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Gurak held Rulu for another few minutes before they released their embrace. Rulu spoke up after some time of just leaning against the orc.

“Zamdor is out with Brun's crew, and Wukin went to Macta. He's found a restaurant he likes there." He nuzzles into Gurak's neck gently. “Zamdor should be back in a few days. Wukin should be back by lunch."

Gurak nods and hugs Rulu tightly. “That's okay. It gives me time to spend with just you." He leans back strokes his hand across Rulu's face, and kisses his face all over, at least a dozen times, before he stops and leans back smiling. Rulu grinned at him.

Gurak rolled his eyes. “No, not like that! Has Zamdor corrupted my poor sweet lizard?"

Rulu laughs and shakes his head. “No, haha. We've remained close, and ya know, been together like before. But it wasn't ever quite the same as with you. Just you being there made everything better for some reason."

Gurak nods and rubs his hand up and down Rulu's back. The bar had settled back down, and Oliver came back from behind the wall towards the kitchen, which the orc knew led to the sewers. It was likely how the owl got news of his arrival to Rulu so quickly.

Gurak leaned against the barstool as he held Rulu. “How are your parents?" He asked softly.

Rulu didn't pull away, just spoke against the orc's chest. It felt weird against the plant-like fabric tight on his chest. “Father is doing about the same, he's still bedridden and sick. Mom is fine. Me and Wukin have been helping her keep things running. We've spent time training with her men. Wukin's been teaching us how to fight more effectively. We've improved significantly"

Gurak smiles and nods. “I'm sorry I wasn't here to see it." He says softly. Hugging Rulu gently.

The lizardman nods his head softly. “I'm mad at you for leaving, for taking it all on your shoulders. You were supposed to rely on us."

Gurak nods softly. “I know. But I couldn't risk you." He whispers. “As mad as I was, what if something happened to one of you? I'd never forgive myself. The three of you mean the world to me."

Rulu nods. “I know. But you mean just as much to us." He says, finally standing upright to look Gurak in the face, the lizardman's gaze was sharper than he remembered. “How do you think we felt when you disappeared? Probably the same if you'd lost one of us." He almost growls out.

Gurak nodded softly, Rulu was right. “I'm sorry. It was selfish of me." He leans in and kisses the lizardman's forehead. “I promise I won't do it again. We all go together, whatever the result is, we're in it together."

Rulu watches Gurak, squinting at him. But he nods and leans up, kissing Gurak on the lips. “Good. I'm going to hold you to that."

Rulu led Gurak to sit at a booth and the pair leaned against one another. “So...where were you Gurak?"

The orc looked at the table in front of them. “Deep in the ocean." He points to the torq-like adornment around his neck now. “The merfolk took a shine to me, because of my kindness. Their priestess had a vision of me. The light I saw out in the ocean, was probably a dungeon being created for them to plunder and use this necklace on me."

Rulu blinks and listens. Nodding his head softly.

The orc continues. “I slept...I guess….two years...just about? They count time differently, so they said it was thousands of tides. That's how they counted time." He shrugs lightly. “Anyway, I woke up about….two or three days ago. I met the lead scout fella, the same guy we met that day, on the beach. They refer to me as meatfriend." He laughs and smiles.

Rulu grins too, remembering the day, albeit not clearly. Not as clearly as Gurak did he supposed.

“Anyway. After some trouble learning to communicate, we did manage to talk, it took some time, but, we could converse as clearly as you and I are now." Rulu listens still. “He told me about his people, their history, they keep their histories as murals in their temples. I learned to communicate, to use magic underwater, and even managed to master the wind barrier that you taught me." He smiles proudly.

Rulu grins as well, rather proud of the orc who had so much trouble with it before.

“I cooked for them, they offered me their food, but it was all...soggy." He laughs softly. Rulu chuckles, he could imagine that the food there was always wet.

“It was kind of fun, seeing them react to the food from the surface." Rulu leans against Gurak listening intently. “The shark fella, Seaton, was really friendly, his sister was the one who had the vision, so they were kind of put in charge of taking care of me. Anyway, they noticed Blert's submarine coming close and got worried, we investigated, I ran into her we talked, and, that led to me being here."

Rulu nods his head. “That's a lot in just a few days."

Gurak nods. “Yeah, it felt like much longer." He glances aside. “I'll tell you more in private. I saw my dad…" He whispers. Rulu perked up, surprised by this, but nodded. He hugged Gurak.

“You must have been so happy to see him." He hugged Rulu back tightly.

Gurak nods his head softly. “I was, but, we can talk about that later, in a more private location." He kisses Rulu's head. “What have you guys been up to?"

Rulu leans against the orc. “Well, like I said, me and Wukin have been training together. He's taught me how to use a sword much better. Zamdor's been teaching us to use our magic more effectively too. He's a really good teacher." He rumbles out. “Towen's going to the captain's academy, in Macta."

Gurak blinks. “What's that?" He asks, completely oblivious to the institution.

Rulu tilts his head. “It's a place where guards are trained up." He looks thoughtful like he is trying to find the right words. “Guards are taken in and given basic training where they live." He gestures to the wall, likely meaning Vrose. “That's where Towen was stationed and taught. He was there till the new captain showed up and immediately sent him to Macta. The new captain went off the recommendation of the old captain, the one who had died, the day you met Towen. Towen was sent to the captain's academy. It's a difficult training course, to see who is captain material. Towen was doing well, the last time we spoke. We've been writing back and forth." Gurak smiled at that, he liked hearing that Rulu and Towen were keeping in touch.

Gurak then looks out the nearby window. “So he's in Macta? Where is that?" The orc asked.

Rulu, unsurprised by the orc's lack of basic knowledge of the world was ready for that question. “It's northeast, probably a week or more by wagon. Did you want to visit the capital?" The lizardman asks.

Gurak blinks. “Macta is the capital?"

Rulu nodded his head softly. “Yeah. It amazes me, how little of the world you know sometimes Gurak. They were isolated back in your home village weren't they?"

Gurak nodded his head softly. “Yeah. We didn't even talk about the village's name. I didn't learn what it was called till we were in Rizdrad. We lived there, so there wasn't any reason to call it by its name I guess." He shrugs softly.

Rulu nods his head. “That's fair. Still, they should have at least taught you about the continent you lived on."

Gurak nods. “You're right. It's something I need to learn." He smiles and leans in, kissing Rulu's face. “Will you help teach me?"

Rulu's face flushed with blush slightly as he smiled at Gurak. “I'd love to." He leans in and kisses the orc back softly. “Uh, Zamdor joined Brun's mercenaries. He's helped them a tremendous amount. He's taught them to use their magic better and saved their butts more than once. He's practically Brun's right-hand man at this point."

Gurak nods his head. “Ahh, I hate to break that up. But I'll need Zamdor, and Wukin back at my side."

Rulu blinks and looks at Gurak. “What do you mean?"

The orc looks to Rulu. “I'm taking the fight to the inquisition. They've taken too much. I don't know the specifics. But, there is an elf and an archas behind everything." He waves his hand slightly. “Part of that thing I can only talk about in private." The lizardman nods.

Rulu looks to Gurak. “Do you want to head someplace else?"

Gurak looks around. He trusted Brun's tavern, and the people in it, the rhino guy had never given him a reason to doubt him. But the risk was too high in his mind. “Yeah, let's head out of town."

Rulu and Gurak slipped out of the booth and headed outside. The sun was up, shining brightly now and the pair walked through town, holding hands. The pair heard a few cheers, and some folks shouted to Rulu, 'You finally found him huh' Rulu nodded and smiled as big as could be.

Gurak blushed, he hadn't realized how much effort Rulu must have gone to to find him. While they walked, he leaned over and kissed the lizardman's face, smiling at him. “I truly am sorry for disappearing like that."

Rulu nods and leans over, gently biting the orc's shoulder, making him grunt. “Ow," Gurak grumbles out.

Rulu just smiles at him. “Oh, did that hurt?" He sticks out his tongue at the orc. Who huffed and knew the lizardman was still a little mad at him for leaving, and he couldn't be upset with Rulu for it, he had every right to be.

After they'd left the city, they made their way down to the beachfront. Gurak held Rulu's hand and smiled. “Watch this." He says softly.

He put his hand out and, instead of incanting the spell, he used the way he remembered from below the waters, and thought it deeply. Hoping the effect would be similar.

A few seconds later, though much faster than if he'd said the full incantation, a small globe of wind appeared in his hand. Rulu blinked in surprise. “What the hell, how did you cast that without an incantation!?"

Gurak smiled softly. “I couldn't speak underwater. They call it 'pushing air' to talk, well you can't do that underwater, right? So they taught me how they cast. I

wasn't sure it would work above water."

He pours mana into it and it expands drastically, he holds Rulu's hand and the pair slowly walk towards the water, the wind barrier surrounding them keeps the water at bay as they step into the water, till they are completely submerged, and no one could eavesdrop down here.

“There, no one should be able to hear us now." He looks at Rulu and strokes his cheek with his hand. “So, yeah. While I was asleep, I saw my dad. We sat around a campfire, like when I was a kid. He showed me so much I can't even explain it all. He showed me the worlds beyond this one. Not intimately, but, just letting me know that they're out there. Other worlds. Just like ours. Other beastfolk, other orcs, humans, dwarves, all of them living lives, just like us." He smiles and looks at Rulu. “I dunno why that makes me so happy, but it did."

Rulu blinks. “Other….worlds?"

Gurak nods. “Yeah. The world we live in. There are others just like it, many others, one for each god, their people populated the worlds. Just like us. This world was originally for the orcs. Our world is called Rukorim."

Rulu nods his head softly. “Yeah, I know it's called Rukorim." Rulu smiles though. “I'm surprised YOU knew that."

Gurak laughs softly. “Well, my dad told me, that's the only reason I know." He smiles. “He told me, Agan realized he put a heavy burden on my shoulders, a burden too heavy for a normal mortal. So he gave me a choice." He smiles. “He told me if I didn't intervene, someone else would be chosen, it'd be decades, maybe centuries, before the world was righted." His hands, both of them, stroked Rulu's face affectionately. “But the cost was too high. You, Zamdor, Wukin, Towen...all of you would die."

Rulu looks to Gurak. “We'll all die anyway."

Gurak nods. “You're right. But, I want you to live long full lives. Grow old with me, have a little farm, all of us, living together." He smiles softly.

Rulu's face blushed faintly, and he nodded in response.

“I want that life, for all of us." He whispers and smiles to Rulu. “I know we'll all die one day, no matter what. But I want that day to be decades away." He grins. “I want to have grey hair, and years upon years with the men I love between today and that day, for all of us."

Rulu smiles. He leans in and nuzzles Gurak's neck. “I want that too."

Gurak nods and hugs Rulu softly. “The last thing my father told me before I woke up in the merfolk city, was that Towen needed my help." He rumbles out. “I dunno what that means, or what I can do for him. But I know that's where I need to go next."

Rulu nods his head softly. “Well, Wukin should be home today, so we can go back to Halfsea, and wait for him. He should be back any time now."

Gurak nods. “Actually. Since we're in the area. Do you think I could see your father? Maybe I could help him. I'm a touch better than your average healer, after all."

Rulu nodded and they walked back to the beach. He let go of Rulu's hand. “Give me a moment. I want to try something, and then I'll join you."

Rulu squints at him. “If you disappear, I'm diving in after you."

Gurak nods and smiles. “I promise, I won't go anywhere."

Rulu went up onto the beach and Gurak stepped back into the water, dispersing the wind barrier and diving into the water, the necklace enchantment making it so he could breathe. After a few moments. He focused real intently on Seaton and spoke as if they were face to face. “Seaton, are you there?"

A few seconds passed, then he felt a reply. “Meatfriend. Are you okay?"

Gurak smiled and nodded, then realized the shark couldn't see him. “I am fine. I just wanted to see if I could contact you through the water from afar. I'm happy to hear your voice. I made it back to land safely and I found one of my friends. Everything will be okay now."

The sound of mirth was in the shark's reply. “I'm so glad to hear it Gurak. Please take care of yourself and keep in touch, I'm always happy to hear from you."

Gurak smiled and replied. “Of course, oceanfriend. Please take care of yourself and Merise. You are a very important person in my life. More than a friend."

Seaton's reply was short but sweet. “I will. You too, meatfriend."

Gurak turned and slowly came out of the ocean, coughing up the water once again, it was unpleasant, but it was almost something he was used to by now with how often he went from air to water in the last few days.

He came up onto the beach and smiled at Rulu, who used wind magic to dry him off, he felt the plant-based clothing tighten around him again and he grunted. “Perhaps, my first stop should be to a tailor. These clothes given to me are a wonderful gift, but they are unpleasant outside of the water."

Rulu laughs and shakes his head. “I dunno, they seem to outline your best assets." He gestures to the orc's groin and the orc's dick was clearly outlined in the clothing.

He grunted and sighed. 'By the gods, could everyone see it when we were walking around?"

Rulu grinned. “Of course not. They were much tighter when they were dry."

Gurak's face turned deep green as he grumbled in annoyance. “Well, I'm gonna go live in the ocean forever now." He turned and Rulu grabbed his arm, grunting at him.

Gurak grinned at smiled. “Sorry, sorry, I'm just kidding. Gods, that's embarrassing though." He sighs and laughs. “So, you've lived in Halfsea for a while now, lets uh...get me some clothes, and then we'll go see your dad right after, okay?" He blushes. “I don't want anyone else seeing my junk on display then I have to."

Rulu laughs and takes Guraks hand, he smiles at Gurak. “I got to see it and I liked it."

That made Gurak blush as well. “Well, I guess that's a consolation prize, at least." He laughs and smiles. “But uh….yeah, tailor?"

Rulu grins and nods. “I know one. Let's head there." He tugs Gurak behind him and they make their way back for Halfsea and through the city. Gurak kept a hand around his groin to cover himself, feeling incredibly self-conscious now, as they walked through the city. It was a few minutes of walking before they came to a building, Gurak was happy to get inside as fast as possible. Rulu snickering the whole time.

Once inside. Rulu whispers into the orc's ear. “Your ass looks good in that stuff too." Gurak's face felt like it was on fire, with how embarrassed he felt, hearing the lizardman's words. They weren't meant to be hurtful and they in truth weren't hurtful at all, but it certainly made him feel awkward as could be.

Inside the building was a human. The woman looked at the pair and clapped. “Rulu, is this the orc you were looking for?" The lizardman nodded and gently pushed Gurak forward, whose face was still dark green with embarrassment.

She smiles warmly. “Mm, I can see why. That physique, those facial features, he's a hunk."

Gurak felt himself dying on the inside. “Please ma'am, I just...I want some clothes. These are tight and revealing and I had no idea."

She laughs softly. “It looks good on you, I bet everyone was jealous of Rulu seeing him holding your hand." She grins, and Gurak only blushes harder. She watched the orc squirm just a moment longer before she led him to the back. “Let's get your measurements, and see if we have anything that'll fit you."

Gurak nodded and went with the lady. Rulu stayed in the front room, waiting. The measurement process was almost just as embarrassing. She had him stand on a small pedestal, while she used a string to see how his long his arms and legs were, and how far around his waist was. Her hands got uncomfortably close to his groin, but he'd never done this before, so he assumed it was normal, he never had a frame of reference for being fitted for something before.

She kept this up for a while. Measuring and remeasuring to make sure the numbers in her head were correct, once she was certain of everything. She left the room, and he sat on the pedestal, with his feet on the floor, she returned after a short time and had an armful of clothing options. Various shirts and pants of various fabrics and colors.

First, he purchased several pairs of undergarments, and changed into a pair of them, privately, of course. Before starting to try on the clothes she'd brought. He tried on each piece. The clothing was a little rough, likely made by someone who wasn't human, or perhaps a human unskilled. Or perhaps by hand is why they were rough since he wasn't sure looms existed in the world.

After all was said and done. Gurak ended up with a dull brown shirt and pants of similar coloration. He also chose a more colorful blueish shirt and darker-colored pants, for a more 'special' occasion, those were folded up and held under one of his arms. He and the seamstress finally got back to the front of the building, and Rulu grinned at Gurak, seeing him in the brown attire. “You looked better with the other stuff."

Gurak blushed, then grunted at the lizardman. “You're a comedy legend." He sticks out his tongue and then smiles at the human woman. “How much for all of it?"

She went around the counter, pulled out an abacus, and did some math on it. She looked up. “Thirty silver for everything." Gurak nodded, reached into his backpack and pulled out a gold coin, offered it to the woman, who looked at him and shook her head.

Rulu leaned around and nodded. Gurak smiled and placed the coin on the counter. “I pay what it's worth, not always what I'm charged." She grumbled but relented. She wasn't too keen on denying the extra money coming in.

After that was taken care of, Rulu and Gurak thanked the woman and left the tailors. Gurak interlaced his fingers with Rulu's hand, as they walked through the city. Rulu pointed out the things that had changed since he and the others started living here. Rulu was like an unofficial ambassador of the town it seemed. Everyone knew him, they all waved and stopped to talk for a few moments, before going on about their daily errands.

Gurak smiled to Rulu. “You've come out of your shell since I've been gone. You used to be kinda shy."

Rulu turns to Gurak and nods. “Well, when your mom is the head of a secret underground guild. Well, it's not so secret, I suppose. But, I'm essentially a lesser noble, in the eyes of everyone here. I'm not, of course, an actual noble, but they treat me like I am."

Gurak nods and squeezes Rulu's hand gently. “So...I suppose that leads me to my next question. Did you want to stay here, with your family?"

Rulu stops and squeezes Gurak's hand. He looks at the orc and scowls. “How could you ask me that?"

Gurak's gaze went downward. “Sorry...I just...Your family is important to you. I didn't want to assume that you'd just leave with me if I left to head out again."

Rulu stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Gurak, holding him tightly, which was a little odd, right in the middle of a busy street. Gurak wrapped his arms around the lizardman in return.

“I never, ever want to leave your side Gurak, this is where I belong, in your arms, wherever your arms are." The orc blushed hearing that and hugged Rulu tighter for a moment.

“Okay, well, let's keep going, we're holding up wagons and folks." He laughs, taking Rulu's hand gently and getting out of the way of folks trying to pass along the streets. The pair walked around the city for a few more minutes. Just talking about whatever came to mind, nothing as deep as earlier. Just about what'd happened in Halfsea since he left.

“Brun's company had gotten a bigger reputation. Zamdor's presence in the group had bolstered their forces almost as much as five or six men had, because of his 'companion' skill I bet, he was probably the strongest member of Brun's whole squad. He'd taught everyone in the company how to use magic better, they'd all gone up a rank, or two in terms of magical prowess. Some had even leveled up from the training." Rulu shared as they walked through the streets.

“Wukin had started working with the guild underground initially, but, it wasn't what he wanted to do. Wukin had taken to farming. He wasn't very good at it, naturally. He only did it on days he was free to, and even then he only helped out local farmers with their work, he didn't have his own field or anything. But it was something he enjoyed doing." Rulu said.

Suddenly the dreams of them all living on a farm didn't seem so strange to him. The orc smiled and leaned over, kissing Rulu's cheek. “That's incredible. I'm so happy for him. Zamdor too. It seems each of them has found what they want to do with their lives." Gurak said softly.

Rulu nodded and leaned against the orc. “Oh, we should go check on my dad. You've still never met him."

Gurak nods and hugs the lizard. “Yeah, let's go meet papa Rulu." He grins and looks at Rulu. The lizardman chuckles and leads them down an alleyway and through some pathways, it's clear that Rulu had learned just about every secret passage in the city, or close to it by now. With how easily he lead the orc down through the sewers and into the guild's main area. The guards immediately took a defensive stance seeing Gurak, but, Rulu convinced them it was okay. They took his word for it and the duo passed through the passages till they were in the familiar room.

Rulu led Gurak onward to a room just behind the makeshift throne, and into the private room. Rulu's mother sat beside her husband, who was in bed, his scales were pale green, light in color. Her scales were dark and almost seemed to absorb the light in the room, rather than reflect it. She was in better health now than when they first met.

Her gaze lifted and she smiled at first, then scowled at Gurak. “He's back." She almost spat out.

Rulu nodded and put his arm around the orc. “He is, and he's going to see if he can do anything to help father."

The woman scowled as she looked at the orc. “If he must. The best healers in the land have come and were unable to do anything. Why would he be any different."

Rulu smiled and turned to look at Gurak, his beard was scruffy, his hair longer, but his gaze was just as focused and determined as the day they'd met. “Because no one else has ever made miracles happen like Gurak."

The woman frowned but stood up and gave Gurak space. The orc came over and sat in the chair she'd been sitting in. He takes the man's hand and focuses his mana on him, seeking out the problems and finding them slowly. Unfortunately, he knew this disease, wasn't something easily cured. “I'll try my best Rulu."

He puts his hands together and focuses, no words needed as the spell was recited in his head before his hands were placed on the lizardman's body. The light pulsed through the man's body, the magic encircling the problematic things inside of his body and using the light as small blades, carefully removing each piece of what was growing inside of him.

The older lizardman seemed in pain, but the flow of healing magic, healing the small nearly invisible cuts inside of his body as soon as they were made to reduce the trauma. The orc then used the light to trap each piece and small incisions were made in his scales, from inside his body, the growths, each of them almost just slipping from his body and hovering ever so slightly above it, before his healing magic sealed each one, almost no blood escaped the wounds as he worked.

Rulu stood there, stunned, he'd never seen something so complex before. Whatever was inside of his father just...illuminated, and then came out of him, held in place by small pieces of light.

Once they were all removed, and he double-checked, the orc used his healing magic to encourage and promote healing within his body with a longer-lasting regen spell, before he stood up and took all the pieces of flesh cut from the older man and then incinerated them till nothing remained.

The woman and Rulu looked at him, confused. He smiled softly. “It's a disease I'm kind of familiar with. Something we dealt with back home. In some folks, their bodies fight this disease for years and never even know they are. With your inability to track most diseases, it's no surprise you were unaware of it."

He smiles at Rulu. “But, I removed every piece of it and burned it away. He should recover. If he starts to feel unwell again, let me know and I'll keep it up, I'll find a permanent treatment in time." Gurak smiles.

The woman looks at her husband, completely dumbfounded. The man albeit slowly, came to. He looked to Rulu and his wife, then the orc. A smile spread across his face. “Is that him?" He asks softly, Rulu turns, hearing his father's voice, and blushes, but he nods and takes Gurak's hand, squeezing it.

The orc turns too and smiles, bowing softly towards the older man. The older lizardman smiles warmly and nods. “He seems a good man."

Rulu nods and smiles. “He's the best." He whispers and presses his face against the orc's chest, who just hugs him and smiles.

Rulu's mother comes over and looks over her husband. She used a cloth to wipe away the spots of blood that were on his body, but already his color was slowly improving, at a rapid pace. She sat beside him and held his hand. He sat up and squeezed her hand, the first time he'd done so in years.

Tears came to the woman's eyes as she looked at him. “I'm so sorry Yosk, I was a terrible wife and mother."

The man shook his head, his hand still holding hers. “Don't fret Orshora, our son grew up into a fine man despite both of our failings. He found a partner equally as amazing as himself."

The woman nodded, leaning forward to press her forehead to his and they sat there quietly. Rulu and Gurak quietly left the room so they could reconnect now that he was on the mend.

Once outside of the room, Rulu looked at Gurak. “So, why couldn't anyone else heal him?"

The orc looked aside and sighed. “It's a disease I knew from back home. It's called cancer...it's where things grow inside of you and it just... eats you from the inside. It's like a wholly separate entity devouring you. I dunno if my magic was enough to remove it all. It can be incredibly difficult to beat, but, I'll do this as often as I need to, until I find a permanent solution, if this wasn't it."

Rulu nods his head. “It sounds like such a scary word." The lizardman says softly. The orc nods in agreement.

“Back home, even with all of our technology, there was little chance of beating it, the odds of survival at this point in catching it is low, but that was using the stuff back home. Magic is much more convenient."

Rulu nods. “What did you even do? You didn't incant and I've never seen anything like what you did."

Gurak nods his head. “I cast a new spell, I'd just thought up." He chuckles softly. “I diagnosed the problem, found the growths, and used light, the light I was diagnosing with to cut the pieces off of his insides. But also used that same light to heal the cuts as soon as they were made so that he didn't bleed, and no real harm occurred. Then I used the concept of the wind barrier, but with light to encase each piece and just pull it upward, using the light to cut through his skin carefully and heal it back just as quickly as they were out of his body."

Rulu blinked. “You...did all of that without an incantation, that sounds like, four different spells back to back, that's intense."

Gurak blinked, he didn't think it was four, it just felt like one long spell. “Ahh….maybe? It only felt like I cast one, just a long one. Comparatively speaking." He chuckles and smiles.

Rulu nods his head and leans up, kissing Gurak's cheek gently. “I know there will never be words for this, but, thank you, deeply and sincerely, for saving my father. Or at least, giving him more time, if nothing else. Every day is a blessing, even if my mother is too stubborn to see or admit it. My father would barely speak once or twice a month, he spoke more today than I can recall him ever doing since I came to Halfsea."

Gurak smiles. “You don't owe me any thanks. I'm sorry I was too pigheaded to help before. I was so angry." He whispers and sighs. “Honestly, I still am. I want to, with every fiber of my being, just take off to the elven city and lay siege to it. Burn it down, and every elf in it, and then go across the ocean to their nation and do the same, leaving nothing by ashes and destruction in my wake." His free hand balls up in a fist.

Rulu looked at him, reached out, and took his balled-up fist. “I don't hold that against you. I'm angry too honestly. I'd be right by your side, every step of the way, if you'd have me." He smiles. His hand holding Gurak's balled-up fist, which softens and then relaxes.

Gurak shook his head. “That wouldn't change anything. I might feel better for a short time, but, that'd give the other races reason to purge orcs. Because look how dangerous they are when they have power, we can't let them ever get powerful again, is what they'd say." He sighs and shuts his eyes. “So I have to come up with another way. Something not as violent." He grumbles softly.

Rulu nods his head lightly. “It can still be a little violent though, right? I know the ones who did what happened in Whetstin are gone, but, the people who ordered it? The ones who sent them, they're still out there, somewhere, waiting for another chance to purge another city."

Gurak nods. “Yeah. We'll hurt them when we find them." The orc smiled and kissed the lizardman's forehead with a grin.

Rulu nodded softly. “Good. The people of Whetstin were good and kind." He perks his eyebrows. “Speaking of. There….well...they weren't survivors but, they were folks who weren't home when it all happened." He says softly. “Folks outside of town doing errands or, traveling. They came back and saw everything, heard the rumors." He sighs softly.

“But, they rebuilt, around the...crater." He glances aside. “The city is a little further south now, and the crater is a really good fishing spot now. Fish are drawn to the mana-rich waters there. They're rebuilding and recovering slowly. More folks move there and the city isn't what it was, but, it's coming back. They still call it Whetstin." Rulu smiles softly.

Gurak smiles too. “That's wonderful news."

Rulu nods. “The...kids of the cook there. Do you remember them? The two dwarves. They were out picking up supplies from Vrose when it all happened, their father didn't make it, but, with help, they rebuilt the restaurant and run it now. We should go see them sometime."

Gurak nods his head softly. “I'd like that. But, today I just want to spend with you, and then we gotta get Wukin and Zamdor back, see if they still want to travel, I don't want to pull them from their lives, but, I can't do it alone." He smiles softly. “We gotta go see Towen, I dunno what's happening, or why, I just know I need to go to him as soon as possible."

Rulu nods his head softly. “Yeah. Wukin should be back any time now, so we should go to the tavern and wait for him. We have a permanent room downstairs now. Zamdor made a few under the tavern for everyone, so they could have privacy with some…..soundproofing." He laughs and grins

Gurak laughs at that and nods. “Haha, I can imagine. We'll head there then, and just have a nice meal and spend some time together." Rulu leaned against Gurak and the pair walked back to Brun's tavern. It took a few minutes walking through the city before they arrived, they headed inside and sat down, waving over the waiter walking around, the familiar Bullman he'd met that morning.

“Good afternoon Asterius. What do you recommend for a long-lost orc for a delicious lunch, at his favorite tavern?"

The bull blinked, or it looked like he did, his glowing eyes disappeared for a moment before being seen again. He parts his mouth and speaks. “Well the mutton is good, fried beef steaks, we've taken to mashing spuds because one of our regulars took a liking to it, a friend of his made it for him." He ponders. “Sauted vegetables. There is a new thing going around, that got popular in Macta, it's called a burjur, I think. It's ground meat and.."

Gurak grunted in surprise. “A burger?"

Asterius blinked. “Is that how it's pronounced? Maybe. It's ground meat, it takes a specialized tool to make it, then you layer cheese on it and put it on bread."

Gurak's face lit up and he grins. “Gods, yes, please. I want a burger, and some mashed spuds."

Rulu blinks and nods. “I'll try it too then."

Asterius smiles and before he leaves, asks. “And for drinks?"

The orc blinks. “Uh, I'll just have water today."

Rulu nods. “Some mead for me." The lizardman smiles and Asterius leaves quietly.

The pair sit and lean against one another before Gurak speaks up. “Mead huh? Hitting the hard stuff already?" The orc says with a laugh.

The lizardman grins back. “Hah, no, it's a special occasion." Rulu grins and leans against Gurak.

The orc nods and leans back gently. “Well let's enjoy today. It might be the only day we have together."

Rulu shook his head. “I don't mind. I never imagined life without the others after we got close. And now that it's been two years of just the three of us, they're as close as Towen is in my mind."

Gurak blinked and smiled, hearing Rulu say that warmed his heart. He was really happy to hear that they'd all stayed close and bonded while he was gone, the pangs of jealousy were still there, of course, but, their being together meant the world to him more than that.

The orc sat with Rulu, his arm around the lizardman's shoulders, just rubbing his far arm and shoulder as they waited. Asterius soon brought their drinks, each taking a heavy gulp from their respective mugs before going back to sitting side by side. No longer talking, or filling the empty silence, but just enjoying being together again after so long.

It was a while later before their food was brought to them. Gurak's eyes lit up like a child on Christmas, seeing the burger. There was tomato, lettuce, and even something akin to onions on it. The orc admired it a moment and smiled. “It's just like back home, or at least, as close as I could hope for."

The orc then lifted and took a hearty bite out of it. His eyes shut and a happy grumbling comes from the orc as he chews the offered meal.

Rulu blinked and looked at it, a bit more wary of the strange presentation of the food, before he lifted it like Gurak had, and took a bite just like the orc had, though it was much smaller in size. He wasn't sure how it would taste. His face lit up though and he was delighted by the strange, but delicious mixture of meat, vegetables, and bread, even the sweetness of the cheese, faint though it was, accentuated the taste of everything in a pleasant way. The two ate their meals eagerly like they hadn't eaten anything in the week before.

Gurak's eagerness was easier to understand since he'd been stuck underwater and had limited food options there. Rulu was just excited by the sudden and unexpected delicious offering. The pair tore through their burgers, finishing them off and smiling at one another. They then took their time eating the mashed spuds.

After the meal, Asterius returned and chuckled in his deep throaty voice. “You seemed to enjoy that. Was it as good as you expected?" He asked the orc.

Gurak nodded. “You said the recipe came from Macta?" He asked.

Asterius nodded. “It did. An orc there opened a restaurant. Made a big fuss about being reincarnated and he brought recipes he knew from urf." Gurak blinked a moment and smiled.

“Well, I'll have to travel there and thank him in person, it was delightful."

He took out a gold coin and put it on the table, looking at Asterius. “For the meal."

The cursed bull huffed softly. “That is far too much."

Gurak shook his head. “Nonsense. It was worth more than that. My stomach just hurts too much to grab a second gold coin."

Asterius chuckled as best he could manage, before nodding and departing with the coin in his hand.

Rulu laughed softly. “You still pay too much." He rumbled out.

Gurak shook his head. “I disagree. Good food deserves a good payment. Just because everyone else can't afford it, doesn't mean I shouldn't pay what I think it's worth. It wasn't exactly like the burgers back on Earth, but, it was really good. Not a single complaint."

Rulu nodded and leaned against Gurak. “Wanna go settle in for a nap? I'm suddenly feeling very full and ready to sleep."

Gurak looked out the window, it was still the afternoon, and he nodded gently. “Yeah. My internal clock is kinda messed up from being underwater so long, so my body wants to sleep while the sun's still up."

The pair got up and headed to the counter, nodded to Asterius and Oliver before heading into the back and down some stairs to a more secluded part of the tavern. It was fairly similar to the rooms upstairs, though, there were no windows, it was still well-lit, by torches, and the beds looked comfortable and big. Gurak undressed quickly. Laying flat on his back, in only his underclothes, Rulu was quick to undress down to his undergarments as well, before scooting up against the orc and nuzzling in against his neck. The orc hugged his beloved lizardman gently, before slowly drifting off to sleep, a short nap was more needed than he had realized.

The nap was overall pleasant, Gurak was all out of sorts with his sleep schedule compared to what it used to be. Gurak awoke and found Rulu still nestled against him, sleeping quietly. The orc smirks, it wasn't often he woke up before Rulu, but, to be fair, he supposed, it wasn't often they napped in the middle of the day either. He stroked his hand along the back of Rulu's head and neck, his scales were so smooth and soft to the touch.

Gurak smiled and slowly pulled away from Rulu while he slept. The orc moved down and gently pulled the lizardman's undergarment aside. He admires the lizardman's length, he'd never seen it soft up close like this.

He leans in and kisses around it gently. Before kissing it directly a few times, a smile on the orc's face as it twitches once. He glances up, the lizardman still asleep. The orc carefully moves his hand to lift it and he takes it between his lips. The orc slowly bobbed his head, holding the soft arousal, feeling it swell slowly and fill out, the length slowly firming up. He suckles nice and slow. Moved his lips back and forth over the length.

His nose pushes all the way down to the base, bumping the lizardman's pubic scales, and back up again, suckling and swirling his tongue around the tip several times before he lowers his head and repeats the process. Rulu lets out soft moans in his sleep, his hips squirming ever so slightly as he sleeps through the attention. Gurak catches the taste of Rulu's precum now and then, a smile on his face as his lips.

Rulu's rumbles got louder, and he finally blinked awake, he glanced down and noticed the orc, he laughed quietly. “Gurak!"

The orc blinks and looks up, tongue licking at the underside of the lizardman's length. He finally sits up slowly. “What? You woke me up like this for weeks."

The lizardman sticks out his tongue and lays his head back. “Yeah, but I never expected you to return the favor."

Gurak rumbles and bobs his head slowly. Suckling nice and slow as his hands knead and massage the lizardman's thighs. He rumbles out and grins, before pulling back again. “Well I wanted to, I just rarely woke up as early as you seemed to."

Rulu sits up slowly and cups the orc's face in his hands, his fingers stroking the orc's cheeks and neck. “You never had to."

The orc nods. “I know. But I have wanted to wake you up like this." He winks and leans down kissing along the underside of that length slowly, he looks up at Rulu and slowly takes the length between his lips and bobs his head faster now.

Rulu groans and lolls his head back, huffing and bracing his weight back on one arm, and uses the other to rub over the orc's head gently. The lizardman rumbles out slowly. “As much as I'm enjoying this, I kinda wanna feel you...inside of me again."

Gurak blushes and chuckles softly. “Are you sure? I'm kinda having fun down here." He gently lip-nibbles on the lizardman's dick, making the dark-scaled man squirm just a little as he smiles.

“Heh, I'm glad you are, Gurak." He rumbles out and sighs. “I honestly don't mind what you do, I just wanted to spend time with you."

The orc blushes slightly and smiles. He leans down and starts bobbing his head slowly. Taking his time and savoring this moment. The orc's tongue worked all along the underside of the lizardman's arousal. He shuts his eyes and just focuses on sucking his lizardman lover gently. His tongue works around the length as he moves his head, his lips squeezing down around the length as he bobs his head nice and slow.

Rulu's head was still leaned back as he groaned and squirmed from time to time, his body doing all it could to resist the urge to give in to the building release. His hand gripping the bedding behind himself as he lifts his hips ever so slightly from time to time as he feels the pleasure building inside of him.

Gurak grins, feeling Rulu thrust ever so slightly into his mouth. The orc rumbles nice and deep, sending those vibrations through the length. Rulu's fingers gripped Gurak's head as he felt his body finally unable to hold back any longer.

He shudders as his length throbs in between his lips. Lizardman seed shooting across his tongue and down his throat. He shuts his eyes and moans loudly, as the orc suckles on him firmly. Bobbing his head faster all of a sudden, milking every last rope from his length.

After Rulu groaned and slumped back, Gurak laughed and climbed over him. So they were chest to chest. He leaned in and kissed Rulu gently. The lizardman's arms wrapped around Gurak and they stayed like that for several moments, the shared kiss lasting for some time.

Gurak rested his weight on top of Rulu and they smiled at one another when the kiss broke. “Shall we go ahead and get up then?"

Rulu blinked, then shook his head. “Nope." He shifts his weight and rolls over, pinning Gurak to the bed carefully, and grins at him. “I said I wanted you inside of me." He leans back and grinds his backside against the orc's groin. “You got your treat, now I need mine."

Gurak didn't argue and laughed, he was still hard, pre-leaking through the fabric already too. Rulu carefully pulled his own undies down, using his tail to push them down around to his ankles, then he reaches back, carefully pulling and pushing on the orc's length, stroking him slowly, before the lizardman scooted back and aimed that meaty orc dick for the intended target.

The lizardman's eyes shut as he found the spot. He pushed back and with practiced ease slowly sunk around the orc's length. Gurak moaned, his hands taking hold of the lizardman's hips as he pushed back and down slowly. His rump going all the way down in one movement. He leaned back, resting his hands on the orc's legs and he rocked his hips, moving slowly at first, but picking up speed.

Rulu's dick hadn't even had time to go soft before he was riding Gurak. Pushing his hips down all the way and squeezing his rump around that length. Gurak thrusted upward from time to time, doing his best to match Rulu's pace, but the lizardman was moving fast and hard.

His length oozed his pre onto Gurak's stomach as he moved his hips rapidly, almost like he was thrusting up into someone and then pushing down onto Gurak.

The orc's eyes slowly shut as he grumbled and his hands gripped the lizardman's thigh tightly. Rulu grinned feeling that and he slowed his movements, and sat up, leaned over, and kissed Gurak. The orc huffed at first, kissing his lover in return, before he lifted his hips and started thrusting into Rulu slowly. Their eyes locked as he grunted and moaned in the kiss, his feet braced on the bed as he thrust upward into Rulu.

The lizardman moaned and clenched tightly, making the orc's thrusts all the faster and more needful, he grunted a few times and suddenly thrusts rapidly upward, Rulu groaned as he felt the orc's pace and power change, then warmth filling him.

Gurak shuddered as his orgasm finally hit, his length twitching inside of Rulu as he finally climaxed. The lizardman leaned back slowly and stroked himself quickly. The orc's eyes took in the sight, he rumbled and moved his hand to stroke Rulu as well, both of them squeezing and pumping that length before he let out a soft moan and grind his hips downward. The orc felt those tight walls clamping down around him tightly, as Rulu hit his peak a second time, it wasn't as powerful, and mostly dribbled onto his stomach, but it felt really good, to see Rulu orgasm a second time.

Gurak panted softly and slumped back, Rulu didn't move and wiggled his hips with a soft chuckle. “That was magnificent." He rumbled out.

Rulu chuckles and nods. “Mmmph, yeah. I've missed this feeling so badly. I love Zamdor, and he's never lacked for taking care of me, but, it's such a different, amazing feeling, being with you."

Gurak chuckled, he shifted their weight and had Rulu pinned now. The orc slowly thrusts into Rulu as he rumbles and leans over him. “I'm glad he took care of you." He leans in, kissing Rulu. “But I'm back now, and I have so much time to make up for." He kissed Rulu's lips as his hips kept pumping, and they continued to make love for several more hours. The orc was true to his word and didn't let up, load after load of orc seed was given to his beloved lizardman. Rulu took every one with a grin and a tightened grip on his orc.

When the pair were finally too tired to keep up their intimate time. They finally climbed off the bed, and Rulu needed a shoulder to lean on, as they took to the shower together, Rulu stood in front and Gurak behind him.

The orc, of course, scooted up behind him, lifted that tail, and sunk into him again. The pair moaned in unison, and while neither had the energy for more, Rulu wasn't going to deny Gurak, and the orc wasn't going to do much beyond what he had.

They stayed close like that for a few moments, before the orc pulled away and they both let out a soft chuckle as he slipped free. The pair then washed one another, careful and affectionate lathering, especially the naughty bits which were incredibly sensitive, then rinsing. After they were clean, they made their way back to the bed, sprawled out on it, and carefully avoided any cum streaks, few though they were.

Gurak held Rulu for some time, neither falling asleep, but also not eager to go back upstairs for anything else for a while.

Rulu finally patted Gurak's chest though after some time and sat up. “We should head back up. I'm getting hungry again, and Wukin might even be back by now."

Gurak nodded and got up, he helped Rulu get his clothing on and then his own. The pair walked, arms interlocked up the stairs and back through the doorway from the back of the tavern into the main area. Smiling and nodding to anyone Rulu recognized, before taking a seat at a different booth, as the one they'd eaten in earlier was occupied.

Oliver and Asterius were nowhere to be seen, likely off work now. The waiter was a tiger, he came over after a moment. “Good evening, nice to see you again Rulu. Is this the orc you talked about so much?" Rulu blushed a little but nodded.

“He's just as handsome as you said he was." He grins and watches the pair. “I'm Kennyth, I'll be taking care of you this evening." He does slightly bow towards Gurak, who looks confused. The tiger grins at him. “Oh, sorry, with as much as Rulu talked you up, I kind of thought you were a noble or royalty." He winked at the lizardman.

Rulu covered his face feeling incredibly embarrassed. The orc laughed softly and sat up. “Oh, you'll have to tell me all about what he said about me while I was absent these last two years." He looks to the feline.

The tiger grinned at him, his striped tail wavering behind him as he did. “I'd be happy to. For now, though, what can I get you to eat tonight?"

“We'd like burgers like we'd had for lunch earlier today. They were really good and I think we'd like them again." He turns to Rulu, who nods emphatically at the suggestion.

The tiger smiled softly and nodded. “And drinks?" Kenneth asked.

Gurak looked to Rulu, who shrugged, so the orc spoke up. “Mead, for both of us, if you would please."

The tiger smiled and nodded, bowing to Gurak again, which made Rulu blush again before the tiger laughed softly and headed back to the kitchen area to get the drinks and start their meals cooking.

Kennyth returned after a few moments with two mugs, he set them on the table and smiled. “I make it myself, so I do sincerely hope you both enjoy it." He winks at Rulu who hides his face in Gurak's neck, before the tiger departs, turning and flicking his tail ever so slightly as he did.

Kennyth was back after several minutes and set the two burgers and spuds before the pair. It was almost identical to how it looked earlier that day. “Here's your burgs, do you need anything at the moment?" The tiger asked

Gurak and Rulu shook their heads, and the tiger smiled with a nod. “I'll come check on you in a little bit." He turns and goes to check on some other tables, talking and seeming to get along quite well with the patrons of the tavern.

“Who is that?" Gurak asked before he started into his burger.

Rulu looked at the orc. “Kennyth. He was an adventurer. He was interested in joining the church if you can believe it. He'd wanted to serve as one of their inquisitors, he spent a few years doing it too, as they had no problems with letting anyone join them. When he learned the truth of Whetstin though, he resigned immediately. It's still publicly considered a rumor, but, the rumors have gotten almost impossible to ignore now. Everyone talks about the Whetstin incident and how the church was involved. It's not regarded as fact, but it's considered as such in most private circles outside of the church and hardcore believers."

Rulu continued. “Brun took him in, as he was lost and didn't know what to do with his life without the church to guide him. Brun said all he had to do was keep the same principles in his heart as he felt the church was supposed to possess. This seemed to put him at ease and he's been working here as a waiter, as well as an adventurer. He'll mostly work locally, when Brun is away for more than a few days, he'll opt to stay here in Halfsea instead."

Gurak nodded just a little before he started his meal, Rulu was eating soon after as well and the pair ate in mostly silence, letting the ambiance and tavern atmosphere be their background music as they ate.

After they had finished, Gurak paid Kennyth a gold coin, the tiger didn't want to accept it, as it was far too much as payment. Rulu smiled at him. “You aren't gonna win that fight with Gurak, just take it, take some as a tip, and put the rest towards the tavern. The mead was delicious, by the way, thank you for it."

Kennyth softly grumbled, the orc was too good to be true but nodded and departed. Gurak and Rulu took their time finishing their drinks before they got up and looked around. It was way past sundown by this point, and Wukin was nowhere to be found. So they were making their way back towards the doorway leading down to the more private rooms. The tavern door opened and someone shouted from behind them.

“Rulu..is...is that Gurak?" A familiar voice chimed in. The pair turned and saw Wukin in the doorway, he looked a bit exhausted. Like he'd been pushing himself.

Gurak smiled and nodded. “It's me Wukin, I'm sorry I was gone so long I…" And he didn't get the chance to say anything more, before he was pounced and hugged, both hit the ground pretty hard, but the orc didn't mind as he held Wukin. The monkey hugged him tightly and almost cried into his shirt as they lay in the middle of the tavern like that.

Gurak patted his back and smiled. “Hey, it's okay. Let's get out of the floor, so no one trips over us or stomps on my face."

Wukin begrudgingly got up and helped Gurak stand, before he hugged Gurak again, pressing his face into the orc's neck and holding onto him. Gurak carefully walked, while holding the monkey against his chest out of the walkway and against a wall where he just held Wukin for several moments. Rulu stood beside him, looking a little awkward before Gurak reached out and pulled him into the hug too.

The three stood there for a few moments, the orc holding both of them. Once Wukin composed himself he stood up and smiled, looking into Gurak's eyes. “You asshole."

Gurak nodded and sighed. “You're right, I am." He leans in and kisses Wukin's forehead. “I'm sorry, Wukin, truly." He moves his hand up and strokes the monkey's cheek. Wukin's face leaned over into it and he sniffled softly. “There's no excuse for what I did. All I can say is, I wanted to protect you, keep you safe from harm. As angry as I was, I couldn't stand to lose anyone else."

Wukin nods and just presses his face in against Gurak still. The orc holds both Rulu and Wukin for a few more moments before he lets his arms loosen and smiles at them. Wukin perks up. “Oh, I should go tell Towen, I spent the day with him, helping him solve a kidnapping." Wukin leaned up, kissing Gurak's cheek, and then the monkey turned and went through the kitchen doorway, only to disappear into the shadow behind it. Gurak went to say something, but the monkey was gone before he got a word out.

Gurak blinked as he looked at Rulu. “Well...that was sudden." He let out a faint yawn. “But I think I'm ready for bed proper now. Wukin knows where we are, and Zamdor should be back in a day or two, right?"

Rulu nods his head as he looks at Gurak. “Yeah."

The orc nods softly then. “Well, then let's go back to bed and sleep some more."

The lizardman chuckles and nods. 'Yeah, let's do that." He and Gurak walk back down the stairs and into the private room, where they settle in for the night, the pair sleeping in each other's arms.