Bryce, after some consideration, I think I'll do that story idea after we're done with this. I did some brainstorming, and I think it's worth a shot. Thanks!

Also, I got my life together for at least two days! So here's another quick update! My question is though... Are you not entertained? Should I not get more reviews?

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"You guys have the camp. I'll be back in a bit." Jack bent down and pecked Kim's lips. "I love you," he whispered before taking his leave. For the third night in a row, Jack left with his sword, axe, shield and a single javelin.

"Yo, what's up with Jack being all lone wolf again?" Jerry asked after Jack was out of earshot.

"Is Jack okay?" Milton asked Kim.

"I don't think he is, guys," Kim admitted. "He's been weird the last three days. I'm kind of worried about him."

"Any idea what's got him acting like this?" Milton asked, scratching his hairless chin.

Kim knew, but she didn't think it was her place. It was Jack's business if he wanted to bring up his parents. She thought it had to do with their relationship. Jack had promised he would get her home, that he would find her. She wanted a happy, fulfilling life with him. That much, she already knew. She wanted to live peacefully with him.

"I need to find a way to calm him down before he snaps," Kim said, her eyes focusing on the flame that they huddled around, fall coming up quick.

"Hump his brains out. When was the last time you two got it on anyway?" Jerry offered his advice.

Kim wanted to yell at Jerry, but she thought he might be right. "Milton, input?"

"Huh? Oh yeah, humping his brains out? Sex is a great stress reliever and oxidizes the brain. It could settle him for a while and hopefully make him open up to you more," Milton agreed with Jerry's plan.

"Good luck getting him to let his guard down enough to actually let you get it done. That boy's wound up like a bed spring," Jerry laughed. "You'll have to damn near rape him."

Kim blushed and imagined it in her head. "I'm gonna do it," Kim says with a light smile.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Jack wipes off his sword on the body of the Thosean scout at his feet. The deeper they go into the Void, the more scouting parties Jack found. This had to be a sign Thosea would soon strike with all her might.

He expected to find a raiding force soon, he had to. They wouldn't send this many scouts without any force behind it. At this point, Jack would usually turn back and lay with Kim, able to sleep with her safely in his arms. He could feel it in his bones though, that there was something bigger near by.

Jack picked up his javelin and set out deeper into the seemingly endless forest world that is the Void. He won't turn back until the sun begins to rise or he finds what he's looking for.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Kim rolled over again, unable to sleep without Jack at her back. It's not that she can't sleep without him next to her, it's that she can't sleep when she doesn't know where he is or if he's okay.

"Kim, do you want us to go find him?" Milton offers, already strapping his bronze chest piece into place.

"Come on Kim, let's go drag your man back," Julie says as she and Claire stand up, ready to go. "Fedelmid can handle the camp."

So with that settled, Kim, Jerry and Milton, Julie and Claire set out to find their missing captain.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Jack leaned on his Javelin and looked down into the valley. What he saw should have frightened him, but it didn't. And that's what frightened him. As Jack's military career progressed, so did his prowess, but also his daring. When when daring and brave fall into stupid?

In the valley below must have been one thousand Thoseans, five times Jack's number. If he was going to capitalize on this location, he would have to move, and fast. He could already see his move in action before his eyes. He just had to be quick, had to be ruthless. If he was always going to be outnumbered, he would have to make sure he would outmatch them.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Shh, something's coming!" Kim hissed and dropped to a crouched position, quickly knocking her bow. The others grabbed cover, but quickly gave it up when they saw it was Jack, sprinting through the forest, launching himself quicker by pushing off trees.

"Jack!" Kim shouted, stepping out from behind her cover, stepping right in front of him. He barely had time to come to a stop, nearly plowing through her. "What's going on?"

"Kim? Guys?" Jack asked as everyone revealed themselves. "What are you all doing out here?" he asked, doubled over and trying to recapture his breath.

"We came to find you," Kim said, nearly pissed. "Why didn't you come back, Jack?"

"I was on my way back. I knew in my gut there was something out here, something we'd be meeting real soon. I found an encampment, at least a thousand men. They're comfortably nestled in a valley, steep hills on their flanks. If we attack before they can mobilize, we can box them in and crush them," Jack said in a hurry, knowing time was of the essence.

Without waiting for any deliberation, Jack took off at a run again towards their camp.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Jack's plan was set and the sun was just beginning to make it's appearance for the day. Jack and his Cynerics were at one end of the pass with Kim's Rangers behind him. Milton and the Epineians held the other end of the narrow pass with Jerry and his Magnons in support.

As soon as Jack gave the order, the Rangers released a volley into the sleeping camp, the tents being the targets. A few men cried out in pain and woke the camp. It became a turkey shoot as they scrambled to arm themselves.

The chaos was exactly as Jack wanted it. There was no order, no attempt to make battle lines. The Thoseans just charged at will at whichever side of the pass was closest to them.

"Shield Wall!" Jack called and his Cynerics overlapped their shields to make the nearly impenetrable line. The Thoseans stood little chance as they threw themselves against Jack's wall with no organization. As soon as they approached, they fell. If they got passed Kim's Rangers' fire.

Milton's wall was faring just as perfectly, a wall of bodies forcing the Thoseans to try to crawl over their own.

"Over the top, let's go!" Jerry shouted as he took his monstrous great sword in his hands and vaulted himself over the line of Milton's Epineians. The rest of Jerry's Magnons followed and cut down any Thosean that dare approach, pushing them back threw the camp and back towards Jack's formation.

Seeing what was happening, Jack and Milton began to walk their shield walls forward to effectively sandwich the thinning Thoseans. In this manner, the entire Wandering Company met in the middle, having exterminated the camp.

"Alright," Jack said, wiping the blood from his face, though it only smeared making him look just as fearsome. "That couldn't have gone better."

"Jerry the Beast jumped over my line and drove them back!" Milton punched Jerry's arm.

"We Magnons couldn't let the Epineians have all the fun," Jerry punched him back. "It totally worked, though. Were you too busy hiding behind your shield to see the slaughter that went down?" Jerry joked.

"Guys, I think you're missing what's important. We just got a whole bunch of provisions and extra blankets," Kim pointed out. With the temperature dropping every day, the blankets and furs the Thoseans had so graciously provided would be a huge help.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

The Company took all the provisions and equipment they could handle and set up camp on both hilltops overlooking the sight of battle. After the victory, they decided that was enough for the day, and the men and women made no fuss about a lazy camp day with food and warm fires. Jack was smarter than the Thoseans though, having the sense to post sentries.

The Thosean tents they inhabited were more like teepees, having a hole in the top to let the smoke out, but a rope was lassoed around it that could easily be tightened to keep out the rain. Having a fire in the spacious tents was one Thosean innovation that had a leg up on the Vakkerians.

Jack and Kim snuggled together in their own tent, happily wrapped up in a sleeping bag. Kim was just happy Jack couldn't see the mischievous grin on her face.

Jack's body was flush against hers, her ass pressed firmly against Jack's crotch. He thought she had fallen asleep a while ago, setting Jack up for her plan.

She moaned as if dreaming, and wriggled her ass against him. She waited a few seconds before doing it again with a little more enthusiasm. She felt him try to make some space between them, but she also felt his cock quickly hardening right against her cheek. Every time Jack tried to back away, Kim would roll with him.

"Oh come on," Jack whispered, unable to do anything against this torture.

"Mmm, so fucking good Jack. Oh, oh fuck yes," Kim side, grinding her hips. She knew she had him. He was completely stiff, pressed against her.

"Oh for the love of..." Jack sighed, trying to focus on anything else than what he thought was Kim having a dream about him fucking her senseless.

"God Jack, please more, you're so big!" Kim's smile couldn't get any bigger, knowing how she was playing him. She rolled over and draped a leg over his hip and ground her sex right into his crotch and she dug her face into his neck before lightly nipping him. Her hand ran down his bare chest and she was full on dry humping him now.

"Kim, you're totally not sleeping right now," Jack said forcefully, but Kim didn't respond. She bucked her hips again and sucked his neck. "I know it's been a while, but we're still in the Void..." Jack warned.

"Don't care," Kim said honestly as she slipped hand down into his leather pants and went straight for his balls. She attacked his mouth with her own when she tried to speak. Her tongue easily slipped in and killed his words.

"Damn it Kim, what's gotten into you?" Jack asked with a chuckle as soon as he got the chance.

"You're about to be," Kim said bluntly as she rolled on top of him, pinning him down as she flicked his nipple with her soft pink tongue. "Are you going to cooperate?" she asked playfully.

"What's the other option?" Jack asked.

"What do you think?" Kim sat up and straddled him before rolling her hips so forcefully Jack's eyes went back in his head. When they came back to look at her, she was already topless, palming her own breasts, her fingers working her peaking nipples.

Jack shot up and pushed her hand away, sucking as much of her breath into his wet mouth as he could, Kim gasping above him and his hands going to her ass.

"There's my Jack," Kim said with a sigh. She began a steady roll of her hips that Jack thrusted to meet her. "Oh fuck!" Her arms shot around his shoulders and she began to whimper. "Feel how wet I am already?" she teased. "Take me hard so I have to bite you not to scream. Take your time and drag it out for an hour for a slow burn. Let me do all the work, it's up to you," Kim whispered in his ear.

"Let you do all the work, hmm? What's that like?" Jack wasn't sure if he was going to get a verbal answer, or a first hand demonstration.

"Glad you asked," Kim purred and got off him, leaving him completely confused. His question was answered when she pulled her silk pants off. They were men pants technically, but the comfiest thing to sleep in next to sleeping in nothing at all.

His pants were gone too, in one quick pull. Kim got between his knees and went from cock to neck in one long trail of her tongue, leaving Jack completely speechless. She settled herself so the entrance of her core had Jack's throbbing member against the entrance but not in.

"Oh fuck Kim," Jack gasped as she slid up and down along his shaft, coding him in her arousal.

"You made the right choice in letting me take over," Kim smiled against his neck before she righted herself and lifted off him, allowing his dick to go straight up at full attention. Jack expected her to slowly slide down her as she guiding the tip of his cock to her slick nether lips, but instead she dropped straight down and but her own knuckles not to scream out.

Jack wreathed and gritted his teeth when Kim went down straight to the hilt in under a second. She only took one more second to adjust before she started rocking back and forth on him, whimpering with every roll of her athletic rips. Her speed exponentially increased until she was riding the poor young man for all he was worth.

He laid back and held her hips, lifting her up and slamming her back down to help her move. She was fully bouncing when he felt the telltale shudder and he was straining himself. He was battling not to let go first.

Kim squeezed her velvet walls around him and didn't release, just kept bouncing, nearly jumping when she finally came, throwing her body down onto him so she could bite the sleeping bag under them so she would scream her throat soar as her orgasm completely ravaged her petite frame.

Kim's gushing climax was the last straw for Jack, tearing his own orgasm from him, his hot cum shooting deep inside her as his back arched with the force and ecstasy of it all.

Neither of them could speak, completely powerless to do anything but quiver against each other, their breaths short and labored.

Kim have rolled off of him, but decided to just pull the top of the sleeping bag back over them. She would be ten kinds of lucky if she could walk again tomorrow.

Jack wrapped his arms around her after he slowly removed himself from her. He wasn't even sure if they should say anything. He opted instead for smiling against her hot skin until they both fell asleep.

Kim was able to sleep peacefully, knowing her mission was complete. Jack would be in a hell of a good mood tomorrow.

There was something new, though. Something warm and tingly in Kim's chest she had never felt before. She didn't have that feeling the first time they made love... She didn't know what it was, but it felt warm and safe. She wanted this feeling to stay.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

The next morning tiptoed in and Jack Kim had a hard time caring. They knew they should get up and make progress, but their drive refused to stir.

Jack lifted his head when the flap opened a peek. "What?" Jack groaned, still more asleep than awake.

"Permission to enter?" Milton asked from outside.

Jack looked down and saw Kim still laid out on top of him, dead to the world. She deserved her sleep more than Jack knew. He also noticed that the top of the sleeping bag had drifted down her sinfully curved back and rested on the swell of her ass. Jack pulled the bag up to her neck.

"Come on in, Milton," Jack whispered so as not to wake Sleeping Beauty. "What's up?" he asked, unmoving.

Milton saw Kim's golden tresses and nothing else. He smiled, knowing she had succeeded in brightening Jack's mood. "A hawk from Brody. He requests that we pull back to Epineio until spring. There shouldn't be any moves on either side until spring."

"So we did all of this for nothing? We don't even get to try to go home until spring?" Jack was near seething.

"Brody's right, Jack. Thosea is a plains nation. Winter will be cold and harsh. We couldn't hope to survive if we got caught out there."

Jack harnessed his anger and let it out through deep breaths. There was one bright side to this. Jack was all but guaranteed Kim's safety until spring. Kim had proven herself time and time again to be an elite warrior, but the thought always tugged on the scruff of Jack's neck. He kissed Kim's hair and responded to Milton, "Spring it is, then. Send a falcon saying we'll return soon. Also tell him about the route yesterday," Jack paused. "Please?" He was technically Milton's captain, but they were still friends.

Milton took his leave and Jack gently shook Kim awake. "Kim, good morning Kim."

Kim woke with a lazy smile before she even opened those hypnotic brown eyes. She stretched like a cat, her breasts pressing onto Jack's abs. "Morning," she cooed.

"Kim, I have some news. I was mad at first, but I calmed myself down. We're being called back to Epineio."

Something in Kim fluttered, but she couldn't pinpoint it. "I don't know why, but something tells me that's for the best," Kim said. "When do we head back? I could use a real bed again."

"We'll head out when everyone is awake. I'm not in a hurry to backtrack them after what they did yesterday. Fedelmid said last night that the Company feels like we can do anything," Jack explained one of the two reasons he doesn't like going back.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Epineio was coming up quick for the Wandering Company who had become quite tired, almost in a rush knowing warm beds, good food and hot baths were so close.

The gate was in view now and as soon as they could be spotted, the brass bells rang out clear in the midday air. Were they that expected, that long awaited?

The gates opened and the the streets were flowing with the usual hustle and bustle of Vakker's glorious capital.

As the Company walked over the intricately cobbled main street, people obviously took notice, smiled at them, even waved. What Jack and the other leaders couldn't understand was what was up with all the whispering. What were the people whispering?

The houses and businesses constructed of rich hardwood and proper stone passed by until the reached the great steps that lead up to the parade grounds in front of King Brody's palace.

The Wandering Company came to a halt and saluted Brody as he made his way out of the palace with the other Wardens. Brody came down the marble steps with a bounce and greeted his friends with a grateful and relieved hug.

"The Wandering Company returns home to Epineio, safe and sound for the cold months," Brody says with a smile. "Welcome my friends. Please, please, come inside. You must be famished and exhausted!"

Jack dismissed the Company to their own devices, while he and his head people entered the palace behind Brody. He realized that there were more people milling about in the hall than usual, nearly crowding it.

"What's going on here?" Jack asked with a scrunched brow. The amount of people around, and seeing how many of them were armed, made him nervous. Kim squeezed his hand, alerting him to the fact he had taken her hand in his. Or had she taken his?

"Vakker hasn't been to war in my life time. Only Magnus was still a Warden in the last war," Brody explained. "War for the Vakkerian is rare, and makes everyone think that their presence alone can save us," Brody finished with an eye roll.

"Everyone is a master adviser then, huh?" Jack chuckled. "We'll make sure to stay out of your way."

"Oh on the contrary, Captain. You're people are some of the only people I want to see here. You're in the Council now."

"None of us are Wardens, dude," Jack chuckled.

"Warden of the Void," Brody corrected.

"What?!" all four outsiders shouted. "What do you mean? We're going to conquer the Void?" Kim asked.

"After the burning of the Ranger outpost, that victory along with the massing of our forces brought the Voidlings to the table. The Thoseans have been conquering the Void. We struck an agreement. The Void becomes part of Vakker, allowing them to keep a regional Jarl and their culture. We give them protection, we have trade with them, and they're matching our other Wardens' forces of two thousand a piece."

"Holy shit," was all Jack could manage. "They have a governing Jarl but you want me to command their forces?" Jack guesses.

"Precisely," Brody confirms.

"How do the Voidlings feel about this?" Jack asked, scratching his freshly shaved chin.

"They're happy to be keeping their lands, to be fighting on one front WITH instead of against us. As for you leading their forces, they respect and acknowledge you and your people as great warriors," Brody said. "It was a painless move for everyone. The only Voidling drawback is that the Void is a Warden now, and not totally autonomous(1)."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Damn Jack, Captain of the Wandering Company AND Warden of the Void? Going to forget us little people?" Kim joked at the table in her and Jack's room. They could have eaten at Brody's table, but a dinner between just the two of them sounded better.

"Forget the little people? How am I supposed to forget you? I get that you're physically small," Jack proved it by lifting her chair up with her in it and putting it back down. "But you can't measure heart," Jack said as he kissed her hair before going back to his chair.

The two sat and ate in perfectly amiable silence until their plates were clean. Jack cleaned up and took the ten minute round trip to the palace's kitchen and back. By the time he got back, Kim was leaning in the marble railing of their balcony, her favorite place to think.

Jack didn't out his arms around her, but instead picked her up bridal style from behind. Kim's arms wrapped around his neck and she dug her face into his strong chest, inhaling his natural scent that make almost make her high.

"Hi," Kim said happily and kissed his neck.

"Are you okay? You're at your thinking balcony."

Kim sighed and debated whether or not to talk, or keep it to herself. She felt like she had been having more and more problems lately. Had she been? Was it understandable?

"Come on Kim, talk to me. About anything," Jack urged, kissing her head. Jack walked her to the bed and set her down. She crawled to the head and laid down, patting her belly for Jack to rest his head.

Once Jack was comfortable, Kim gave him a head rub and asked, "Have you wondered if we're actually going to make it home?"

Jack didn't move, he didn't breath for nearly a minute before admitting, "Yeah, I have. I'm also getting a little worried because... I don't know if I want to go back."

"I'm a little homesick, but isn't everybody when they first move on? I get what you're saying. Jerry and Milton's girlfriends are here, we have Rudy, Brody, Fedelmid, Edgil, all here. The only thing I don't have here are my parents, and we were far from good when I left," Kim admits.

"What do you mean?" Jack's voice carries a little worry to it.

"When I left for college, I didn't go where my parents wanted me to. They wanted me to stay close to Seaford, but I went to the University of Tennessee. I haven't talked to my parents since freshman orientation," Kim said sadly.

"I'm really sorry, Kim," Jack doesn't know what else to offer at that moment.

"No, it makes it easier, actually. I have more here now with you and the Company than I did at home. Life is rough here, but Rudy was right... it's getting easier when you learn to look at what's at stake." Kim was being more rational than she had expected to be.

"I was a history major at a shitty private college, Kim. Now I have the girl of my dreams, better friends than I've ever had, and we're in great standing with a king. This is more home than home was," Jack sighs, not sure what he thought of how he felt. The reasons made sense, but he couldn't believe that deep down, this was home now.

Kim sighed again, beside her own feelings as much as Jack. "I'm not ready to give up on going home, there are questions I still want answered, but... I think I wouldn't go insane if we weren't getting back home. I think I could marry you here... have a family with you here," Kim whispered.

She looked down and saw that Jack was asleep. She giggled and kissed his long brunette hair. Kim knew the conversation was big to both of them, but she knew that no one needed rest more than Jack. Jack, brave, strong, wake up and ready to fight an army at the drop of a hat, Jack. He knew he was safe here in Epineio, here in Kim's arms.

Wherever she was, wherever she was going, she needed this.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

(1) Autonomous means free, self-ruling. In this situation, the only loss is now they have to admit they're more or less, a client of Vakker.