Spring awakens...

Yawning, stretching her muscles, Spring blinks a few times. Her body tingles and a warm blush spreads over her entire body as she replays every delicious moment of the night. She blushes again when she recalls the noise that erupted from her. Biting her lip, she rolls to find Kiril gone. She frowns, disappointed.

Her eyes blinking at the gritty, dry tinge of daybreak, Blaze screeches, dipping into and down, off to the side, dive-bombing? 

She perceives a shadow slipping around the corner. Instantly on her feet, mindless of her lack of attire, she bounds to the hall where she nearly bumps into Dashki, Blaze pecking at his head, swooping and flapping those strong wings.

“Blaze!” She both thinks and utters aloud. The bird swoops and she watches him flip and soar through the opening in the roof, turning a full circle before gliding back to land on the arch overhead, keeping a close eye on them.

“Did someone just run by you?” she asks, peering past him, wondering what Blaze is up to?

             

“No, no one at all. A rodent perhaps,” he concedes, his mouth watering as he stares at the vision in front of him. Noticing his gaze, she frowns in disgust, spins around and starts to walk off. “I do have a problem, though my dear. One you have been gifted to eliminate? If you’re finished with Kiril?” he suggests.

Spring turns, Dashki’s hand holding his ‘problem’. “You filthy vile toad!” Her eyes flashing, her fingers curling, short nails biting into her palms. She surmises he has spied on them. Giving a short-snort, she mocks, “Aww, poor worm all filled with poison?” She can’t help herself, she blasts an icy patch on the ground in front of him. The accompanying crackle and ‘pop’ startles him. 

He hops back. “My dear...” 

“You won’t be requiring my services any longer, Dashki, but I, we, will require yours. You will provide us with information as we require and you will speak of our conversation to no one.” Her eyes narrow, meeting his darker, stormy ones without wavering. “I may not be able to best you should we wage war, but I will inform the Priestess of your nightly sojourns toward the city...”

He startles, thinking no one has seen him. Truthfully, Spring only saw him go once, she’s guessing, and judging by his reaction, she feels she is correct.

His face hardening, without a word, he turns and stomps away, a backward glance, “If looks could kill, ‘eh, Dashki,” she daringly taunts, waiting until he is out of sight before returning to her corner, and remembering her mat is on the other side of the room.

Delighted she didn’t back down (although her insides quake), she returns to acquire her mat, blankets and nightshirt, coughing as the winds start to swirl. “Dust storm is coming,” she thinks, pulling her blouse over her head, hoping Kiril sees the change in the atmosphere and doesn’t get caught out in it.

She watches the entrances for Kiril while she finishes packing her belongings, straightening her mat and blankets, returning them to her corner. Shyly she wonders if she should leave them next to Kiril’s, but insecurities win-out.

She sits down on her mat, crossing her legs, her ankles on her thighs, her hands clasped in her lap as she empties her mind and clears her thoughts, wrapping her mouth and nose in a cloth.

She does have to start over when her mind keeps focussing on Dashki and her particular dislike for the odious fellow. Then it focuses on her nocturnal adventures and a soft smile plays upon her lips. The pleasant memory entices her to relax and soon she finishes her meditation, brushes her long hair with a boar’s bristle brush she made when she was younger, braids it, and spies Kiril entering the room. A swell of pride washes over her and tears prick the insides of her eyes as she watches him. ...Until the Priestess begins to shout, her foghorn voice bringing warnings of an impending sand storm.

Sighing in frustration, Spring dresses quickly, feeling sticky and decidedly unclean. She can sense the tiny particles churning already.

“A bath. I really want a bath... and someone to wash my back,” she smiles surreptitiously at Kiril...

o0o