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WHO: Samouel & Kirk
WHAT: Kirk and Sam take some well deserved R&R (camping, they're camping)
WHEN: Beginning of Harvestmere, for about a week
WHERE: Somewhere in the mountains, about two days travel from Skyhold
NOTES: Fluffiness, sexiness, bears

"You know, this is the first time I've really gone exploring outside of Skyhold this far and it hasn't been on a march of some sort."

Kirk paused on a high crest, keeping his voice low even as he caught his breath. Two days wasn't all that far all things considered, but it was far enough to feel isolated and nearly in a whole different part of the world. A ridiculous notion, perhaps, but it was a nice once - especially when he was alone with Samouel. They had both decided they needed a little bit of time away from Skyhold and the Inquisition, with the added desire to find and study bears to add to Sam's repertoire of shape-changing forms.

Kirk could hardly let him go alone, now could he? And besides, it was a good chance to work out his survival skills in this world. Among other thoughts, but those weren't voiced at the time. The waggle of his brows might have given said ideas away though.

He glanced down and motioned for Sam to come closer and pointed. "Think I found some tracks. They don't look that old, either. We might be in luck."

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The waggles of brows and the none discrete packing of certain objects into Kirk's pack were certainly a dead give away of some of the plans the space captain had for this trip. But mostly it was for taking a break, doing a bit of studying, and letting Kirk get out and about Thedas while not on Inquisition business.

At this point they've already picked a camping site and tied up the horses, but as soon as they had settled just a bit Kirk had immediately suggested they go collect branches, which was a rather smart ide- and bears. Sam couldn't decide who was more excited about his bear studies; him or Kirk.

Judging by how Kirk took off to start tracking, Sam would say it might be Kirk.

He smiles slightly at the way he's beckoned over, making sure to keep as quiet as possible as he does. "Bear tracks?" he asks, coming up to take a look at what Kirk has found, amused by all this. He doesn't have the heart to mention to Kirk that he can turn into a dog and sniff them out, since he's enjoying himself watching the man put his skills to the test.

Well, they were going to be alone and probably need to keep extra warm on certain nights out. So, why not pack a few fun things for them? It would be a shame to waste those days alone, away from the press of castle walls and responsibility.

He couldn't deny that he was excited about the prospect of bears. He loved the challenge of finding them, of making a discovery of some sort. And maybe he was enjoying just a touch of that danger, of potentially running up against something with teeth. He said he hated it - the teeth part - but honestly it gave him that rush that made exploration so worth it.

"It looks big enough, and there are enough toes," he pointed out the tracks, winding their way along a muddy path of melted snow. "Unless you have some other creature I should know about that looks similar?"

Couldn't say Kirk didn't plan ahead, and he was quite the opportunist. The eagerness for them to be alone without interruptions didn't go unnoticed - he would admit that he was eager as well.

As for bears; honestly if they tried not to find them they would have better luck finding them. That seemed to be their thing, showing up when you didn't want them to. Clearly because Kirk wanted to find them they were hiding.

"I wouldn't say similar, but they're big, different tracks." Good thing Wyverns weren't a thing in this particular area. "So which way do we go?"

That was the way of the world wasn't it? No matter where you went. The moment you didn't want to find something it dropped in at your feet. Which would mean the minute they got down to some fun stuff, a bear would come trundling in.

"That way," he pointed. "I don't think these are to old, but they're not extremely fresh either. We might at least get an idea of where this bear likes to hang around." He straightened and shifted his pack on his shoulders, making his way down the side of the slope.

They would do that wouldn't they? Sam does not like the idea of being in the middle of something and having a bear wandering in. Remind him to put down spell wards later on.

"Hopefully not too close to camp," he says in response, watching as Kirk goes down the slope before following. "Let's just try not to get lost while we're doing this." There was plenty of light out at the moment, but it would get dark pretty fast without them realizing it.

Good idea. Kirk might not understand magic or like it, but he can say when it is definitely useful, re: wards. Especially when he might have plans for them one night during the middle of something.

"Don't worry, this isn't my first time exploring a forest," he said with a cheerful laugh, though it was quiet as he paced along the path the paws took. "We shouldn't go much further out today anyways."

Aw, not even a little bit at this point? Kirk had to admit that the healing was pretty handy, as was turning into animals. Not to mention all those tricks he does.

"The sun is starting to set," he agrees, coming up to look down at the tracks a bit better. It figured that when they wanted to see a bear they disappeared. "Shall we head back and start a fire?"

He never said it wasn't handy, it just still irritated him because he couldn't explain it. And that would always irritate him. And yes, he did like those tricks. Quite a bit, actually.

Kirk looked up into the boughs and frowned at the color of the sky. Damn. He sucked his lip and looking around, finding a rock. Picking it up he went to the nearest tree, cracking it hard against the bark until he had worked in a crude arrow.

"If it doesn't snow or rain tonight, the tracks should still be here," he said, dusting off his hands and turning back. "They'll be older, but we can get an idea of if it's den is nearby, at least."

For a time Sam simply watches as Kirk looks around before grabbing a rock then proceeding to mark the tree with it. It was a clever trick, clearly something he had picked up during those other times he had been in the wilderness. Even so- "You know you could have asked me for my dagger," he says with a grin, already turning around to head back up the slope they came down on.

"It shouldn't rain or snow tonight, but should take it into consideration when we setup the tent."

"Probably, but this felt more satisfying," he made his way back up the slope, heading towards their small encampment.

"If it's not to bad, I thought we might try sleeping out in the open," Kirk suggested. "With the tent as the backup, of course." He wasn't an idiot, and who knew? Maybe they would end up retreating in there anyways.

Someone was going hardcore wild man weren't they?

"You want to try sleeping without a tent?" It's something he's done plenty of times, but not necessarily because he had felt like it. This would be different. "Might still get cold tonight, you sure?"

He could have his moments if he wanted to.

"Sure. It would be nice, sleeping under the stars, don't you think?" His voice is softly wistful, as it tended to get when speaking of stars. It was hard not to let himself become that way when they always reminded him of home. "If it gets to cold, we'll move into the tent."

Just having a moment? Not trying to impress anyone?

The tone isn't missed, and Sam can only sigh lightly before catching up and giving Kirk a slight nudge with his arm. "I think it's a great idea." Allowing himself a moment walking together, Sam eventually pulls away, picking up sticks as he goes. "Best get the fire started once we get back then. Big enough that we might not need to get in the tent."

He came out of his cotton ball thoughts and nudged the other back before moving to gather up his own armload of wood. "Probably for the best," he agreed. "I think it might be easier for you to start the fire, and I'll go down to the river and get some water to boil to go with dinner." They had brought supplies in the form of dried meats and fruits and a few fresh things that would last several days. Still, softening up some of them would be a fair sight more tasty than chewing the equivalent of leather.

He hums lightly in agreement at the plan, mind recalling where the river was to their campsite. "Just be careful going down there. You have your communication crystal right?" After all it was starting to get dark and there were more things then just bears out here.

"Perhaps in the morning we can go fishing, or catch something fresh." They had rations, and while they weren't bad, having something fresh and hot tasted better.

"Yes, I have my crystal," he said reassuringly, pursing his lips. Really, everywhere he went people nagged at him for things like that. Though, it probably wasn't a bad thing. He had a habit of losing critical pieces like that and getting himself in more troubler.

"Good idea. And that might be a good place to look for some bears," he nodded as they came up on their small camp, going to put down his pile of wood and pick up their flasks and a pot.

He happens to be looking at Kirk when he answers, brows raising just a bit at the way he purses his lips. "That's good. Cause you never know if I might need to call you if something happens." Honestly it was if something were to happen to either of them, he was only checking that they both had their stones considering there was only to two of them out here. But in this case he's purposely only saying that it is him who will need help, which is why he's asking.

"Hm," he agrees, putting down his own wood. "Could use it as bear bait too so that I get a chance to get a good look at it."

Oh, well, that made sense. He was simply so used to being somewhat nagged by Spock and Bones in their own various ways that he instantly shoved that concern into that space. He tugged on the leather thong he kept his crystal on, choosing to wear it beneath his shirt to avoid it getting lost and falling off something on his hip, like a pouch might.

"Or if you miss me to much," he teased to lighten up the mood again, moving to talk down the path towards the river. "I'll scope the place out and let you know. If it looks good we should go back in the morning and see what we see. If I'm not back in twenty, call the crystal." He marched away, whistling as he walked.

"Alright, be careful," he calls after, seeing that Kirk was already walking off to the river. He knows Kirk will be, but he still says it out loud just because he does worry.

Ten minutes, give or take go by, and at this point he's already managed to get the fire going, and starting to setup the tent. It's easier with two people, but he'd rather just get it ready - or at least started. After a few more minutes, Sam reaches for his crystal and activates it, starting up a call with Jim if he answers.

"Guess I started to miss you," he teases.

He made it to the stream and frowned, disliking the pace of the current where he came out. Looking left and right, he finally decided to move up stream to a better spot with more footing and less chance of him being swept away in case an accident did happen - or their supplies. It made his trip longer, but better safe than sorry.

Jim's laughter filtered through the crystal in reply. "You must be psychic. I was thinking just the same thing - wishing you were here filling canteens with me."

"Well I could have been if hadn't decided to split the chores," he returns. Even if Kirk cannot see him, it is obvious by the tone of his voice that he's grinning.

"I got the fire going, you should be able to see it when you start heading back. How's the river?" Probably wet and cold.

"Wet and cold," he replied. "I had to go up river a bit for a better spot to fill up, but it's not far and I'm almost done." He bent to screw on the cap, straightening up. "I should be back in about ten minutes. I think I might need some of that special warming of yours, though. My poor fingers."

Oh look he guessed right.

"Special warming or special warming?" There's obviously a clear different. Unless Kirk wanted both of course. "Didn't you bring glove- damnit." There's a soft thud on his end and Sam sighing. He's just not having luck with the tent tonight, it won't cooperate.

"Sam? Everything okay?" Kirk frowned down at the crystal, pausing as he walked, the tiniest bit of tension darting across his shoulders as he prepared to sprint back to the camp. Sam hadn't sounded to immediately concerned, just frustrated, but even so.

"I'm fine," he says the words a little breathy considering the amount of movement being heard on his end as he leans over to get the parts again. "Apparently I'm all thumbs at the moment. I was planning on having the tent up by the time you got back, but guess not."

Oh, good, it was something mundane. He had thought it would be, but the woods were an unpredictable place weren't they?

"I'll be there in a few minutes, so I can help," he assured him. "Why not get out the stuff to make dinner?"

"Slices of bread and dried meats?" he asks with amusement, still fiddling with the tent a bit. Guess he'll give it up for the time being and work on setting up food and a blanket. "We can start tea when you get back with the water."

"Hey, a sandwich is a sandwich. I used to live off those as a kid for my lunches," he countered, stepping into the campsite a minute later and turning off his crystal. He went to stow the canteens and placed the pot over the fire to bring it to a boil.

"Honey, I'm home!" he called.

The sound of speech and footsteps immediately catches Sam's attention, smiling slightly when he sees that Kirk has returned. He lets him finish his sentence before he puts away his own stone, returning attempting picking up the parts that fell during his tent attempt.

The greeting Jim gives has Sam grinning, shaking his head a bit. "Welcome 'home'," he greets in return, looking over his shoulder to see if Kirk was coming over for the routine kiss whenever he said that line.

Why break tradition, even in the woods? He stepped up behind the other and leaned in, pressing a quick peck to his lips. It felt nice, those little kisses, and he was sure Sam would be sad not to get one when he said their ritual words anyways.

"Right, what seems to be the problem with the tent?" he asked, coming over to the mass of cloth and poles.

Though short, the peck to his lips does have him smiling a bit wider, clearly overly happy at the small action. At first it had only been something Kirk had done for amusement sake and an excuse to steal a kiss, but slowly it had become their greeting, something that Sam could always look forward to.

"It isn't cooperating," he points out, turning back to the project at hand. "Seems I need help keeping the poles straight."

"Let's get to it then," he moved to the diagonal back of the one Sam stood at. "We'll get this up, and by that time the water should be ready to make dinner with, and we can set up where we sleep at the same time."

He grabbed his end and erected it, waiting for Sam to do the same and then moving to the other side. Quick and easy work between the two of them.

Much easier and quicker with two people doing it, but it still takes some time to get the tent properly setup. When it is done though Sam starts on putting their things inside of it since it was better then just leaving them out in the open.

"Uneventful trip to the river?"

"Uneventful, though I did find some signs of bears being there," he went back to the fire to start up their meal for the evening and rolling out their blankets to sit on (and no doubt do other things on later). He glanced back to the tent where Sam was putting their things up, biting his lip. He would need just the right time to sneak in...

"We should head down in the morning. I think we might find a few fishing for you to watch."

He's listening as he puts the stuff away or at least organizes it so that they had space to move in if they did need to in the middle of the night. "Hopefully they'll be more interested in fishing then seeing if we make a better, drier meal," he jokes, emerging a moment later with a couple extra blankets and their pillows.

"Course bear watching isn't the main reason we're out here, though I'm glad to see you so enthusiastic about it."

"It's not, but you wanted to see them, so I would feel bad not putting in due effort," he smiled at him, pushing up and ducking back in the tent briefly. He came out with two twin cups and a small bag of dried leaves for tea. He would have much preferred coffee, but one couldn't be a chooser when camping, and tea wasn't all that bad for a cool night.

"Any special requests for dinner?" he teased as he settled down beside him to tend the pot and arrange their blankets.

"Hm," he hums lightly, eyeing Kirk from the corner of his eyes at the question. There's a grin playing on his lips, a clear sign what is on his mind, but choosing not to say it - there would be plenty of time later.

"No. I'm not picky. I'll eat just about anything. What kind of tea did you bring?"

"I was promised it would taste nice in the woods," he shrugged, never having been much of a connoisseur. He glanced over at Sam, catching that smile, and biting the corner of his lip.

God, but he loved Sam's smile - any of his smiles. He knew them all by heart now and each one made him feel warm inside, made everything just be okay for half a minute. It wasn't long, but it was long enough, the sweet moment in the middle of the day or the night and everything just... made sense.

"Actually, I brought along something else," he said, feeling a touch nervous and ridiculous at the same time as he reached into his pocket. He drew out a little lump tied in a cloth knot. He undid it, revealing a pile of dark cord and a single silver pendent about the size of a coin. Emblazoned on the front of the coin was a symbol Sam should know well, having seen it on Jim's body practically nightly - the symbol of Star Fleet.

He held it up, showing it was a necklace, licking his lips.

"May I?"

Kirk brought something else along? Curious, Sam turns so that he is facing Kirk, giving him his full attention. His eyes are immediately drawn to the hand reaching into the pocket, brow raising as he allows Kirk to take his time to reveal.

At first he's not sure what to make of the silver coin and dark cord, but once Jim holds it up to show that it is a necklace, Sam's eyes widen just a bit. He had gotten him something to wear? Not just a necklace either, something with great significance, recognizing the symbol etched into the metal right away.

The question has Sam blinking, looking from the necklace towards Kirk's face, noting the nervous expression there. "Ah, yes, you may." Ever so slightly he leans his head forward to make it easier to be placed over his head.

It felt like the only appropriate way to return the gift Sam had given him of the bracelet in Orlais. Admittedly, that bracelet had scared him at first. It felt like it meant something more than either of them had been willing to say up until then, said many things that Kirk could not say. Hopefully the necklace helped to return some of the sentiment Sam passed to him in the bracelet, said for him the things he could not, the things he was so scared to say least they be ripped from him the very next day.

He undid the clasp and slide the necklace around Sam's neck, the cord long enough to see the medallion hidden beneath a shirt if need be. He smiled to see it hanging there against his chest, reaching out to brush the emblazoned symbol.

"If, one day, I'm not here and you see someone wearing this symbol? Know that they're a friend," he told him gently.

Sam shivers ever so slightly as Kirk puts the necklace on him, sensitive and trained to his touches. Even if the necklace weighs close to nothing it still feels a bit heavy when it rests against his chest, which feels a bit tight from this, more so when Kirk speaks about 'one day'.

The necklace speaks volumes of what they don't openly say - won't say - especially the emblem, how Kirk reaches down to touch it. Reaching his hand up, he lightly grasps Kirk's wrist. It takes a moment, but eventually he looks up, a smile there on his face. "I suppose if someone does show up I'll have to try sending you a message."

It might have been a poor choice of words, but also the right ones. He did harbor the hope he would return home some day. He could not deny that, and he wouldn't. He needed to go home. But now there was the complication of liking the people here, some more than others, of not wanting to leave them behind in this messed up world. What else could he leave them with by hope and a memory?

Kirk watched Sam for a moment, the silence pregnant with those unspoken words. He smiled a little at that and reached out to turn the medal over slightly so Sam could see a series of numbers etched into the back.

"It's called a hailing frequency," he explained to him, letting it drop and threading their fingers as he had on the bench that one day. It was a simplistic version of it, but it would be enough for the purposes he had them put on for. "If you tell the people wearing this symbol those numbers, they can find me."

And bring me back to you, went unsaid, but it was there in the way he held his hand, in the soft touch of his forehead to Sam's.

He couldn't fault Kirk for wanting to go home, after all he had been ripped from his world and people he cared for. Staying wasn't an option, and he was certain not having a green shard of weird magic in your hand, or waking up to weird nightmares/memories on a regular basis would do wonders for the space captain. Still it would be hard to see Kirk go - he just hoped that when the time came he'd be able to be there to see him off.

Sam lets out a sigh as Kirk holds his hand, eyes focused between that and the necklace even as Kirk presses his forehead against his. "Hm, you mean Star Fleet." He remembers the name, Kirk, and the name of your ship, as well as your full name. Things he'll remember for a long while. "Thank you, I'll treasure it."

No, it wasn't an option. People needed him back home, and he needed them. Which was troublesome when he found himself needing people here as well, though he was unsure if he was himself needed. And maybe that was part of the intense desire to go home. To feel needed. He was sure Sam needed him, and that was good, more than good, but it was not quite the same either.

"Good," he smiled, reaching up and cupping Sam's chin between thumb and forefinger to tilt it up slightly before leaning in to kiss him.

Even if he did it wasn't like Kirk could stay, and most importantly there wasn't an option to go. And if there had been-? Perhaps before it would have been easier to consider something like that, but there were people he couldn't leave behind now.

Something he could muse about another time though, since his attention was currently focused on the way his chin was being held and lifted, and a certain space captain leaning in to kiss him. Sam grins at the gesture, leaning up a bit as much as he can in his position to meet Jim, humming pleasantly when their lips meet.

So the words went unsaid, to cruel for either of them to voice, and Kirk frankly to frightened to do so. He was a man of great courage, yes, but this was the one area in which he failed. He didn't want to damn what they had, or run from it, but his condition, also unsaid, was that he could not speak the words that came out in every action. Words made it reality, and he was not strong enough for that.

He slid his hand around to cup the back of Sam's head, burying his fingers deep into the thick black hair. He pulled Samouel closer, molding his mouth to Sam's, tongue caressing the now familiar curve of his lips, savoring the familiar taste that never got old. Gently he pressed, seeking to go deeper, adjusting the way he sat to lay his hand on the other side of Sam's hip and make it easier to kiss him.

The sound he makes when Kirk fists his hair, teases his lips with a talented tongue, is a mix between a low chuckle and a moan. As he feels Kirk shift before him, he grins, hands reaching out to hook into the sides of the man's pants and encourage him to occupy a bit more of his space.

"Is this the real reason you wanted to take me camping, captain?" he teases, pulling back a bit to lavish a bit of attention along the side of Kirk's neck.

"It was a major factor, yes," he hummed deep in his chest, throwing his leg over Sam's hip and nestling himself close into his lap.

They needed a vacation - needed some time away from the pressures of Skyhold, the missions, of being pawns in a game that Kirk was barely beginning to understand. He needed this time alone with Sam, these moments to carve into his skin and his memory. His hands worked down to wrap around the broad chest, digging into cloth and powerful muscle while he canted his head back, favoring Sam with as much of his skin as he wished to play with.

"I've rather always wanted to see what you look like under moonlight when you're all worked up."

[Continued here.]

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