Firestone Hot Springs Wicked dreams of leaving Tennessee

For @Beau!

From the coast she veered inland, thinking that she felt awfully lonely lately. Still, it didn't quite feel safe to go out seeking company. Foxglove was still shaken by that strange encounter at the beach. Some nights she woke panting from dreams about the rotting man.

Today, though, she'd forgotten all about the man at the beach. Today she'd discovered something new. The hot springs weren't pleasant on the nose, but they were beautiful — and fascinating. Fox ran and leapt between the pools, sniffing each one as she passed it. She didn't know it just yet, but she was looking for one that was different in some way from the rest.

Beau had found himself frequenting the springs as the weather grew colder. It wasn't so nice once he got out, but while he was in the water it felt like heaven on his chilled bones.

Laying flat in a shallow pool, he felt like his body could just melt.. he was so relaxed, that for once he didn't at all notice there was a stranger lingering nearby.

The large wolf reclined in one of the pools caught her eye only belatedly. All it took was one slip to send her careening into the water, and she didn't see the stranger until she'd splashed almost directly into him. A little yelp bubbled up from her, and she flailed in the water for several seconds before realizing that it was not, in fact, deep enough to drown in.

Sorry! She squeaked, scrambling to right herself. Her ears were hot.

A wolf 'drowning' in ankle deep water was quite the sight - but Beau held his laughter.

You're fine. He snickered, shaking off the droplets she had tossed at him. What has you so distracted? A fair question, he thought. Your mind had to be elsewhere to nearly walk directly into a stranger.

Moving to give her space, he waited for his answer.