trueseeker | all around the campire.

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ic: voicetest

all around the campire. | VOICETESTING X2

[There had been times during their trek that Richard had been...how to put it...less than successful in filling their bellies. It was a point of embarrassment for the Seeker, who started his life a woods guide. He should be able to catch them a coney at the very least. Maybe it was stage-fright, performance anxiety.

Maybe he shouldn't let Kahlan get to him the way he did. Well, maybe he couldn't help it. He found his mind drifting to her with increasing frequency, and they always insisted on going just about everywhere with him, to protect him, they said, not that Richard needed any protecting, at least not in his own mind. Truth be told, he made stupid decisions, didn't think ahead to the implications of his actions, and was generally rash in just about everything he did. They had reason to worry.

Tonight, though, Kahlan and Zedd had actually let him go off trapping on his own, and this time, he'd actually returned with a prize. Not only was it a rabbit, it was one of the fattest rabbit's he could have hoped to bag and bring back to camp. It would feed all three of them, surely, once it was stewed.

And so it was with a jaunt in his gait that he made his way back to camp, the warming light of the fire leading him in the right direction, knowing he was in the right place even before he entered the small clearing. Kahlan was tending the fire, the rippling light of the flames making her hair shine and wreathing her beautiful face in its amber glow.

He wasn't sure how long he stood there staring.]

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[Her face was twisted in concentration as she attempted to move the burning log to the side and release the heat trapped beneath it. Really She'd just did this to pass the time. Richard is hunting and Zedd had heard off with one of his usual excuses.

She feels the pressure of Richards gaze and looks up from her work, her lips curl into a warm smile.]

Richard!

[Kahlan looks towards the rabbit and her lips spread a little wider.]

Zedd will be upset that he missed this.

[He blinks as she speaks and he smiles, holding up the rabbit as he brings it closer to the fire.]

Yeah, no kidding. [But he shrugs as he takes a seat on the log he'd rolled to the cooking pit before he'd left on his hunt and pulls out his skinning knife.] Oh, well. His loss, right?

[Kahlan watches him as he prepares the rabbit.]

At least we know we won't go hungry. [Her tone is light and teasing.]

Was there ever any reason to doubt? [He uses the back of his hand to wipe the sweat from his brow and keeps cleaning, though he has the rabbit cleaned and trussed pretty quickly. It's not the first he's ever hunted and put on a spit, after all.] You know what? Don't answer that.

[Kahlan gives Richard a look that suggests that he doesn't want the answer to his question. When he resends his comment her lips spread into a smile.]

I believe in you Richard. Even for things like this. [She picks up her stick and begins to stoke the fire once more, encouraging flames to emerge and lick up the crackling wood.]

[They should probably get more provisions in the next town. Not that she thinks Richard can't hunt but there isn't a lot of game to be caught.]

[At her remark, Richard couldn't help but grin in her direction, even as he began collecting some long, sturdy sticks with which to fashion a spit for their roast rabbit.

He looked over to her as he retrieved the spice packet from his satchel.]

So, I'm the true Seeker of Dinner, too?

[Kahlan laughs softly, her fingers pushing her long dark hair behind her ear.]

So how long until dinners done?

[She means to make her tone more serious but she can't help but smile at him. He has that effect on her.]

We might be able to eat before Zedd gets back.

[He seasoned the meat as he usually did, then set up the spit over the fire, settling down near the end to keep it rotating, and rubbing his hands together to warm them.]

Rabbit of this size? an hour or so.

[It wasn't much food, but it was enough to get them through the night at least.]

So, I saw some blackberry bushes just outside the clearing. Want to help me gather some? Knowing Zedd, he'll show up in time to get his share without having to help. I think he does it on purpose.

[Kahlan stands and brushes off her dress with a few swift flicks of her wrists.]

Will the rabbit be fine? It'd be faster collecting berry's with both of us.

[She bends over and reaches into their back to pick up a small bag to carry the berry's in.]

[He looks back to the fire and nods.]

We won't even be out of sight. [And his statement is accentuated with a nod and a chuckle.] Don't worry, you can trust me not to burn dinner, I promise.

[She raises an eyebrow at him before stepping up next to his side. It seems silly considering Richards plethora of hidden talents but Kahlan always finds herself feeling a little surprised at what he can do. She stands there for a moment staring at him before she turns towards the bushes.

She kneels down and begins to carefully pick the small dark fruit from the bush.

Going to taverns hasn't worked well in the past since the world is hunting Richard. It'll be nice to have something else to go with dinner. Not that Kahlan is very picky with her food.]

[Going to taverns would probably work out better for all of them if Richard were capable of keeping a low profile in the face of blatant adversity, but his need to help unfailingly outweighed any concern for his own safety.

He watched her kneel, smiling as the dim light this far from the fire danced mysterious shadows across her features, then knelt beside her, reaching for the bush next to the one she was picking from.]

Maybe I should have hunted pheasant instead.

Edited 2015-12-25 20:13 (UTC)

[Kahlan laughs at the memory.]

You don't have to do that Richard.

[She reaches over and plucks a berry, her thin fingers brushing against his.]

Oh sorry.

[In her haste she moves to another part of the bush to collect berries.]

[He laughs along with her.]

I wonder how he's doing. [He'd really started to like the boy, even though he'd always known he couldn't come with them.

His heart skipped when her fingers brushed his.]

It's fine. [And he takes a deep breath. Being so close to her, yet so far away was painful, but not nearly as painful as the idea of being apart. It was hard, but he could do it. He'd dealt with a lot worse.] Kahlan, just because we can't... [He trailed off, not sure how to word it.] ...we can't consummate, does that mean I can't touch you?

Richard...

[Her tone is pained as she looks over at him. She knows what they have to do and the emotions she has to conceal. Not that she's done a talented job of keeping her feelings in check.

She's seen love in the faces of those she's confesses, in the eyes of her sister and many others but she never thought she'd feel it herself. She's tried to hard not to. To live with her powers alone and to not hurt anyone.

Then she fell in love with the seeker. It hurts and she understands.]

it's easier this way.

Kahlan... [He clenched his jaw, releasing his remaining breath through flared nostrils. With her, it seemed like if they couldn't have everything, she didn't want anything.

He...could live that way, he supposed. He had been, and it was better than the alternative, but sometimes, he just wanted to touch her face, her hand. Anything.

He reached out, taking her hand in his own.] ...don't you trust me to control myself? I trust you.

That isn't it....

[She looks down where their hands met. Heat lingers across her skin and her heart fluttered restlessly in her chest.]

I don't trust myself. [Her voice is soft before looking up at Richard.]

I'm sorry Richard.

[He met her eyes for a moment, giving her hand a gentle squeeze and wanting so much to just close the distance between the two of them, to press his mouth to hers, to feel her again, taste her again.

He squeezed his eyes shut and looked away, then he pulled her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles before letting go.]

It's not your fault, Kahlan.

[A knot twisted in her chest as their eyes met. She knows in just an instant she can lose herself to him and in that instant he'll lose himself. Every logical part of her mind is telling her to stay away while every piece of her heart wants to fill the air between them.

Kahlan inhales a sharp breath as the heat of his lip presses against her knuckles. Warmth lingers on her fingers as he releases her hand and it takes her a moment to remember to pull her hand back in.

She wants to say something more but she can't find the right words while every action wants to hold him closer. Instead turns to the berries they have in hand.]

Do you think we have enough?

[Richard takes a steadying breath and swallows before he looks over to the sack they've actually made good progress in filling.]

Uh, yeah. I think that'll do. It's just for a sauce.

We should get started...

[Her voice trails off looking up at Richard, her mind wandering to dangerous places.]

Would you like my help with the sauce?

[He met her eyes for a moment, his mind slowly processing the question she'd asked him.

It had nothing to do with him and everything to do with food. Right. Right. The rabbit!]

Yeah, sure.

[And he willed himself to turn back toward the clearing and their roasting rabbit, pulling up short as he stepped into the light of the fire, which was now being stoked by Zedd. When had he even returned.]

Oh there you are. It's a sad state of affairs when one old man can sneak up on the Seeker and his Confessor. Were the two of you planning on checking on dinner anytime soon?

[Richard's smile was one of self-deprecation. Zedd had a point.] What brought you back? Fear for our safety or the smell of charring meat?

[Zedd smirked.] Take your pick, my boy.

Edited 2015-12-26 03:24 (UTC)

[Kahlan flashes Zedd a sheepish smile before moving back to her seat on the log. The moment is broken and it's a little easier to breath now that Zedd is with them. She has the berries in her hand and she grabs a bowl from their bag so that she can begin crushing them.]

I knew you'd be back after Richard showed me the rabbit.

[She looks up at Richard with a smile. Somehow she knew Zedd would be back before the rabbit had finished. She is quickly learning about Zedd's passion with food.]

I'll crush the berries.

[She looks over at Zedd, not daring to let her gaze linger on Richard.]

Did you find what you were looking for?

[Zedd's lips curl into his usual smile.] You could say that.

Edited 2015-12-26 04:47 (UTC)

[Richard couldn't keep the smile from his face as he took a seat on his own log, pulling out his spice mortar and setting about selecting seasonings for the blackberry sauce he was planning for the rabbit. The three of them together, it was easier to just be, well...it felt like a family, really, and the tension just flew to the wayside as they talked. He nodded to Kahlan and looked back to his work, selecting peppercorns and dried rosemary. That should compliment the rabbit well enough.]

What...exactly were you looking for that you had to go tonight, anyway?

[Kahlan begins to grind the berries in her bowl looking over at Zedd as Richard posed the question. She had been a little bit curious too but she found that Zedd would tell them if they needed to know.

The wizard eyes the rabbit and then wraps his robes a little tighter around his torso.]

Can't an old man go off alone for a spell?

[Kahlan gives him a look that she usually reserved for Richard when he was doing something ridiculous.]

We are close to a friend of mine.

[She pauses in her grinding and then looks up at Zedd.] Would it be safe to stop there?

[It had been a few days since Richard had been able to capture anything worthwhile to prepare for them. The rabbit would be their first hot meal in nearly a week. The prospect of stopping somewhere was welcome to the young man's ear.

Something struck him as off about it, though.]

I don't think so. [Zedd looked over to Richard as he spoke, eyebrows raised.] Your friend didn't invite you for supper. [And then Zedd's expression became impressed and proud. Richard was learning.] What happened?

[At that, Zedd frowned, looking between the two of them, before smiling.] I told her I left two young travelers in the woods alone and that I should see to them.

[Zedd turning down a free meal? Something didn't seem right about that. Richard looked over to Kahlan, doubtful.]

[Kahlan shares Richard's doubtful expression. The pair of them know what great length's Zedd will go through for a hot meal. If he had been to see someone it would have been longer and he would have been able to swindle some sort of meal.]

Zedd, Is it someone we should be worried about?

[Her eyes flicked from Zedd to Richard. They have to protect the Seeker and if he's in danger here they have to get moving quickly.

She doesn't want to invade Zedd's personal life but if it involves the Seeker she wants to know.]

[To that, Zedd smiles.] No, no. Of course not. Just an...old friend from another time.

[Zedd's tone is almost wistful, and Richard's brow furrows in confusion. It sounds to him like someone Zedd misses very much.]

Should we give it a wide berth then?

[Zedd just shakes his head as if that might drop the topic of discussion. He eyes the rabbit and then looks over at Richard with an excited smile that he only has when it comes to food and mischief.]

Enough of that. I'm more eager to hear how this rabbit is doing.

[Kahlan smiles and shakes her head. They'll let Zedd lead come morning and if they have to alter their course they will. She trusts Zedd and she knows that he won't lead them into anything that they can't handle; at least without proper warning.

If Richard wants to keep questioning the wizard Kahlan won't stop him but it's obvious that in questions have been answered enough. She continues mashing the berries before passing the bowl over to richard.]

Here.

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all around the campire. | VOICETESTING X2

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