"Sari! Where are you child? Sari!" Mother called. I looked up from the Warhammer I was admiring. "I am here mother!" I respond. I was sitting on the floor of the Blacksmith's armory. The entire structure was built out of gray stone and was full of weapons and heavy armor. Mother pushed aside the wooden door and came in. "Sari! I told you to help Umar gra- Nook mend clothes. Not stare at the weapons." She said, crossing her arms. Mother was tall and strongly built, with light brown skin, yellow eyes, tusks growing out of her mouth, and yellow brownish hair in a bun. She was wearing the usual Orc clothes and Orcish boots. In an Orc's perspective she was very pretty. "I finished mending the clothes she gave me mother. I thought it was ok if I came and looked at the weapons and armor." I explained standing up. Mother raised an eyebrow. "Sari, you know that if you finish you have to ask Umar if you are truly done."

I groan and glowered at the floor. "But mother, I don't want to mend clothes! Can't I go out and help hunt like my brothers?" "Sari, right now your task is to help mend clothes. You'll get your chance to hunt soon. Now come, Umar still requires your help." I ball my fists but say nothing. "Sari." Mother said insistently. I begrudgingly walk over to mother and follow her back too Umar's hut. In our Stronghold, some people lived in huts, and others in houses. When we came in, Umar looked up from her mending and gave a curt nod in recognition too mother. "Borba gra-Shura." She greeted.

Since mother was one of the Chief's wives, she was given much respect. And as his one of his children, I suppose I was given respect as well, but I felt like that didn't really apply to me. I was the only daughter of the Chief. All the rest were sons. And as the only daughter in a crowd of sons, I felt like I had to constantly claw my way above one of them at something, just too gain some kind of recognition. When it's time to train, I always fought my hardest, trained with the heaviest weapons, fought bigger opponents. Mending clothes didn't seem like anything amazingly important.

I sat on the hard dirt floor, legs crossed, and looked at Umar expectingly. She said nothing and instead motioned too a basket full of ripped clothing. Muttering, I grabbed a tunic with a rip in the side of it. Umar watched as I thread a bone needle and jab it into the tunic. Pulling on it, I repeat the motion, closing the gap in between the fabric. "You do not want to be here." Umar commented, sewing closed a hole in a pair of leggings. I grunt in response.

"Do you find my company unpleasant Sari?"

"No, I do not."

"Then do you just dislike mending clothes?"

"No. I do not particularly like nor dislike sewing."

"Then what is the problem?"

I pause what I am doing to think and then resume. "I do not know really. I would rather doing something more productive like hunting or helping craft weapons then be sewing clothes." I say, tossing the now mended tunic in a basket and grab another ripped piece of clothing. "So you think mending clothes is not important?" Umar inquired, stopping to look at me. I shrug and focus on fixing the large tear on the shirt in my hands. "Sewing is indeed important Sari." "How so?"

"If there was no mending, then every time an article of clothing was ripped, it would have too be gotten rid of, and an entire new piece of clothing made. That would mean even longer hunting hours and an even longer time for some of our warriors to be away. What do you think would happen if the Stronghold was attacked in that time? She said and continued sewing. I pause yet again and think about what she said. I suppose she was right. Maybe I was helping the Stronghold. Feeling a bit better, I determinedly began mending clothes, one after the next. After a while I noticed that the pile of clothes was quickly dwindling. Pretty soon we would be done. "Sari?" I look up at the sound of my name. "Yes?" "Do you ever think about going outside the Stronghold?" I stare at her, shocked.

Leave the Stronghold? I can't believe it. Why would I ever want to leave the Stronghold? I've never been out further then the woods around the Stronghold to hunt. The only people I've interacted with were Orcs. Sure I know about the other races, learned about them, but I've never actually seen any of them. "No not really." I manage to say, overcoming my shock.

"Why do you ask Umar?"

"You should."

"What?"

"You should want to know life outside of the Stronghold."

"What?! Why!?" I exclaim.

"Your mother did." She said, not looking at me, but at the tunic she was mending.

"She. . . What?"

"Before she came too the Stronghold, she lived in the outside world. In a village I believe."

I was even more surprised. Mother never told me of this. I was silent for a long time. "Sari. Are you aware what your name means?" Umar asked. I shake my head. "It's a human name. It means, "Princess." I think it is a fitting name, wouldn't you agree?" "I guess."
I say quietly. I felt a hand on my shoulder and I look up into Umar's dark green eyes. "Sari. The outside world- it's an amazing place. I know. I've been there. You'll get your chance too see it one day. And when you do- you'll meet people. Some of them you'll love. Some of them you'll hate. But there'll be new. One day you will leave these walls Sari. I promise."

I stare into her eyes, my feelings conflicted. I've never thought about the outside world before, but now what she said had intrigued me. In all my six years of living, I've never even considered the possibility leaving the Stronghold. Actually. . . I've never even really thought about my future. "Sari." Drawn out of my thoughts I look up. "You may go now Sari." Umar said and looked back down at her sewing.

Slightly dazed, I only nod and get up. Before I walked out I hesitated. "If I may ," I begin, turning back to her. "May I come back another time and hear about the outside?" Her body stiffened in surprise at my words but then quickly relax again. "If that is what you wish." She answered in a monotone voice. I give myself a secret smile and then hurry out.