Heading Up Stream (7)

"You're up."

Vin's voice cut through the quiet forest like a stone dropped in still water. Low and gruff as always, but there was something less hostile in it tonight. Not quite warmth, but maybe... a tolerance.

Warren pushed himself up with a groan, wiping the sleep from his eyes. He gave Kaela one last glance—she was curled against her pack, breathing softly—and then nodded.

"Right. My turn."

Vin gave a curt nod and brushed past him, heading toward the fire.

Warren stepped away from camp, following the narrow trail through the trees to where the others had been taking watch. It wasn't far—just far enough that the firelight dimmed and the forest reclaimed its shadows.

He stopped beside a wide tree, one that gave a good view of the clearing, and leaned against it.

The forest at night was different.

Quiet, but not silent.

Alive.

The wind rustled through the high branches, and distant calls of unknown creatures echoed through the darkness. The stars were barely visible between the leaves, their light too faint to do much good.

But it was peaceful, in its own way.

'They're getting better, Vin's arm doesn't look as stiff. Kaela's breathing is normal again.'

He let out a long breath, crossing his arms.

'They almost died… because of me.'

Even now, the memory of the battle clung to him. Vin moving like a seasoned veteran. Kaela chaining that beast like she'd done it a hundred times. And then there was him—swinging a weapon he could barely lift. 

He ran a hand through his hair.

'They're like something out of a comic … and I'm just… me.'

He thought about Kaela's words from earlier.

"Maybe I like him."

'What kind of like was that?' he wondered, eyes narrowing slightly. 'Friendly? Grateful? Romantic?'

And more importantly…

'Does she like me too?'

His heart beat a little faster at the thought. He didn't want to admit it, but her voice... her smile… the way she looked at him when she thought no one noticed—it lingered in his head longer than it should.

He shook it off.

'Stupid. I'm getting ahead of myself.'

Warren spent the next few hours trying to not think about Kaela's words.

He failed miserably.

After a while, when his shift was nearly over, Warren turned back toward camp. His boots moved quietly over moss and fallen leaves, a habit he'd picked up from watching Vin. The firelight flickered through the trees, soft and orange, and camp came back into view.

Then he stopped.

Kaela was crouched beside the fire. She wore a simple cream tunic that hugged her frame and a pair of loose, dark-gray pants tucked into worn boots. The tunic's sleeves were rolled up to her elbows, and her hair was down for once—loose, curling slightly at the ends in a way he'd never noticed before.

She was beautiful.

And she was stealing food.

Specifically, a strip of wolf meat they'd set aside earlier for rations.

Warren studied her.

Her hand darted into the stash bag with the finesse of a seasoned thief. She tugged free a piece and, as she stood turning her head ever so slightly to the left, noticed him watching.

Her eyes widened for just a heartbeat. Then she smiled.

The caring warm smile Warren had gotten use to seeing on her face was replaced by a mischievous grin.

She brought a finger to her lips and whispered, "Shhh."

She walked over casually, holding the meat in one hand. Then, with the grace of someone who had absolutely no shame, she offered him half.

"This can be our little secret."

Warren took it without thinking. His fingers brushed hers for just a moment. Warm skin. Rougher than he expected, but soft where it mattered.

He felt his face heating up instantly.

"I, uh... thanks," he mumbled, trying not to choke on his words.

She winked.

'Did that wolf actually kill me? Am I in heaven?'

As she turned and walked back to her spot by the fire, Warren sat down where he'd left his blanket. The firelight danced along the curve of her jaw, casting shadows across her face. She took a bite of the meat and smiled to herself, like a child who'd gotten away with something deliciously petty.

Warren chewed slowly, not even tasting the food.

His heart wouldn't slow down.

'Maybe this isn't so bad.'

Warren laid back, hands folded behind his head, eyes trailing the shifting canopy above. The faint rustle of leaves, the dim flicker of the dying fire, the quiet rhythm of Kaela's breath from across camp—it all felt strangely… peaceful.

'If this is what it means to survive, I think I could get used to it.'

***

The sun hadn't fully crested the trees when they broke camp.

Mist clung to the river's edge. The water beside them murmured softly as it rushed past stones and roots, always moving forward. Birds called distantly from the treetops, their songs half-swallowed by the dense foliage.

Warren pulled his pack tighter around his shoulders. His shirt was still torn in a few places—one sleeve clinging on by threads—but it no longer bothered him. His boots squelched faintly with every step, the dew-heavy ground giving way beneath them.

Kaela walked a few paces ahead, her steps light, almost playful. She'd changed out of her usual armor again, instead wearing a plain brown tunic over dark green pants. A leather strap held her hair in a loose tie, and her short sword—still bound to her—glimmered faintly on her hip.

Vin, as always, took the lead.

He didn't say much.

Didn't have to.

His limp was still noticeable, but he bore it with quiet annoyance rather than pain. Every few dozen steps, he would pause and scan the woods ahead, eyes flicking left to right with the sharpness of a hawk.

"So," Warren started, falling into stride beside Kaela. "How long until we get to the settlement?"

Kaela glanced up at the trees, gauging the sun.

"Two days, give or take. Depends on how smooth the trail is and if we run into anything."

"Or anyone," Vin added from the front without turning around.

Warren raised a brow. "Anyone?"

Kaela gave a half-shrug. "There are others out here. Not all of them are friendly. Bandits. Failed scouts. Even a few exiles."

"Exiles?" Warren repeated. "You can get exiled from this place?"

"Yeah."

Kaela's typically enthusiastic voice carried a little bit of sorrow .

"Some people break the rules. Some get too dangerous. Some just… lose it."

Vin muttered, "Some never had it to begin with."

Warren blinked. "Sounds… cheerful."

Kaela grinned. "We'll keep you safe."

"Appreciated," he said, then added with a small smirk, "Though I feel like I'm getting the hang of things."

"Please don't say that out loud," Vin muttered.

Kaela laughed.

They continued in silence for a few moments, the sounds of the forest folding back in—leaves brushing against their boots, the squawk of a distant bird, the endless whisper of the river beside them.

Warren glanced at Kaela.

He remembered what she said last night. "Maybe." the words still plaguing his mind .

He remembered what she said last night. "Maybe." The word still echoed in his mind, refusing to let go.

'What kind of like did she mean?' he wondered, his gaze flicking briefly to Vin's back. 'Does she like me? Or does she like him and was just being polite? Or—maybe she doesn't even know herself.'

The thought lingered. 'Now that I think about it... I don't really know Kaela. Or Vin, for that matter. Are they always like this? Or is this just how people have to be to survive outside the settlement?'

He watched the two of them ahead—Kaela's easy smile, Vin's cold precision.

'Do they act this way with everyone? Or did those days we spent pushing through the forest… make them see me differently? Like a comrade. Or a... friend.'

He sighed.

Feelings were already complicated enough back in the real world. Out here, in a forest full of monsters and glowing swords, it was a whole different kind of confusion.

"Something on your mind?" Kaela asked, catching his gaze.

Warren straightened. "No. Just thinking."

"That's dangerous out here."

"Thinking?"

She winked. "Yup. Better to act first, think later."

"You know, I feel like you're the reason I almost died last week."

"And yet here you are," she said sweetly.

Vin let out a quiet grunt that might have been a laugh.

Warren turned toward him. "Wait. Was that a laugh?"

"It was a grunt," Vin said flatly.

"A grunt of joy?"

Vin didn't answer.

Kaela leaned in toward Warren, whispering, "That's the closest he's come to showing joy since I've known him."

Warren whispered back, "I feel honored."

"I can still hear both of you," Vin muttered.

"Sorry," they said at the same time, neither sounding particularly sincere.

They stopped around midday near a wide bend in the river. The current was faster here, crashing against jagged rocks like it had somewhere to be.

Vin crouched beside the water, washing his hands and face. Warren sat down on a fallen log, catching his breath. Kaela rummaged through her pack, pulling out a small fruit wrapped in cloth.

"Want some?" she asked, holding it towards Warren.

He blinked. "What is it?"

"Edible."

"Reassuring."

He took a bite. It was tart and strange, like something between an apple and sour berries. He didn't hate it.

"I didn't think today would feel so...normal," he said, mouth still full.

"It's not always like this," Kaela replied. "But moments like this, they're worth holding onto."

Warren looked out at the water, letting the silence settle for a moment.

"I didn't have this kind of thing where I came from."

Kaela looked at him.

"Did you have anything?"

He shrugged. "My mom. A few books. A lot of empty time. It wasn't a life, really. Just... waiting."

Kaela nodded slowly. "I get that."

"You?"

"Before this?" she asked. "I was quiet. Just trying to not be noticed. I guess I came here because I wanted to matter, you know?"

Warren nodded. "Yeah. I think I do."

Vin rose to his feet again, shaking water from his hands.

"We'll move soon," he said. "Don't get too comfortable."

"You say that like you're not enjoying this," Kaela teased.

Vin didn't respond.

But Warren caught it.

The faintest hint of a smile at the corner of his lips.

He smiled back. 

No one said anything.

They didn't need to.

The river ran steady beside them, weaving a path through the dense forest like a silver vein. The light filtered through the trees, draping the moss-covered stones in soft, shifting patterns.

Warren walked between the two, occasionally catching a glimpse of Kaela as she stepped ahead with confident ease, her casual clothing flowing lightly with each stride. She wore a sleeveless black tunic, cut just enough to keep cool, paired with dark pants that clung at the calves but loosened at the knees. It wasn't flashy—just functional—but on her, it felt effortless. Her belt held a few small pouches, and her sleeves were rolled up to her elbows, revealing faint scars that peeked out like faded memories.

She glanced back once to check on him.

"Doing okay back there, rookie?"

Warren gave a half-smirk. "Define 'okay.'"

Kaela chuckled, adjusting the strap across her shoulder. "You're upright and walking. That counts."

Vin, several steps ahead, cut through a hanging branch with the tip of his blade without even slowing down.

Warren shook his head. "You both really are something else, you know that?"

Vin didn't respond, but Kaela tilted her head, brow raised. "Something else?"

"I mean... yesterday, you both fought like characters out of a movie. Now you're strolling like it's a morning hike. Meanwhile, I trip over every second rock and still can't get the smell of blood out of my hands."

Kaela laughed gently, the sound soft and warm in the crisp morning air. "Trust me, you're doing fine. Better than most."

"You think so?"

She shrugged. "Well, you haven't died yet. That's a start."

Vin finally spoke, not turning around. "Most people don't make it six days."

That silenced Warren for a moment.

"...Seriously?"

Vin nodded. "The Veil doesn't care how smart or strong you were back home. It tears people down. Quick."

Kaela stepped closer to him, her voice quieter now. "That's why we take it slow when we can. Recover. Regroup. And remember why we're surviving."

Warren looked between the two of them, and a strange warmth settled in his chest. It wasn't confidence—at least, not yet—but it was something like belonging. Like he was starting to matter.

"So... why are you surviving?" he asked, watching the way the sun danced off the water. "You've been here two years, right?"

Kaela didn't answer at first. Then, with a half-smile, she said, "Ask me again when we reach the settlement."

Vin scoffed faintly. "If we reach the settlement."

Kaela rolled her eyes. "Way to inspire confidence, Vin."

They walked in silence for a bit after that.

Not awkward or tense silence.

Just... quiet.

The group stopped near a curve in the stream. Kaela crouched by the edge to refill her canteen while Vin stood guard, scanning the treeline as always. Warren stayed back, watching them both, his thoughts churning like the current.

'Two years... fighting, surviving, losing people . Yet they still smile. Still crack jokes. Still help someone like me.'

He didn't know what they were thinking. Didn't know how much they trusted him yet.

But they were walking beside him.

And for now...

That was enough.