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</div><br/><br/>It’s delightful when a barren, rock-strewn tundra is the most interesting thing you had seen in days (aside from that which shall not be mentioned), but there it was. Boulders and shrubs, and more boulders and shrubs, were the visual stimulus to interrupt their grass-encompassed journey. That, and the pitiful palisade of wood and earth that offered the most shelter they had seen in nearly half a week. There were not too many structures here; crude buildings made of unhewn rocks and mud, and a few structures shored with wood, were all that they could boast.<br/><br/>But they had water.<br/><br/>Captain Holger was quick to shout orders to his team, and for the first time since they began, Will Riot gazed down at his mount in remorse. He would miss having something else to carry his gear, and he had just started to get his 'saddle' and not ache every time he climbed in and out of the contraption. But the animal was not his, and he had been allowed its use for a few days. He should be grateful.<br/><br/>He was just tired.<br/><br/>As he pulled over to the side to allow the line of marching soldiers to pass into the Outpost, he saw his companions in the back. The three girls, and Red. Karin had been quiet the last few days, and with her being their healer it was problematic, but it wasn’t<i>his </i>problem to deal with. If their Captain saw fit to trade her out for another, it would be his decision. Worst case scenario would be that they didn’t have a healer. If no one got hurt, it wasn’t a problem.<br/><br/>If someone who was sent out front to scout out the territory got hurt, it was.<br/><br/>He pulled his horse forward and dismounted at the stable, taking off the items he needed and tossing out anything that wasn’t essential. Water flasks were essential, despite their weight. So were footgear and a change of clothing, salt, a flask of spirits (for wounds, of course), a hat for shade, his cloak, blankets, and a small setup to allow for a shelter from rain and sun. Aside from his weapons and a whetstone and a few implements to allow him to repair or build arrows if needed, he had nothing but the small curious magnetic needle he had kept.<br/><br/>He walked out, pack slung over his shoulder, in time to see Sabine being escorted to the bath area. It was entertaining to see how the men were falling all over each other trying to help her into the bath. He was surprised none asked if they could assist her! But the sound of her humming as he walked about the camp, picking up stories and generally trying to learn as much as he could about the surrounding grasslands without seeming like he was doing so, occupied the next hour. He filled his flasks, drank one and refilled it, and then sought out the shade in which to rest until they were needed. Thankfully, the shade was near the canteen. His ration of food was given him after he signed on the line and he sat down to eat what might be the last cooked meal of the next few months. A steward came by and asked if he was part of Grimsson’s party. When he said he was, the steward gave him his food rations for a week. Apparently, after a week they were to find their own damn food.<br/><br/>He was sitting happily, dangling an empty, unlit pipe stem from his mouth, when a young soldier came looking for him. “You the scout? Will Riot?”<br/><br/>Will swung his body around to look behind each shoulder, before returning his gaze tot he soldier. “I suppose that would be me,” he jested. He couldn’t be in trouble yet, could he? He was told he was needed in the bathing area, so he gathered up his belongings and walked over, curious about what purpose anyone there would need him. When he called out a “Hello? It’s Riot,” he was surprised to hear Lia telling him to come in.<br/><br/>“Oh, well, in that case,” he stepped inside the canvas flaps and was surprised to see her sitting there, a la nude in the water. She said something about modesty and 'charming but tiring', but he really didn’t start to hear her until she said she needed to talk to him about his scouting that day. He dropped his belongings by the ‘door’ and began to strip off his clothes. Two could fit in the tub, and time was of the essence. The stable they had been allotted to sleep in was probably only for one night. Who knew when they could bath again? Besides, she didn't seem modest, and they were simply sharing the water.<br/><br/><i>"I need to talk to you about your scouting today. The captain has instructed me to keep a journal of our mission and you being the eyes and ears, we will need to talk each night." She gathered up her long black hair and pulled it around to her front. “Perhaps as you tell me your story, you can wash my back."</i><br/><br/>“Well, that’s interesting,” he said<a class="link link--external" href="https://assets.change.org/photos/6/rq/qr/EaRQqrVkqMgLRIP-800x450-noPad.jpg?1560112036" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">as he eased into the cool water</a>. “So, you’re suggesting a quid pro quo; I wash your back and tell you things, and you take notes?” He chuckled. “Lia, the Captain told me to only take orders from him. I’ll have to check with our leader first,” he informed her. “Although, I’d be glad to wash your back, which is by far the most interesting thing I’ve seen today.”<br/><br/>He slid along the tub wall to sit behind her, then used the cloth to begin washing the dust off her neck and ears, working down each shoulder and delectable arm. “<i>You </i>tell me something, Lia. Have you noticed any birds in the grasses? Any rabbits or little critters at all?” That was something that had disturbed him. He had not noticed it, but after the night with the strange woman, and the death of their soldier discovered the next day, he began to notice that, though he saw the occasional insect and signs of snakes crossing the path, he did not see signs of warm fuzzies on the edge of the watering stops each night. If he was going to be partially responsible for bringing in small game for them to live on there needed to be something worth the hunt. Something other than whatever it was that had killed the soldier, that was.<br/><br/>He let out his breath slowly as her shoulders and upper back were completed and he moved lower on her torso, brushing along her waist and upper bottom. He remembered the apparent blowup between Lia and Holgar on day one, but nothing too obvious since then. Will was curious to know what had happened, though he also guessed that it would not be a wise decision to just come out and ask her. So... he decided to take a side route.<br/><br/>“Have you noticed,” he asked as he washed along the sides of her ribs, lightly brushing past her breast before descending to the curve of her hip, “that Karin has been very quiet lately?” He moved the cloth to wash her other side. “Do you know if she is okay?”