Ria the Orc: An Alternate Universe (special preview)

Part One: Spring

Shearing season is coming soon, you thought to yourself. You stepped into the shed, taking a closer look at the shears and scissors. Just outside the sheep were bleating and following you towards the door. You could hear them brushing up against the side of the shed and pushing at the door.

“I’m coming back out, hold on.” You fussed. “You can live without me for five seconds.” You inspect the blade on the scissors and tried to think of when they were last sharpened. “I wonder where the whetstone went off to.” You tried looking around, but the sheep were growing even more impatient outside.

“Who's the shepherd here?” You snapped as you walked back outside. The sheep scattered around, acting like they hadn’t been trying to swarm the shed. As you walked away, they followed after you, removing themselves from grazing and resting to trot along behind you as you made your way back towards the farmhouse.

“Shame it’s only sheep that follow you around like that,” your mother laughed as you approached the gate.

You stopped and pouted slightly, glancing behind you at the dozens upon dozens of eyes looking at you. “Yeah well, we take the hands we’re given I suppose.”

Your mother chuckled. “They’ve done that since you were little. Used to call you the little sheep god.”

“I remember,” you huffed as you left the gate. The sheep gathered at the fence but slowly faded away, back to their corners as you approached the well where your mother was pulling up buckets.

“Would be nice if another sort of ewe followed your heels.” She gave you a smirk, partially teasing, but also half wishing.

You rolled your eyes, taking two buckets into your hands. “Are these going to the house?”

“Yes, yes,” she sighed. “Thank you, I could use the help.”

As you carted the buckets towards the house, you were left with the inkling it would be nice to have a girl. Not for lack of trying, you were just born knowing how to deal with sheep and not people. Shyness was the curse that followed your gift of being a sheep whisperer.

The next morning you went into Obresh, taking the shears and scissors with you to get sharpened. Town was already quite busy as you walked along the street. Businesses were filled with people and there was a hum to the air. Obresh had always been a big town, even before it was made a main port. But it was because of the port it had been growing steadily bigger and bigger with each passing year. You could remember what few businesses the old main street had when you were little. Now, both sides of the road were lined with storefronts, apartments, and more.

You scurried down the busy street turning down the road and heading towards the blacksmith. You could smell the smoke as you approached, and from inside you heard a hammer striking the anvil. It was quite around the shop, but inside it was loud with hammers, shouting, and roaring fire.

The door was opened and you peered inside, seeing a glowing red door on the other side of the room. The way the shadows fell it almost seemed like a portal to hell.

“Looking for something?”

You nearly jumped out of your skin. Turning around you saw a lady orc standing behind you, wearing a thick dirty apron and elbow high gloves.

“Yeah. yes. Uhm-” You lifted up your bag containing your gear. “I need these sharpened.”

The lady orc had dark eyes that glided over you. She smirked then peeked into your open bag. “Lemme guess? Shearing season?” She chuckled.

You nodded. “Yeah.” Something about her made you nervous. She was taller than you, more filled out than you, but that wasn’t what gave you pause.