Chapter Text
Several children were scattered around them, eyes perfectly round as they listened on bated breath. It was their favorite kind of storytime after all, a storytime where they managed to talk Lila into not reading a book already written.
Far in the North, several orc tribes have a long history there. But this is not an old story, this was not once upon a time nor in a place too far away.
This is a story of Prince Gyorik, an orc who survived a run in with a Wild Train.
A gasp went through the crowd, though immediately the polite listenership was broken open by several young voices.
“Is he a handsome prince?”
“There are really wild trains?”
“How can you fight a train?”
Lila laughed warmly as the children rambled around them. They waved their hands before they landed on their hips, a faux frown on their mouth.
“Do any of my friends want to listen to my story or should we just go to the craft?” Another rabble of noise as all the children demanded their story.
The very handsome Prince Gyorik, who could be a model and even was for some times, was not just brave but also terribly smart. For, my friends, he knew when he was beat.
Now, unlike our prince, there were some who grew brave to the point of silliness, even going so far as to not heed the warnings of their grown-ups. Thus Prince Gyorik, the strongest of the Northern Tribes, one day went on a hunt with his very closest friend.
They were told by their Leader, Gyorik’s father, to keep a weathered eye because they would be going into Train Territory.
Lila hooked their hands into claws, their nails shining in the overhead lights.
These trains are not like the ones we know here. They are not tamed and led by a mortal’s command. They need no tracks to move and no coal or magic to run. Instead they are creatures that amble through the plains, searching for their next meal.
Lila straightened up, smiling brightly.
Our heroes picked their way into train territory, Gyorik watching the horizon. But upon their hunt, his friend decided to go further. See, they had made a competition, one bridged on the largest take down. Who could bring home the most. And his friend grew greedy in his hopes to defeat Gyorik.
They would not discover their folly until…
Lila took up a train whistle from behind the stand, bringing it up to their mouth and hooting it twice. The children jumped at the sudden noise.
Gyorik immediately grabbed his bag and his take from the hunt. He turned to look for his companion only to see his friend frozen in fright.
They raised their palms out to the children. “Now, for the next part, we must stay very still and very quiet.” They pressed soft as ever. Immediately the children fell as quiet as they could, giggles aside. They held carefully still, some even covering their mouths to help. Lila smiled once more.
Gyorik dragged his friend down, tackling him with a thud (a stomp of their feet, mimicked by the children), hiding within the tall grass. Knowing that the Wild Trains had learned to chase what ran. This, my friends, was not a fight he would risk. A great warrior knows when to trust their instinct and when to defend themselves and their friends.
“Stay still.” Lila reminded softly, as they prowled the space used for storytime. They darted around the circle, hooting the whistle now and then and gaining giggles for their efforts.
“Good job.”
Just as you all have, Gyorik stayed quiet and calm and helped his friend do the same. With time, the whistle and rumble of the wheels grew quieter and quieter. Once it was far enough away, Gyorik peeked from the grass.
Lila mimicked peeking between their fingers.
“Do you see anything?” They whispered to their crowd. A volley of nooos, nu-uhs, and a couple YES. Another soft laugh.
They traveled home, ears open for any hint of a train in the distance. When they finally arrived to their village, the competition was forgotten, instead Gyorik pushed his friend toward his own family and headed for his father.
He remember the warning from his father, and he went to thank him for it.
Gyorik nor his friend would ever forget their run in with the Wild Trains.
The children begged for more, asking about York and his multitude of accomplishments that would make him the strongest of the Northern Tribes. They wanted to hear if someone tamed a Wild Train, if someone could out run one, if York’s friend ever got passed his fear.
Lila moved through each question with a habitual grace, smiling through it until they glanced up and realized that their story had more of an audience than expected.
York stood at the back of the room, a broad smirk on his mouth as he crossed his arms. Oh they just knew he was going to be insufferable.
They promised that they had many stories to share and that the children needed to be like Gyorik and listen now to their guardians. Coaxing the children to clear out and find the next thing to catch their eye. Clearing room for York to approach them a laugh in his smile.
“Strongest of the Northern Tribe.” He noted casually as he rubbed a hand over his chin. “Good to see kids getting a proper education.” They rolled their eyes and lightly bumped their hip to his.
“When did you even come in?” They pressed, hoping against hope that he had not come in during the smartest comment.
“I heard the whistle and Oldie told me you were doing storytime.” York offered with a toss of his hand. Lila gave a deep sigh.
“Olden, York,” was promptly ignored.
“Y’all making whistles that sound like a rampaging train is cruel and unusual treatment.” The beginning of his tirade coaxed up as they lightly rocked on their feet to go to hide the whistle again. “Very useful in training though.” York gave a firm nod. Lila tilted forward, their fingers hooked into the strap of York’s bag to see a beat up notebook and the standard common writing book they had originally given him.
“Maybe you can tell me more about that training while I help you with the next story, hm?” They flash both their fangs in the next smile. York softened just a bit before laughing.
“Looking for more inspiration. Well, I could never turn away my fans.” He crowed bright. They gave another eye roll, hooking their arm in his to drag him to a quieter table.
“Yeah, yeah, my prince in shining armor.”
“Why would I ever wear Shining Armor, wouldn’t be able to get away from the wild cats if they could spot a glint from a mile.” A cluck of his tongue.
The laugh came easily from Lila. It was so easy to make stories when you had such interesting friends.