Cirilla splashed her hands in the cool, river water, before making a grab at Yennefer's hair. Yennefer laughed, gently wiping the babe down with a rag. She didn't notice Geralt watching from the tent nearby.
"Shhh, come now Ciri. Doesn't that feel all better? I hate to think how long it's been since you had a bath. Don't worry, you're safe now".
She cooed, lifting the baby from the river and drying her down with a towel. Cirilla buried her face into Yennefer's chest, snuggling close. Yennefer felt the babe sigh.
"Did Calanthe say how long she has been missing?" she inquired, as Geralt emerged behind her.
"Almost a day. Calanthe is lucky. Had Duny not seen as the mourntart took her, this contract would be for the retrieval for a body." Geralt replied.
"She'll be starving then. In my bag, Geralt. Bring me that bottle would you? I brought some goat's milk with me, it should suffice until we get back to the palace; and go wash, would you? I'm not entirely sure what that mourntart had in her nest, but you reek of it.".
Geralt rolled his eyes, a small smile on his face, as he obliged. He retrieved a small feeding bottle from Yennefer's case.
"You came prepared, I see" he commented, sifting through a mass of soft cloths and spare bottles. Yennefer sighed, taking the bottle from him.
"What part of rescuing an infant did you not understand, Geralt? Did you plan to feed her roasted rat, clean her with leaves?" she quipped back, offering the teat to the baby. Cirilla's tiny hands grabbed at the bottle, and Yennefer sighed as the baby began to suckle hungrily.
"Its not every day that I'm rescuing children. It's definitely the first time I've rescued an infant." Geralt replied, sitting next to her.
Yennefer didn't respond. She was too enrapt in the small, helpless bundle in her arms. It was as if she was in a trance, her motherly instincts awakening deep from within her. Cirilla yawned, pushing the bottle away. Yennefer picked her up and placed the babe over her shoulder, bouncing her gently, and Geralt caught himself smiling as he watched her take the babe into the tent.