The campfire crackled and cast dancing shadows across the faces of those gathered around it. It had become a nightly event. Mikoto, Aya, Galluh, Nya, and a few of their commanders would gather to review what had happened. Vita often slipped off as night fell to do what she did best. According to her, helping with the morale of the warriors. The night air was cool, a welcome relief from the oppressive heat of the twin suns during the day. A gentle breeze carried the scent of the other fires and conversations around them.
Mikoto Misaka sat quietly, her eyes fixed on the flickering flames, as she listened to the banter and discussions taking place among those close by and those farther away. But nothing could take her away from the memories of being with Anastasia. Her mind drifted back to the memories of a time back home in the four kingdoms on Earth. And stolen moments in the other realm. Anastasia by her side, the sound of her laughter as they ran through the dense forest. Wind in her hair, electric sparks flying. Yelling at the elder wolves as they teased, they roughhoused. And the thrill of the chase as they caught wild game. And, of course, many of the wolves and vampires were accomplished chefs. Despite what people may think about wolves? While they do enjoy the raw taste. Put it over a crackling open fire and add spices. There is a lot of drooling going on. She loved playing games of tag. A somewhat rougher version of the game kids played. Of course, everything was rougher when large elder wolves and wolves joined in. hours of painful gamewomanship. She winced, remembering some of the tackles.
The soft glow of the campfire shined in her eyes, gleaming like a predator, and brought a wistful smile to her face as she remembered swimming in crystal clear lakes and smooth running streams, laughter echoing through the serenity of the wilderness. Lost in her memories, her voice broke the silence of her thoughts, "Anastasia and I would always run to the forest of the four kingdoms to escape the chaos of the day." She wrapped her arms over her chest and remembered what it felt like to be in Anastasia's embrace. And for a moment, she thought she could smell her. Her hair and skin were like wildflowers after a rain. (Little misaka had pulled the memories out as a gift.)
She stared deeper into the fire. Wood popped, crackled, and collapsed. Her eyes followed the burning embers rising up in the heat column. Oranges and reds flittering and slowly fading. Her eyes dimmed. "death of a vampire….." Anstasia's words whispered across her mind. "it is both grotesque and a beautiful thing." Her eyes glistened as she remembered.
The body would decay, liquify and dry, and become flaky. Underneath the dusty remains, tiny wormlike embers of flickering light slowly burrowed their way to the surface, bursting into warm amber glows like fireflies rising in the evening sky. One final goodbye for their mistress.
Someone must have noticed. A loud cough and some laughter. Mikoto opened her eyes wider and pulled into the conversation. She blushed, leaning back, brushing back a few strands of her hair. And as if so, no one would notice, she casually rubbed her eyes.
Aya leaned back against Galluh, arm around her, holding her close as she spoke with a hint of weariness, "These long days of traveling play hell on our butts." She said with a forced smile. "I might need some gentle rubbing if you know what I mean." She thinned her eyes, looking seductively up a Galluh. "when have you not wanted some gentle rubbing?" she teased back. The others laughed. "Perhaps tonight it will be a little quieter?" Nya said, shaking her head.
"You should talk?" Aya raised her head from Galluh's shoulder, "and who will it be tonight?"
Nya sighed and looked over her shoulder, "I really don't know.." she admitted. "Perhaps that young male from your command might be rather nice." She said with a slight tilt of her head, her eyes glimmering with mischief, "he has some rather nice shoulders, muscular arms, and…." She grinned. Her playful banter was contagious. "what is it that Vita always said… a nice package…that hopefully delivers" she chuckled, running her hands through her dark hair. "but truth be told," Nya continued, getting a little more serious "we will need to pick up our pace if what they told us is true.?" They all nodded.
The conversation shifted to the recent encounters with the nomads and the stone trolls. They had gathered a lot of information from the nomads, who had been causing trouble for them. Vita had been training their young, growing military on strategies for attacking their foes, trapping them in a pincer movement. Mikoto had been instrumental in the negotiations, discovering that the person leading the nomads was not the queen but a puppeteer seeking power. The real queen was young, vulnerable, and easily controlled. But a random display of god-killing power, Mikoto Misaka convinced them it was wise not to challenge them. Taking the young queen under their wings, Rea, queen and high priestess of the house of Mikoto, would help her grow into her role. The others did not fare too well.
Galluh bumped Aya with her shoulder, nodded appreciatively, and stoked the fire. "They were right about the stone trolls." She said, "And thanks to Mikoto, we were able to defeat them." She smiled warmly, "And of course, with Vita licking the wounded, uh…healed our wounded," she continued, fretting her brow, holding out her other hand, "I don't know why she had to lick my palm…the way she did," a blush colored her cheeks. Aya reached over and took her hand, licked her palm as she thinned her eyes. "She is a pervert., that one."
Mikoto bit her tongue, hoping her best not to shout out the truth. "It was a team effort," she said with a sad smile. "We all played out parts, and yes….." she exhaled a loud, annoyed breath, "she is a pervert." straining. Lifting her eyes, seeing Vita talking to another group of warriors. And doing her best not to use her vampiric hearing.
"Please don't listen. Please…." Little misaka, hands pressed together as if in prayer. " Pretty please…focus…focus…AH! Shit!" she screamed. "you're listening !" she dropped to her knees.
"of course it is necessary…" Vita said softly, "I must massage the muscles to help them heal. I am just doing what I can to help." She said. "and why are you drooling then?" the young female warrior thinned her eyes suspiciously as Vita's hands moved to a place that didn't hurt. "And also, that is not where I was hurt." She reached over to the blade on her comrade's waist. "but I must…" Vita wiped the drool from her chin.
Mikoto could hear the blade slipping from the sheath. Knowing Vita could hear as well. Not that any harm would come to both. It would be like swatting after a fly, a swat here, a swat there….
"Vita," Mikoto whispered, a whisper only a vampire could hear. Vita quickly cocked his head, looking over her shoulder with a very innocent expression. The only giveaway was the always calculating look in her eyes.
Little misaka stretched her arms over her head. The attractive woman was pulling down the sheets of a huge soft bed. She wore an old-fashioned nightgown covering her neck to her ankles and a cloth cap on her head. "nice, adorable kitten looks…with fangs!" she emphasized. Referring to Vita's expression.
The conversation lulled as the other looked over and watched Vita. Like a problem child separated from the class. "What?" she answered sternly. "Just making sure that…."
"We know what you are making sure of.." Mikoto rolled her eyes and turned the conversation. "We must remain cautious. There's something a little unsettling about this. And we should wait until the scout's return….if the nomads and slavers were afraid of the next...then we should be." she said firmly.
"They were a bit apprehensive about talking about it," Nya spoke, taking a drink of firewine. Like those around the campfires, jugs of diluted firewine remained close to the fire. To give it a little warmth. Wiping her mouth as she sat it close to the dying flames. Mikoto stomach lurched. Thinking of her welcoming party. And the disaster that followed.
"good times," little misaka laughed, settling into the overstuffed bed. She patted down the blanket, fluffed her pillow and put on some glasses, and opened a book. The attractive woman curled up close to her and closed her eyes.
"The fact we had to threaten them three times!" Vita spoke loudly, walking over. Aya nodded, "you do have a way of finding out if someone is telling the truth?" she said. "oh? Let's not forget about bearing your fangs. Also helped."
"Indeed." Galluh replied, "A little unsettling if you ask me.." she grinned. "But perhaps tonight, we can forget our troubles and enjoy this little bit of peace for now. "Aya snuggled closer to Galluh, a hand slipping between her thighs. Galluh smirked playfully, putting her hand over Aya's hand. "Peace?" with you two around, I doubt peace is even possible. But I won't complain about rest after all these bumpy travels." she said, rubbing her butt.
Mikoto quickly nodded, "Here, here…may my butt slowly recover."
"Perhaps Vita can lick it" Nya quickly followed her snide remark with a laugh.
Vita's eyes brightened, "mistress? So, you need…."
"If you finish that statement," Mikoto growled and pointed, "you will be the one who will neeed licking and…" She blushed, shut her eyes, and covered her face with her hand. "Why did I not see that coming?"
Everyone laughed.
Nya chuckled, "I agree with Mikoto…we need to keep our guard up. We don't know what else is waiting for us out there." she said, taking another swig as she stood up and stretched, looked around, and arched her eyebrow, with an I found you look on her face.
Vita sat next to Mikoto. And the atmosphere turned a little lighter as the group huddled closer around the campfire. The shadows played upon their faces mirroring the uncertainty that lay ahead. Vita shifted and complained. "Why didn't we take the last watch again?" she asked, looking around the campfire.