Lion Head Mesa And scratch the slate

She'd slept deeply for a long while. Dreaming of nothing and everything at once. Awoke to food, drink, and took heartily of both. For the first time in a long while, she felt cared for. A contentment began to settle in her bones, but it was an uneasy peace; she was accustomed to waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Maegi woke, stretching, and meandered to fresh water. Her ears caught the distant sound of its current and guided her there, where a grayscale man was grooming himself, still slightly gleaming.

She murmured a wordless greeting and went into the water herself, a shiver rippling over her body at the chill. The salt and road-dust billowed out from her form in a cloud, and she instantly felt cleaner, even by just soaking. She closed her ice, letting the ice embrace her for a moment.

Then opened them, and her gaze lighted on the man. This is a wonderful place, she mused, her voice soft, detached.