Firestone Hot Springs and that's the skin again

he's gotten used to the smell by now, and the warm water is doing wonders on his muscles. he'll have to bring ibis here, he thinks, and then a small wolf nearby starts, startling him out of his reverie. his expression immediately folds into something apologetic, though he holds his tongue, distracted by the particular spotting of her coat. it reminds him of mal, of course, but he doesn't make the connection -- solomon had disappeared so early in his life, and mal's coloring is so vivid and unique. 

still, a strange feeling hangs in the air. he politely ignores it. "oh," okeanos says instead, in answer to her question, "it's a hot spring -- the water feels nice. i'm, ah, seeing if it has any medicinal benefits," he adds lamely, realizing how silly it sounds as he says it out loud. eager to move on, he adds, "do you live around here?"