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At first it was the dog.
But Karlach knew that was bound to happen sooner or later.
One morning she awoke, feeling the first rays of the morning sun gently stroke her face but not ready to wake just yet she rolled over groaning only to get a face full of fur.
Karlach pulled back, blinking the sleep away realizing the dog had curled up against her shoulder, out cold and looking quite comfortable.
The previous evening was cold, or so her companions complained. Though they were excited to find a water source for baths and cooking, the cooler weather mixed with the river breeze brought the group closer to the fire and, perhaps unintentionally, closer together for warmth.
Scratch was quick to realize Karlach ran hot, very hot and with the new upgrades she was safe to touch and thus Karlach found herself with a sleeping partner that evening.
That morning Karlach approached camp with a very happy and well rested companion following behind her.
“I was wondering where you went!” Yanis called out, excitedly reaching out with both arms outstretched as Scratch ran towards her.
“Guess it was a little cold? I didn’t notice though but smart fella! He was nice n cozy all night!”
Karlach leaned down, giving Scratch a good pat on the head before standing up and finding herself being stared at. As if the group collectively realized the solution to their cold evenings.
Sure enough the next evening just as Karlach lay down and waited to see if her furry friend would make a repeat appearance as the wind picked up, Yanis appeared with dog in tow.
“Hello I don’t suppose you’d mind if I joined you this evening?”
Yanis laughed as she received her answer in the form of Karlach sitting up with arms outstretched, mimicking the elf’s excited motion for the dog earlier this morning.
Yanis was small, a full head shorter than the barbarian but fit quite well against Karlach’s side, arm draped over her chest and head resting against those big broad shoulders. With Karlach’s arm wrapped around the tiny elf’s waist, she pulled her in close to place a big obnoxious kiss against Yanis’ forehead making her giggle.
“I hope you realize this means I’m moving in.”
Karlach snorted,“ Oh no…oh gods what a damn shame.”
Scratch yawned and promptly plopped right back into his previous spot, sandwiching Karlach in the middle.
“Careful, the others might get ideas.”
She spoke too soon.
The following morning the two awoke to find Astarion using her left thigh as a pillow, fingers laced together over his stomach looking rather content.
“Sleep well?” Yanis asked as he slowly stood up, straightening his shirt out and brushing his hair with his fingers.
“...yes, and we will never speak of this again.”
He did come back the next night however.
As did Shadowheart, though she brought her own pillow and curled up with her back against Karlach’s other leg just under Yanis.
Wyll joined in after he found a spot on Karlch’s right side where Scratch started out, luckily the dog was willing to switch spots in exchange for lying across Wyll’s chest. Though he was embarrassed to ask to sleep with everyone at first Karlash used it as an excuse to show him how to fold a pillow in such a way that his horns wouldn’t get in the way of lying down.
Gale eventually showed up, realizing where everyone was going at night but in true Gale fashion was unable to make it not awkward.
“Hello! Good evening!” he called out, a pillow tucked under his arm as he waved at everyone,”So! I see everyone is here so I just thought that perchance seeing that it is cold this evening I could-”
“Shut up and lie down,” Astarion called out, settling into his spot against her thigh again.
“Heard loud and clear!”
Gale situated himself near Astarion, mirroring Shadowheart against Karlach’s other leg.
At some point Lae’zel showed up, lying down away from the main cuddle pile but still close enough to enjoy the tent now warm with not only Karlach’s heat but the communal body warmth. She said nothing walking in and said nothing walking out, but occasionally muttering under her breath how the cold affects a good night's rest which would hinder combat performance the next day. This was for survival and nothing else.
But it worked out that way, most of the time no one said a single word about the strange ritual for cold evenings. As soon as dinner was finished, pillows were grabbed and a quiet walk to Karlach’s tent began. Situating themselves into comfortable positions and sleeping quietly against the team heat lamp.
Even as an owl bear cub joined their camp and slept near Karlach’s head and as the space in Karlach’s tent became smaller and more cramped, no one left. It just became a part of their routine to be there with her.
And perhaps yes it was survival, plainly put it was to avoid the harsh cold but also Karlach couldn’t help but notice the camaraderie and morale increased since it all began.
Banter a plenty, tensions between teammates were not as intense and general…just getting along. There was kindness in camp.
The one good thing to come from her strange affliction that brought the team together.
The very thought brought tears to her eyes one evening, unable to sleep as she looked around and found herself quite literally surrounded by friends she genuinely loved and believed perhaps they do in kind. She blinked hard as her eyes stung with hot tears that quietly slid down her cheeks, carefully reaching up to wipe them away without waking her many sleeping partners but was unable to stop the small hitch of breath in her chest and Yanis awoke with a start.
“Hey what’s wrong?” she asked in a low whisper, realizing Karlach was crying, "Do you want us to leave?”
“Please don’t,” Karlach responded quickly and smiled wide as Yanis gently wiped the tears away with her thumb, her thin brows furrowed in worry but Karlach just laughed,“I’m just…”
She trailed away, listening to the soft snores and light twitches of sleep from her companions that subconsciously curled up closer to her as another cold breeze brushed by.
“Happy.”