The Night Watch

Clara sat by the fire, her eyes scanning the clearing every now and then, aware and alert for any sign of trouble. Her wards should be more than enough to keep any beast's away, but there were still people who might try to waylay a group of travelers.

Her eyes fell over the forms of her sleeping companions. The two women were soundly asleep, still close together, although Roana had rolled to her other side and was now snoring softly. Alan was a bit further away, closer to Clara, and she found herself watching his sleeping face. His mouth was slightly open, and his brow would twitch every now and then.

The elf found herself smiling slightly. She had met the adventurer two summers ago, on a job. She had recently joined the Guild after leaving her home in the forestlands and hadn't been bold enough to ask to join a party, so she took jobs whenever someone needed one more hand.

They been asked to track down and capture a group of bandits, who had a made a hideout in the swamps near the southern coast. The mission's leader, Gregor, had been a brute, and marched them through the swamps swinging his axe and shouting challenges. Clara had been certain the man would attract every beast and monster for a league, but in the end the real problem was that the bandits had quickly packed their camp and fled. Gregor had spat on the ground and cursed their cowardice, but that was when Alan had spoken up.

"They can't have gotten far, looks they got greedy and tried to bring most of their loot with them. Maybe we should split up and try and catch 'em?"

Clara had seen the crushed reeds and fresh mud leading to the west, and knew that they should all go that way, but Alan quickly added, "Why don't you and Ned head a ways east, and the three of us can check to the west?"

Gregor eyed the smaller man before trudging off with one of their companions. The three remaining adventurers waited for a moment before Alan turned to her. "I saw you checking the camp, real ranger stuff, and even I can tell they started out this way."

She had nodded, glad that he had noticed, and at his insistence had taken the lead, Alan and their remaining companion, a mage, doing their best to stay quiet. They had quickly caught up to the bandits, who had run afoul of a Bog Troll. Alan had suggested letting the Troll whittle the bandits down then had the mage destroy it with an explosion spell. With only two bandits left, Alan actually convinced them to surrender, saying he'd back them claiming they were pressed into service by the others for a lighter sentence, and just like that the quest was complete.

After that they'd fallen into an easy partnership. Alan could handle the talking and always made sure her skills were considered. He'd share the spoils of their jobs fairly, made sure there was time to rest between jobs, and didn't take jobs they couldn't handle out of misplaced pride or patriotism. He'd really be an ideal party leader if he could stop getting so distracted by women. That's why she had decided she was alright with helping him out with his urges, and it looked like their new party members felt the same.

Elves were a long-lived species and ensured that their population never ballooned too high. Due to this, her people didn't have a sex drive nearly as high as other species and could often be surprised at their behaviors. Clara especially had wanted to leave any thoughts of breeding and sex behind when she left the Elven Forestlands, but what she had done with Alan, and what she had watched him do with Roana and Afgora, did make her feel a pleasant heat in her chest...and between her legs.

She tried to put those thoughts aside and focus on her watch. It wouldn't be long before she would need to wake Alan to relieve her. She wished she was bold enough to ask for a different kind of "relief," but knowing Alan, he'd recognize where her she could be put to good use soon.