his boots at the moment, so without thinking he went and answered it, only to find the one named Rihna at his door. "You're the one who led me here...Rihna, was it?" Orgoth stated, Rihna's eyes fixed quite intently to his groin before a noticeable flush reddened her cheeks and she was forced to turn away, eyes squinched shut from the sight. "Who answers the door naked? We're not in your village anymore, you know!" she muttered through gritted teeth; granted she was impressed that a human was like that, but still...So indecent!

Not bothering to apologize, Orgoth just responded with "Did you need something from me?" to which she screamed "THE QUEEN IS AT THE DINING HALL, GO MEET HER, YOU FATHEAD!" before running off towards the hut. "Whoever said the Kitsune were level-headed needs to re-examine themselves." the giant muttered before returning to fully dress himself. It was here he then went to meet the Queen, herself seated at the head of a long table surrounded by three others, all of whom possessed eight tails. There was a muttering from the others as he walked past, some amazed at such a massive human whilst others muttered distrustful and even hateful words, saying that he would only bring ruin and filth to their Queen.

"Orgoth, was it? Name's Miwa" said one blonde-haired Kitsune male, dressed in a plain white-robe accented in red and white pants. It seemed this was the outfit of the Royal Guard, for the other two were dressed the same way. One possessed fiery red hair and one had hair the color of the night itself, but one trait all three shared were the golden irises, the precursor hue before the evolution to becoming a 'Nine-Tail'. Patting the chair next to him, he smiled "Sit, the feast is about to commence." Orgoth did as such, the chair creaking loudly and starting to buckle from the weight, setting his swords down seemed to lessen the load but a few others laughed at his expense. Not out of cruelty, but genuine laughter at the hilarity of the occurrence.

Orgoth sat and listened as the Queen gave her speech, welcoming him into the fold of the Kitsune. Her declaration seemed to have made it official, but it was more than obvious that quite a few did not seem to particularly enjoy a brute like him among their kind. Not that he would care either way; he was only here to honor a debt, as was expected of his people. He had no intention of learning about them, for when his service was done, he would return to his own family.

Still, it seemed that the Kitsune did share another trait that he was not expecting to find: Those that hunted and prepared the food ate first, meaning Orgoth - being the Chieftain's main guard - would eat after them more than once in a while. It wasn't long at least, before the massive trays and bowls of food were passed around, the sounds of china being struck gently by the tableware beginning to resonate with the overtones of conversation between the Kitsune. And true to his nature as a Wolf, his plate was almost entirely devoid of vegetables and even bread. Fish, chicken and boar were piled high, his thick fingers taking a sizable chunk of forest swine and devouring it noisily, his jaws working and ripping the gamey flesh apart.

Those sitting closest to him had looks of concern; would this man really be alright here? Miwa, the one he talked to earlier, tried to get the giant's attention but Orgoth bared his teeth, the surfaces yellowed but surprisingly clean, and snarled, thinking he was trying to take food from his plate. "Whoa, easy there, boy..." the guard said cautiously, pointing to the untouched fork and knife at the side of his plate, the tablecloth around it already dotted with flecks of meat juice. "Those are there for a reason, you know?" Orgoth looked at him curiously, then picked up the meat knife, meant for cutting the roast into smaller chunks.

Instead, however, he put the point of the blade right between his teeth; some of the others began to notice, disgusted by his lack of table manners. "Oi, big man...Might want to not do that, you know?" said the red-haired guard, to which Orgoth said only "I don't understand; if I'm not to pick my teeth with them, then what use do these have?" The guard then motioned to those still eating, stating "Look at them, see how they use it to cut their meat?" Orgoth unceremoniously tossed the last chunk of his first piece into his mouth, saying with his mouth full "That's what hands are for. Gripping, breaking, tearing, you name it."

The third black-haired guard sighed and picked up Orgoth's fork, holding it to him, "Here, just try using this..." Orgoth looked at the multi-pronged tool curiously; why would a miniature tri-pointed spear be used for eating? This was a weapon meant to pierce living enemies, not dead flesh; still , the Wolf looked up and saw one of the younger ones stabbing the meat with her fork in an overhead motion. Thinking that must be they were referring to, Orgoth raised the fork high above him and before anyone could stop him brought it down, shattering the plate that held his meat. Thankfully the table was sturdy and did not break, though some had to try and catch wayward dishes the jumped, though the titan seemed to care little as he brought the ceramic-dotted flesh to his mouth and started to chew, looks of exasperation on the guard's faces as he continued to eat without hesitation.

Clearly, this one had much to learn.

Orgoth was honestly confused; what did it matter how one ate their flesh? To consume was to live, and to not do so meant not living. Moreso, they would often contest themselves whenever they had an abundance of meat to see who could devour the most. There was no prize except reinforcing that whoever emerged the victor claimed superiority in that respect. Even still, didn't seem too fazed by everything, especially given that the hunk of meat was already in his mouth. In just a few moments, his place was cleared and a metal dish now set before him.

"I fail to see how different eating styles will affect my nourishment intake." Orgoth huffed; still, he was here to make peace not cause trouble. He took his fork, now somewhat dented from the impact, and picked up a smaller piece of the fish that had been passed around. He still chewed rather noisily, and it wasn't long before the old habits of him ramming food down his throat came back in force. However, at least they seemed to be satisfied that he was using a fork; and soon enough, the meal ended, Orgoth's burly fingers wrapped around a bottle of wine that he had downed in its entirety. The Wolves had their own versions of fermented beverages, but they were harsher and more to sharpen the senses after a hunt or battle.

And just when things couldn't possibly get any worse for the Kitsune, they were about to experience how the Iron Wolves thanked their hosts. The barbarian then let out a long, echoing belch that threatened to deafen any that sat near, the children actually starting to laugh and clap at the large man's outburst. "Thank you for the meal!" he then bellowed; lifting the massive clear bottle, he then slammed it against his forehead, the glass shattering and falling all around him.

No one could speak, nor could any of the adults believe this was even real; was this really how the barbarians acted? No wonder they were seen as savages, there were no other words to describe them! And based on the looks some of them were giving him - those that weren't currently trying to shush their children from mimicking the Wolf's belching - it was obvious that the Queen was going to have some angry residents demanding his removal.

Ko, the red-haired Guard, was absolutely speechless but then busted out laughing for no reason, a hand clapping over her mouth. "Ko! Don't reinforce this one's ill manners!" Miwa chastised, to which the woman responded "What? You have to admit, he definitely lives up to the reputation!" Rai'thi, the black-haired Guard, added "She does have a point, Miwa. As atrocious as his manner is, we have to remember that the barbarians live out in the wild. It's not like he's lived in a village like this; no, one with his scarring had to be born and raised out there with the dangers." Orgoth snorted, "Dangers? Ha! The Iron Wolves *are* the danger! Even the mighty Yaui Goa fall before us!"

Orgoth snarled as the Queen directed her fury at him; no doubt he did not enjoy being ordered around by someone that was not Fang. Even though he was honor-bound to serve her, there was nothing forcing him to learn her way of life aside from her desire to control the village. Ko reached down and gripped his wrist, as if to tell him to not try and anything, before she too was lambasted for her lack of grace. "Yes, Your Grace." she replied meekly, eyes and tails drooping; that meant herself and Miwa were going to be up late into the night, using some of the remaining food as practice material.

"Wow, I haven't seen her this upset since the Priest's force tried to wipe this village out." Miwa muttered after Tiri'ol left, to which Orgoth replied, "All because I eat as I normally have. Hardly a comparable offense to near-annihilation." This made the guard's brow tick a little, "The Queen is still extremely fearful that the Order will return. She had accepted your clan's offer of protection, true, but in truth she knew little of your ways just as you were ignorant of ours." The titan snorted, "Then clearly this village has isolated you from the harsh realities of the wild. You think the Kitsune were the only ones affected by that damned Priest?! The barbarian tribes were nearly extinct thanks to him! My fellow Wolves, butchered like animals! And yet you sit here and complain about how to eat! In the face of death, what does that matter!?"

At this Miwa couldn't control his anger anymore, "The Order is shattered, you savage! Any remnants will be FAR easier to deal with, so at the very least we can pound some civility into that thick boulder you call a skull!" Orgoth bellowed angrily, standing up and nearly flipping the table as he grabbed his blades, "Civility is why you Kitsune are so weak! " Ko stepped between them, "ENOUGH YOU TWO! WE'RE ALLIES, REMEMBER!?" Both Miwa and Orgoth still glared daggers at each other, obviously heated over something so irrelevant. Ko breathed, "Orgoth...Miwa...Listen to me. The peace between us is fragile, yes, but not easily broken." She then turned and faced the giant, adding "Look, we know how harsh it is out there. Out there, it's kill or be killed. The fact that you've lived as long as you have is a blessing under those conditions." She then turned to her fellow guard, "And as for you, Rai'thi pointed that out himself. But we can't expect him to know our ways right off the bat. I know you care about the Queen, but getting angry isn't going to help. So help me help him, alright?" Ko didn't usually get serious like this, but when she did it was an evident reminder that she was fiercely loyal.

Her eight red tails swishing, she then let out a heavy sigh, "Right, let's get to work then." Thankfully, those that cleaned up left a setting so that Orgoth would be able to practice. At the very least, they could try to teach him the use of a knife and fork, right? The barbarian was seated once more, Yade heading to the hut to give the Queen the rest of her meal - sparing a few fish filet, a boar loin and some chicken thighs from the massive platter he was bringing her - and walked past them, beginning what was likely to be a repeat lesson for this brute.

Yade, meanwhile, soon arrived at the Queen's door and was about to knock when he heard the pitter-patter of tiny footsteps; no doubt it was Yuit. Bless the poor lad, he was so attached to Tiri'ol after the gruesome tragedy of his parents' deaths. Soon enough the door opened to reveal the brown-haired Kitsune smiling at him. "Mister Yade! I smell food! Mommy, Yade's here!" the boy called out enthusiastically, the elderly Kitsune walking into the hut, placing the tray of food and soup on the table just next to the Queen.

Yade then smiled, "I do worry about the Order as well, my Queen...But if I might be so bold..." He then paused and took a small breath, "M'lady...I know that the Wolf is not exactly...'proper'. But please try to understand that he does intend to honor the agreement as much as he possibly can. All this information: Manners, etiquette, civility. It will take time for him to adjust. I do not pretend to understand the trials he and his tribe have had to endure, especially during the Priest's reign of terror. But...I am from the mountains, which is a fairly close second." Truth be told, he still imagined the days when the bastard's army marched up the cliffs, turning the beautiful stone range into a towering inferno. And try as they might, the fire-arcana of their Weavers was simply too strong, the wind magic only feeding their cursed flames.

He then gently touched Tiri'ol on the shoulder, "Just...please give him time, Your Grace. He will adjust...Out there, after all, not doing such means you're not likely to see the next sunrise."

Yade nodded his head, a stifled yawn leaving as he replied, "Of course, my Queen." laying his own hand gently on hers. True, the loss of the other Nine-Tails was devastating; Tiri'ol was lucky to have survived the purge, along with the seven and eight-tailed Kitsunes that were once guards themselves. Otherwise it could have been years, centuries even, before another would rise to Tiri'ol's rank. Because of this, he too hoped that the man at least tried to develop a form of proper etiquette. The Kitsune as a whole were suffering from the devastating reduction in number, and while so many young ones was excellent prospect for repopulation, it also meant a larger number of targets. With an Iron Wolf aiding them, protection matters for the Queen could be placed less so on the other Kitsune and help keep the children safe.

"Good night to you, Your Highness. And to you as well, young one" said the kind elder, taking his leave and leaving the young Kitsune with his adoptive mother. "I hope that the scary monster leaves soon; making Mommy so upset! Rude!" the little Kitsune thought to himself, cheeks puffing out in annoyance with his little arms crossed over his chest.

---

Meanwhile, Orgoth was still working with Miwa and Ko on proper table manners. Thankfully, he'd picked up the use of the knife and fork easily enough; there was still the issue of talking with his mouth full, among other things. Not to mention that even though he'd gotten used to using them, he was still basically trying to ram the entire portion of food into his mouth.

"No, no, Orgoth...Ugh, small pieces, my friend. Remember, the size of your pinky." Miwa tried explaining, his tone exasperated; he'd decided that using the giant's finger as a reference would be best, since two of Orgoth's fingers overshadowed the entirety of a normal Kitsune's hand. "I still don't understand why we cut it so small; it's wasted effort. Effort that could be spent doing other things." Orgoth replied, clearly not sitting well with doing things 'just because it's expected'. Dying was expected, but that didn't mean a Wolf ran into the poison trail left by a Yaui Goa or suffocated on water.

"Because it's polite; now granted, you're not talking with your mouth full, which is good. Even you agreed it was unsightly." Miwa replied, to which Orgoth retorted, "No, I said it was easier to swallow then talk." Miwa shrugged, "Same difference, you oaf." At this Ko yawned, "Can we stop for tonight? I *really* need to get some sleep." Miwa seemed upset that they hadn't gottenn further...But then, no one expected he would be able to get everything at once. And he had gotten further than he was expecting.

"It's probably best we do; our large new friend here would probably like to sleep as well. What say you?" Miwa then asked the giant, Orgoth replying "Indeed, some rest would do us all good. However, given that I am her bodyguard, I will sleep lightly. You might not think it, but I can be roused by even the slightest disturbance."

And with that, the trio put away the last of the wares and bid each other good night, Orgoth returning to his own hut directly adjacent to the Queen's own. He looked over the beds themselves, and decided that one was to be not enough. With little effort, he pulled all three together and after a few moments of laying down, fell into slumber; nevertheless, his body alert and ready should any danger approach his newest charge.

Orgoth breathed quite silently for one so large; usually those of his stature snored as if a team of lumberjacks worked through the night to clear a forest. However, his kind had developed oversized airways to both increase intake during exertion and to keep themselves silent through the night. Soon, the room changed to indicate the rise of the new sun, a mix of oranges and reds shining brilliantly through the room to indicate it was time. Not that it mattered, for the giant seemed to spring to life almost instantly; still wearing his armor from the day before, he picked up his twin blades and proceeded to join the Queen.

Miwa, Ko and Rai'thi were also getting ready; thankfully, the wards around the village deterred most from looking at it let along going near it. However, should an Order Weaver manage to detect the ancient arcana...That would be trouble. Regardless, they soon saw the giant coming towards Tiri'ol as well. "Well? Bet those beds were more comfortable than the dirt your tribe had to use, right?" Ko then shouted, earning a stern glance from both Miwa and Rai'thi. "What? It's an honest questi---" She cut off as Orgoth stood over her, the light of the early morning sun making his already indomitable aura even more sinister. The shadows gave his form a more ominous appearance, something straight from the depths of the abyss. Ko seemed more than a bit timid at this, but then Orgoth spoke "I honestly didn't think they would hold me, but I slept quiet well. Excellent craftsmanship."

Miwa then coughed, turning to address the Queen, "Good morning, Your Grace! Young Yuit! I pray your sleep was relatively uneventful?" Of course, he knew better than anyone that she still suffered nightmares from those horrific days. Not that anyone would blame her; Miwa himself had been alongside Tiri'ol from the beginning, and did everything in his power to make sure they reached the central village - the village where the eldest and most powerful of the Nine-tailed resided - unharmed. And despite this brute being an uncivilized beast, he was happy that Orgoth seemed to genuinely want to honor the pact between their tribes.

"Mommy didn't sleep! That bad Priest meanie gave her nightmares again!" the young one-tailed declared, a cheek puffed with indignation. "Yuit! I don't think..." Rai'thi started to say, but then Orgoth of all people interjected, "Nightmares are not always a bad thing. They remind us of what hides in the shadows, of the things that wish to kill and hurt us." And then he clanged his swords together, a harsh tone in his voice, "And there is only one thing we can do to those things: Kill. Them. Back!"

Well, at least they could rest easy knowing Orgoth would probably be the first to run into the fray without hesitation. But Yuit, frightened anew by the big monster's demeanor, crawled and hid behind the Queen, golden hues peering frightfully from the locks of her hair. "Worry not, little one; I would never turn my blade against a child. That disgusting act is reserved for cowards of the Order, Just as I protect your Queen, you too fall under my guard." Orgoth declared proudly, Yuit doing little except shouting, "I don't want your protection, you ugly beast!"

"YUIT! SHOW SOME RESPECT!" cried out one of the maidens, a look of pure exasperation crossing her pretty features. Instead of getting worked up, Orgoth just let out a low rumbling laugh. "Hahaha, this one is strong, I can see it!" the titan declared loudly, giving a barking laugh right after.

"Mama Loina, do they really make people this big?"

"Mister, can you do that burp again? That was really funny!"

"Do we get protected too? The Order scares me!"

It was honestly heartening to see such youth; their rambunctiousness reminded him of the pups in his former camp. Fiery, full of life and wonderment, always looking for something to satisfy their curiosity. One thing Orgoth did see was that it was criminal to keep them in walls; how were they going to learn anything stuck in here? But then again, he was comparing them to Iron Wolves' kin. He had no doubt any of his people's young could best any of the Kitsune. Chuckling, he then said, "Would you believe there are things out there bigger than me?"

"No way!"

"Mommy says it's not nice to lie!"

"Aye, it's true though!" Orgoth countered, adding "Taller than the workshops, and it sitting down would cover half this village alone! But we Iron Wolves are crafty and can fell these beasts with but one swing of our swords! So trust me, none of you have to worry at all!" Of course, he was embellishing a little bit for the children's sake; a Yaui Goa could be taken down like that, but only if the hunter knew where to strike.

All of the Kitsune watched the Queen go past them, entering her hut soon after and the door closing behind her. At the very least the rest of them could run the village for a bit or even just a few days if need be. Orgoth just stood as he was, his face impassive as Miwa let out a cough, "Well then...If everyone could please proceed to the dining hall. Orgoth, please watch over the Queen's hut while I bring the leftover food to the boars. Rai'thi, Ko, please watch over the others; Orgoth and I will join you shortly."

With this division of labor set, Miwa and Orgoth left the other two guards to usher everyone into the feasting area while they would watch over them. Once they approached the hut, Miwa then said, "Please, wait out here; I'll be out momentarily. When I leave, stay here until one of us comes to fetch you." And with a nod from the giant, Miwa made his way into the Queen's hut; there was no need to bother a servant like this. He would take care of it himself; besides, it was best that most of the elder Kitsune were watching over the young.

"My Queen?" he then said as he approached the closed door, knuckles gently rapping on its surface. Given the state of her condition, the lights in here were not quite as vibrant as they usually were; however, he found the door to her quaters slightly ajar and went to push it open only to see something that made a rush of heat rush to his groin and his body fall behind the door. She was entirely naked! He'd never known her to do this except when she bathed; what would cause her to disrobe? Was her body feeling overheated?

"Um, apologies to disturb you, m'lady...But I thought I would help out by taking the food from your room. Orgoth is outside watching, so rest assured you're protected...Is it alright if I come in?I will wait until you are more decent." he then finally managed to ask; he didn't see much, only enough to re-affirm what everyone knew: She was a goddess on this world, every curve of her body a delight to be around and a true blessing to see unfettered.

Orgoth, meanwhile, stood outside dutifully; his stomach rumbled with the prospect of food, the scent of the morning meal stirring his appetite. He was here to defend, and he would get his turn to feast once the time came. Still...It was hard to resist the flavorful temptations of the food. These Kitsune cooked quite, and if he were being honest, he would probably try to get some tips on how they prepared the food.

However, it would soon seem that he wouldn't have to wait; he saw another Kitsune approaching. And he was carrying two platters of food. "So, you are here, barbarian; seems Ko wasn't kidding. I'd heard the Queen wasn't feeling well and that Miwa took you here. I know the Queen won't feel like eating, but I figured I could at least feed her guard." said the Kitsune, adding "Oh, my apologies, we never truly met have we? I am Yade, advisor to the Queen alongside Miwa who also acts as her guard." Orgoth nodded, "I am Orgoth, you likely know that already, however." Yade gave a small nod and handed the food and wares to the giant, who then replied as he sat down at the door, "Thank you; your offer is much appreciated."

Yade chuckled, "Oh, think nothing of it. I try to help the Queen realize that through these trying times, we're really not so different. You might be a human, and she a Kitsune, but we are both trying to do our best to survive, yes?" Orgoth nodded, "Indeed, and the Order's scars on this land will be a painful reminder of that, sadly enough. Some of our clan's favorite hunting grounds were destroyed entirely when those butchers were finished. It will take generations for it to restore itself to former glory. I know all too well the Kitsune fared little better than we, hence the Pact was made to preserve what we had left."

At this Yade could only sigh, "Yes...And most of your clansmen taken as well. The Kitsune and the barbarian tribes, two sides of the same coin. However, do you mind if I leave a message with you?" Orgoth nodded, "What is it?" to which Yade stated, "A bird came in, asking for the Queen to come to a neighboring kingdom to negotiate a treaty over a newly discovered stretch of land. It seems ripe with resources, or so the message says. They're a people we've had pleasant dealing with in the past, and have always offered kind tidings to us to help keep the peace." At this Orgoth replied, "I will make sure she gets it once she feels better. I would offer her my clan's method of dreamless slumber, if it helps to clear her mind. I had no knowledge the Kitsune were so vulnerable to negative energies." Yade smiled, "Yes, I think she would appreciate that, and no doubt young Yuit as well. He does despise anything as a threat to the well-being of his mother."

Miwa was not taken aback by the request; an outsider would have definitely found it strange that a Queen was asking her guard to share the same bed as her. However, those with knowledge about this relationship would see that she trusted and cared about Miwa quite a bit, the two of having been through enough to make even the bitterest of enemies the closest of allies. Rumors had spread about whether or not Miwa and the Queen were to mate; and though the former certainly did not object to the notion, he also didn't want to push the Queen into that. She'd lost so many already, and doing that so suddenly could very well push her over the edge.

"Of course, m'lady; but first, let me get this food out of here" he then told her with a gentle smile, picking up the tray with the leftovers. Not surprisingly, a good bit of it remained. "I promise, Queen Tiri'ol, that I will accompany you to sleep tonight."

Orgoth and Yade meanwhile, were busy trying to reason with the energetic youngsters; Yade in particular was cautioning Orgoth to not be too brash with his language. Something that giant seemed to have no trouble in doing, which was thankful because the last thing he wanted was to make the children truly upset. "Yade...Please go get the Queen. I will stay here until she comes out or declares herself unable to." he stated to the Kitsune, turning to the four youngers as he set down his platter, "It is very nice to meet the four of you. While I'm sure she would love to meet you all, young ones, but the Queen needs her rest. Otherwise, I doubt she would be able to truly appreciate your work. But when Yade gets back to see how she's doing, I'm sure he'll have no trouble letting you see her."

Now that was something Yade wasn't expecting from someone like Orgoth, but it brought a ray of joy that he could be so caring towards children. Giving a nod, he then headed inside only to see Miwa leaving her chambers. "Oh, there you are; I was wondering where you had gone." Yade then said, catching the other Kitsune off-guard. "Yade, what brings you here?" he then asked, the elder replying "I had brought our large friend something to hold him over, and four of the younger ones from the textile group came asking for our Lady's judgment on tapestry and to apparently clean Yuit's bed. Oh and Pip made a dress for her, wanting her to try it on." Miwa coughed, adding "I don't think that's wise right now; she seems better, but I would leave her be for the moment."

Nodding Yade then said, "Of course, but I do need to ask her something regardless." Miwa shrugged his shoulders, "Don't cry to me when she tosses you out." before leaving the hut. Now that's a peculiar statement; was she really that bad off? But then, he couldn't even begin to comprehend the severity of her nightmares. Going to her door, he then rapped gently, "Lady Tiri'ol? I apologize for inconveniencing you with another visitor, but I just wanted to be sure you were alright." Now, Yade knew that the Queen often put on a brave face for the sake of keeping peace in the village, but this time felt different. Like the nightmares had truly shaken her.

"I just wished to inform you that a bird had come in. Lord Felis of the neighboring Kingdom was asking for your presence about a newly discovered stretch of land that he thinks will be beneficial to both our people. His note said little, but his surveys of the land have apparently discovered it is ripe with resources." he then said, adding "And if you're not too busy, some of the younger Kitsune have come to you about your festival attire."

It was in fact at that moment when Xie was punched in the face that Miwa started to come out, fully emerging when he was threatened with another. And if there was any guard that they wouldn't hope to find, it was Miwa. "What is this?!" he shouted, the children all instantly freezing up; shoving the tray in Orgoth's lap, knocking the breakfast he was enjoying off the platter, the guard then marched up and took Li by the scruff of his neck, the little Kitsune looking absolutely petrified. "Li, what is the meaning of this?" Miwa demanded, Xie speaking up, "He was upset that I called the Queen short...Which we know she is for a Nine-tailed."

Li then shouted, "He called her a runt! That's not right!" Xie just scratched his cheek, unperturbed by the Kitsune's outburst as he replied, "Well, no Kitsune would ever reach someone like Orgoth. Nowhere close to that; none of our species are giants. But they would at least half a good half a foot on average over her." Li squirmed some more, "That doesn't give you any reason to say suc" but then Miwa shouted, "QUIET! ALL OF YOU!" Rubbing his forehead as his ears laid flat in agitation, he then replied, "Orgoth, wait out here! I'm taking them back to their parents for discipline." True, he was angry with the brute for not stepping in; but then, he probably though they were young ones. And knowing him, young Iron Wolves probably fought all the time for no good reason and so he would have perceived it as normal.

"Actually, Miwa...I believe these four had a gift for the Queen. Something I'm sure would lift her spirits after not feeling well." Orgoth then stated factually, Xie chiming "He does have a point, Lord Miwa." The guard's brow twitched noticeably; great, now the childred were agreeing with this...this thing!

---

"Oh, I believe I mis-spoke, Your Grace. He gave no specific time-frame for the meeting, it was just - how do the humans put it - him extending an olive branch, yes that's it." Yade replied, adding "All the letter was asking was if you might be interested in holding the discussion. I have no doubt he would understand you'd fallen ill and would need time to recover. Besides, I happen to know this Kingdom is still hesitant about expanding; therefore, I think he might actually be relieved you need some more time to recuperate." And this was the truth; and even if it weren't, he would not force the Queen to travel outside the village for new territory. He would tell the King to politely stuff it and wait for her to be better ready.

But as she said to bring in the children, Yade nodded and replied, "Very well. I will go fetch them; I happened to peek at what they brought, and I think you'll appreciate what they've made." A small bow later, he was out the door leaving the Queen to rest while he fetched the children and Orgoth.

---

And what Yade would find would be something right out of a comedic play: Orgoth holding two trays of food, pieces scattered on the floor and Miwa holding a one-tail by the scruff as a sign of punishment. And then he came to Xie's black eye, a disconcerted look crossing his features. "Xie...You spoke out of turn again, didn't you?" the elderly kitsune asked, the tiny fox-boy simply nodding affirmatively. Letting out a sigh, he just said "Please...Try to stay out of Tiri'ol's field of view; we'll handle this without upsetting her. And Li...I take it you're responsible?" Li was about to protest, but a stern look silenced the coming words.

"You really should know better by now. Words cannot express my disappointment. Now Miwa, put him down." Yade commented as the young girl was lowered to the ground; poor Li looked like she was about to cry. He was only trying to do what was right! Why was he being punished!? "I honestly fail to see any issue, but then I am no Kitsune." then said Orgoth, standing up and forcing the trays back into Miwa's hands. He too was about to argue, but then Yade held up a hand "I believe that was your original intent from the start; last I checked, there was no fish on Orgoth's plate when I brought to him. And now that you spoiled his breakfast, you clean up the mess." then said Yade in rather cold tone, Miwa hufffing and taking to the boar's cage.

"Now then, children, the Queen will see you now. And Orgoth, you come in as well; I believe our Lady could be interested in what you told me." Yade then said, the children suddenly seeming to forget the previous encounter and rushing inside. "Lady Tiri'ol! We have your dress for the festival! We all worked really hard on it!" Pip cried out excitedly, Riri adding "We also have new sheets for Yuit! We heard he had an accident!"

Orgoth and Yade waited at the other side, watching the children go towards the one that loved them so much; even though these four had mothers and fathers, Tiri'ol was like that lovable aunt that always spoiled her children out of deep-seated affection. "What is this festival they speak of?" Orgoth then asked, Yade smiling "It's quite the lovely affair. Food stands, games, competitions, wares of all sorts. And the kingdom that hosts is always decorated in such a lovely way! It's honestly been years since I've seen, so in a way I envy you, Orgoth." Orgoth just looked at the Kitsune with a raised brow, the elder chuckling lightly "Sorry, it's just one of those things you have to see. And given that your her bodyguard, you'll naturally be accompanying her."