'Is he invisible or something?' Liss thought, only then realizing that she didn't ask him for his name. The orc had so little presence that Liss didn't even question it and went along.
"What's your name?"
Apart from his voice, the man had a gentle appearance with doe-like eyes, a small nose, and delicate lips.
"I don't know."
He said pitifully, with his eyes shying away to look at his fidgeting hands.
"You don't know your name?" Liss pried with a curious expression, only then noticing that his dark eyes weren't black but a deep purple color.
"I don't."
"So you don't have a name?"
"I guess."
A hum left Liss's lips as she looked at the cave's wall with a contemplative expression.
"What do people call you by?"
"No one talks to me"
"Why?"
"Well... you know."
If you consider his voice and height, it wouldn't be strange if some people avoided him, but his face was so pretty and gentle, and his personality so meek; apart from the initial fright, there was no reason for people to avoid him.
"Well, I don't." A smile grew on Liss's face, seeing that giant fidgeting with the ends of his black hair, allowing her to catch a glimpse of the hidden white strands he had behind his ears.
"You know... because I'm a feral..."
Liss's eyes went wide with shock. She was new in that world, but since the very first day she learned to avoid and fear "ferals", Liss felt a surge of adrenaline making her body stiffen, her back straighten, and her arms dart from above her knees to behind her back on the ground, ready to react, ready to run at any moment.
"I-I'm not dangerous.' The orc stuttered, showing his palms in surrender, with a desperate and worried expression.
Liss raised her guard by instinct, and when meeting his reaction, she forced herself to relax, letting an "Oh" sound leave her lips.
"I didn't mean to." She started moving awkwardly back to her previous position, grimacing inside. Everything pointed out that this orc was different; even if it was all an act, the simple gestures she noticed had left an impression on Liss. Instead of sitting the alien in the middle of his legs to protect Liss from the uneven walls of the cave, he used his arm as support, giving her his shoulder to lean on. There were no tentative touches or stolen lustful glances, and she sensed no hostility or danger.
'What a sweet boy.'
"My name is Liss."
Shifting her position, Liss pivoted her hips, turning her body sideways and placing her back against the orc's arm, leaning her back on his arm again.
"It's easy to remember." He said stiffly because of the sudden closeness, panicking, moving his arms with stiff movements, lost, not knowing what to do with his hands.
"Do you live in this cave?"
"No."
"You don't have a home, too?"
"I think so."
"Is it because you're feral?"
"So, so."
Liss giggled at his answer, finding his casual way of speaking cute.
"Is it funny?" He asked anxiously.
"Not having a home? I don't think so."
There was a long silence after that. The silence didn't bother Liss, but the orc grew anxious. He wanted to keep the conversation going, wanted to befriend the female, but was too awkward after so long without anyone to talk to.
"Did you run away from your mates?" He stuttered, looking down. "Is that why you don't have a home?"
"I have yet to accept a mate."
"Then, why run away?" Liss sighed softly, distancing their bodies and twisting her upper half to see his face. "Were they mean?"
"Yes."
She chuckled out her answer, changing her position again, now fully facing him and hugging her knees.
"Let's call him my temporary guardian; he has a nasty personality and is forceful." Her voice had a subtle teasing tone as she badmouthed Fenghuang.
"What's that?"
"What?"
"Guardian?"
"Oh, someone who is responsible for another and has to take care of them."
"So... your mate?"
"No, like a father?"
"He is your father?"
"No."
He scratched his head with his index finger, looking puzzled by the concept, making Liss chuckle.
"He was just taking care of me... at least that's what was intended."
"Then what happened?"
"He changed his mind."
'Did he ditch you?"
"I ran away," Liss said, bending her spine to lean forward. Weirdly enough, she felt like she was talking with one of her peers, as she did back on Earth. "I never planned to, but by impulse... I shouldn't have, but I don't regret it."
The orc was a good listener. Even though he couldn't understand certain words the female said, he was interested in her story, nodding his head every time their eyes met.
"I can help you go back."
He mumbled his words while playing with his fingers and avoiding eye contact.
"Yes... I should go back, right?"
Liss agreed glumly, despite being unwilling. It wasn't as if she was expecting to stay with this orc, nor was it possible.
But being with him was comfortable. Liss felt no need to watch her words, she had no strategy or plan of action to try to appease him. She could relax.
"The woods are no good for a female."
He added after seeing her dejected expression, fidgeting even more, his eyes darting back and forth from her face back to the ground.
"I agree."
"Is that a yes?"
"Haha, yes."
"If you go back, you can change that guardian thing?"
"That I don't know."
"Eh? Why?"
"He's way too strong."
"He's not your father... he isn't your mate too... So what's the problem?"
The nameless feral voice reverberated, sounding like a growl, but he tilted his head to one side adorably before tilting to the other side, deep in thought and confusion. The hairs on Liss's arm stood up as a result of his voice sending shivers all over her body.
"He's an immortal."
"And?"
Seeing that cute face and naivety, Liss couldn't help but laugh. It was a fresh reaction; it was like he couldn't grasp the implications of angering Fenghuang, who no one could rival.
"He is strong enough to get what he wants without opposition, dear."
Liss said as her laugh started to die down with a pleased smile on her face.
"That's not nice."
"I think so too."
"But what does he want?"
"I'm not sure either." There was no way of knowing what went through Fenghuang's head if it was lust, possessiveness, or just territoriality. "What would you do if you were in my place?"