Work Text:
Being the daughter of a general and his right hand was supposed to set someone up for a good life. An easy life handed to them on a silver platter. But things like that don’t happen in Beltry, not anymore. From what Eko had seen this place was nothing but a scorched hellscape. She couldn’t understand her mother looking at the horizon like it held the world together. Her mother was like that looking at the rocks, the sand, or the shattered earth that was what remained of the city. It was always the same, a peaceful smile like a love sick teenager with her first crush. Her tan orange skin looked similar to the sandstone surrounding them, Long light brown hair pulled back into a loose braid with a moon clasp holding it together. Unbecoming for a 15-foot earth giant and one of the main hitters on Gryntha’s defense. Although it was much more shameful that she took a leave from the military in a time of war to raise a child, but thats who Camila Sol was, strong, effective, an asset to the army, but most importantly a kind and loving person and mother. Eko’s best nights were watching the sun set over the horizon growing from the blinding red to the deep purple that stained her skin sitting on her mothers thigh while calloused fingers brushed through her hair braiding it like she did so often. Camila always said she looked just like her father, like the sunset.
Eko only saw her father a few times but he left a lasting impact. Losing a mountain of muscle was difficult but could be recovered with enough barely trained foot soldiers, the loss of a general could not be compensated by quantity. He was made to continue serving only seeing his lovely wife and daughter when supply runs and retreats were made. This tended to be every two to 5 years which could have never been long enough. It still was all they had. The march of the military back to Beltry was bitter sweet, always full of families waiting to see if their loved one had made it back. Golaith Soldiers clad in stone and stained red adamantite amour, the color of the armor blending in with the dried blood caked onto them. A group of foot soldiers in the middle surrounded by people with rock encrusted skin, helmets to cover their eyes showing no emotion. Towering well over 8 feet tall there was no way to see the general until many of the lesser soldiers departed to greet their families before returning to business. Families lingered far after those left, the mood quickly turned sour with growing realization. The remaining gathering of highly ranked soldiers and captains split to let out someone special, The Penumbra, walking with a solemn brow and a purpose. He was an eight foot orc with deep purple skin and two tusks sprouting from his bottom lip, wrinkles line his face showing experience, pure black hair fell loose in little waves around his head with a single braid hanging over his left ear and a small golden sun hanging from it. Aside from his soldiers, he was never seen wearing his helmet exposing his far too expressive eyes already watering from what was to come.
Walking up to a family taking the woman's forearm and holding it gently, you can see lips move but no sound seemed to escape until the woman's hand flew to her mouth and gentle sobs spilt out. The Penumbra cried, cried along with many families that day, too many to count, but he cried every time.
Eko knew this routine and she had seen it many times before. Although to her, the all mighty general of the army was not known as The Penumbra, to her he was simply Dad. After a long while all the families tended, soldiers and captains alike dispersed to their jobs and families it was time for The Penumbra's, or dads favorite part. Wiping the last tears from his eyes and taking a deep breath of the city air he had so longed for he turned to Eko and Camilla patiently sitting just outside of the whole debacle. An all familiar smile warmed his face into something she was far more familiar with, smile lines cracking his face corners of his mouth fighting with the tusks. Dad ran, he ran towards Eko and towards mom, despite his young daughter already being at his shoulders, he picked Eko up in a tight hug swinging her around for a moment before walking over to Camilla who picked them both up cradling her husband she hadn't seen in far too long. Theros was short by gryntha standards, being an orc being able to be held by your wife was never something he would complain about.
The evening was lovely sitting in the lovely house they had, crumbling walls and scorch marks lined the outside the inside full of random patch jobs and the decorations and clothes they had. They gathered around the fireplace to warm themselves on a chilling winter night. Theros pulled out his Ocarina and began playing an all familiar tune that Camilla sang to Eko every night. They were home and it felt complete once again.
Camilla Sol, Theros Penumbra, and Eko together like it always should be, She drifted off to sleep.