Rise of the Warrior of Everfen

Chapter 42: The Loostqa Flower

Pleasure still seeping from her bones, Erinne curled her leg around one of Cold Hammer's as they lay in the tent upon piles of animal furs. She laid her head on his chest, feeling content for the first time in what seemed like a lifetime but had only been a few weeks. A low, rumbling growl poured out of his chest and she tilted her head back to look at him to find him already studying her.

He didn't say a word, just gently stroked her cheek with one hand and she smiled, snuggling closer. Each day was easier than the one before. She still had concerns and fears, she still felt guilty when she thought of her parents, but she loved him.

They'd rode for several days until they were deep in orc country, farther still until they reached the base of the mountains. The time with just the two of them, traveling, had been good for them. They'd talked about the future, about their child, he told her about his home with his clan. She couldn't wait to see it, but first they had come here. It was here below the mountains where they would share their gift of the loostqa flower.

It was orc tradition, upon union, the new mates would go to the Hetana Mountains. It was here that the orcs came to pray in the darkest of times, to seek guidance from their ancestors, and to celebrate the spring and fall harvests. New mates spent a night below the mountain, seeking blessings for their new life with their spouse, and communing with the Ancestors through the loostqa flower.

She didn't actually know much about it. It was sacred to the orcs, something Nukbrik hadn't taught her because she hadn't been an orc. She could tell by the moonlight on their tent that the moon was at it's highest peak in the sky, and that meant it was time.

"Are you ready?" She asked because he was lying still, eyes closed. They fluttered open and he yawned. "Come on, you can't be tired."

"But I am," he rolled to face her. "You wear me out." He leaned in to kiss her and she nipped his chin instead and sat up, pulling one of the skins close around her shoulders. The mountain's sent a chilly wind down to them tonight, despite the summer season.

"Lohke said the loostqa flower gives visions of the future, of what's to come."

Cold Hammer sighed as if he disapproved and sat up lazily. "It is different for different people and couples. It can be a blessing, or a curse. Some couples choose not to take it at all. For some, the ancestors speak to them, for some they get the visions or brief flashes of the future. I am no shaman, I am not certain of how it works, but if the future is shown, it always comes to pass, though not necessarily the way we expect."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, we have a ceremony for our young orcs when they become of age. We've all used it at least once. I knew an orc who was told that on his hunt he would lead a great group of hunters. As always, his coming of age ceremony included a hunt the following day." Cold Hammer chuckled darkly and said, "He bragged, boasted, that he would lead great hunters. He thought he would become a leader, maybe even a chieftain. He led a great group of hunters all right. A pack of starving gornifs were chasing him the next day."

They both laughed and she said, "Is it always for the next day?"

"No, I've heard of orcs who were told the day they were going to die, or their age, one orc who was told she would lose one of her arms but not to despair, she would become a great hunter."

"Did she?"

"One of the best huntresses I've ever known, before and after she lost her arm. She just needed a year or two of retraining to learn how to throw a spear with her opposite hand."

"If it's that powerful, why not use the loostqa flower all the time? Why do some not use it simply to speak to the loved ones they've lost?"

He shook his head, "Some have tried, but it doesn't work like that. You cannot abuse the gifts the Ancestors have given us. The loostqa flower can be dangerous. If you travel too far, they say your mind can become lost. Time works differently with the ancestors, it can be risky, especially if you go frequently. The more you're there, the harder it is to leave. It is safe for younglings, we give them a small amount and the ancestors are always prepared to receive them, but using it too frequently could result in your own death. Your mind could be stolen to...well...Everfen."