Life is Hard

"Boy, watch close, as I'm going to show you once. Your father will guide the hog through the slat there." Gorzoc pointed to a small side door next to the one that Jukzuk left through.

"The trick is killing it before it knows it..." Gorzoc grunted, and pointed Xa'Gun to stand to the side to watch, as he moved to the side in anticipation.

Gorzoc took his stance raising the Axe high overhead. Xa'Gun watched as the Executioner Axe paused overhead. He marveled at how it was so steady. It did not waiver, nor look like it held weight despite its massive appearance.

It wasn't before long, some huffs and snorts were heard before a large reddish colored hog entered through the slatted door. After it fully entered into inside, it was then that Gorzoc brought down the axe.

Xa'Gun watched as the hog's head was cleanly severed, and rolled slightly. The Hog's body dropped soon after, and blood gushed from the neck.

"The big thing to remember is to chop right behind the skull and before the shoulder. You'd mess up bad if your axe bites into that thick meat there. You may not cut through, and you would only serve to cause the hog to suffer... This ruins the meat, boy. Remember to never play with your food, prey... Or enemies... Always kill them swiftly..." Gorzoc put his axe back on the wall. He then moved over to the decapitated hog, as he spoke. He reached up and pulled down to chains with hooks. He used these chains with hooks to piece into the back legs of the hog.

"Boy, collect me some of that wire over there. I need to make sure while We have him in the air, he won't fall down."

Xa'Gun saw the wire he pointed too, and provided it, as Gorzoc showed Xa'Gun how to raise the hog into the air. With the chains attached to the room, Gorzoc was able to move the hog to a different spot.

Gorzoc placed a large washbasin under the hog as the blood continued to pour out.

"No part should be wasted, boy, even blood has use." Gorzoc watched the basin fill.

Jukzuk's voice echoed, "You ready for the next one?"

"Count thirty, and send it in."

A loud grunt was heard from outside, confirming that Jukzuk understood.

Gorzoc went to the wall and picked up the axe again. This time he walked to Xa'Gun and put it into his hands.

"Alright, boy... Your turn. Know that I'm being harsh, as the smell of blood has permeated this area. You must kill this next hog quickly. A hog's nose is more powerful than any wolf or orc could ever dream to be... The shaman's magics can only do so much, so when it enters... Bring down the axe." Gorzoc finished, as he pointed to the spot he was previously, only minutes before.

Xa'Gun walked past Gorzoc as he took the large axe from his hands. The weight of it brought his hands lower than expected. This was an immense axe. It looked musth larger up close than in the hands of Gorzoc. He stepped to the spot that Gorzoc had earlier.

He tightened his grip around the axe's handle, and raised it overhead, as he saw before.

Gorzoc, to the side, noticed the stance, and a slight smirk showed on his face. Just as he was told, the boy seemed to have good eyes. He mimicked his stance near perfectly... But what about the swing. With the smirk on his lips, Gorzoc narrowed his eyes in wait... Soon, he would know if this boy would be worth his time.

Xa'Gun felt his heart speed up. It's rhythmic beating sound increasing to almost drowning out the incoming sounds of the next hog. It's snorts, puffing, and huffing of air, and a squeal could be heard signally that it would be soon before it emerged from the slate, like the one before.

Time seemed to slowly wind, as Xa'Gun's grip ever tightened on the old handle of the executioner axe in his hands, as it wobbled in the air overhead. Sweat beaded up on his forehead; not from exhaust, but from nervousness.

Xa'Gun saw how easy it was for Gorzoc. He almost didn't pay mind, as he had seen killing before... But now that the axe was in his hand...

The hog emerged, as the swine gazed on its surroundings and the smell of what last occurred made itself known to the animal.

Xa'Gun, in that moment, looked into the inky black eyes of the creature. He felt at that moment the creature realized its impending demise.

"SHINK"

Xa'Gun heaved in and out. His hands still gripped the handle...

The hog's head separated in the same arc as the last.

As Xa'Gun heaved, he watched the eyes of the hog dull. It was the same look as the eyes of the man he killed. It was Death that claimed it. That dull gaze, as if its eyes were looking into the next world...

"Good show, boy!" Xa'Gun heard the booming voice of Gorzoc over his roaring heart. Watching the blood pumping out of the hog in beats. Gush... Gush... Gush... Xa'Gun blinked hard several times and felt a sour taste rise in his throat.

"Don't get soft on me now boy... Re-rack the axe, and put that hog on chains! We're wasting blood here!" Gorzoc's voice changed from praise to a commanding tone.

Xa'Gun shook his head a few times and did as instructed.

Setting up the hog to bleed out next to the last one...

The next hog to come through was a blur to Xa'Gun. He only remembered raising the axe and lowering the axe... The in-between seemed to be missed, but the job was done all the same.

Jukzuk opened the door and came back in... "How're you doing there, Gun-Gun?" He asked with a touch of tenderness in his voice.

"You spoil him too much, I told you. He's fine." Gorzoc slapped Xa'Gun on the shoulder.

Xa'Gun felt a sour taste rush to his mouth which his swallowed back down, as he became a shade paler.

Jukzuk sighed, as he knew the next part was going to be even harder on Xa'Gun... But it was necessary... Life was hard, thus the Orc had to be harder.