I mean, he told them not to hurt me! She insisted, ears flat. Then blinked at the mention of Kirain and the virtue of her unfailing kindness. As well as Stardust's... which Liss wasn't entirely positive about just yet, but decided not to argue.

Liss belonged with her family. And probably they would join her here, when she found them, or they would all go home to Vale again. I have to find my kin. She said finally, after a remarkable moment of prior thought. Maybe they'll see the shrines and find me, but so far they haven't. So I gotta keep looking. Which means I'll have to face mean wolves sometimes, probably.

A sigh, But it's nice to have friends to be with, here. Kirain and Lestan have been very kind to let me stay.

She made an incrementally minuscule increase to her walking speed as Stardust backtracked. And yeah, I know about the poison. This old lady up North bowled me over when I found the purple water, and told me not to drink it.

Paws at the waterside, Liss grimaced.

Then... her expression changed to something approaching mischief. If she had to bathe, it might as well be fun. She took several steps backwards again without answering Stardust's last suggestion — and the silence might have been a warning sign.

Hips rocking the way Liss had seen mountain cats do before a pounce (she didn't know why the did it, but figured it was important and useful in some way, probably), she rocketed forward and splashed into the steam with a kind of reckless abandon, sending water splashing up all over and making great effort at pelting them both.

Stardust was still skeptical about this Aivar guy. She kept her eyes narrowed when he was spoke about. The conversation had moved to her kin though, and Stardust shook her head slightly.

”Were you transported here like most others? Like Kirain and I were? It does not mean your family was transported here, too. None of my family or friends or pack are here that I know of, and I have searched for anyone, and tried to find a way back…” she said, understanding Liss’ desire to keep looking. ”You can keep looking, and I hope you find what you are looking for but…keep your expectations low. They might still be at your home, waiting for you there,” she said with a bit of a grimace on her face. She was adjusting to the fact that her old life was gone, and living here instead.

”I know Kirain and Lestan are kind, but they have settled to the fact that they will never go back from where they came from. They decided to make a life here. I…I don’t know myself, I feel like I have to keep searching for a way back home, but at least we have them, yes?” she said with a small sigh. Her ears drooped a bit. Everything was so hard. She wanted to go back home where she belonged, but how could see leave Kirain?

Stardust perked back up again about Liss getting tackled by an old lady. Stardust giggled a bit. ”Lucky she did it, although I am sure she could have found another way. I had a tiger save me from the poison water…it was a most beautiful creature…so very large, regal….and AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH” she yelled out suddenly. Her attention had been on remembering the creature called a Tiger, and in those moments she did not notice Liss being a little…too enthusiastic for bath time suddenly.

”ALONDRA, WHAT THE…I MEAN….LISS,” she yelled out, her mouth naturally forming the name of her niece Alondra who was around Liss’ age. Water streamed down Stardust’s face, eyes narrowed, although she just felt a great sadness in this moment. Alondra used to do the same thing to her during bath time. She missed the girl greatly, and she realized now why she took so quickly to Liss…she was so similar to Alondra.

Stardust clenched her jaw. A devious look crossed her pretty features. Stardust did not mind clean water in any sense, and she was already going to get wet. Alondra had taught her a thing or two about splashing, and it can help get stuff out of fur. ”I’m going to get you!” she said somewhat playfully, long elegant limbs loping forward and using one paw to splash back at Liss. During the splash, she loped forward again, looking to pin Liss gently into the shallow water.

Sometimes you have to get dirty to get clean.

Still, ew.

Waiting for her! Liss was too busy planning her ambush to answer, but she did feel a twinge. If they were waiting anywhere, they had to be waiting here. It was the only thing that made sense.

She'd stayed in Vale, even when all the others left. Her brothers. Her mentor. The regent, a mighty warrior from the Dark Ages who promised to protect the Vale while Mam and Papa were gone, but then traveled South with a great host of Vale's strength for new lands, in fear of winter's fury, never to return to the place they had once fought and died for so proudly. Even Charlie, who had first stayed where their roots grew strongest with Liss, had gone after a while in search of the others... and then... Well. She wasn't in the Vale, anymore. And hadn't been for a long time.

But the land had always been sacred to Liss, and she'd stayed, through all of it. And she'd... she'd waited. But it got fuzzy after that. Her brain itched.

It didn't matter, because she was here, now, and she'd either find her kin or find her way home again. For now, she would enjoy the adventure for what it was!

With a gleeful cackle at Stardust's willingness to play, Liss squinted against the spray of water and then darted to the side, upchurned water drenching her in the excitement nearly as much as Stardust's well aimed wave. Liss returned another of her own, Not if I get you first!

She didn't know what Alondra, meant, if it was a name or a foreign word of just jibberish because Stardust was surprised. She would have to ask, later, if she remembered after she beat her new friend at Splashing.

The prior questions and thoughts quickly faded away. What mattered now was getting Liss as clean as possible, but Stardust was realizing that this will be a more difficult task than she liked. She was not going to sit still and take it, at least not immediately.

But Stardust had done this before. She managed to get Alondra clean, even though she was a little bit more tame. Fine. Liss is a challenge.

She got Liss with the first wave of water, but it simply is not enough. Liss needed to be DRENCHED. Her pinning attempt did not work with Liss moving to the side, and Stardust leapt through the new wave of water. Her eyes naturally closed in reaction to her head getting splashed, but she did not hesitate. She continued forward then, paws splashing in the cool water.

Her long, elegant front limbs reach out for Liss’ side, taking a breath in the moment. Will Liss be too fast? ”We gotta get that MUD out!” she called out. ”Right here!” she said as she continued to try and pin the younger woman, gently, though fully aware she may just continue to get splashed.

But I've had this mud with me since Winterscar! Liss 'protested', still giggling, We're practically packmates! And she, who was used to roughhousing Northerners, was far too excited to be easily pinned down. Heehee! Can't catch meeee! It also wasn't terribly difficult to get her riled up into a frenzy. With a sharp exhale that nearly became a growl, she bolted out of reach again. Her tail wagged so fast it seemed liable to break. Splashed, bounced, and onto the bank and back into the water.

But caution took an awful lot of focus, and this was a game! Who had time for that? The next time she darted for Stardust's side, Liss tried with careless abandon to jump onto the other's back and leap over her like a log (with bits of log and pine sap and mud all dangling on the underbelly of Liss's plush coat.)

Chaos.

She had unleashed chaos.

Stardust was by no means an old wolf, but she certainly did not have this puppy-youth in her anymore. Alondra was slightly more tame than Liss. She was easier to pin down- perhaps because Stardust had the Aunty title to back her up. Here? She had no title with Liss to bog her down. Ugh.

The horror…Liss called the mud her packmate. Stardust gasped at such a notion. ”That is unacceptable!” she called out, a half-serious, half-playful grin on her face. The girl was certainly fast, but she was also short. Stardust had quite the leg up on her, but little things can be deceptive.

Then, Liss tried to jump over Stardust- the taller woman. Not only that, but Stardust had reared up a but to turn before she realized that Liss was jumping and well…It was very likely Liss got knocked out of the air. Either way, if Liss makes it or not, Stardust could see the terrors within Liss’s fur and how they rubbed off into Stardust.

”My god!” she exclaimed, realizing Liss was much worse off than she realized. Stardust would wait and see what happens with Liss- if she gets knocked out of the air or successfully makes her jump, and if she gets the chance, she will take the moment to pin Liss to the water and begin scrubbing. If Liss gets away…well, Stardust will have to pause for a moment to get the junk out of her beautiful fur.

Are Kirain’s kids going to be like this? How many years will Stardust have to endure such tortures?

Wh—oaaAAH! Liss squealed, feeling her balance upend as Stardust proved to be nefarious! The girl tumbled, landing with another great splash off to the side. And she scrambled! Still cackling like a mad bird, hoping to escape. But then paws found her, iron-gripped, and — the SCRUBBING began.

Noooooo! Liss wailed dramatically, still too worked up to stop her squirming entirely. I need my dirt! I can't live without it!

Liss certainly tried to jump, but underestimated Stardust. The woman of beauty and night was able to turn as Liss tumbled to the water. Stardust grinned at the chance to get the girl clean. With a splash, Stardust began using her paws to scrub out the dirt, starting at the top side of Liss.

Then the dramatics started. The crying. The wiggling. Stardust was being gentle…kind off. Liss had too much dirt on her. Too much mud. She had to put a little umph in her work, but luckily the mud was rather quick at getting out.

”LISS! Hold STILL!” Stardust yelled out, though not in a mean way just a…loud way. ”It is…for…the…PUPPIES!” she continued, wrangling Liss with every word. Stardust concentrated on the worst spots next…the paws, the legs, and the underside. Her face was shocked at times, having to pull out twigs and stickers.

”We are going to bathe you more often so it won’t take as long next time!” Stardust exclaimed, not sure if she could contain Liss for much longer. She was able to get the worst offending parts, but clean to perfection? Stardust didn’t think Liss capable of such a thing.

I'm WHEEZING ahahahaha

---

Having lost several pounds of debris by the end of it, Liss had to admit... she was a little less itchy now. But now soaked straight through her fur to pink skin, it was COLD. I'm going to FREEZE to DEATH. She lamented in a sing-songy wail, putting a paw to a forehead and playful dramatization. Heartbroken and dirtless in the cruel autumn! You've slain me! I am slain.

She abruptly stopped her wriggling and ragdolled into the water instead. Let the current take me away... Like the heroes of eld... The bugs will hold me a funeral.

Her head de-ragdolled in alarm, But wait, how will the bugs know I'm friendly without my sticks and leaves? Nooooo! You've robbed me of even a noble death! Ala-aaaas!

The amount of dirt, grim, and whatever else was disturbing. How did this girl live like this? Stardust was completely awestruck, and not in a good way. Liss complained rather loudly about being cold. Okay sure, the sun was setting and she can’t dry that way. Stardust huffed.

”I will slay you again if you get this dirty,” Stardust replied with a half-grin, half-irritated smirk. Stardust felt great pleasure in seeing Liss CLEAN. It was so satisfying, and the girl looked much better even completely soaked.

Despite the great work, considering the situation, Liss was being all dramatic. Stardust watched as the woman stopped wiggling and went completely limp, as if the water would take her away. Stardust rolled her eyes, her work being done at this point.

”Not anymore they won’t. Do you know how many bugs were probably LIVING in your fur? Were you not ITCHY? They gone now, at least most of them, so no funeral for you! Sorry!” Stardust teased, then nosing the drama queen lightly in the water.

”Yeah yeah, Stardust the Clean keeping you alive and healthy, the HORROR!” she said, attempting to match Liss’s energy. ”Now get up and dry off. It is getting late, I am not sure it is a good time to go see Kirain and the puppies, what do you think?” she asked as she stepped out of the water, wondering if she would regret asking that question the moment it came out of her mouth.