Rise and Shine (Shining is Optional)
“Come on, we can't let her lie in much longer.” Gale said, nodding in the direction of the last occupied tent, but with a mirthful touch to his gaze that was directed at somewhere, someone, else entirely.
“And what did your last servant die of?” Shadowheart protested, not exactly pleased with the undertone of the not-so-subtle request even as she stood up from her place at the campfire. She took a moment to stretch properly again, the morning’s weariness still present in her muscles.
That pause seemed too much for one member of the camp to abide, Lae’zel scoffing from her post nearby. “If you insist on dawdling, I can-”
“Gods no. Waking up to that face would scare anyone half to death.” Shadowheart cut her off, not giving the gith a second look back as she took to her task.
The quiet walk to the other side of camp provided a rare opportunity to let her mind wander, in this case wondering to herself just what exactly she would see first. A smattering of grey hair, somehow even more unkempt in the mornings, poking out from the top of a bedroll was a safe bet, the thin covers pulled right up over the prone form underneath. Or perhaps slightly more, a purple eye cracked half open and showing only begrudging acceptance that, yes, the time for sleep was over.
Sometimes it wasn’t as pretty. Sometimes any kind of noise or disturbance would startle them awake, the kind of instinctive and rapid alertness that must have been learned as a form of self preservation, when there hadn’t been a camp full of allies around to look after them.
Shadowheart wouldn’t deny that she was curious, that nosy streak a vice she loved to indulge, but overthinking in this case was not wise. She didn’t want to know, couldn’t know, or something in between.
But for now there were at least more pressing issues, like rousing their intrepid and ever sleepy leader. Shadowheart approached the entrance, if the meagre flap could be called that, of the tent, taking a glance over her shoulder to check the sun was in the right place for this particular strategy. Taking a handful of the material, she threw open the flap and let that brilliant sunlight stream into the darkness within. She stepped to the side, granting the paladin that privacy at least, but Shadowheart didn’t need to see within to know what was happening. The noise of bedding, and a body, writhing around in grumbling protest was confirmation enough.
“Room service!” Shadowheart called out emphatically.
“Hells…” Was all that Astra managed to grumble in reply, her voice thick with sleep.
“Any plans for today, paladin?”
“Just the one. Then you turned the lights on.”
“You can thank your God for that.” Shadowheart surprised herself with how easily she’d joked about such a thing, but shook off the thought for now. “Now come on, we need to get moving. And if you fall back asleep, it's going to be Lae'zel who comes and gets you.” She added.
“If those are the choices, I'd rather be waking up to you.” There was a momentary pause as at least one of the cogs in the tieflings head began to turn. “Ah, I mean -”
“See you in a moment, Astra.” Shadowheart suppressed a chuckle, walking away quickly before Astra could muster any more of a defence.
Only when she was alone, between tent and campfire, did Shadowheart allow herself the fond smile that had been threatening to grow, revelling in that amusement before she had to make herself presentable to the others once again.