#half-orcs

Going down the list...

Eldest Son - “Grumpy”, “Frownyfangs”, “Ponderer” This adopted grouch is stricken by the terrible malaise of becoming an adult and not knowing what you want in life- which is something a lot of us can empathize with. Trying to determine who he wants to be is a heavy burden, especially given that he’s both thinking about and reluctant to leave his society, but his mothers kind of assume that he’ll leave and are getting ready to send him off with everything he’ll need, and their best wishes. He has a very good memory and some magical talent that could use shaping and strengthening, so who knows where that’ll go!

Youngest (and Malakur herself) - “Lil Climbing Monkey”, “Wiggler”, “GET DOWN FROM THERE-” The other adopted one of the bunch, this little troublemaker has no fear, a desire to climb to the highest point of every setting, and the sheer childish mischief needed to always find the worst place to get stuck. Malakur actually found them while she was out travelling, and returned home with them- fortunately, the Road Masters are very socially accepting of “I found this perfectly good baby in a dumpster? Can you believe it?! Anyways it’s mine now.”

Second Youngest - “Leaf”, “Greenfingers”, “Lil’ Druid” Malakur’s second-born, she takes after her mother in the sense of having a bit of connection to a world beyond the physical...though unlike Malakur, who is a speaker of the dead and bare a connection to the spirit world, Leaf has a connection to the earth and the wild- an early druid in the making! So strong is her inclination that she received instructions on how to summon a companion in a dream, and promptly did so the very next day. Which is very impressive! But also, you know that bit in Lilo and Stitch where Lilo says “Send me the nicest angel you have” and it cuts to Stitch laughing maniacally? She managed to summon a little bastard.

Summoned Leshy - “Barnburner” Turns out you shouldn’t use a bunch of burning nettle and poisonous plants when summoning a forest spirit. You just get a little monster, and Leaf isn’t quite strong enough to enforce her will over her summon yet, so...it runs a bit wild. It’s a learning experience!

Second Eldest - “Furious”, “Little Warrior”, “Rising Star”, “Overachiever” Malakur’s firstborn, she’s got BIG aspirations to be legendary someday, and has already started. The equivalent of one of those super-driven-Grade-A students, by any other metric, she’s got determination to spare and has already started making a name for herself as a fierce combatant and skilled leader. She’s gonna go FAR someday, as soon as she can nail down the details of what she wants and get her brother off his ass so she can be the official “eldest sibling” in the nest and take charge.

“Here, man’dwe,” Came his calm reply, “We are here.”

My breath still fluttered nervously as I turned, spotting Unvar lounging beside the water. He was still not dressed, and I felt my heart skip a beat at the sight of his broad, scarred back. The sun looked warm against his deep green skin, and he smiled up at me lazily as I walked over.

“You gave me fear,” I told him, sighing with relief, planting my hands on my hips, “I woke and you gone.”

“I am sorry, you looked so peaceful, so lovely, we did not want to disturb you.” He replied, and I saw his eyes trace over me slowly. “They were restless, so I brought them outside for a little morning air to settle them back down.”

I couldn’t help but mirror his smile, and l turned my attention to the sleeping pair nestled in the Tlaloc’s huge arms. At the sound of my voice, they began to stir again. One set of huge brown eyes popped open first, and the chubby little infant yawned and rubbed one fat fist against his cheek. The other’s copper eyes blinked blearily up at me, then he began to coo and kick as I leaned closer and came into focus.

My heart filled to bursting with warmth at the sight of the twins. I found I desperately missed them, even though they were only a few inches away from me. Unvar took advantage of my new position and distraction, reaching up his free hand to cup the back of my neck. I willing let him pull me down into a deep kiss, and sighed gratefully for the sweet taste of him. Even sitting, he was nearly as tall as I was, and I did not have to reach far to cup his huge face between my hands.

After he finally pulled back, the twins wriggling in his arms, he stood. One fussing babe he lifted up, placing in the crook of his shoulder. The infant immediately reached for his ear, yanking it into his mouth. His new little tusk worked at the long tip, and soft slobbering sounds soon filling the air. Unvar carefully supported his wobbling frame with one hand. I reached out as Unvar maneuvered the other into his free hand, gently holding him out to me. My smile grew, and I tickled the babe’s fat little feet. A gummy grin filled his little round face, and he reached for me, squealing.

“You make look so small,” I mused, still smiling as I let chunky little fingers grab hold of mine.

Unvar’s deep chuckle filled the air around us. “They are small. But they are growing quick.”

I nodded my agreement. Even in just one short month the twins had doubled in size. I wondered if they would ever reach the size of their father, or if perhaps my human blood would limit their growth.

“They need names, Kari-anna,” Unvar told me again, and I sighed.

“I know. But can not think! So much future in each little face! How can I chose one path?”

Unvar handed me the second twin, and I cradled him against my chest. He eagerly reached up as best he could, and one of his busy hands found a loose curl of my hair.

“Your Tlaloc is very good now,” Unvar praised me, slowly untucking the first infant and bringing him down to rest against his own chest. “You have come a long way.”

I scoffed as he wiped the drool from his ear with one hand, shaking my head. “I speak like Tlalockin, man’dwe, and you know this. But thank you.”

Unvar chuckled again, wrapping his free hand around my waist and tugging me close. I leaned against him, and he lowered the second twin into my arms so he could wrap his own around me. Enveloping us in a firm, warm, muscular cocoon of green. I felt his lips against the top of my head, then felt his hand brushing my thigh.

“We must choose soon,” He breathed, his voice was huskier now, bending low to run his mouth against my ear, then my neck. “...It would be confusing to have another when we haven’t even named the first.”

I laughed, shoving him lightly with my shoulder. I felt his responding chuckle against my back, but couldn’t deny the tingling of desire his words instilled in me. He was right... we really should pick names soon...

In case anyone was worried, Unvar is a great father. No one was worried. And a wonderful husband. I saw this pose reference and really couldn’t stop thinking about these two. I wanted to show them in their happy future, perhaps a year or two after they got married. Unvar still hates wearing clothes if he doesn’t have to, which suits Karianna just fine.

I have no idea what the twins names are. But they are both boys. Not sure if they should have a more red/brown skin tone, since they are half human, but I imagine their ears will straighten up a little as they get older.