Making Camp in the Forest – 3B-EW

Chapter 3 – Getting Underway (continued)

“We might as well keep going.” Kaylen decided, “And if we find a good camp site we can stop, otherwise we should probably try to reach the village if we can.”

They all agreed as they returned to the horses, “Any injuries we need to consider?” 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.

“Do you want to have Alanthea take a look at you once we’re stopped?” He continued.

“I should be okay, but it doesn’t hurt to let her look.” She agreed.

Kaylen nodded and then vaulted into the saddle of his mare once more.

With the sun set, and the sky shrouded by the tree canopy, the light was fading quickly. But Talindra 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.

“There is a nook around this side of the boulder where you could have privacy, Kaylen.” Talindra pointed to an area where the boulder was cracked and the earth had mounded up providing a low barrier to block line of sight of someone laying down, looking much more feminine out of her armor and with her braid uncoiled from around her head and hanging down to her knees even though she still wore her sword belt with her unstrung bow and quiver hanging from it as well. “Though it would be less cramped if some of us are willing to share space and warmth.”

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

“If we’re going to be sharing, I wouldn’t mind sleeping next to you, Kaylen.” The half-elf offered.

The green-eyed elf blushed as she nodded and made a little bow. “I will leave you to settle things together. I was going to suggest Alanthea might be amenable to sharing with her ‘master’. I suppose I will keep Dinnae company.” She gestured to where the ****-girl was sitting nearby.

Kaylen sighed and shook his head, “Don’t you encourage her too. I don’t know if it’s a good idea to indulge that interaction. Vesili, you and I can share.” Kaylen turned to address the half-elf. “Just gather your things, I’ll meet you over there.”

“Sure, and thanks, Kaylen.” She turned away to grab her bedroll from where she’d set it earlier.

“Of course.” Kaylen replied, 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 Talindra, if you and Vesili are together.”

“I hope you two are comfortable.” He said, earning a nod in return. Then he turned as Talindra approached with her bedroll.

The green-eyed elf set her bedroll down. “I’ll look after her.”

Kaylen nodded, and shortly moved on 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 standing there.

Alanthea turned, shifting to the side to look up at Kaylen, 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, but sister or no he couldn’t deny his appreciation for the glimpse he’d gotten of his sister. “We’ve seen each other before, though admittedly we were much smaller and you had a much less impressive physique at the time.” He pointed out.

“She is sore, and I was massaging her muscles.” Alanthea explained, “Which are quite impressive, I agree.”

“Yeah, I remember playing around as kids.” His sister acknowledged. “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.

“You know.” Kaylen said, turning back towards the two women, “If we’re going to be traveling together, we should probably get used to seeing a bit of skin now and then. It’s bound to happen, but doesn’t have to mean anything, right?” He met her gaze as he deliberately sat down in her line of sight. “It’s not like you have anything to be ashamed of either.”

She sighed, and her body relaxed somewhat. “You’re right. You surprised me, is all. Look your fill, I guess. I trust that you don’t mean anything unbrotherly by it.”

He glanced up at Alanthea briefly as she met his gaze and smiled shyly before returning 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 Lyria’s ribs, but it didn’t look very fresh, so he guessed it must have been from sparring before they’d met up that morning.

“Talindra 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, and while she suggested I might keep Alanthea company, I figured we probably aren’t ready for that kind of thing just yet, so Vesili will be with me and you two can bunk together if you’re comfortable with that. I haven’t spoken to Ursa yet, but she seems to run a little hot, so maybe she won’t need the companionship.”

“You are right, as much as I am enjoying our relationship, I do not think I would be comfortable sharing so soon.” Alanthea agreed.

“I assume you invited Vesili to share with you?” She asked, quirking an eyebrow.

“She volunteered, in point of fact.”

“Ah, well, I’m not terribly surprised.” She said, letting her breath out in a groan as Alanthea bore down on a particularly tense section of her back.

“Well, I should be speaking with the others. You know where to find me if you need me.” He added, getting back to his feet, and leaving the two human women 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.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” He asked.

“I didn’t wish to interrupt you and the elf.” She replied.

“Have you determined who is taking second watch?”

“The elf.” She said simply.

“How about third watch?”

The half-giant shrugged, “Ask Lynn.”

Kaylen chuckled, “I guess I’ll do that. Anything I can do for you before I turn in?”

“Actually, there is something I’ve been meaning to say.” Ursa said as she turned to face him. “I’m sorry I got upset when you brought Dinnae to the group.”

“I’m not mad at you for sharing your concerns.” He replied.

“Maybe so, but Vesili is right, and I shouldn’t have questioned you so fiercely, and certainly not in front of the others like I did.”

“Just so long as you respect my final decision, we’ll be fine.”

Ursa nodded, “That is fair, I will endeavor to be less confrontational in the future.”

“Sounds good, though you should probably apologize to Dinnae as well.”

“I did earlier.” She acknowledged.

“Alright.” Kaylen got to his feet and dusted off his trousers. “Well, people are doubling up for warmth. If you’d like to do the same, you can set up your bedroll next to one of the others, if you want.”

“I should be fine, but I’ll keep that in mind, if there’s room.”

“Alright. And good luck.” He said before ducking back under the tarp canopy, and making his way to the nook formed by the crack in the boulder.

There he found Vesili with her boots and cloak off, her shoulder-length black hair unbound as she ran a comb through it, and a small bundle of her things next to her bedroll. There was no sign of her weapon, and he assumed she kept it on hand even when sleeping. She looked up 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 half-elf alternated watching him and averting her gaze.

Once he’d laid down, she said, “Do you… I’m a little chilled.” As she put away her comb and moved to lay down next to him.

“If you want to move close, you can simply do so.” He assured her.

Vesili blushed, and shifted into his side, gathering her blankets atop his, “This is a little odd for me. I’m not used to touching.”

“Not of your own volition, I presume?” He asked, wrapping one arm loosely around her as she nestled into his side, her head on his arm.

She tilted her head up to look at him, “You uh… know about that?”

“I guessed. I noticed a few things, like you rubbing your arm at the slavers.”

She looked away. “That’s where my **** mark was. I was never ****. Just… traded affection for favors and better treatment.” She assured him, then sighed softly. “This feels right with you. I’m still a little unsettled, but I want to get used to this kind of thing with you.”

Kaylen was surprised by that, “I didn’t realize I’d made that good of an impression.”

“You have.” She nodded, a movement he felt more than saw. “And just so you know, I got it removed. My past shouldn’t cause you any problems.”

Kaylen smiled, looking down at the top of her head, combing his fingers through her hair in a way that made her shiver as she tilted her chin up to meet his gaze. “I wasn’t worried, but that’s good to know. Now that you’re with us, we will protect you if anyone from your past catches up to you.” He assured her. “I’ll try to be patient with you, and move at your pace, even if I might desire to progress things faster.”

“Thank you.” She said, her voice thick with emotion. “There’s probably not a lot more we can do here with the others so close.” She added after a moment.

“We can if we’re quiet.” He whispered as he placed a finger beneath her chin. Her moist violet eyes widened as he drew her into a gentle kiss, just a feather soft caress of his lips against hers before he pulled back an inch, watched as her pink tongue ventured out to sample his lingering taste, then she shifted closer and kissed him back this time, breathing in deeply through her nose. He held her tightly as she kissed him, still keeping it chaste, but matching her enthusiasm until she chose to break off.

“Holy shit. I’ve never… I’ve been kissed, but never like that!”

“Well, don’t inflate my ego too much. We can do more of that whenever you like, now let’s try to get some sleep.” He said as he pulled the blankets close around them both. Vesili laid her head back down and murmered softly against his tunic. Her body was thin and willowy, and she had a seeming fragility, but he knew her to be quite resilient.

Kaylen resisted the urge to explore further. With the others so close, there wasn’t a lot more they could do, so he allowed himself to drift off to a peaceful slumber.

Author’s Note

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