With that, Borika actually bowed to the human, and another far louder bout of cheers erupted throughout the hall. Gregory Looked down the aisles to see the doors had been flung open and quite a few of the orcs outside had come to see what in the hell was going on.

He was grateful when the shaman then moved on to begin the blessing of the next pack in line, and he apparently didn't have to speak on the matter in front of the crowd. Instead, he moved with his pack to take their seat whilst quite a few orcish gazes followed him with intense curiosity. He directed his pack toward the middle of one of the long tables, hoping to disappear into the more crowded area once everyone's attention was set on the provings again. They found a seat, and several orcs actually stood up to allow them to sit together. This didn't seem like any special treatment for Gregory. It was more like simple etiquette for a newly proven pack to be allowed together at their own ceremony without having to issue challenges to park their asses.

“Alright guys, do any of you maybe want to tell me what the fuck just happened?" he asked in a respectfully hushed voice once they were seated again.

“What do you mean?" Nullik asked innocently. It brought quite a few grins across the table.

"Ok, where do I start?" He took a moment of sarcastic contemplation.

“Oh, how about why the fuck we're called the Dragons now?”

“Because it's fuckin' badass." Nullik's reply came swift and with no modesty whatsoever.

“And you didn't think that your alpha might want to know we were changing our name?" Gregory resisted the urge to throw a nearby empty tankard at Nullik's head.

“We were going to ask you what you thought about it last night." Ulla rolled her eyes.

“But you were a little busy. Then you spent the day in your tent and we couldn't really get much time with you. I mean, you didn't think we'd actually want to be called the fucking Runts forever, did you? That's the name they branded us with when we started eating dirt in every proving match."

“Yeah, but... The Dragons? Aren't dragons sacred to you guys or something?"

“Not in the way you mean," Wrut spoke up.

“I have seen the way humans deal with such things. They hold up their statues of their gods, and the way they speak of them. That is not so with orcs. The First gave the world Life, and for that we are thankful to him. Dal Gahlla gave us his fire and strength, and we are thankful to him too. But we do not revere or worship them. There are no silly human rules about how to talk about them. Speak of them as you would speak of a friend, and you'll find no problems with us about it. Would you mind if some of your friends started calling themselves The Gregory Firehearts?"

“Well, no, not really. Not if they really wanted to. Although I might think they were a bit weird."

“There you have it then!" Nullik cheerfully interceded.

“We are definitely a bit weird."

Gregory laughed despite himself. "I suppose you've got me there.

Alright then, next question: Where the hell is Janette and how can I get revenge on her for getting me to put on a sex show in front of this

Lot?"

“She, and the rest of your human slaves, have been returned safely to your encampment," said Frelki.