Firestone Hot Springs stars are not here to be pretty

for the sake of timelines this is backdated to before this thread.

Stitch had been prattling on to Frank that had clambered down her leg at some point and scurries in a zig-zag as she weaved in an out of Stitch’s legs when she ( Stitch ) stops and realizes rather abruptly and with a look of abject horror that she has not heard the small pitter-patter of Frank’s footsteps. “— Frank?!” Stitch’s prattling is cut short as her baby raccoon’s name comes out of her throat strangled as her heart lurches. Her ears flutter back to slick against her skull and she turns quickly, squinting through the steam that rises from the hot springs before she moves stiffly through the steam in frantic search, fear of a mother having inadvertently lost her child in Target causing her pupils to dilate. “Frankie!” The baby’s name comes from her like the sound of a wounded animal. “Frankie!” Relief slams her like a monsoon as she soon sees the small silhouette of her companion through the steam to see a tiny rock clutched in Frank’s paws. “Ick, Frank. Don’t put that in your mouth. That’s dirty,” She chides Frank and holds her paw and leg out, nudging the small, pudgy raccoon gently with a toe. “We don’t eat rocks, Frankie. We’re not a rock eating family, ok? Put that down and climb back up on my back. You’re grounded missy.” The raccoon peers up at her with big, baby eyes and Stitch feels her lip wobble because it was cute, damnit.

“No, no. You can’t just run off. Come on.” Stitch is proud of herself for sticking to her guns, wincing as Frank’s sharp claws dig into her leg as the baby raccoon climbs up to her favored spot at the junction of Stitch’s shoulders. “You have to behave yourself Frankie. If you can’t we’re not taking field trips like this anymore.” Stitch tells the baby raccoon in a tone that’s meant to be threatening but is actually fairly empty. Stitch has always been fairly mild tempered and even if she does get angry it rarely lasts for more than a few minutes — especially where Frank is concerned. “Ok Frank. You pick a spring to relax in.” Stitch encourages and nods her approval when the baby raccoon lets out a soft squeak of a noise and scrambles back down Stitch’s leg. Stitch scoops up the baby raccoon very gently by the scruff as she would a wolf pup and sinks into the heated water, wrinkling her nose at the sulphuric smell that lingers in the air before she sets Frank very gently on a shallow pool shelf where the water is at the level of kiddie pool equivalent as Stitch sinks down into the water with a contented sigh, fixating her crystalline gaze upon Frank who splashes delightedly in the shallows under Stitch’s ever vigilant eye ( because admittedly, Stitch isn't sure if Frank is old enough to swim or even if the baby raccoon knows how yet ).

496 words

It's strange, Raid thinks as she steps beyond the borders of Morningside that early morning and casts a nervous glance backwards. It's strange that she feels this itch to leave. Not leave as in abandon the pack, (it's nearly winter - it would be near suicidal to leave a safe pack, at this point. Besides, she feels like she owes Grayday for offering her, an apprentice medic with amnesia (a good medic, but still) a place in his pack) but leave as in, wander. Raid has no set destination in mind but there is an unmistakable urge tugging deep within her gut, like a string pulling her somewhere. She didn't know what that somewhere was, and she didn't know when her sudden bouts of headaches and pain would arrive, but that morning, she ventured out nevertheless, overtaken by some sort of bravery which she had no name for. 
A strange sulphuric smell tinges the air and Raid wrinkles her nose, eyes narrowing into slits as she scans her surroundings warily. A dull throb pounds in the depths of her skull but she does her best to ignore it as she makes her way forward, dilligently following the stench. Raid doesn't know if her pre-amnesiac self is curious or not, but she definitely is, so, with perhaps too much caution, she ventures towards...
Hot springs...A flicker of recognition rises from her memory but before Raid can catch it, it flits out of her mental grip, leaving her with a strange hollow feeling in her chest and a prickling behind her eyelids. She blinks and swallows, and is met with the sudden sight of a wolf bathing in the springs. A wolf bathing in a spring - she's pretty..I think. 
Raid likes to think that the stench of sulphur disrupted her senses, therefore leaving her vulnerable to the surprise. But, in reality, she was probably a bit too distracted by, well..yeah. At the sight of the baby raccoon splashing - Raid isn't proud of this, but she probably let out some sort of undignified squeak and scrambled backwards...maybe tripped over a branch or something.
Either ways, seconds later, she finds herself on the floor blushing a crimson red.

Large ivory paws stepped lightly as they  carried the weary loner all the way up river, even through the dull and niggling ache that had began to plague them as he strolled - still the young hybrid pressed onwards, ignoring his discomfort as he eventually found his curlean gaze peering at an unexpected hot spring just ahead. Finally! Was his first thought, the welcoming sight causing a smirk to tug at the corners of his mouth as a relieved sigh escaped him, the male's hot breath disappearing into the misty cold air as he began to hop his way along the warm stones that were laid upon the ground. 

He quietly weaved himself around the scattered pools that dotted the peaceful area, though it may have been tranquil, Flint was unable to ignore the sulphuric aroma that lingered here, because in all honesty - it reeked! His black leathery nose wrinkled at the invasive smell of rotten eggs entering his nostrils and as usual, Flint brushed the issue aside. His off white paws continuing further as he carried out his inspection - all the while holding back the urge to gag on occasion. Flint would get used to the smell eventually, hopefully within the time that he remained here as he roamed without an aim and also completely unaware of the company that too had visited these parts.

“No, no, don’t drink the water Frank.” Stitch frowns, entirely unaware that they’ve got company, letting out a disapproving chuff when the baby raccoon blinks owlishly at her ( Stitch recognizes the look it’s her signature after all ) and swallows her little mouthful quickly because she’s a little shit. “I know I said it’s important to stay hydrated but I didn’t mean hot spring water.” Stitch hasn’t ever had the desire to drink it and isn’t even sure if it’s safe and now she’s going to be worry about it for the rest of the day and most of the night she’s sure. “That’s it Frankie. We’re never coming back here again.” Yet, her words don’t even sound convincing to her own ears as she sinks further down into the pool, letting out an involuntary sigh seconds before she hears a undignified squeak and the scramble of paws on the spring’s floor. Stitch’s ears are alert and her muscles tense, ready to propel herself to protect Frank if she needs to. The raccoon climbs up her muzzle without hesitance, sticking her little clawed foot in Stitch’s ear before she scrambles to plop down on Stitch’s crown, curious but weary from no doubt being startled.

“Hey!” Stitch calls to the body. “You ok?” Stitch calls out as she settles back into the water, feeling more relaxed now that Frank’s safely upon Stitch’s person. Stitch could make a quick getaway if it became necessary and that was how she liked it. Stitch was a runner, after all ( and she was particularly talented at it ). Her ears perk again as a distinct sound of footfalls catch her attention for the second time as a male appears. “This must be the cool hangout spot.” Stitch attempts to make light of it and her voice is bolder than she feels but she’s timid by nature and she’s prepared to bolt even as she attempts to make casual conversation.

326 words

Raid picks herself up from the floor, acutely aware of the heat crawling up her neck - no doubt colouring her cheeks and darkening the tips of her ear. "Yeah, sorry, I-I didn't mean to..like..yeah," she trails off, wondering if her pre-amnesia self was as bad with spoken words as she was. Strangely enough, she doubts it. A spark of frustration works it way up into her chest and she swallows darkly - this, whatever this amnesia shit was, it kinda felt like she was a grown up baby in an adult's body. No, that didn't make sense.
"Your raccoon, he startled me," Raid offers as some sort of explanation for her clumsiness. Then, because somehow she feels compelled to say something else, out of politeness if nothing, she says, "its cute, by the way. Your raccoon, I mean. If it's yours." Of course, right after the words slip past her lips, someone else appears.
The presence of the male makes her shrink backwards, the hairs on the back of her neck rising anxiously and it is only a second later that she realises her hackles are bristling. Raid forces herself to relax, but her muscles remain tense and she stays silent even as the stranger with the raccoon speaks. It is the same feeling she experienced with Grayday some days ago, she realises, but she still doesn't understand why she feels this way. Still, now is no time to think about this - she concentrates on the situation at hand instead, her flight or fight instinct activated.

He'd been so engrossed in exploring this place – that he hadn't even noticed them, not their scent nor their voices – he hadn't even heard their previous conversation. It was only as he aimlessly roamed around one of the many, wide pools did Flint finally catch the lighter woman's last remark, something along the lines of this place supposedly being a cool 'hangout' spot. Was that what this place was? A hangout spot? He blinked, remaining still for a moment, his lean head tilting to the side some as a mere stub (where his right ear should be) twitched, along with his remaining ear and eventually the dark hued male decided to wander closer. With his curiosity peaking and the mild excitement at meeting others, the wolf x made sure he was slow in his approach and as soon as he figured that he was close enough to them, did the young male offer them a friendly wag of his tail, large off-white socked paws coming to a slow halt as he left a spacious gap between himself and the two women.

What the-? The loner offered a polite smile and though it was somewhat forced by the sight he was seeing right now, he still gave a simple nod of his head in greeting, but what was meant to leave his mouth wasn't what he had originally planned to say, ”A raccoon...” He started, feeling his body wince internally as he said the word out-loud and not with the silent voice of his own mind. Crap. He couldn't help but frown some, sapphire gaze solely on the small, furry, black masked animal that was currently settled a top the lighter woman's head. Bright eyes continued to stare at the tiny critter and the look of complete and utter puzzlement was soon visible across the hybrid's face, though as he glanced from wolf to critter and then to wolf, his widened gaze gradually relaxed, ”I uh - hope I haven't interrupted anything?” He asked with a light chuckle, the young adventurer finding himself mildly amused at the unlikely sight before him.

Sorry for the wait and sucky post! :<