"Mrs. Lanasia!"
She's packing the needful things on the table and Matheo, with his son, is folding the tent. Everyone is busy while my mind is preoccupied with the conversation and deal I had with Dandeline! It's a shame not to help them, so I did help Lanasia in packing her things. I don't have my own anyway. And while doing that, I address to her my concern then requested in the latter,
"Please make her change her mind!"
The laugh she made is promising enough that I shouldn't expect any help from her. "Don't be a coward! She gave you the chance. It's a sheer opportunity for you to prove how much you can sacrifice for her."
"You're right, but... my hair..." I've been holding on to my creed that my long hair is my lifetime asset. Not even Cormelio can change my mind.
"Hessuel, it's a choice between your hair and Dandeline." She's holding back a laugh. "And besides, you'll grow your hair again if you give it up now. No worries! I'm looking forward to your new look."
"Mrs. Lanasia," I utter unconsciously, "I need those words. Thank you! I was worried about the wrong thing."
Then she lent me a scissor after a wink. I was left staring at it for a moment. I don't think I can do this on my own, and since Dandeline requested it, I gave her the scissor. "I'm giving you the authority to cut my hair," I said after I found her beside the river again. "But please don't bald me."
She accepted my request openly in exchange. I sit on the swing the pishnies made and she's cutting my hair from behind in a way like she's cutting her dog's fur. She cut it with style; silver strands on my nape were left uncut to tie it like a tail, and she's combing up my hair with her fingers in front. Now my ears feel cold. Even my sideburns were cut. She's slightly bowing in front of me, lifting my chin up to her, to review closely the result. Then she smiles.
"You look cute with that style~"
I smirk at her. "You should be careful from me henceforth."
"No need." She released her enchanted book from her hand and pulled out a coat from there then tossed it to my face. "Wear it."
"You made me a coat?" The design I had before is the same as this. And the brooch is stitched for the lock.
"You said you badly need it."
"Right... but only to cancel my wolf nature. The brooch might conceal my memories again... And you bothered to remake it, so I'll wear it anyway!" It worked. I never thought I would miss my dark skin.
Lanasia was startled and marveled to see me in my altered appearance—also because of my haircut. We bid our farewell to the pishnies when all of us are ready to leave. I watch Dandeline kissing them one by one. I shifted into a pup and queued but she noticed me. I danced when she gave me a peck! I queued again but then she set me aside. I want her attention like a real dog. When I shifted back huffing, the pishnies suddenly cuddled with me, making me reel to the grass.
The very end of this forest is where the river is. Lanasia lifted the water like a fountain and crossed it afterward. We left the tiny creatures behind to begin the expedition back into the real world. We ended up in a sandy place, still surrounded by shallow waters and trees. Even the climate is cool despite the rising sun.
Lanasia is our guide. The longer we walk on these sands, the more annoying it is when our shoes accumulate dust. We have to take off our shoes to shake off the sands. That's when I got an idea for faster travel. Matheo and I shifted into big wolves and the rest will take the ride. My only passenger is Dandeline and Acro, and I'm proud to serve. I raced with Matheo until the night came, the time for us to rest in the middle of these vast sands.
The priestesses made the bonfire of the preserved foods we have. We all feasted in a circle. Matheo built the tent again where all of us will sleep. But I chose to guard outside. It's windy and the breeze is blowing my fur. Staring afar towards the direction we're heading, I wonder what kind of place awaits me. It excites my inner core! But what kind of life awaits me there as well? It makes me think twice. My only intention now is to retrieve my memories. But if my purpose is aligned with their traditions, I doubt it'll make things right.
My left ear raise when I heard footsteps coming. "Can't sleep?" Dandeline asked.
["I can. I'll keep watch here. We'll never know when the Vengeance pack will appear again."]
"Good wolf."
["And you?"]
"Well," she's swaying her hand while walking farther, "I can't sleep without taking a bath."
This place has water too and is wide open. The few trees sprouted randomly aren't ideal for cover in bathing. This time, no peeping! I lie down on the sands; my jaw is above my paws. The next few minutes of surveillance have been a trial for me: washing away my dirty thoughts. Then I felt a finger poking at my back.
"I found a natural hot spring there. Wanna try?" she whispered, containing an excitement like presenting someone a gift. I shouldn't take this invitation cocky and that brings me to accept it. I just want to see the spring!
I walk alongside her. The spring she's talking about is a hundred meters away from the tent, the steam smoke is evident from a distance, and the place is actually rocky but covered with sand. What's more attractive is the glowing rocks underwater! But Dandeline said that she made it glow unless it'll be dark out here.
I immerse my hand in the water and it feels like it's pulling me, I love how warm it is! "Dan, have you taken your bath?"
"No," she says as she strips down her shoes and bottom piece, leaving only her sleeveless upper and underwear. "It's not a beautiful place to be alone." Then she plunges underwater. I wasn't sure how to react after my eyes were blessed with the sight of her legs. It's not her plan to strip all of her covers, so it'll be fine. I remove my shoes too and strip my top piece, leaving only my necklace.
This spring made me feel young and free the moment I plunge. She dives and swoops under a rock crossing the hole beneath to reach the other space of the spring. I tail her as usual and swoop upside down through that underwater rock hole up to the other side. It's very soothing!
She says, "Feels great, doesn't it?"
"Refreshing."
This hot spring is approximately 10 feet deep and our only spaces to step on are the ledges of the rock or lean on the edge like what I'm doing; both of my elbows are supports as I lean backward, my body is half submerging, and look up at the sky with my eyes close. Together with the silence, it's purely relaxing.
The water began boiling while the temperature remains. I thought a hidden volcano beneath is about to explode until I saw that Dandeline is performing an enchantment with her hand underwater.
"Is it hard to be a mage?" I questioned. "I admire your flexible talents."
"It requires both brain and strength, so yes, it's difficult."
"And you have both. You're amazing."
She looks afar and swims to the other side of the spring, she leans her arms and chin on the ledge. "Hessuel, what will you do when you get there?"
"Probably mingle with the werewolves."
"I mean your plans. What if they told you to kill the Alpha of Vengeance pack?"
"Then I'll feed him some chocolates."
"Hessuel!"
I made a giggling laugh before I swam and leaned on the ledge too beside her. "I've never killed anyone before. Especially if it's someone I know. Are you concerned about that?"
"Of course. That will be another declaration of war in your race."
"Don't overthink it. I won't let it happen either." I made an assuring smile at her then she was infected. And because it's a late-night-talk of concerns, I spill mine, too.
"Dan, are you exchanging letters with Zithri? He gave you a letter before."
"I'm not. It's an apology letter for what his mother did. It's annoying that he's mending his mother's mess tho'. And he wants us to stay on good terms," her response is full of honesty. That makes me relieved. "He's happy with his condition now. I'll gladly accept his plea."
"I can make you happier."
She sighs. "Men..."
"What? Has anyone told you the same words?"
"I don't have faith with those words to be exact."
"Then let's not talk about words. Am I a good kisser?"
Her rough laugh makes me proud. "What's with the sudden question?"
"You mentioned you like a good-kisser guy. And since we had it, what can you say?"
"Well, not bad for an innocent. Did you learn it from Tanya?"
"Aah..." I shook my head.
"Just kidding!" she said, laughing. Then reach for both sides of my cheeks to stop my motion. "It's just my guess that has been running in my mind! I'm sorry my tongue slipped!" But she kept on laughing.
"I can't tell if you like it or not..." I scoop her waist with my arm to pull her closer. "For sure you like my eyes, isn't that right?" I said under my breath. She remained calm while staring into my eyes. Based on the journal of my father, a pureblood's eyes aren't just for pleasing another's eyes, but deeper. And I prove it right at the moment.
Her arm is folded to my chest as I pull her closer gently with my other hand onto the ledge on top of hers. I rub the tip of my nose to hers, staring at the details of her eyes down to her lips. I can lure her this way. But I shouldn't take advantage of it. I kissed her on the forehead and found her twinkling her eyes.
"It's getting late. Let's head back now." I come up from the water and lend her a hand.
"N-No. I'll stay here."
"Hm, my uncle said that staying up late is unhealthy. And the healthier, the happier you'll be in life. See? You're lucky! I want you to be healthy and happy."
She made a no-choice sigh. "Fine, cheesy." She took my hand and I pulled her up. Eventually, back at the tent site, I chose the same choice I had before: to keep on guard. Dandeline approaches me again with a coat covering her from the cold. "How dare you tell me to sleep while you don't?"
["I'll sleep here later."]
"... Then I'll sleep here, too." She gently leans on my fur. I sat down for her to lay her knees on the sands. Her volunteering to stay with me flutters my heart.
["Is my courtship done? Can I have your hand now?"]
"Not too fast."
["What else do you want me to do?"]
"... Answer me," she's staring at the sands, "how can I be sure that I'm the only one yours?"
["Your smell... I will always seek your smell."]
Her smile is tender. "Not quite an answer," were her last words for the night. I'm curious about what's running in her mind to ask that question.
☪ ✧ ✧
The trip began when the sun shone brightly. We entered a misty forest after crossing the sands. Just a few steps before we saw gigantic statues of werewolves in natural stones. Lanasia said that if we see it as werewolves, we can enter the Moon's Order domain and that's because of the blessings of the pishnies. Whereas in reality, those are just rocks with indefinite shapes.
Countless hunters were confounded in this forest because of the mist. My father made it for the protection of the white wolves—where the bloodline of my mother originated. Today is the day. In front of twin gigantic statues, Lanasia performs an enchantment that pushes the mist on our path. In between the stones is our passage, the only entrance to the pack's territory.