Xa'Gun sighed as the water spout overhead continued to pour water over him. He lifted his head and let the water fall on his face.

[What am I doing...] Xa'Gun thought to himself.

[...Things that must be done, yes, but... What am I doing them for? Life is better as an Orc slave here than as some kind of Human before... Everyone just uses everyone else... Is that it?] His thoughts turned to Hellie, [Is she the exception? She treats me well because she likes me... Is that the only form that someone can take that means she's not out to use me?]

Xa'Gun's thoughts then turned to Demze, [I know she wants to use me... For what... I don't know. Being smart, you'd think she would have her eyes on someone that was already strong, why fuck with me? Doesn't make sense. Is this all because she just wants what her sister has? Bitch...]

[Even my new father... I'm sure he is using me too. It's not like he doesn't have my best intentions in mind, but it seems to me that without blood and love everything just comes down to using and being used... Is that all life is? Blood, Love, and Using? Or some combination therein???]

Xa'Gun punched the side of the shower wall sending small spiderweb-like cracks to arc from the impact; his hand ached by the blow. He shook his hand slightly, as he sighed again.

[I want to cultivate. Only by being strong myself... Can I control more...] A flash of inspiration suddenly occurred to Xa'Gun.

[Being at the bottom means there are more people above me to use me... Being at the top... There will be less people using me and more people I will use... If I can become stronger... Then there will be less people that will try to use me!]

Xa'Gun's logic wasn't far from the mark, but just off enough to be considered flawed. Nevertheless, Xa'Gun clenched his hands hard enough for them to issue cracking sounds...!

The words of that ancient malevolent wolf echoed in Xa'Gun's mind, [Remember to let the monster out. Do not fear it. Do not run from it. It. Is. You. And you are it!]

[Embrace it, revel in it! .it! ..it! ...it! ....it!] The words drew long, as Xa'Gun closed his eyes and made a silent promise... He would be the monster, and the monster would be him.

*******

Just outside of Xa'Gun's burrow a soon to be heated conversation was about to take place, while Xa'Gun was contemplating his life inside.

Demze overheard voices, as she was approaching Xa'Gun's burrow. Knowing the voices, it seemed that Hellie was not going to keep her group of bimbo bitches away from Xa'Gun... Even if two of them were good Orcess, that didn't stop the other two from being the same, so they were all lumped into the same group.

As Demze quickened her pace, she caught up with the group, as she called out, "Dearest sweetest youngest sister... What brings your motley crew to Xa'Gun's burrow?"

The group slowed to see Demze approaching from the left, as they all noticed Demze tucking her hair behind her ear showing off the ear cuff with chain.

As Hellie was about to open her mouth to reply, an annoyed Shagadub spoke first, "This piece of laced mutton can be asked the same question, What are you doing here? Don't you need to take up your post as the local grotto priestess???"

Demze's brows furrowed, but she continued to smile. One had to know that being a called a grotto priestess was being called a prostitute in the Orcish slang of the region.

"I'm sorry. Hellie, you must stop picking up this pitiful Orcess-type. Even if you take her out of the whorehouse, she'll continue to be one. Hellie-Sister... You're far too kind to try to rehabilitate one such as... This." Demze gestured to all of Shagadub.

"Bitch, I'll rip your ears off!" Shagadub took a step forward before a not so soft punch was delivered to her stomach.

Hellie's eyes did not smile as Shagadub looked up from her hunched posture, "Demze is still my sister. Don't forget that, Shagadub. I don't mind the playful banter, but don't think of laying a hand on her." Hellie had always been Demze's physical shield while Demze had always been her shield from the shadows. She knew Demze couldn't cultivate well, and thus took that job herself.

Shagadub coughed slightly, as she rubbed her stomach. Most of her anger dissipated with the light tap. It was good that Hellie only settled with a light punch. With the true strength of Hellie, Shagadub could find guts bleeding from the inside.

"How-" Shagadub coughed slightly, "Could I forget." She continued to rub her stomach.

"Great!" Hellie threw her arm around Shagadub's shoulders, while the other three Orcesses, laughed at Shagadub's misfortune.

Demze's eyes look conflicted, as she looked upon her sister's face. She blinked a few times, and the conflict behind her eyes drained away, as she spoke, "Banter aside... Seriously, what brings everyone here?"

"What, Demze? Afraid we'll eat your mate for supper?" Ulith laughed loudest.

"...In a way, yes..." Demze didn't hold back her thoughts in a rare moment.

"Oh? So, you're saying you can't satisfy the arena boy?" Shagadub took another verbal jab as if the earlier war of words ended in her victory... Mentally or Physically...

Demze smiled, "It isn't that... It's that he's a red-blooded Orc! Come on, Orcesses, how could such a beast of an Orc turn down the invite of so many pretty flowers? Wouldn't it be better if I separated him from the meadow? Make it easier on him, so to speak?"

The Orcesses smiled and nodded, even Shagadub's lip curled at the edge.

"Still, We want to see this Bull Orc up close. Besides the affliction on his back and the attraction in you and your sister's eyes, We don't see the excitement." Ulith shrugged and spoke.

"Speak for yourself, I would have gone home to change if it wasn't for my interest in seeing this Xa'Gun up close." Mazoga laughed.

"Oh my elements! Sister, you are one sick Orcesses." Glasha playfully beat on her Mazoga's shoulder.

"Pfft, please. You're just as bad as I am... You've been rubbing your legs together since that fool was sliced in half." Mazoga pointed out Glasha.

Glasha's face blushed, as it turned a darker green color. She leaned over to her sister's ear, "You are such a bitch!"

"Don't act like you didn't have a reaction! Plus, you're the only one that's seen him up close at the store!"

"His father brought him in with a hood on, I don't know what his face looks like."

"Whatever, you're just as turned on by bloodshed, as I am, so don't play the good orcess act with me."

"Ugh..."

The two ended their whisper yelling section to the amusement of the other orcesses present.

Demze sighed, "I guess now that you're near the front steps, there is no warding you off... Let's go show off my mate."

Hellie cleared her throat, "We'll have to talk about that later... Sister." Hellie's eyes became sharp, as she viewed Demze, as Demze smiled sweetly.

The group continued to the Burrow.

The Stonethrower brothers were laughing and joking with each other, as they spoke of the arena matches that saw today, including Xa'Gun's. They both went silent, as they saw the coming crowd.

"Just a few friends. Don't mind us." Demze waved, as she walked past, followed by her sister, and her friends. Both wondered if they made up, but neither would speak out.

As they entered the burrow, one couldn't help but ask the other, "Is there a party tonight?"

"Well, he did cut that human up pretty good."

"Maybe we should go into the arena?"

"And leave our post? For what? Getting chopped up? Mind your business, ya goof!"

Both brothers shook their heads for different reasons and continued to stand guard. It was their job to make sure that the slave didn't leave, and if he did to report it. It wasn't their job to stop anyone from entering.

*******

Xa'Gun wiped the sweat from his brow. His arms numb again from chopping the petrified wood. He gave a wretched smile, as he was pleased that he finally chipped the top of the stone wood. Even after his shower, he went outside to work out. His head was too filled with thoughts and became restless... Only by working could he calm his mind.

Xa'Gun propped his training axe on the side of the burrow, as he stepped inside. With a towel and a tankard of water, he would wipe himself and slake his thirst.

It was at this time, he came face to face with six pairs of feminine eyes.

"Oh, he has a handsome face!" Ulith shouted, and licked her lips, while the others of her group nodded slowly.

He blinked several times, as his mouth formed a straight line and furrowed his brows.