It was dusk by the time they reached it, that dreamlike half-light when the sky was still light but the world was shadowed. The younger of the two had lit his torch sometime during the trek, illuminating the motley group as they finally reached their destination. She had tried to keep a neutral expression throughout the trip, unwilling to give them any guesses as to what she was thinking, but it was difficult to do so when she got her first look at the fortress. Liirah hesitated for a moment to stare up at the ramparts, causing the she-orc behind her to give her an irate glare. Having never seen the interior of an orcish camp, she had almost been looking forward to this (looming threat of a gorey death aside), but she hadn't known orcs were capable of construction of this magnitude. She had expected a few ramshackle huts or a half-furnished cave, not a town that could rival some human settlements.<br/><br/>As the sentries hailed them and raised the heavy portcullis to allow them in, Liirah found herself missing her crossbow all the more. Though there were few orcs about beyond the sentries, the presence of a human in their midst didn't go unnoticed. She was scrutinized by a dozen sets of eyes, and though she kept up her steel-faced demeanor, a trickle of sweat was running down her brow, There were no friendly faces here.<br/><br/>Despite the apprehension gripping her, she couldn't stop herself from looking about in fascination as they walked through the village. The houses were built into the landscape, rather than flatten it, giving the place a gently-sweeping, organic feel. There was still a distinct flavor of "orc" to the place, whether that was in the animal pelts curing on racks or the metal sconces and braziers lighting the path, but it was nothing like she had expected. She couldn't see much beyond the torchlight, but for a moment, her curiosity outweighed her nervousness.<br/><br/>Uncertainty began to reassert itself as they came to a larger home, however. The presence of armed guards suggested their chief or another orc of importance dwelled within, and she gulped quietly, wondering if the moment of truth was nigh. Words were exchanged, and she leaned over to try and garner a translation, but she couldn't translate much. From their body language, though, and the way the guard shook his head, it seemed she wasn't meeting the chief just yet. She let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, feeling a slight surge of relief, even as she knew it would mean she was going to be stuck here a while longer. When they led her off in another direction, she hesitated, glancing at her "guides" suspiciously. "Where are we going--uh, ega der?" They seemed more inclined to show rather than tell, however, and so after a prod from the she-orc she grudgingly allowed herself to be herded down the trail. She heard the sounds of rushing water before she saw the falls, and as they entered a clearing, she looked up at the rocky overhang and the water coursing down it. The terrain sloped up sharply before them, forming a natural cove behind the village and obscuring the pool at the waterfall's base. It tossed up a fine film of mist to float across the surface of the water, and under the light of the moon, the place was like something out of a dream. Regardless of what dwelled within its shadows, these woods were beautiful--that much was undeniable.<br/><br/>She gave the guard a somewhat-dubious look as he explained what she was to do. His Common was better than he had initially let on, making her wonder if he typically acted as translator. Meeting the chief unarmed, that was understandable. But they expected her to dress up in orcish clothing for it? She bristled at that. The insignia on her jerkin was more than just a bit of thread, it was the symbol of her cause. The idea of facing the chief without that bit of psychological armor unsettled her more than she cared to admit.<br/><br/>She knew she was in no position to argue it, however. Her mentor's wellbeing outweighed her own pride, and if she had to dress up like them to get on the chief's good side, then so be it. She huffed quietly, nodding her acquiescence. As the she-orc lit the nearby torches, setting orange light dancing across the rippling water, she unbuckled the knife from her belt and dropped it on the grass, then moved to begin untying her jerkin. After a moment, however, she glanced back over her shoulder to the guard, raising an eyebrow as she noticed he was still standing there. "Some privacy, if you don't mind?" she asked, a slight flush growing in her cheeks. Humans tended to be a bit more prudish than orcs when it came to disrobing.