Harmless?

We ended up in a routine of sorts after a few days and i learned why Morlin visited my home only twice a month. His home town was about a week away but he continued his traveling after my home. Days consisted of light hunting and rest stops to awkward conversations because Gro was still bitter about a human besting him in, what he called, 'single combat', but really he was about to take my head off while i slept. How is that single combat? He did, however, lighten up just a little as the days went on. Cassa was acting a little weird towards me after i gave her that new dagger and she even started staying up during the day, with the help of a strip of loosely woven fabric that she tied over her eyes, and sleeping at night, right beside me. We would never fall asleep together but we woke up together. She must wait for me to fall asleep first then she crawls under the deer skin with me. Honestly i feel like i am being stalked but she is so cute i just cant bring myself to tell her to please stop with the affections.

Anyway, i was so engrossed with my new adventure that i actually forgot the reason for it in the first place. I mean, i was supposed to be helping Cassa get back home but neither Gro nor Morlin knew anything about an underground Goblin city anywhere near my home. Cassa once told me that she could eat her fill of food when she woke up and start moving in her home and not reach the other side of the vast tunnel network before she felt hungry again. That might not be that far in relevance to her small size but she is pretty quick on her feet. Since she was sort of 'attached'(?) to me, we agreed to ask around Morlins home town of Grassbourne. He smiled as he thought of it and told us of the meadow and farms to the dirt mound homes and wooden buildings that lined the main road. he described a few of the vendor stalls outside the Inn and to never purchase from them because there goods might be stolen or have blood on them.

We agreed and a little into late after noon we could see the farm plots of his home and he started whooping and yelling in excitement. His voice really carried down the valley side and a few of the people came out and looked in our direction as he held his hand up and waved to them. "Feels good to be home." He sighed when he saw the people wave back. I sighed at this, missing my Father and my dirt home. As we neared the people though, they all froze and some ran away with little squeals of fright. Morlin tilted his head and frowned at their odd behavior. "What could possibly be the matter here?" he spoke aloud but not really to anyone then noticed a small child standing in the road pointing at us. Obviously scared out of his mind then he shouted, "Orc!"

"Oh bother. I completely forgot about ya, lad. Or more so, forgot you were an Orc." Morlin reached over and bumped Gros' arm as he spoke. "The townsfolk dont see many other races like i do." Morilin just shook his head and Gro took his helmet off and placed it the cart along with his ax, "I understand." Gro was slowly getting used to us and his voice softened a little when he spoke now, which was slightly more often and a little better then the odd grunt or two, but hey, it was progress i suppose. The child ran off as we neared the edge of the first farm plot and it had strange green stalks growing perfectly spaced apart. The farm house looked like it was made right into the side of a dirt mound with small square door and one window just off to the side. Cassa jumped up and stood on the seat right beside me with her arms outstretch and smiled, "Wait till they see Cassa!" she exclaimed and i just grabbed her cloak and puled her down, "Please princess, no mischief while we are in town. Remember why we are here." I told her in a flat toned voice as i was used to her actions and mannerisms by now. Even the playful, but harsh, biting was no longer a bother. She just harrumphed at me and stayed seated, clutching my shirt tail.

Morlin handed me the reigns to his little pony and stood up to address all the angry and frightened people that started to gather. "Friends! Friends! No worries! This is Gro Bok! And he is harmless!" Gro slightly smiled then growled very loudly when he noticed an archer in the group with an arrow aimed at him. The sound almost caused a panic as one of the more light-hearted halfling males fainted from fear. The young man fell over right into the one with the bow and his hand slipped on the string. A true enough shot, aimed right at Gros' head but since he was watching the arrow he clapped his hands together and caught the arrow in mid flight. Everyone was astounded by this. They had all heard rumors and myths about Orcs, but this, this confirmed most of them. Gro was proud of himself and broke the arrow head off the shaft. He tossed the shaft back to the halfling and put the arrow head in his helmet. "Another trophy. Great honor for that one." He held his head high and strode out in front of us. The people, not sure what to do about him now, thinking he is 'immune to arrows!' They all just parted the way in silence and we continued on the dirt road towards the main town.