Awkward Encounters by the Waterfall

The sky was darkening. Using the wood we had collected from the mandrakes, we built a bonfire beneath a large tree near the waterfall and settled around its warmth.

"Dude! This place is chilly," Bard shivered, huddled inside his sleeping bag. He wore only a pair of camouflage shorts and an olive drab T-shirt; his CRAS plate carrier, Assault Pack, and uniform were hanging from a nearby branch to dry. I had already removed my own cap and armor, setting them beside my weapons.

While Cutter and I prepared four bowls of Field Deployment Rations for supper, Brielle went to fetch water from the river. As soon as the food was ready, we began to eat. I clapped my hands together, murmured, "Itadakimasu!" and dug in.

We ate in comfortable silence. I watched Brielle eat her noodles with an enthusiasm that was infectious. She seemed to be genuinely enjoying the simple meal. "This pasta is delicious! How did you make it?"

After finishing his own meal, Cutter took a cigar from his pack. "We just boil the noodles and add the seasoning," he said, lighting the cigar and taking a long drag. "And trust me, you won't feel hungry for twelve hours after eating one of these."

Still grinning, she asked, "Really?"

"Absolutely," Cutter confirmed.

She finished her meal with the same zeal and set the plastic bowl down. "Thank you for the food, Arc, Captain Thorne! That was wonderful." Her cheeks were slightly flushed, but I couldn't tell if her blush was for Cutter, for me, or for both of us.

"Don't mention it, luv," Cutter smirked. I just nodded, feeling a blush of my own creep up my neck.

After supper, we decided to turn in for the night.

"Alright, let's get some sleep," Cutter announced, pulling a sleeping bag from his Assault Pack. "We need to reach the capital by tomorrow afternoon." I unrolled mine as well.

I noticed, however, that Brielle was simply leaning against the tree near the fire. The faint quiver in her breath told me she was cold, especially since Bard had borrowed her jacket. I had no idea why it was so cold tonight.

"Psst, Arc," Cutter whispered to me. "Why don't you give Brielle your sleeping bag? She looks like she's freezing."

"Okay," I responded automatically, before my brain could process what he'd said. A few seconds later, the meaning sank in, and I blushed furiously. "Wha—"

He cut me off, speaking louder. "Vance! Arc wants to let you use his sleeping bag."

"Oh! Thanks, but no, really! I can sleep like this!" she exclaimed with a forced smile.

"Have a good night, kids," he said, turning away with a knowing look.

"Damn Brit," I muttered under my breath. My focus returned to her. She was clearly lying; I could see her shivering, and I couldn't bear to watch her suffer.

I walked over and held my sleeping bag out to her.

"Um?" She glanced from the sleeping bag to my face. "Arc, are you sure about this?" she asked anxiously.

"Yeah. Besides," I lied smoothly, "part of my boot camp training involved sleeping naked in the snow."

I glanced over at my CO, who was already sprawled out on the ground near the flames. He shifted his position just enough to flash me a smug, shit-eating grin.

What a jerk.

With some hesitation, she accepted the sleeping bag and climbed inside.

"Good night, Arc," Brielle said, and soon drifted off to sleep. I settled down beside her, using my bulky assault pack as a pillow.

Everyone else was asleep, but I remained awake. The only sound was Bard's snoring, which was incredibly annoying. The noise finally stopped when I saw Cutter, without opening his eyes, shove a spare sock into Bard's open mouth.

I focused on the musketeer at my side. Curled up like a cat, she unintentionally leaned against me in her sleep. Her soft, even breaths tickled my neck, sending a pleasant shiver down my spine. As a normal guy, I was thrilled to have a beautiful girl like Brielle sleeping so close to me. I sighed, gazing up at the glittering night sky.

This strange feeling, however, was getting stronger. "Good night, guys," I whispered, glancing at my sleeping squadmates. I then turned my head to the girl beside me. "Good night, Brielle," I muttered, and finally closed my eyes.

My internal clock went off. The early morning light forced my eyes open. My watch read 7:00 a.m.

Curiously, Brielle was gone. She's probably scouting the area, I reasoned. If she had been attacked, we would have heard something. I pushed the thought aside.

I saw Cutter sitting against a tree, his head down and eyes closed. I couldn't tell if he was asleep or just resting his eyes.

Bard was still fast asleep, tossing and turning in his sleeping bag. He was muttering a jumble of words like "reloading" and "get to cover." I knew he was dreaming of a past conflict, one fought back in The Sandbox, not here. When I heard him murmur "sniper," I couldn't help but smile. What use would a slime or a wolf have for a marksman rifle?

The sound of rushing water then reached my ears, reminding me of the nearby waterfall. Grabbing my sidearm, I made my way toward the river. The scent of fresh water grew stronger as I approached, and then I saw the clear, inviting pool at the base of the falls. I undressed and dove right in.

Water had been a luxury in the Arid Expanse. After our bottled water ran out, we had to drink whatever we could find. Taking a proper bath during deployment was a rare treat. I owed that hard lesson to the OSC Marines, the wayward sons of Orion's Sam.

I washed my face and took a long drink from the river. Suddenly, something surfaced in the pool in front of me. A few seconds later, a recognizable girl with pink hair broke the surface, gasping for air. It was Brielle. And, of course, she was also naked.

"Brielle?" I said, my gaze locked on her face. I forced myself not to let my eyes wander.

Her piercing blue eyes met mine as she brushed her damp hair back. "Arc?"

We just stared at each other. The only thing breaking the tense, awkward silence was the sound of the waterfall. Very, very awkward.

After what felt like an eternity, we both started to blush, and then the inevitable happened.

"Kyaaa~!" she shrieked, frantically trying to cover herself as I hastily averted my gaze.

Sometimes, a man's hormones are uncontrollable. I risked another look. Her figure was perfectly proportioned, her skin flawless... Gods, what am I thinking? Forgive me!

"N-no, don't… look…" she stammered, her face a deep crimson.

Just as I was about to apologize and leave, someone shouted at me. "Stay right there, molester!" I glanced over my shoulder to see an elf girl pointing a bow and arrow at me. She wore a green, hooded cape reminiscent of Robin Hood, emblazoned with an emblem on the back: a silver shield bearing a lightning bolt and a unicorn's head. Beneath it, she wore a brown tank top that exposed her midriff and a matching short skirt. A floral clip held back her blond, neck-length hair. Wait a minute, I think I've seen her before.

"Elara?" Brielle said.

The elf lowered her bow. "Brielle?"

I looked between them, completely perplexed. "Wait, you two know each other?"

The elf raised her weapon again, aiming it squarely at me. "You have no right to speak! And don't you dare try to change the subject, you pervert!"

Just as I was about to ask if she was the girl from town, I heard the distinct click of a pistol's hammer being cocked.

I looked over to see Cutter pointing his USP .45 at the elf's head. "Drop it!" he commanded.

The elf didn't lower her bow, but she did scowl at Cutter. "Are you this molester's friend?" she asked in a menacing tone. The Brit was utterly unfazed.

"Molester?" Cutter's eyebrow shot up. "Are you accusing my man of being a bloody molester, you pointy-eared bitch?!" he snapped.

I decided to intervene before this escalated into a bloodbath. "Sir, it's just a misunderstanding," I said, starting to walk out of the water.

The elf girl gasped, blushing as she stepped back. "Kyaaa~, put something on!" she screamed, shielding her eyes.

I turned to face Cutter, who just shook his head and peered down at my lower torso. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. For God's sake, Arc, cover 'that' thing up," he said.

I looked down. "Damn it!" I swore, quickly submerging myself again.

Through all of this, Bard continued to sleep soundly.

"I am truly sorry, Mister Shinozaki," the blonde elf apologized after we had returned to camp and gotten dressed. "It was all a misunderstanding."

"There's no need to apologize," I said. I glanced at Brielle. "So, you know her?"

Brielle nodded. "Yes, this is my childhood friend." She turned to the elf with a bright smile. "Long time no see, Elara!"

The girl, Elara, gave Brielle a tight hug. As she did, I noticed something in her hair quiver like an antenna. "Hehehe, it really has been a long time, Brielle," Elara said. When she released her, she gave us a formal introduction. "Greetings. I am Inspector Elara Brightwood of the Criminal Intelligence Division. It is a pleasure to meet you all."

"Elara, what are you doing here?" Brielle inquired. "I thought you were stationed in the capital."

"I was ordered to investigate a murder in Darrow Town connected to one of the drug cartels."

"Did you manage to catch the murderer?" I asked, my interest piqued. Before my father convinced me to join the military, I had dreamed of being a police officer.

"Of course," she replied with a mischievous smile. "I disguised myself to attract his attention, and once I had him, I made the arrest."

I put a hand to my chin. "So, that's why you were running?" She nodded.

"Where are you all headed?" Elara asked us.

"We're on our way to the capital," Brielle explained. "These guys want to meet the Princess."

"May I tag along?" Elara asked, her expression turning into an adorable puppy-dog look. It was so effective that Bard, who had finally woken up, had to pinch his nose to stop it from bleeding. Cutter, true to form, was immune to such charms; his expression remained as stern as ever.

"Sure, why not," was Cutter's simple reply.

"Really? Thank you!" she squealed, leaping forward to hug Cutter. He sidestepped at the last second, and she landed squarely on top of Bard.

"Ugghhh!" Bard moaned from the ground, pinned beneath her. Elara pushed herself up, giving us a cheeky smile. "Well then, looks like I'll be staying with you all for a while! Please take care of me."

And just like that, Elara became the newest member of our party.