Jasper returned to Lia, a pile of fish bones, and an empty water bottle. The human leaned on bars, half-hugging her knees and on high alert for her return. Jasper placed her hands on the bars and evaluated the human again. After a few long moments, she concluded the human would make good on her word.

"Stand back, human."

Lia nodded and scooted back to the middle of the cell as Jasper wrenched a couple of the bars free from the stone, just enough to squeeze her bulk through. As Jasper moved back from the cell, Lia briefly entertained the idea of trying to escape again. But she dismissed the thought as soon as it formed in her mind. Jasper already proved she could catch Lia the first time and that wasn't after Lia had been starved for several days.

Jasper stepped into the cell, carrying a newly filled bucket of water and Lia's pack. She set them down in front of the human before stepping back to the entrance and crossing her arms. Watching Jasper, Lia picked up the pack to check its contents: the rest of her clothes and her first aid kit. She looked up at Jasper, waiting for the orders she was supposed to follow.

Jasper waved her hand dismissively. "Clean yourself up."

Lia nodded her assent and removed her boots and socks. She turned her back to Jasper and started to lift her shirt. She couldn't suppress a hiss of pain as her ribs complained. After a second unsuccessful attempt, she let the hem of her shirt fall back down and started to wash her face instead, trying to play off the show of pain. She was acutely aware of Jasper approaching and kneeling behind her. Lia again attempted to lift her shirt, but big red and orange hands on her waist stopped her.

"Arms up." Jasper's tone left no room for argument.

Lia did as she was bade and lifted her arms above her head. Jasper lifted the shirt up and above the human's head, careful to avoid touching the large bruise on her side. On the way, Jasper's fingers hooked under Lia's sports bra, lifting it up and off along with her shirt. Lia crossed her arms over her breasts, suddenly bashful with Jasper's close proximity.

"Stand."

Staring at the wall in front of her, Lia slowly rose up to her feet. Even with Jasper kneeling, the gem was still half a head taller than Lia. Keeping her breasts covered with one hand, Lia unbuttoned the fly of her pants. Jasper hooked her fingers around Lia's waistband and underwear and worked them down over her hips. Once they were on the floor, Lia stepped out of them, keeping her legs tight together and starkly aware of her nude body.

Lia flinched when she felt Jasper's claws on her back. Jasper poked at several of the bruises and scratches there, making a couple of soft evaluating noises. She started to turn Lia around to look at her front, only to be met with resistance.

"Human," Jasper warned. "Let me see your injuries."

Lia cast a quick glance behind her and saw from Jasper's irritated expression that hesitance would not be tolerated. She turned to face Jasper, looking off to the side to avoid meeting the gem's golden eyes. Jasper's claws running on her side bruise made Lia squeak in surprise. When she touched Lia's arms, the human lifted them off her breasts, letting her examine the scratch there. At last, Jasper lifted Lia's chin with her fingers, turning the human's head both ways to examine her face and neck. Lia felt like a mouse being toyed with by a cat.

Jasper reached into the pack and produced a rag. After dipping it into the water, she brought the rag towards Lia's heated face. Lia reached for it, only for Jasper to push her hand away and wipe the damp rag over the human's face. Lia swallowed hard and closed her eyes, enduring the humiliation of being bathed like a child.

To Jasper's credit, she didn't make a big production out of the process. She worked silently, only speaking to give Lia an instruction. She moved the rag over the human's shoulders and down each arm. Lia allowed Jasper to stretch out each arm to clean out the scratches earned from their scuffles. Jasper spent time wiping off the dried blood from the scratch on Lia's chest. While she wiped down her breasts, Lia bit back a gasp as the cool water hit her nipples. Once Jasper was done with her breasts, Lia snapped her arms back over her chest, trying to hide them from view.

Jasper continued over Lia's torso, careful to be easy on the bruises. When she reached the human's hips, she looked up at Lia's face.

"Spread your legs."

Lia's eyes snapped open. "Huh?!"

Jasper rolled her eyes. "I'm going to wash them. Now open." She punctuated her command with a tap on Lia's thigh.

Lia drew in a breath and let it out before moving her feet shoulder-width apart. Jasper moved the rag slowly down one leg, moving the damp rag in slow, spiraling motions down to her foot. She repeated this with her other leg. When Jasper moved to the cleft between them, Lia suddenly bent forward and pushed Jasper's hand away, blushing and assuring her she was clean enough there.

Jasper huffed at the interruption. "Alright, turn around."

As Jasper finished up the bath, she took a moment to admire how sturdy and well-formed this human was. Most humans would be much weaker after a few days of dehydration, but this one already seemed revived. Under the bruised skin, Jasper could feel lean muscles and smirked as she remembered the feel of the human hitting Jasper's own hardened flesh. But Lia's golden rope of hair kept attracting Jasper's gaze. She wondered how long the hair was when not braided...

Jasper draped the rag over the lip of the bucket and pushed down on Lia's shoulder. Lia took the hint and slowly sat down, tucking her legs behind her. Jasper's claws plucked the elastic band free from the end of Lia's braid and undid her hair. After re-wetting the rag, Jasper held it over Lia's head and squeezed the water out over her hair. She repeated this several times, messaging her fingers through Lia's scalp and using her claws to comb out the tangles.

Lia barely suppressed the shudder in her shoulders at the unexpected tenderness. She loved it when someone played with her hair, but it felt bizarre when that "someone" was her captor. Still, the feel of Jasper's breath on her damp neck and the tingle of her hair being gently tugged on felt too good to stop. All too soon, it was over and Jasper was squeezing the excess water out of her hair. The next few minutes were filled with Jasper disinfecting and patching up the worst of Lia's injuries, with minimal complaints from Lia.

Lia felt immense relief as Jasper produced a tanktop and helped her into it. She waved off Jasper's help with a fresh pair of underwear and pants, managing to wriggle into them on her own. Lia sat down and reached for her boots, but decided leave them off for the moment. Jasper moved back to the opening of the cell, staring into the canyon. Lia stared at the cave wall, picking at the frayed hem of her pants.

"Jasper?" Lia's voice surprised them both.

Jasper didn't turn around, merely grunted in acknowledgment.

"Thank you."

"I'm going to check on the gem beasts. Stay here." Jasper tossed her white mane behind her and stepped out of the cave. Lia would later remember that Jasper never re-seated the bars she removed from the cave's mouth.

Jasper's order had replaced them.