Making Camp in the Forest – 3A-HH

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?” He asked before they could mount up.

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

“I landed under the harpy.” Vesili reminded them.

“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.” He replied, giving Alayni a meaningful look.

Alayni nodded in acknowledgement, flashing her dimples, “My thought was that 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 face. “It might get a bit cold though. So I guess some of us might want to double up?”

Kaylen glanced around the campsite, and noticed Dinnae and Vesili watching them. There wasn’t much space to hold an entirely private conversation, but they didn’t seem to be bothered by it.

“If you need a cuddle buddy, I’m certainly available.” Alayni continued after a moment. “Or, if you’d prefer someone a bit bigger, 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.”

“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, so I will set up my bedroll with you, Alayni, after I’ve spoken with the others.”

“Then I’ll get my things set up.” She flashed her dimples at him and started off towards her pony to unpack her bedroll.

Kaylen began his rounds, first heading to where Dinnae sat a little ways from Vesili. “You heard what we were discussing?” He asked.

Both girls nodded, “I’ll keep Danny warm while you’re sharing with Alayni, if that’s what you’re concerned about.” The violet-eyed half-elf said looking up at him, causing Kaylen’s indentured servant to blush.

Kaylen nodded, “Don’t forget to have Alanthea check you for injuries.” He reminded the half-elf.

“She looks a bit busy with Lyria at the moment.” She said, getting to her feet. “But I’ll go talk to her.”

“Alright.” He said, and the two of them moved closer to where Alanthea was still knelt over his sister, who 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 and Vesili standing there.

Alanthea turned, shifting to the side to look up at Kaylen and the half-elf, 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 two 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.”

Vesili hid her smirk behind her hand as she sat down a short distance away from the two girls, meeting Kaylen’s gaze 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 black-haired half-elf. “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.

“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 Vesili, 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 Vesili will be sleeping next to Dinnae, and I figure you can keep Alanthea company if she desires.” The half-elf nodded to confirm Kaylen’s explanation. “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 Alayni volunteered to share with you?” His sister asked, quirking an eyebrow.

“Actually, yes. She suggested Ursa as an option, but also offered herself.

“I’ve noticed you developing a bit of a rapport with Ursa.” She said, letting her breath out in a groan as Alanthea bore down on a particularly tense section of her back. “I’m surprised by how that’s turning out. It is a bit new though.”

“Definitely unexpected.” Vesili agreed.

“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 half-elf to their healing.

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. “I’m sleeping by Alayni for now, but you can trade with her when you wake her for her watch, if you are so inclined.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, if there’s room.” 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 found Alayni with her knife belt and attached sling bullet bag laid next to her bedroll. The woman herself was sitting crosslegged atop her blanket, running a comb through her unruly brown curls. She appeared to be wearing nothing but a long sleeveless shift that covered her down past her knees, but left her freckled arms bare. She flashed her dimples up at him when he approached with his bedroll, laying it adjacent to hers 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 as the halfling watched him with large brown eyes.

“You ever slept with a halfling before?” She asked when he was down to his tunic.

“You’ll be my first.” He told her, “And if all you want to do is sleep, I’m okay with that.”

She gave a grateful smile, and crawled next to him as he laid on his side on his bedroll.

Kaylen opened his arms so she could lay against him, her hands folded on his chest and her chin propped up on her hands. “I want to earn your trust.” He told her.

“I may have been a little unsettled, but I feel I’ve seen enough of you to know I can trust you at least this far. If we were more isolated, far away from anyone who could come to my aid, I might be a little more nervous, but somehow I doubt we’ll get up to anything too intimate with the others resting just a few yards away.”

Kaylen nodded, and loosely wrapped his arm around her lower back. “I’ll leave it up to you.”

That seemed to be the right answer, as she grinned, and climbed directly on top of him, laying down on his torso with her face just in front of his and her feet down by his knees. “I’m sure we’ll get up to more intimate activities another time, perhaps when we have more privacy, but for now, how about we just cuddle?”

“Alright.” He grabbed her blanket, and draped it over her then did the same with his larger blanket, covering them both but leaving her head and his head and shoulders exposed. “Sleep well.”

Kaylen wanted nothing more than to explore further, but figured now wasn’t the time to push her limits, so he allowed himself to drift off to a peaceful slumber.

Author’s Note

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