“Good. Now if you are done with him for the day, I would speak with my son." Grolfir once again looked over Gregory's head to where ULf was stood.

The former alpha's shoulders visibly drooped, and he gave Gregory a pleading expression.

“Er..." the human tried to think of some reason to hold ULf back, but with the day's proving match over with he had no real excuse to offer.

“Certainly, sir. Although we'd like him back at the camp as soon as you can spare him, We've all trained hard for this, and I promised my pack a night of celebration."

"Yes!" Nullik cried out gleefully before remembering where he was and then trying to appear nonchalant about imminent partying.

A glimmer of amusement crossed Grolfir's bright, orange eyes before he nodded his acceptance. This left Gregory to turn back to ULf with a somewhat apologetic expression. The young orc seemed to take it in his stride and nodded to his alpha for doing the best he could before falling into step with his own father to leave the pits.

“By the First's fiery butthole!" Nullik cheered as the rest of The Runts joined arm in arm in a big circle at the centre of the field. "We did it! Let's have a huzzah for the new alpha!"

ALL except Gregory let up with a cheery huzzah mixed with relieved ‘laughter.

“Alright, then let's also send up a huzzah for Ulla, because she pretty much destroyed almost half of that pack for us," Gregory said.

“Damn right!" Nullik agreed vehemently.

Another huzzah rang out, and Ulla took her moment to remain quiet whilst being uncharacteristically humble about the whole thing. She still seemed somewhat embarrassed about losing her self-control so blatantly, and Gregory's cheer for her seemed to be a welcome acceptance of her silent apology.

“Now then, why don't we head back to the camp and get drunk?" Gregory asked.

“Is this the kind of getting drunk where you leave us after an hour and we wake up the next day with sore heads whilst you wake up with a sore-" Nullik began to ask before Gregory cut him off.

“Alright, alright. I promise to wake up with you guys tomorrow, and a sore head. Deal?"

As it turned out, Gregory wouldn't emerge until well into the afternoon of the next day sporting both a sore head and a sore cock. The young man was nothing if not industrious.

When he emerged, after hauling himself out of bed to the irritated groans of two very sleepy bed-mates in Algra and Janette, he put on his trunks and boots before setting out in search of cold water to drink.

He stumbled over to the water barrel outside in the camp and grabbed a metal tankard to dunk it inside and guzzle on the cold Liquid within. It felt good to feel that freshness against his parched lips, and he decided to grab a second tankard once the first was spent; immediately dumping the contents over his head.

When the water cleared out of his vision, he found that he was not alone. ULf was stood beside him looking just as world-weary as he was. He'd seen what Gregory had done and decided that it was the very thing to start off his day. Although he opted to go the reverse route of dumping the water over his head before going in and drinking a fresh cup.

“Mornin'," Gregory's voice cracked a lot Less than he thought it would.

“Ug," ULf nodded politely enough, but words weren't exactly to be found in his repertoire just then.

Gregory nodded at the sentiment and went in for more water.

After about three cups each, they both moved on wobbly Legs to sit down by the camp fire. Valise was the only one of his inner circle who was awake and about. She sat there on one of the felled logs tending the fire and seeing to a stew made from the remains of the previous night's selection of roasted meats.

“Good morning, master. Are you feeling well enough for dinner yet?" she asked.

"I don't think so, Valise." Gregory smelled the stew and turned a few shades greener at the idea of consuming food just then. If she hadn't been an excellent cook he might have turned almost orcish in colour.

“We need to celebrate less." ULf had finally regained the power of speech, and nursed his pounding head with his hand.