Hunting for a way home - Shalnark x Reader

Chapter 18 - Well, Now its time to learn something

A hand was gently nudging your shoulder awake and you blinked up sleepily at Shalnark. Now sitting upright and belted in the driver seat. You sat up yawning, you went to cover your mouth but stopped abruptly at the dried blood covering your hand and forearm.

Last night flashed in your head and you shook yourself out of slumber to focus on your surroundings.Turning your head you looked. This wasn't where you fell asleep? "Where are we?"

Catching his eye he smirked, "I woke up when the sun came out and decided to drive the rest of the way back towards the base! Good thing I did too! Because something tells me if we waited for you to get up it would be mid day if not evening before we got back." He had a teasing tone the entire time and you looked around.

"I mean here this isn't where we left the car before." You then noticed that you couldn't see the road anywhere.

His face turned serious. "We have too much stuff to carry back and I can't risk blindfolding you considering the contents. We are going to the base from another route." Nodding you got out the car and stretched the stiffness away.

You opened the door to the back and pulled the satchel out while you went to grab the backpack and stopped. "What did you fill that with bricks? You're carrying the backpack!" He laughed as he shouldered the backpack.

"Aww! Now wouldn't this be a great time to help you build strength!" You rolled your eyes, "You're lucky there's a car between us."

His eyes locked on yours, something flashing there. "And if there wasn't, what would you do exactly?" The look in his eyes didn't match the way his lips had curled up innocently as he continued his teasing tone.

You looked away not answering and back into the back seat and grabbed the covered plant you'd stolen. Nudging the door closed with a hip. You walked around the car to look up at him.

"Where too boss man?" A surprised laugh left him. "Never been referred to as that before." Rolling your eyes you waited, "This isn't getting less heavy, ya know?" He smirked and began walking off in a direction, shortly you began trailing behind him.

Even with all the training you'd been doing for months now the overexertion of yesterday had your legs burning and your arms felt no better. It felt like you had been walking behind him forever. Throwing your head back you whined pitifully, "Are we almost there yet." You could almost feel his eye roll, "Yes we are close just be patient already."

Walking up a few steps in front of him you turned around as you walked to look up at his face pouting. "You said that what feels like HOOOOUUUURSSS ago." You couldn't help but whine. "Are you sure this isn't some kind of torture?" He looked at you exasperated and stopped, you stopping as well to look at him hopelessly.

"You really are something you know that?" Reaching out he grabbed the top of your head and turned it and you saw the side of the house peaking through the trees.

"OH THANK THE STARS I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO DIE OUT HERE!" Turning your body in the direction he'd turn your head, you took off with the most and little energy you had left rushing between the brush to the house. You were trying to be careful with the plant but you needed water, something to eat, and a shower... honestly probably a shower first.

It was easy to ignore before but dried blood still coated your arm and clothes. If Shalnark were any indication you knew you were covered in soot, dirt, and now sweat from the intended hike. These clothes also needed to come off remnants of smoke and chemicals still lingered in them. Setting the pot down on the front porch you breathed a little heavy and Shalnark just walked up beside you smirking.

"Seems nen training isn't the only thing we need to be doing!" He teased as you glared up at him. "Oh excuse me for not being as perfectly fit as you." An eyebrow raised as his lips quirked up, "Perfectly fit huh?" Rolling your eyes you huffed, "Oh come on leave it be I'm not in the mood." He only smiled as he opened the door to walk in the house following behind him you bumped into his back and you peaked an eye to see the reason he stopped.