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Crows having a camping trip was something people would laugh at if they heard about it. It was something that would turn out to be absurd by no doubt, and that was exactly what Kaz thought when you brought it up as a “way to unwind”.
“Camping, in the forest, sleeping in tents over the weekend?” he had clarified, looking at you and Jesper beaming like you had lost your minds.
You shrugged. “Jesper said he used to do it with his parents before his mother died and I thought it could be fun.”
Jesper’s eyes shifted to Matthias. “You would like it. Nature sounds, maybe some wolves. Aren’t you Fjerdans fond of nature?”
He grunted. “We used to do it when we were children. I did enjoy it, but–”
“But nothing,” Nina interrupted him. “We’ll join the weekend trip, won’t we, big guy?”
Matthias let out a huff but then nodded.
Soon, everyone else had agreed it would be a good idea after working so long, but Kaz, naturally, was still reluctant. But then Nina threatened to compose a full-length ballad out of his brooding she would sing into his ear for a week straight and sang a few experimental verses about him never knowing how to have fun. Kaz had growled, muttered something under his breath and finally agreed.
So now you were there, camped near a small lake. The six of you were all covered in sweat after putting up the four tents you got, while Kaz kept brooding on a chair he had unfolded for himself, looking over the lake.
“This is stupid,” you heard Kaz mutter, and you put your hands to your hips.
“Maybe take that coat off, you’re broiling yourself crisp when dressed like that,” you called out, earning a huff from him.
Matthias put down the logs, glancing towards Kaz and muttering, “the demjin doesn’t belong here in the wilderness. Only thing he will bond with here is the dirt.”
Kaz pulled his hat further over his eyes and you sighed, looking over at Inej who nodded. She’d talk to him later.
Wylan was digging through his bag and soon pulled out a few packs of marshmallows, which made Jesper snatch them instantly. “Oh we will absolutely have a party tonight.”
—
When the sun was setting and Matthias had helped Jesper light up the campfire, Nina stood up and pulled Matthias with her, starting to sway with the very confused Fjerdan.
“What are you doing?”
“Singing songs and dancing around the campfire is part of the experience,” Nina giggled.
Matthias grunted. “We didn’t sing songs while dancing around the campfire in Fjerda. We trained.”
“Well, first time for everything.”
You watched them twirling with Jesper’s arm around you, and looked over to the lake where the setting sun laid its last rays along the water’s surface. On closer inspection, you caught Kaz and Inej’s silhouettes standing there, hand in hand, probably thinking no one sees them. You nudged Jesper and pointed towards the lake, which made Jesper whistle lowly. “Well, well. Lovebirds.”
You kind of felt bad for Wylan who was the only one with no one to cuddle him like that, but on the other hand he seemed to be content while munching down marshmallows and tinkering with something, so you figured he didn’t mind. Everyone had a good time, even when some people didn’t show it.
When the sun had set and you gradually crawled to your tents one by one, when you laid in Jesper’s arms in your shared tent, you knew the rest of the weekend would be just the kind of a long-needed rest you had wished it to be.