Winter, 87th, 514 AV
Once she and Garrison were back on the road, Katelyn felt better. She'd never liked staying at inns, and the city was just too congested for her. It was hard enough sharing a huge room with all of the other Squires at the Garrison. Even with the sun disappearing behind the horizon beyond the trees, it was more appealing to sleep rough out here. She rode until the city was once again out of sight, and finally stopped when the light was almost done. The sky was a deep purple in the west, while from the east night was encroaching upon the land. Stars shone in the sky and Leth hung high above the trees, his white face glowing brightly.
They were too far from the city yet. It was still close enough to make her feel safe camping a ways inside the trees along the road. Katelyn dismounted and lead Garrison under the naked boughs overhead. They gave the occasional quiet rattle as the wind rustled through the woods, and the leaves blanketing the ground crunched under boot and heavy hoof. She stayed within sight of the road at all times, and after a short search found a spot clear enough to set up a little camp. There she unpacked her saddlebags and created a neat pile of her equipment before removing her stallion's tack. The Squire switched his bridle for a halter and tethered him to a sturdy little tree.
Before leaving the city Katelyn had taken him to the stables to have him freshened up and watered, but she could tell he was still exhausted and content to rest despite a belly full of food and water. She took the time to brush the sweat and dust from his body, and smooth the rumpled hair left by his saddle and pad. His hooves turned out to be relatively clean, but she found some mud and manure in his front right and picked it out before turning her attention back to camp.
With nightfall upon her, the temperature had dropped from a tolerable chill to a fierce little nip that hurt the tip of her nose and made her fingers stiff. She didn't want to have a fire all night, but a warm meal would help her fall asleep and feel good in her core. She would hunt for some wood as soon as she pitched her tent, which was the first task she tackled now that Garrison was taken care of for the night.
It was a simple structure made of heavy canvas and wooden poles, but it would shield her from the wind throughout the night. She erected her little shelter butted up against a thick snarl of dry brush, hoping to create a natural wind shield but also to help screen the light of her cookfire from inside the woods. The opening faced the road, so she could see someone coming to or from the city. She didn't have a mallet to drive in the stakes, but with a few heavy presses from her hard-soled boot, they were pushed into the cold ground well enough to stick. Everything else went smoother. She tied the canvas down to the frame and stakes, and once it was secured she laid out her bedroll inside, with a thick winter blanket on top.
