Making Camp in the Forest – 3C-DT

Chapter 3 – Getting Underway (continued)

“We don’t know how much further we have to go to reach the village.” Kaylen decided. “So let’s continue on, but stop at the first sign of a good camp site.”

They all agreed as they returned to the horses, “Was anyone besides Janel hurt?” 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.

“Once we make camp, let Alanthea take a look at the both of you, just to be sure.” He suggested, 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.

“There’s not much privacy to be found in a camp like this.” Kaylen replied.

“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 to 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 chuckled, “Well, that’s what I get. I was going to offer myself, or suggest Dinnae, but you two have fun.” And she wandered off towards her pony to unpack her bedroll.

Kaylen saw Dinnae blush and avert her gaze and approached where she was sitting with Janel. “You heard what we were discussing.” He addressed the brown-haired **** girl. “I wasn’t going to impose so early in our relationship, considering how the relationship began.” Kaylen assured her.

The two girls both nodded. “I’m grateful.” Dinnae told him, “I do think you’re handsome, and perhaps someday we will share a bed, but I don’t know if I’m quite ready for that. Even if all we are doing is sleeping.”

“That’s what I thought. I’m not going to coerce you into such a position.” She offered a smile, and he turned to Janel. “Go ahead and have Alanthea take a look at that arm, then gather your things at the nook over there.” He gestured towards the crack in the boulder Alayni had pointed out.

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

“It wasn’t a very strong healing spell I cast on you. I just want to be sure.” He said and she nodded as he fell into step beside her.

As they approached Lyria and the priestess, the blue-eyed swordswoman 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 Janel 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, but couldn’t resist teasing her a little, “Nothing I haven’t seen before, unless you’re worried about me judging you for your impressive physique. Or are you and Alanthea getting up to something you shouldn’t?”

“I was massaging her sore muscles.” Alanthea said, not seeming to pick up on Kaylen’s teasing tone. “Which are quite impressive, I agree.”

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

“I’m not injured, but Alanthea thought I could use some relaxing to ensure I stayed limber after getting tumbled in that fight.” His sister explained, her voice thick with embarrassment.

“Hey, Sis.” Kaylen said, turning back towards her. “We’re going to be traveling and working closely together, for a while now. If we can’t handle a little skin, it’s going to make things pretty tricky.” He met her gaze, and deliberately sat down in her line of sight, while making a point not to look over her body. “It’s not like I don’t have plenty else to look at.” He added, glancing at Janel once again, who blushed, still smiling.

Lyria 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 reached down and pat her softly on the head, as 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. So Janel will be sleeping next to me, while you two, Alayni, and Danny can sort things out between you. 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.

“Don’t worry, my sister is just teasing, not judging.” Kaylen 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.

“Well, if you need anything, you know where to find me.” He added, getting back to his feet, and leaving the two human women and the kitsune 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.

“You didn’t think I should be told that?” He asked.

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

“Who is taking second watch?”

“The halfling.” She said simply.

“And third?”

The half-giant shrugged, “Ask Alayni.”

“I’ll do that. Do you need anything before I turn in?”

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

“You had valid concerns.” He replied.

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

“I don’t mind open discussion, so long as you respect my final decision.”

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

“I think that will be good. Thank you, Ursa, though you should probably apologize to Dinnae as well.”

“I did earlier.” She acknowledged.

“That’s good.” Kaylen got to his feet and dusted off his trousers. “Well, if you get cold, you can set up your bedroll next to one of the others.”

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

“Very well. Good luck, and sleep well.” 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 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. “So, what did Alanthea say after she examined you?” He asked.

“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.

“You must have really good night vision.” He observed.

She nodded, “I do. That isn’t… that’s okay, right?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

Her eyes flickered, glancing up and down his body, half-covered by his blanket. “Because I can still see you really well?”

“I don’t mind you looking. Do you mind me looking?”

She shook her head, “What about touching?”

“No, go right ahead.”

He watched her as she moved closer, laying on her side, then smoothing a hand across his torso, feeling his chest through his tunic, then carefully settling herself against his side. She laid her head on his shoulder, her ears twitching in response to his breath.

“You can touch me too.” She whispered. “Just… outside clothes for now.”

Kaylen nodded, and wrapped one hand around her, rubbing her back, while the other hand reached for her head, and ran his fingers through her scarlet hair for a moment before letting the tips of his fingers stroke along the soft fur 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. Her body was soft and limber, particularly where she had fur. After about a minute Kaylen gathered their blankets to cover them both.

Under different circumstances, Kaylen may have tried to explore a little, but with the others so close, he allowed himself to drift off to a peaceful slumber.

Author’s Note

Please vote in the poll to indicate which branches are your favorites.

https://strawpoll.com/wby5QBjLjyA