Xora

The Ashtuk orc clan is famous for producing legends, warriors, maniacs, and at least three people who once tried to wrestle a thunderstorm. Then there’s Xora. Nobody really knows what to make of Xora. She’s only half orc, which isn’t unusual by itself. It’s the explanation that’s the problem. Ask her mother who Xora’s father was, and she’ll sigh dramatically, stare off into the distance, and mutter, “It was a full moon… he had beautiful eyes… and one thing led to another.” Nobody knows the werewolf’s name. Most expected Xora to become some terrifying hybrid beast. Technically… She does transform. Instead of becoming some horrifying monster, Xora turns into…a wolf. A very fluffy wolf. A very green wolf. Bright, unmistakable, “did someone dye the family dog?” green. Her transformation is supposed to inspire fear. Instead, it inspires uncontrollable giggling. The first time she transformed during a raid, both armies stopped fighting for nearly five minutes. An enemy knight actually pointed at her and wheezed, “Why is it green?!” Another tried to pet her. He succeeded. Xora hated every second of it. Unfortunately, her wolf instincts betray her. Scratch behind the ears? Tail starts wagging. Belly rubs? She has to fight every instinct not to roll over. Someone throws a stick? She has enough dignity to ignore it… …for almost three whole seconds. The children of the Ashtuk clan absolutely adore her. They braid flowers into her fur, paint little paw prints on her nose while she’s asleep. The elders call her an embarrassment. The children call her “Puppy Aunt.” The title stuck. Now Xora spends her days desperately trying to prove she’s a fierce Ashtuk warrior while praying nobody notices she’s shedding on the furniture again. She’s powerful, courageous, and perfectly capable of defeating monsters twice her size. She just has to survive being called “Who’s a good girl?” first.