It was a long journey to the base near the portal gate, but never did her group falter from their coarse. Valencia saw to it they didnt rest until they got there, feet hurting or not. She explained it to them that it's better to just get it over with than just prolong the experience. To her it didn't take very long, but to them it took hours. When in reality it only took about 2 hours to get there on foot, approximately 7 miles out from the village. Finally, though, they have arrived. Other soldiers from the camp jerked their heads up to see their leader, Valencia. Quickly they scrambled into the line that Valencia often expected for them to do, hands behind their backs, head raised high, looking a little ways away from her as a sign of respect.
"Rest," She told the soldiers and they let go of their right formal stance, "You guys all know why you're here. What is going to happen is rotations throughout day and night. Half of the group will be awake to watch guard over the gate. One of those groups will be with me. The other half will be asleep while the others are guarding and vice versa. Both groups will trade off, and if anything happens the other group is to be woken up immediately." Valencia looked behind her at the very soliders she traveled with observing how tired they appeared and closed her eyes for a moment.
"The group that is behind me will be resting first. I'm sure the lot of you had plenty of time to rest from your journey's. So you guys will be on the first of duties, while my group will relax until the sun goes down." She told them, pointing towards the sky where the sun could barely be visible from all the ash from the constant eruptions. "While my group rests im going to be grabbing something to eat and carefully watching how you guys work. Whomever seems the most capable will be the leader of group one. This is NOT a competition. This is survival. This could potentially be war." She explained face never wavering from its intimidatingly serious nature.
"Group two, behind me. Go to the sleeping chambers and rest, have the other soldiers lead you there. Those of you that have to eat and are hungry come with me. The others that are going to sleep, rest well. You will need it for the night. Dismissed." She commanded, from group one a couple of soldiers had already begun what they were told. Leading her group that wasn't hungry away for some well needed rest, Valencia turned and lead her group in the other direction. Following a few more guards to the mess hall of the camp. Politely, Valencia thanked the guards making a simple movement of her head to scram, they needed to be back and guarding the gate. It would be just her luck if the humans showed up today. Hopefully they showed up about a week or so in when things become more settled with her arrival.
Walking into the food tent she waved to one of the chefs she had become quite familiar with, one of her childhood friends- Einar. When Einar had taken notice of Valencia, he raised his head in suprise. Giving her a wave with a smile on his lips, a genuine one. Happy to finally have a friend in this place, or someone he at least knew pretty well.
Sliding up behind the counter he worked behind she smirked, "Sup?" Einar gave her a simple shrug giving her soldiers some of his fantastic food he had prepared earlier that day.
"Nothing much, just cooking up a storm. What about yourself? Got a boyfriend yet?" Valencia rolled her eyes, her friend was always trying to get her out there, but she just wasn't interest.
"No Einar, you know how i feel about that." Einar chuckled,
"Yeah yeah, your a masculine brute, you are. Don't need anyone to love, either that or you are just that unattractive." Valencia playfully raised a hand and Einar quickly apologised, leaving the two to pause for only a second then bursting into laughter afterwards. Valencia missed laughter, she cherished the times she could laugh, remembered the times where she was a child. It felt like such a long time ago, flinging lava rocks at people. Swiping food from Einar only to have him chase after her as she quickly tried to eat it. That memory caused her to snicker.
"Oh no. She's laughing, I think im about'ta die." Valencia rolled her eyes, leaning her body against the counter. Watching as he handed the soldiers the plates of food, holding her stomach as it howled at her. Einar upon hearing her stomach growling gave her a weird look before making a plate for her as well.
"Don't starve yourself, Hun. Eat your food." Einar told her as she hesitantly took the plate.
"I can so easily break you, but i wont because i like you." Einar looked up at her, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. Valencia's scowl only caused him to howl with laughter some more, this time Valencia gently hit him on the shoulder.
"Owie, dont hurt the cook. I give you food. Don't FUCK with the cook, Valencia." Valencia felt like hitting him again, but held off for now. "Y'know, there are tons of really hot guys here." Einar said as he craned his neck to see all of the different soldiers in the tent. Eating at tables they had set out so no one had to eat on the hard ground.
"Then go talk to one, gay ass." Einar slowly looked up at her. With eyes that asked her what the fuck was wrong with her.
"They're hot guys, Valencia and I'm me. A simple cook." Valencia could feel her eyes practically roll into the back of her skull.
"Guys like good food. There is a saying that the best way to the guys heart is to their stomach." Einars eyes seemed to light up then, sticking his tongue out of the side of his mouth as he seemed to work much harder.
"Leave me peasant, I want a hottie coming up here. They're afraid of your masculinity!" Valencia laughed.
"I'm sure they are. Alright, take it easy, Einar." She told him patting him gently on the shoulder. Einar gave her a smile, then a simple wave as she turned. Placing the finished plate of food upon the counter for him to clean then stretched as she exited the tent.
Maybe being here wont be as bad anymore.