If Borak the Wrathful thinks that I’ll be his pliant human female to do with as he pleases, then he’s in for a surprise!

I know I shouldn’t have wandered into Twilight Reaper territory.

And yes, I did get rescued by Borak’s tiny orcling son who is also very fond of me.

What can I say? I’m good with kids.

That’s all women in this destroyed world are good for anyways – making and taking care of babies.

But seriously, if this giant Orc thinks just because he can break me with his hands that I’m intimidated by him, then he’s got another thing coming.

I’ll help this Orc Chieftan raise his unruly son if he wants.

But I will not be the Chief’s Woman.

I will not love him and be his willing mate, no matter how strong and handsome he is.

We will not share a bed and keep ourselves warm under skinned furs next to his roaring fire.

And I will not, will never, ever, love him!

We will not be some sort of happy family!

Then why is my only desire to be the tiny human mate to this giant monster Orc?

Chapter 1

Candice 

The mist clings to the tree-tops, as it always does this time of year. Ahead of us the forest is large and sprawling—an untamed wilderness claimed by nothing but the plants, trees and the animals that live here.

The world that we inhabit can often seem cruel and harsh, but when I look around at the dense woodland that surrounds me, I know that it is also full of riches, many of which are yet to be discovered.

“Is this the herb that you seek?” says one of the orcs to my left. He is a quiet one, his eyes and ears doing the majority of the work. That’s why I’ve brought him. Three others from the Wolf Riders Clan accompany me, as we forage for plants that I’ll use for tinctures.

Striding over to him I hope that he might be right. He kneels on the ground near the base of a huge Douglas fir and digs a large finger under a small bundle of fleshy leaves with tiny white flowers.

“Yes,” I say, excitedly. “Good work.”

He grunts and begins to collect them gently, just as I have instructed him. The herbs that we collect today and in the coming weeks will form the basis of my medical supplies that I will prepare for the months ahead. The leaves, roots, berries and bark, all providing me with excellent ingredients for what I need.

“Aren’t we the doctor’s pet!” one of the others teases him from across the forest floor.

“Well, if you used your eyes and your brain more and your mouth less, you might find something too,” he retorts, before carrying on collecting his find.

Laughter erupts as the orcs banter with each other. It’s something that makes me smile when they act this way, so different to how we humans at first perceived them, although they have shown us plenty to be fearful of.

When the orcs entered our dimension through the Rift following their persecution from the Dark Elves, centuries of war, bloodshed and hardship followed. Though not much has changed since their arrival there has been some progression recently.

Now, as we begin to live alongside each other it feels as if a new era is dawning. The orcs of Protheka are becoming the orcs of Earth. Just another species on a planet inhabited by many. There’s plenty of reconciliation that needs to happen, and we don’t yet know what is going on further across the continent and beyond, but it’s a start.

Clans like the Wolf Riders have become more welcoming to humans which allows us to assist each other for mutual benefit. As a doctor I, along with others from bunker#32, am helping them with their medical needs in exchange for supplies and protection. It is a system that seems to be working well.

The magic of the orcs is dying and this now means they need our help to survive and thrive in a world whose magic is science and reason. Co-existence is not something that many of us ever envisioned, but some of the biggest orc clans have mated with humans, living together as family units.

Humans and orcs as friends, lovers and companions. Who would’ve thought it would ever have been possible? But when pushed to breaking point all creatures have the ability to evolve or die, even orcs.

From a scientific standpoint it is fascinating to know that this is happening. So far, we have learnt that the offspring have been pure orc or pure human but with orc strength. But there is much yet to learn about what the mixing of our species offers.

This is something that my mother and I often discuss. She is the one that taught me—trained me in the ways of our predecessors—being from a long line of physicians. I can only wish to become the doctor that she is one day,

I am also grateful to my father, the leader of our bunker for more than twenty years. In other bunkers I would not have been given this opportunity—women are not always valued by humans or orcs.

We are different, and it’s something that my father has always instilled within our bunker. When the orcs arrived and humans were threatened and driven underground, it took next to no time to regress. Equality between the sexes slipped immeasurably, until women became little more than slaves. Patriarchy returned with a vengeance.

I’ve heard the stories of other bunkers. How the women are used as workers by the men and even traded or offered as tributes to orc clans that use them savagely. These are the horror stories of our time, and yet they’re not just stories, they’re real.   

But if we are different, proving that not all humans are the same, then it is also important to recognize this may also be true of orcs. And I have the proof standing a few feet away from me.

Working with the orcs has enabled me to further my understanding of them, both physically and psychologically. In many ways they are not so different from us. Many would seek to disagree, but that is their emotion talking. My language is science.

As well as the Wolf Riders I also work with others that surround our bunker. We are learning to exist alongside each other, though some clans are more amenable to humans than others.

But our bunker also borders another clan: The Twilight Reapers. This is a clan that we have had little to do with, other than sell them some of the medicines we produce. That is where the interaction begins and ends.

There’s not much that I know about them, other than they are led by a Chieftain called Borak the Wrathful. Maybe it’s best that I keep it that way. I imagine a title like that can only have come about from actions I do not need to worry myself with.

Many of the clans are proving themselves to be non-violent and trustworthy, but it would be foolish to think that all of them will be like that. At almost thirty years old I am well-aware that innocence does not serve any of us well in this world. We must be sharp and discerning if we’re to survive and move forward.

We have pushed further through the forest and I know we are close to the border of Twilight territory. The Wolf Riders have warned us of them, advising us not to cross over onto their land if we’re to avoid conflict.

I look over my shoulder where the orcs sit and examine the herbs that we have gathered. Slowly I am teaching them what I can about what to harvest and how, and they seem eager to learn.

Leaning over to examine the ground, I cast my eyes across the invisible border that separates the land. They have already warned me to go no further, which is why I am glad they are now distracted.

Because in the small clearing I can see the bright pink berries that I have been in search of for months. There is no way they will venture any further with me, and I doubt they would allow me to if they got their hands on me, after all I am useful to them now.

Surely a few yards will be safe enough. That plant would help cure the bunker of stomach issues for months—years if there are more of them, which there must be.

Carefully, I trace around the huge tree trunk in front of me until I am hidden from their view. If they call out for me then I’ll just claim to be taking a pee.

There’s no way I can leave without them. I am quick and light on my feet, I will be there and back within a minute or so. Crouching low against the ground I keep my eyes on my prize and cross the border.

What harm could it do?