The Party's Leader Returns

Orogok sits motionless on a high branch, watching the surroundings. He registers every sound, every movement, every scent. Even the tiniest rodent doesn't escape his gaze.

He is short, for an orc, with a small but solid frame. He keeps his dark brown hair short and his face cleanly shaved. Unlike most members of his war party, he keeps no jewellry on him.

While he might not be the most useful warrior in an all-out brawl, he makes for a perfect scout.

When a large figure comes lumbering in the distance, he spots it long before it has any chance of seeing him, perched as he is on his vantage point.

Orogok's pointy ears perk up and he tries to obtain as much information as he can on the intruder while slowly pulling out a bolt.

His arms aren't strong enough to take full advantage of a typical orc bow, so he is one of the few warriors within the tribe who uses a crossbow.

He doesn't arm his weapon right away, as something in his guts tells him to wait. As the figure in the distance gets closer, he realizes that they are much too big to be human. A fellow orc then?

Orogok squints at the approaching lone creature, wondering who they could be. All of their explorers have gone out in pairs, so if this is one of them, it would mean that their partner got killed or captured. Unless this isn't someone from the party?

As the figure gets closer, he realizes that this is unmistakenly a fellow orc, wearing some kind of dark suit. The only issue is, this is a female orc. There are no women in their war party, or in any of the tribe's war party, for the matter.

Orogok whistles, imitating the song of the black-beaked menestrel. "Possible intruder", the signal says.

To his surprise, the woman responds, whistling out the tune of the red-winged sparrow. "Party member returning," her signal means.

Orogok looks down, slack-jawed, at the woman. He is even more unnerved when she looks up and meets his gaze with her one eye.

Getting a better view of her, he realizes how indecent her outfit truly is. It seems her dark clothes do not cover her breasts, nor do they hide the... the large...

He gasps, realizing that this woman has a massive veiny cock. He is so mesmerized by this unusual sight that he completely misses the arrow jutting out of the other orc's shoulder.

Behind him, he hears whistles and bird-song; Fellow warriors announcing their arrival to assist the scout against the "possible intruder".

"Orogok, why don't you climb down here so we can talk face to face," she says. Her voice is strong, but trembles a little.

He takes a moment to respond, wondering if this is a trap. Finally, he decides to arm his crossbow and jump down a couple branches. He does not join her on the ground, but he does get close enough to have a decent conversation.

"Who are you?" he asks. There is something familiar in her face, but he can't quite recall where he's seen her before.

"I'm your leader," she responds, without even a hint of doubt permeating her voice. After a few seconds, she groans and bends forward, holding her belly. She is covered in sweat.

As he looks at her more closely, it slowly dawns on him that she might be telling the truth. While her brows, her jaw and most of her body has changed shape, he recognizes her tusks, her scars, her hair and her eye. He recognizes the jewellry piercing her ears, nose and eyebrows, and of course the eyepatch.

"Our leader isn't a woman," Orogok meekly says, even though a part of him feels like the lady below him really is who she says she is. He is close enough to smell her now, and the aroma of her musk and sweat carries notes that he does recognize. There are also many... human smells emanating from her.

"I was bewitched," she explains, still cluthing her midsection. "After my capture, I was sent to the lair of their witch, who decided to... humiliate me."

"How can I be sure that you are truly who you claim to be?"

"I tended your wounds when you lost the duel for Reiya's heart."

Orogok's whole body clenches.

"You challenged Yktar, despite his vastly greater size and strength. The battle was lost from the start, but you loved Reiya so much that you were ready to die for her. Of course, Yktar won, and he left you in a puddle of your own blood.

"The duel was done, you had lost. But, you were still breathing. Taking you away to mend your wounds would've been an insult to Yktar, so no one came to you. The older orcs watched the scene with amusement, seeing a fun tradition playing out and your **** as a culling of the pack. The younger ones either feared or admired Yktar, so they didn't dare help you."

"One did save me," Orogok added. "Or else I wouldn't be here right now."

"Indeed. I came to your side and tried to carry you away, but this angered Yktar. He challenged me in a duel."

"Big mistake."

The female orc smiled. "I defeated him, spared his life, then saved yours. I remember when you woke up, your gratitude ended when you learned that I had left Yktar alive."

"And what did you tell me then?"

"If your life is worth saving, so's his."

There's no more doubts in his mind as Orogok jumps down from his tree, landing in front of the one-eyed orc.

"We'll find a way to change you back," the smaller orc says, avoiding the sight of his leader's exposed genitals.

"Actually, that won't be- ah -necessary."

"Boss?"

"I... I've know for a while that there was something wrong with my body, and the witch helped me find myself."

"But, you said..."

"Humiliation, yes. She had me under an enchantment to obey humans, and then... well..."

She didn't finish her sentence, and Ogorok didn't push her to. He could smell on her the taint of her tormenters.

Heavy footsteps echoes behind him, and he turns to see Crackjaw and Yazir approaching through the trees.

Crackjaw, a thick brute with an ugly scar going from his forehead all the way down to his navel, keeps a solid grip on the axe over his shoulder. Yazir, who's remarkably large despite his quarter of goblin blood, stays close to the ground and holds up his two short swords to try and look as menacing as he can.

"Who that?" Crackjaw asks, shifting the axe down into a ready position.

"Our leader has returned," Ogorok announces. "Also... she's a woman now."

It takes a little moment for the two new orcs to take in the two considerable pieces of information.

Xena, breathing heavily and holding onto a tree for balance, glares at the three warriors in front of her.

"Aw, gods, this is going to be embarrassing..."

The three look back with interest. What could be more embarrassing than her showing up looking like that.

"I've been cursed. I'm going to suffer, and maybe die, unless you boys do me a huge favor."

"Anything, Boss," Orogok says before either of his companion have time to open their mouth.

"I'm gonna need one, or preferrably more than one of you... to fuck me."

There's a long silence.