The Orc Who Saved Christmas by Wynter Raven & Celeste King

Author:Wynter Raven & Celeste King [Raven, Wynter & King, Celeste]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Protheka Publishing
Published: 2024-12-19T00:00:00+00:00

21

THRAG

The children's laughter rings in my ears, a sound I never thought I'd welcome. Yet here I am, a mountain of green flesh and muscle, shaping something as trivial as a snowman. "More snow!" they shout, their small hands clapping with glee. I gingerly scoop up mounds of the cold, white powder, packing it onto the growing figure before me. It's now nearly as tall as me, a towering spectacle in the midst of the settlement.

A small girl tugs at my sleeve, her wide eyes looking up at me. "Can you lift me?" she asks, her voice a shy whisper. I glance at Claire, who nods encouragingly, her smile like a beacon in the chill of the day. How can I say no to such a simple request? I bend down slowly, my large hands gentle as I lift the child onto my shoulders. She squeals with delight, reaching out to touch the top of the snowman's head.

The others see this and, like a flock of sparrows, they flutter around me, all clamoring for a turn. "Me next!" one boy cries out, his cheeks rosy from the cold. Claire just laughs, her eyes sparkling as she watches the scene unfold. "You're a perfect ladder, Thrag," she teases.

I can't help but chuckle, the sound rumbling from deep within my chest. "Just don't make it a habit to climb on orcs," I say, putting the girl down and reaching for the next child. One by one, I lift their tiny bodies, their laughter mingling with the crisp winter air. It's a strange feeling, this sense of joy and camaraderie. I'm not used to being surrounded by such... happiness.

As I set the last child down, Claire steps closer, her gaze meeting mine. "You're good at this," she says, her voice soft.

This... this is not something I ever expected to be doing. But here I am, an orc among humans, feeling something akin to delight. As I look into Claire's eyes, they are alight with the same joy that's unexpectedly taken root in me.

"Do you want a turn too?" I ask, my voice deep.

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