Making Camp in the Forest – 3A-DT

Chapter 3 – Getting Underway (continued)

“Let’s look for a camp site.” Kaylen decided, “There’s no point stumbling around in the dark, and one night in the forest isn’t going to hurt us.”

They all agreed as they returned to the horses, “Anyone need healing aside from Janel?” He asked before they could mount up.

“Gryla tackled me to the ground, but my armor took the impact.” Lyria explained, raising the visor of her helm.

“Then have Alanthea take a look at you both once we make camp.” He instructed, then vaulted into the saddle of his mare.

With the sun set, and the sky shrouded by the tree canopy, the light was fading quickly. But Alayni still spotted a clearing next to a leaning boulder about 30 yards off the road before full dark. They quickly moved into that partial shelter and set up some canvas tents as makeshift awnings in case of rain.

Armor started coming off as Kaylen and Ursa gathered some firewood, and Kaylen lit a fire with a muttered incantation while Alanthea watched with large avid eyes. They did what they could to ensure the light of their fire wouldn’t travel far, keeping it behind some of the canvas, with the smoke able to escape around the top of the boulder.

The girls were all choosing their spots, with Lyria’s bedroll near one end of their shelter as she motioned for Alanthea to approach. Then she sat facing away from the group as the priestess examined her for potential injuries she may not have felt earlier. Kaylen averted his gaze when the pale-haired healer had to lift Lyria’s tunic to expose her back.

“You want some privacy?” Alayni asked, having noticed him turning away.

“I would think you girls would want the privacy. Especially you, Alayni.”

Alayni sighed, “I suppose we should talk about that. The point is; if you have privacy from us, then we’ll have privacy from you. And to that end, there’s a little nook over there where the boulder is cracked.” She pointed to a spot just past where the earth had mounded up, and sure enough there was a space where if he laid down, he’d be fairly well protected from direct line of sight. Alayni had already removed her armor, and Kaylen couldn’t help but appreciate the curvy – almost plump – figure that had been revealed. She’d let her hair down as well, with her dark curls framing her dimpled face. “It might get a bit cold though. So I guess some of us might want to double up?”

“If you need a bed mate, I’m usually pretty warm.” Janel piped up, raising a hand to make sure she had Kaylen’s attention. She’d been sitting with Dinnae not too far from the fire. He guessed there wasn’t enough space to hold a private conversation in their makeshift shelter, not that any of the girls seemed bothered by that fact.

Alayni nodded, “I was going to suggest that you might like to share with me, or if you’d prefer someone a bit bigger, I noticed you and Ursa have been getting along.” She gestured towards the far end of the camp, presumably where the half-giant had gone off to. “She’s on first watch. But you two have fun.” And she wandered off towards her pony to unpack her bedroll.

“Shouldn’t I have been part of the watch decision?” Kaylen arched one eyebrow.

“You were busy. Do you want to be included next time?”

He sighed, “No, that won’t be necessary, just keep me informed. I think my dynamic with Ursa is a bit fresh at this point. Janel,” He turned to address the kitsune. “I will set up my bedroll with you after I’ve spoken with the others, and after you’ve had Alanthea look at you.”

“Very well.” She agreed, getting to her feet, and heading towards to where Alanthea was still knelt over his sister.

Kaylen then began his rounds, first heading to where Dinnae sat. “You heard what we were discussing?” He asked.

The brown-haired girl nodded. “I am fine sharing with Alayni, if you and Janel are together.”

“I’ll be near if you need anything.” He assured her, then turned as Alayni approached with her bedroll.

The brown-eyed halfling began laying out her bedroll. “I’m sure we’ll be nice and snug.” She assured him.

Kaylen nodded, and shortly moved on to where Alanthea was still knelt over his sister with Janel sitting next to them. Lyria was laying face down on her bedroll, most of her torso obscured by the priestess’s body.

“Shit, Kaylen!” Lyria said when she saw him standing there.

Alanthea turned, shifting to the side to look up at Kaylen and the kitsune, revealing what had bothered his sister so, as she lay completely topless, her arms pulled in to her sides to cover anything he might have been able to see aside from the expanse of her bare back.

Kaylen dutifully averted his gaze, though he couldn’t honestly say he was sorry for catching a glimpse of his sister. “Calm yourself, Lyria. If we can’t handle seeing some skin from time to time we’re going to have a hard time traveling together. Besides.” He turned back towards the three women, “With your physique, you have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of.”

Alanthea smiled at him, and followed his gaze back to Lyria’s bare back, “Her muscles are quite impressive, I agree. I was simply massaging some lingering soreness she was feeling.”

Janel giggled, and gave Kaylen a knowing smile when he glanced her way.

“You can at least look away.” Lyria scowled at him, but then sighed, “But you’re right, I suppose. I’m not injured, but Alanthea thought I could use some relaxing to ensure I stayed limber after getting tumbled in that fight.” She added, her voice thick with embarrassment.

Kaylen smiled and held her gaze as he deliberately sat down in her line of sight next to the red-head kitsune. “As I said; nothing to be ashamed of. If you weren’t my sister…” He trailed off, and had the decency to blush as they both glanced away from each other.

Janel blushed and averted her gaze as well when her icy-blue and red-brown eyes met Kaylen’s blue eyes.

“You’re right.” Lyria admitted, turning back towards him, her cheeks still red, “You surprised me, is all. Look your fill, I guess. I trust that you don’t mean anything unbrotherly by it.” She muttered, her gaze flitting back and forth between him and Janel, finding no judgment from either of them.

After a moment, Alanthea returned to her previous position, her agile hands working at the knots in his sister’s surprisingly toned back. He could see a light bruise along her ribs, but it didn’t look very fresh, so he guessed it must have been from sparring before they’d met up that morning.

“Alayni suggested that we would mostly feel more comfortable with the available space if we shared bedrolls and body heat. So she will be sleeping next to Dinnae, Janel will be with me, and I figure you can keep Alanthea company if she desires. I haven’t spoken to Ursa yet, but she seems to run a little hot, so maybe she won’t need the companionship.”

“I assume Janel volunteered to share with you?” His sister asked, quirking an eyebrow at the two of them.

“I…” Janel glanced between the two of them, her cheeks as red as her hair.

Kaylen chuckled, “I’m sure my sister is just teasing, not judging.” He assured the kitsune.

“I just wanted to get ahead of Alayni.” Janel muttered.

“It’s fine, Janel.” Lyria said, letting her breath out in a groan as Alanthea bore down on a particularly tense section of her back.

“Alayni did suggest Ursa might be an option as well.” Kaylen added after a moment.

“I’ve noticed you developing a bit of a rapport with Ursa.” Lyria said. “I’m surprised by how that’s turning out. It is a bit new though.”

“It is. Well, I should talk with Ursa before turning in. She’s keeping watch. You know where to find me if anything comes up.” He added, getting back to his feet, and leaving the two human women and the kitsune to their healing.

He passed by Alayni on his way to find Ursa, and she gestured for him to stop and speak with her in that nook she’d suggested he set up his bedroll in. “I guess we should… talk?” She said, leaning against the cracked boulder.

Kaylen nodded, “I feel we need to clear the air. I know I upset you with the spell I cast at the **** auction. I didn’t mean to invade your privacy.”

Alayni sighed, meeting Kaylen’s gaze, then looking down at her hands. “I’m sorry for deceiving you.” She muttered.

“Deceiving me?” Kaylen blinked, “I don’t know what you think happened, but I didn’t perceive any of your thoughts outside of a few you were projecting unusually loudly, something about a card game?”

“Oh…” She blushed. “Yeah, that’s a technique an old partner taught me to resist mind control. Just play kepaaz in my head.”

“I can’t say how effective it would be against other forms of magic, but as I said, it was the only thing I got from you and even that only because it was loud. I was attempting not to listen in. With that said, do you want to explain what you may have deceived me about?”

With a huff, Alayni frowned. “It’s nothing serious.” She insisted. “Just that a lot of this…” She gestured to herself and swayed her hips back and forth. “Is just bravado. My flirtation, my… experience. I exaggerated it a bit.”

“Well, I won’t hold that against you. And if you like, I’ll continue to play along even though I now know the truth.”

She gave him a grateful smile. “I’d appreciate that. I do want to get to know you better, but the idea also makes me rather nervous, especially after seeing your magic in action. It really did unsettle me. I don’t… I really dislike the idea of you seeing into my head.”

“Well I promise I’ll try not to pry magically without permission.” He assured her.

“Thanks.” She stood away from the rock, seemed to hesitate a moment, then wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him.

Kaylen wrapped his arms around her, and gently rubbed up and down her back, then released her when she pulled away and started back toward where she’d set up her bedroll with Dinnae.

He found Ursa a little outside the camp, sitting on the hill that led up to the top of the boulder. “I volunteered for first watch.” The half-giant explained when he took a seat next to her.

“Alayni told me.” He informed her.

“Good.” She said simply.

“She didn’t tell me who’s taking second watch.”

“She is.” The half-giant added, glancing at him.

“Did you decide who’s third?”

The half-giant shook her head. “Ask Alayni.”

“Next time, let me know when you determine such things without my input.” He instructed.

“Of course.” She said, a hint of a blush on her cheeks.

“Alayni suggested that people could double up for warmth if necessary, even hinted that you might want to share with me, but I figured we should probably wait a little longer for something like that.”

“I should be fine.” Ursa said, not meeting his gaze.

“Well, if there’s nothing more you need from me, I guess I’ll turn in.” He said, as he got to his feet and dusted off his trousers. “You can set up your bedroll next to one of the others, if you are so inclined.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” She acknowledged.

“Good luck then.” He ducked back under the tarp canopy, and made his way to the nook formed by the crack in the boulder.

There he laid his bedroll, making sure there would be room for Janel’s before setting his staff beside it, with his knife belt and the sack with his armor next to that. Finally, he sat to remove his boots and then laid himself out on the bedroll.

Kaylen lay alone for a while, trying not to fall asleep before he could check in with Janel. Eventually, he sensed her move alongside him in the dim light. “Did Alanthea clear you?”

“She gave me a little extra healing, but said I would probably have been alright even without it.” She said softly while sitting down and taking off her boots.

She glanced at him, and he could see her eyes shining in the dark.

“How good is your night vision?” He asked.

“Um, it’s pretty good. Is that okay?”

“What do you mean, is it okay?” He asked, his brow furrowed.

Her eyes flickered, glancing up and down his body sitting in front of her. “Because I can still see you really well?”

“Do you like what you see?”

“I do.” She nodded.

“Then I don’t see a problem, look your fill.”

She smiled and blushed, “What about touching?”

“So long as I can reciprocate.” He said, holding a hand out to her.

“Oh.” She took his hand as he pulled her close, laying against his side while looking into his eyes. “Maybe just… outside clothes, for now?”

He raised his hand to her hair, “I wasn’t aiming for something you’ve got covered.” He informed her before gently stroking his fingers along the soft scarlet fur of one of her ears, something he’d wanted to do since they’d met. He was surprised by just how warm her ear was, alive beneath his touch. He felt her ear between his thumb and forefinger from base to tip, and they twitched, while Janel lay very still against him. Then he felt one of her tails thump against his thigh, the only movement she seemed to allow herself in this intimate moment.

It only took a moment for Kaylen to learn a few things about Janel’s ears. She preferred he rub them with the grain rather than against it, and as he did so she relaxed, snuggling closer against him and smoothing a hand across his torso, feeling his chest through his tunic.

After exploring her ears for a good minute, he let one hand stroke down her back, to the base of her tails. She drew in a sharp breath and held it, looking into his eyes as he continued stroking out along her softly furred tail, closing his fingers around it as it curled around his hand and wrist, her other tail coiled around his forearm, tightening as he reached the end of her first tail and slipped off the tip.

She let out the breath she’d been holding. “I didn’t realize it would feel that good.” She whispered, pressing the side of her head against his chest, her ears twitching in response to his breath.

“I’m glad you’re enjoying this.” He murmured, returning his hand to her lower back before smoothing it down over her backside.

But Janel gripped his wrist, stalling his caress.

“I’m still over your clothes.” He pointed out.

“Yeah, but I’m not quite ready for that yet.” She said shyly.

“That’s fine.” He removed his hand, and simply held her loosely against his side.

“I’m sorry.” She added, hiding her face against his shoulder.

“Don’t be, I won’t push if you’re not comfortable. I guess we should try to sleep.” She nodded, and gathered their blankets to cover them both. Her body was soft and limber, particularly where she had fur.

Kaylen wanted nothing more than to explore further, but figured he’d pushed her limits enough for one night, so he allowed himself to drift off to a peaceful slumber.

Author’s Note

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