Renji saluted mockingly and went into the trees. Less than five minutes later he returned with an armful of twigs, most still dripping with dew.
Aya stared with her mouth open. "Renji."
"What? They're wood. You said wood."
"Not wet wood."
"How was I supposed to know?"
Aya sighed and rubbed her temple. "Fine. Try again. This time, touch them first."
Renji grumbled as he stomped back. "Touch them first, she says. What am I, a professional firewood inspector?"
When he came back, he had drier wood this time.
"Much better," Aya said as she pointed where he could drop them.
She started arranging the wood so they could make a fire.
Renji crouched beside her, watching her work. As she diligently went about the work, it made him feel useless.
"I could do that, you know," he muttered.
"Really?" Aya's tone was too sweet. "Want to try?"
Renji smirked. "Sure. How hard can it be?"
He reached forward and grabbed the twigs, stacking them exactly as he had seen her do. However, less than three stacks in, he had collapsed the structure of wood and twigs rolled everywhere.
Renji raised his hands. "Controlled demolition, just like I planned."
Aya pinched the bridge of her nose. "Just sit, please."
"Gladly," Renji replied and plopped on a log. "I'll sit here and contribute moral support."
As Aya started restacking the fire, she turned to him. "You're funny, you know? You can fight trained guards but you can't set up an ordinary campfire."
Renji shrugged and leaned back. "You can't blame me, in the palace I had servants like you for this."
Aya flicked a twig at his chest and he yelped.
"Correction," she said firmly, "you had me. And I'm still here. Consider yourself lucky, Renji."
His smile softened, though he covered it with a scoff. "Lucky's one word, another would be over-supervised."
Aya scoffed in reply.
When she told him to clear the leaves from the area so it wouldn't attract bugs, Renji got distracted and tripped over a root and landed flat on his butt.
Aya burst into laughter at this.
Meanwhile, Renji sat there, wincing. "I think the forest has a personal vendetta against me."
"Or maybe you're just clumsy," Aya replied. She knelt and brushed dirt off his shirt.
Later Aya handed him a crude wooden cup she'd made from bark and told him to boil water in it.
Renji was eager to prove himself useful and he quickly set it on the fire, but he didn't position it properly. Moments later, the bark slipped and hissed as it spilled the water onto the fire.
"I can't believe this," Aya said, shaking her head. "You actually managed to burn water."
Renji buried his face in his hands and groaned. "This is pure torture."
Aya sat beside him, her expression softening. "Don't worry, you're new to all this, you'll learn soon enough."
He peered through his fingers. "You really think we can survive out here? Just the two of us?"
Aya smiled. "As long as you don't try to 'help' too much, yes."
Renji snorted. "Unbelievable, my maid is in charge now. The great Prince Renji has been reduced to camp jester."
Aya narrowed her eyes. "You're still my prince."
He looked away and mumbled. "Yeah, well, let's hope your prince learns how not to starve to death in these woods."
XXX
After a while of sitting by the fire, Renji's stomach began to growl loudly. He pressed a hand to it but the growls didn't stop.
Aya smoothed her skirt. "Seems you need food."
"Yes," Renji replied. "Let's go hunting."
Aya got to her feet. "Okay, but let me do the hunting, I want to test out my powers."
Renji shrugged. "Sure, what could go wrong?"
They soon found a lone rabbit nibbling on some seeds. Aya inhaled deeply, focusing all her concentration on the rabbit. She extended her telekinesis. At first nothing happened, but then the rabbit squeaked as it was lifted off the ground.
"You've got it! You've got it!" Renji exclaimed excitedly.
But then the rabbit shot towards his head. Renji yelped and ducked out of the way just in time. The rabbit slammed into a tree trunk behind him and then scrambled into the bushes.
Aya covered her mouth. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."
Renji laughed despite himself. "Oh, it's nothing, you only weaponized dinner."
Her cheeks colored, but she smiled. "I'll do better next time."
"Good," Renji said, peering into the grass. "Because I'd prefer to eat the rabbit, not dodge it."
They tried again. Aya steadied her breathing and lifted another rabbit. This one wiggled but stayed afloat.
"Easy, easy," he said. "Aya, keep it steady."
She focused and floated the rabbit into his arms.
Renji grabbed it, grinning. "Got it!"
Aya exhaled and lowered her hand. Her eyes shined with pride. "See? Not so hard."
"Not so hard?" Renji held up the rabbit. "You're the best hunting partner I've ever had. Admittedly you're the only one, but still."
"You're welcome," she said.
They returned to the fire and Aya began to roast the rabbit.
The smell was amazing and Renji began to drool, rubbing his stomach.
"You'd think you've been starving for days," Aya teased.
"I have," he said, his eyes were still on the meat. "One day in the wilderness equals a month in the palace, that's math."
Aya shook her head but smiled.
They sat by the fire while the rabbit roasted. Aya would occasionally check if it was cooked and then she would turn it with her telekinesis.
Renji teased her about burning it.
"If I left you to do it," Aya replied, "we'd be eating it raw."
"Raw rabbit," Renji replied, "is for wolves and disgraced princes. Luckily I'm only half of those things."
Aya laughed.