Page 31 of That’s My Orc, Tusk Off

He grumbled.

“You’re right. I should probably ask Traig to explain it to me. Surely there’s something in the computer I just haven’t found yet.”

The grumble deepened.

The front door opened and Drogar strode in, holding a very small, very angry pinecone with legs between his big hands.

“What’s that?” I asked, rising, eager to greet the new arrival.

“A thornsprig.” He held it up for my inspection. The creature’s twig-like limbs flailed, and its miniature crown bristled. “I found her trying to duel with the watering can near the driftwhisp enclosure. She appears to be excited about hydration.”

I reached toward her.

The thornsprig hissed.

“I didn’t know they could do that,” I said, taking a step back, mentally counting to make sure I still had all my fingers.

“They do many things when they get with the spunk.”

“Spunk?” I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing.

“Yes.” Drogar nodded firmly. “Full of the spunk. Very fierce.”

“The word is spunky,” I said gently. “It means full of spirit.”

His face brightened. “Ah. Spunky. That word has more energy.” He repeated it three times under his breath.

Drogar set the creature on the desk. It bristled and hissed at Fred, who was still sitting on the ledger.

Fred grumbled.

The thornsprig hissed louder.

“She isn’t going to attack Fred, is she?” I asked. “He has fangs, but I doubt he uses them in defense.”

“No, they puff air.”

I frowned, almost wishing Fred would demonstrate, because I wanted to see what that would look like.

“They’re greeting each other,” Drogar said. “This is how they show respect.”

I doubted she’d been showing me respect when she hissed at me.

Fred’s grumble intensified. The thornsprig’s crown flared, going from orange to pink.

“I’m covering the desk now,” Drogar said, already settling into my chair. “You have the important meeting with Traig, yes?”

“The first school planning session.” And, because it seemed to be an orc thing, I added, “Yes.”

His grin showed full tusks. “He’s been in the conference room for an hour.”

“The meeting doesn’t start until two thirty.”

“Yes. He wanted to make sure everything was properly arranged.” Drogar sobered. “Very properly arranged. He’s particular about things like that. Particular about a lot of things, actually.”

“I’ve noticed that.”

He made a shooing motion. “Go. I’ll watch Fred and his new, small, angry friend who needs a name.”