Making Camp in the Forest – 3B-HH

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 other injuries aside from Ursa’s arms?” He asked before most of them could mount up.

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

“Do you two 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.

“I’m fine, your heal did the job.” Ursa added.

“Alright, I’ll leave it to you.” Kaylen nodded and then vaulted into the saddle once more.

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.

“Privacy for me, or from me?” He asked with a chuckle.

“Both, I guess. 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?”

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 closer to your size, Alanthea may be interested in getting closer to her ‘master’.” She nodded towards where the healer was still attending to his sister at one end of the camp.

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. I’d be happy to bunk with you, Alayni.”

“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, 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.

“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 while she suggested I might keep Alanthea company, I figured we probably aren’t ready for that kind of thing just yet, so Alayni 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 Alayni volunteered to share with you?” His sister asked, quirking an eyebrow.

“She did, in fact.”

“Well, I can’t say I’m 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 halfling.” She replied.

“Have you determined who is taking second watch?”

“The halfling.” She said simply.

“How about third watch?”

The half-giant shrugged, “Ask Alayni.”

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. “I still think you should have Alanthea take a look at your arms at some point.”

“I’m fine. My skin is pretty thick.”

“Well, people are doubling up for warmth. If you’d like to do the same, you can set up your bedroll next to mine once you wake Alayni for her watch, if you want.”

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

“Alright, just try not to wake me, I guess. 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 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.

“I’ve held one on my lap.” He reminded her with a teasing smile. “Alas, sleeping is probably all we’re going to do tonight.”

She blushed, then smiled 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. “We might have time for a little more than just sleeping.” She whispered, “If we were more isolated, maybe we could do more, but as it is I doubt we’ll get up to anything too intimate with the others resting just a few yards away.”

Kaylen nodded, and wrapped his arm around her, stroking up and down her back.

Alayni’s smile broadened, and let her own hand smooth across his chest, “Why don’t you kiss me?” She suggested, her breath hot on his face.

He met her halfway, as she brought her lips to his. He tightened his grip around her torso, squashing her breasts against his side, then finally pulled back to look into her eyes, which were sparkling with a hint of arousal. “You have strong hands for a mage.” She murmured.

“I’m glad you approve.” He said simply, as she laid her head on his shoulder and shifted to make herself comfortable.

“I think I could sleep just like this.” She added.

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

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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