define('WP_CACHE', true); {"id":111,"date":"2009-03-16T22:21:07","date_gmt":"2009-03-17T06:21:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/crossed-paths.com\/logs\/?p=111"},"modified":"2012-06-28T21:59:22","modified_gmt":"2012-06-29T05:59:22","slug":"chapter-14-a-bath","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/crossed-paths.com\/logs\/archives\/111","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 14: A Bath"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chapter 14: A Bath<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

In Which\u00c2\u00a0the Companions Enjoy\u00c2\u00a0the Hospitality Of the SSMC.<\/em><\/p>\n

———————————————————————————————<\/span><\/p>\n

Catamount says: The pair follow Borah down the tunnels in silence, the young mouse seems to be quite shy. After a bit she ventures, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I guess you know my name\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 What\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s yours?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin says: He grins. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153T\u00e2\u20ac\u2122name\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Soquan.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Catamount says: The ferret smiles as well. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m Jozra.\u00c2\u00a0 Pleased to meet you, Borah.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin says: He nods. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Aye, same here.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Catamount says: Presently, the trio reach another curtained doorway, this one with wisps of steam escaping the edges now and then. Borah stops and explains. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You can get cleaned up here.\u00c2\u00a0 It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s pretty easy to keep the water hot.\u00c2\u00a0 We just ask that you clean up after yourselves.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin says: He nods. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Of course, thank you Borah.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Catamount says: The mouse bows slightly. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Will you two be able to find your way back?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin says: He nods. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I think so.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Catamount says: Borah nods. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll head back down this way in about a half an hour, just in case. If you get lost, you can ask anyone how to get back to Trey\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s office.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Jozra nods. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Thanks, Borah.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin says: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153He nods. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Aye, thank you.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0He steps through the curtain.<\/p>\n

Catamount says: The ferret follows Soquan and gazes around at the room.\u00c2\u00a0 Here and there are a few stone basins with recesses carved under them for heating.\u00c2\u00a0 Each tub is full of comfortably steaming water.\u00c2\u00a0 On a shelf are several large towels and a basket nearby half full of used towels.\u00c2\u00a0 Bathing paraphernalia is lined up on other shelves.<\/p>\n

Arrin says: He nudges Jozra. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What do you see?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Catamount says: Jozra relates everything that she sees while guiding Soquan towards one of the large tubs.\u00c2\u00a0\u00e2\u20ac\u0153There seems to be a few tables over there too, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll go grab a couple and some towels and be right back.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin says: He nods. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Get some soap too.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Catamount says: The ferret checks her trajectory and heads towards the shelf holding the soap. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Right.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin says: He nods and strips off his shirt. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Thank you.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Catamount says: The ferret slips some soap into her pocket and then heads for the towel rack where she props a couple of towels on her shoulder while gathering up a couple of small tables.\u00c2\u00a0 She clunkly returns to the initial washtub. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Here we are\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d She sets down the tables, places the towels on top of one of them and fishes the soap out of her pocket and sticks that on top of the towels.<\/p>\n

Arrin says: He grins at her. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Thank you.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin says: After stripping down completely, he slips into the water with a groan. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Wait until you feel this Jozra\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: Jozra grins before lifting her tunic over her head. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153As nice as the hot pools?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He nods. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Aye, if possible, even better.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The ferret completes disrobing and grabs some of the soap before climbing into the tub. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Ooooh\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 So much better than that frozen pond!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He nods and begins to clean the dirt and grime from his fur. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Aye, much better.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: Jozra ducks her head beneath the water and rubs at the fur on her face and between her ears before resurfacing. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153So tell me about Trey.\u00c2\u00a0 You two seem to know each other well.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He nods.\u00c2\u00a0\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Him and I have been friends since we were toddlers. Our mothers used to be friends.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The ferret scrubs at her foot paws where mud had caked on. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Oh?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He begins picking the twigs, sap, rocks and other things from his tail. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Yeah, we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d explore all the time. Came back home wet, muddy and hungry!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: She chuckles as she suds up her arms. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I can believe that\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He laughs as well, getting a few pebbles out from in between his toes. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve always been really close friends. We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been though heartbreak, the coming of siblings, mothers that died and injuries.\u00c2\u00a0 All that and much more\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The ferret smiles as she lathers soap onto her shoulders. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You two sound like you were very close.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He lathers up his chest and stomach before replying with a nod. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We still are, but not as much.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: Jozra rinses a bit and inspects her paws before soaping up again. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153How come?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He picks the dirt out from under his claws as he replies. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Our interests diverged, and we drifted apart. We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re still friends though.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The ferret nods as she twists around to scrub at her back. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Kinda sad how that happens. So you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re co-founder of this mining company?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He nods. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Aye, I am. We found this place completely by accident though, we were caught in the rain and we needed shelter.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: Jozra pauses and grins before continuing to comb mud out of her tail. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Sounds familiar.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He nods and begins sudsing up completely. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Aye it does.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0He submerges himself, washing off all the soap.<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The ferret washes her face and suds places she missed before or were still dirty. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Do you know any of the other mice here or just Trey?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He washes his face also before replying. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Only Trey I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m afraid, or else that whole \u00e2\u20ac\u0153adventure\u00e2\u20ac\u009d when we got here probably wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have happened.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: She slicks the water back from her face and inspects her fur.\u00c2\u00a0 Cleans up pretty good, don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t she? \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I see.\u00c2\u00a0 It sounded like you weren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t expecting them in this area of the caves.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He nods. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t. They were much further back last time, and on a lower level.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The ferret stands and squeezes some of the water out of her fur before stepping out and shaking. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It sounds as though the two of you have done well by this find.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He nods. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Aye, we have.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0He stands also and steps out of the tub, he reaches for a towel and unfolds it.\u00c2\u00a0 He feels the irregularity and chuckles. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Jorza, these are spare robes.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The ferret lifts up the other one and looks at it. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153So they are\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d She grins sheepishly before going back over to the towel shelf.\u00c2\u00a0 She checks first this time that what she is grabbing are indeed towels before returning. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Here you go. Sorry about that.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He smiles and begins to dry off. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s okay.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chapter 14: A Bath In Which\u00c2\u00a0the Companions Enjoy\u00c2\u00a0the Hospitality Of the SSMC. ——————————————————————————————— Catamount says: The pair follow Borah down the tunnels in silence, the young mouse seems to be quite shy. After a bit she ventures, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I guess you know my name\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 What\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s yours?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Arrin says: He grins. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153T\u00e2\u20ac\u2122name\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Soquan.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Catamount says: The ferret … <\/p>\n