A meal with the ladies

You're glad that Pure Land seems to boost your strength, even when you're human. Carrying a pot of water like this across town would have exhausted you before, but you're not even breathing hard by the time you get back to the barracks. You take a deep breath, hoping it's not a bloodbath on the other side. Opening the door, you're welcomed by the sight of...nothing different from when you left. Well, it's better than a crime scene. "I take it your talk went good?" You cross the room to the fireplace, gathering wood to set alight.

"Welcome back, Dusk. Everything went swimmingly." Kara's voice has returned to its usual tones. So she's not trying to be crazy right now. Good.

A glance at Camilla shows she won't meet your gaze. I wonder if she told Kara about her pregnancy... "Well, now that the hornet hive is taken care of, any other big threats I should be aware of since you're on bedrest, Cap?"

"...you know, goblins, therians, slimes, the usual..." She sounds a bit apathetic, as if she's thinking about something else.

Kara picks up where Camilla leaves off. "We haven't had to deal with them for a while, but we're warned not to cross the river, just in case."

You recall crossing the river when you went to the hornet hive, nodding. "So the darkie territory is on the other side of the river?" The room remains silent. "Cap?"

She snaps to attention. "Uh, yeah. That's not wrong. Monsters kind of tend to pop up nearly anywhere, though. That's doubly true in recent months, from what my brother's told me." She takes a breath. "Hey Kara, there's something else we should probably tell you..."

"Oh?"

You nod to Camilla, encouraging her to spill what should be the final secret.

"I...Dusk and I had sex last night...and...I'm pregnant." She pauses to see Kara's lack of reaction before continuing. "According to him, the baby will come in a month."

You squint. Something seems off with that statement, but you can't recall what that is. "It was an accident, and I plan to help out however I can."

"Have you told Gilford about it?" Kara sets down her knife, a thoughtful look on her face, but she still doesn't turn to you or Camilla.

"Not yet. I was going to tell him tomorrow." You're still taken aback by how timid Camilla appears here.

"That won't do. If your child will come in a month, you're already at least a week along for a normal pregnancy. And I don't doubt that an accelerated pregnancy has some other consequences that Gilford will be able to help with. Would you mind getting him now, Dusk?" Kara turns to you, still tending the fledgling fire.

"Uh, I don't think he likes be very much." You rub the back of your head, not looking forward to meeting him again. "But since Cap is on bedrest, I guess I'll go." You stand from your crouching position.

"Private, keep tending that fire. Gilford can wait till morning." Camilla stares at you, seemingly unwilling to be left alone again.

"Cammy, he should know sooner rather tha-"

"I don't care. I'll talk to Gilford myself tomorrow." It's weird to have the captain defend you instead of antagonizing you. "Dusk is staying here."

You glance between them, unsure which one to listen to. Fortunately, the argument seems settled as Kara responds. "I can't **** you, so tomorrow it is. But we're going first thing in the morning, okay?"

Camilla visibly slacks. "Fine."

You return to the fire, now stoking it with another stick. I guess that's settled... "So...any pain, Cap? I should be able to heal up your remaining injuries since we're safe, now."

"More exhaustion, than anything, but I'll welcome the healing. My chest still hurts..." She suddenly realizes the possible implication and glares at you.

You raise your hands in surrender as you move over to the bed. "I know, I know, no touching that's not necessary." You sit next to her, scooting back so that you can easily reach her back. "Don't hate me for this." You slip the shoulder of her shirt down and around her own shoulder, giving you a bit of a better view of her back. You rub your hand over the clear scar on her back, just over her heart. ...should I tell her? Snapping yourself out of it, you drop your polymorph and start healing her, a soft glow emanating from your hands.

A sigh of relaxation escapes your captain's lips. Her shoulders slack and she leans forward a bit. "Ahh...."

It feels a bit different from before. Now, you feel a sort of resonance in her that's taken root, centered in her heart. I guess that's my feather... Wait, what's this? Something's almost...tugging at you... You follow the sensation, but shortly come to a halt, as if whatever path is there hasn't been laid, yet.

"Is something wrong?" You're pulled out of your stupor by Camilla pulling up her sleeve. "You've been at that spot for a while."

"Yeah, sorry. Just thinking, is all. Do you need me to look at your chest, or is that too forward?" You chuckle.

She rolls her eyes. "I'll be fine, pervert."

"Should I be worried that you're getting so close?" Kara scoops up some chopped greens and dumps them in the pot. Even without her taking an intimidating tone, you still fear her from her earlier outburst.

"N-no! Everything's fine. I have no intention of getting in between whatever relationship you two decide to have." You wave your hands in front of you.

The blond giggles as your brunette companion sets her hand on your knee. "Stop bullying him, Kara. That's my job."

"Hey, why do I have to be bullied by anyone?" The question brings more giggling from both of the women.

Before long, Kara's stew has finished, and she pours it into wooden bowls taken from Camilla's cupboard. It comprises of some ham and pig's blood mixed in with carrots, beets, and a handful of other, unrecognizable 'greens'. You take your first spoonful and almost fall in love with the taste. It's not quite like anything you'd imagined back on Earth.

You bend down and whisper in your captain's ear as she and her maybe-girlfriend sit at the table. "If you don't marry her, I will. This soup alone to die for."

Apparently Kara heard you, since she starts giggling. "I'll take it as a compliment."

"You'd reconsider when you've seen her crazy side as often as I have."

"Crazy, now? Is it crazy to want to keep you alive?" Kara tilts her head, a sadistic grin on her face with her eyes closed.

"I'm not going to dignify that with a response. Anyway, Dusk, it seems with my new class you'll need to teach me a couple things regarding magic."

You cock your head. "Last I checked, you knew more than I did on the subject. What happened to all that knowledge your brother stuffed in your head?"

"He knows basic elemental magic and magic theory. He's never once cast a healing spell before. Besides, he's not the one I'm supposedly getting this power from." She doesn't even turn around to look at you when she says it.

You glance to Kara, who is staring at you. "Well, someone says you're on bedrest, and I'm not gonna be going against that until at least tomorrow, after we talk to Gilford." You receive a satisfied nod from your aggressor.

"Good. And we can test some of the limits of your powers while we're at it."

Limits? Huh, I didn't really think about limits... I still haven't figured out Pure Land's range, and polymorph doesn't seem to have a limit either...

"You're thinking again."

"Oh come on! You're not even looking at me!"

She and Kara giggle.