Like I said with At Last, holy crap did life get busy. Between my little one being more mobile, working way more hours than I should, then the holidays coming around. I'm trying to fall back into my old routine and hopefully there will not be such a delay with the next chapter! This one is a lot shorter than usual, I'm sorry, but believe it or not there's a method to my madness.
Noctis groaned and threw the sleeping bag off him with just how hot it had become in the tent. He ran the back of his hand across his forehead and winced when he realized just how much sweat was beading on his forehead. He turned his head to see Lunafreya sitting upright atop her sleeping bag with her legs folded beneath her and a book grasped in her hands. With a smile he noted that she was sitting there wearing nothing but a pair of undergarment; Gladiolus's jacket was folded beside her alongside the clothing he had stripped from her the night before.
"Well good morning sleepy-head. I was beginning to fear you had suffered from heat stroke in your sleep and it would become necessary to drag you to the pond to resuscitate you." She greeted, and he let out a huff of air at her, punctuated with an exaggerated groan as he nuzzled back into his pillow.
"It's so hot in here… a swim is a good idea. I could sling you over my shoulder and toss you in, heat's probably made you too tired to walk." He sat up suddenly and she set her book down, letting out a squeal when he shifted over to her and grabbed her, pulling her close against his chest,
"Noct!" she giggled, and flushing when she thought about the company that was likely just outside hearing her.
"Yeah you're all sweaty. You need a bath, I say to the pond with you!"
"You're sticky!" she complained.
"We both need a bath then." He clucked his tongue, "really driving home my point that we both need to go for a swim." She wiggled in his embrace, her face somehow hotter than before. As she squirmed he tightened his embrace, burrowing his nose against her shoulder to plant a kiss, his breath hot on her skin.
"You surely aren't helping the temperature situation." She remarked, but tilted her head and tried to shift to get his lips to that spot that always sparked that fluttering warmth low in her belly. He followed this familiar gesture, too happy to indulge in this moment of privacy. He could hear quiet conversation outside the tent and knew their privacy was minimal but wanted to savor just a bit of this solitude with her.
"Well if we're already disgustingly sweaty a little bit of snuggling won't make matters worse."
"You're quite serious, aren't you?" she asked, sighing again as he kissed her neck. He kept his gestures light, his hands chastely wrapped around her and resting against her stomach. She rolled her shoulders for the leverage to free her arms from his embrace and cover his hands with her own as he hugged her tighter, his thumbs brushing against her skin.
"It feels like a sauna in here and somehow your hands are still cold!" he complained,
"Is that so?" she asked, and reached behind her to press her hands against his bare sides, getting a gah! From him and he arched away from her getting her to laugh. "They'll be far colder after a dive into a pond!"
"We have some castile soap, Iggy got the kind that smells like peppermint." He explained. And oh did he love that scent on her. Being the beloved Oracle and Princess of Tenebrae, her soaps and shampoos in the Manor often carried distinctive smells, and something about the smell of mint on her was simply soothing. He had developed a preference for it the first time she had used it. Perhaps it fit well with her pale complexion and the cold climate. A memory flickered in the back of his mind of the year before they officially stepped beyond friendship, when he had let it slip that he thought she smelled quite pretty after a bath with peppermint scented shampoo. It makes my scalp tingle, so I quite like it. She had explained.
"The same soap we washed the dishes with last night?" she asked.
"It's pretty all-purpose. It's why he likes it for camping so much, less shit to carry around since it gets all the jobs done." She shrugged with an appreciative hmm and rested back against his chest. She wouldn't be able to tolerate the heat in the tent much longer, surprised she had managed so much of the morning before caving to the need for some fresh air.
"Let's dress." She grabbed the previous day's clothes, taking pause to make sure Noctis was decent before opening the tent flap. She stepped outside, squinting to adjust her eyes to the comparative brightness.
"There they are." Gladiolus was the first to greet them. Lunafreya paused to turn back to the tent, asking Noctis to pass her the leather jacket. She approached the Shield with it folded in her arms, blushing a bit at how the man was sitting spread-legged shirtless in his chair.
"Thank you… for last night." She held out the jacket and tried to will away the dizziness growing in the back of her mind giving her the mental image that her head was a child's party balloon about to fly away. He took it and sat forward to put it on,
"Hey don't mention it." he replied with a nod. "You…" he paused, "You sleep okay?" he asked. Lunafreya bit down on her lip for a moment, sure that he didn't ask his intended question and was grateful for it.
"Good enough, though I woke early due to the heat in the tent once the sun started to bear down upon it." she answered.
"I hope your fuckin' brother slept good because if I ever get my hands on him he'll be too busy trying to fish his teeth out of his lungs to sleep for a month!" Crowe remarked. Lunafreya flinched at the graphic remark and frowned, opening her mouth to defend her brother and realized she didn't want to. She couldn't justify his behavior the previous night, and heaved a heavy sigh instead.
"My brother is… misguided." She settled for. "And I assure you, I am plenty capable of repaying him for his actions. But… thank you." She managed a small smile and a nod.
"I'm sorry I slept through all that shit or I would have done it last night." She half-mumbled, bringing a hand up to massage her temple. Lunafreya didn't want to openly admit she was glad for it, she wasn't certain she could have maintained a third shield ; further aggression was the last thing she had wanted while trying to tame Ravus's behavior.
"I made breakfast, you hungry?" Ignis suggested. "May help with any hangover." He added.
"Definitely got my head pounding at a five not a ten." Crowe suggested.
"Gotta hand it to him, not just a good cook but apparently a miracle worker too." Aranea had been sitting quietly , trying to maintain an even distance between Crowe and Prompto, while keeping as far from Gladiolus as possible. The small smile that graced Ignis's face did not go missed by the observant Oracle.
"We were gonna go take a bath at the pond, but can't argue with breakfast." Noctis saw that the chairs that had sat out in the rain were dry, likely wiped down by Ignis then finished drying in the hot sun, hell of a contrast between the night and day.
"Take a seat, I set aside the ingredients to make something fresh for you and the Lady."
"You needn't trouble yourself for our sake Ignis, if it's easier to cook things all at once." She sat down, hands clasped in her lap, "Would you like some help at least?"
"I assure you it's no trouble at all." He dismissed, waving a hand at her. "I appreciate the offer, but I'll take care of the cooking. Eggs with some vegetables sound all right to you?" She could see him pulling some cured bacon and setting it aside in one of two bowls, and was grateful he recalled her preference. She nodded, thanking him.
"So. Where we going now? If you say another base I'll barf." Crowe wrinkled her nose.
"We need to get back on track… I should get more of the royal arms so I can forge the next covenant." Noctis suggested.
"Whoa cool, this means we'll get to see the meteor up close soon, right?" Prompto asked.
"Ugh, not so loud. My head is killing me." Gladiolus snapped, rubbing his face roughly. "Not sure why you think bacon is such a hangover cure, my brain still feels like it's trying to escape out my eyeballs." He groaned.
"I think you drank twice as much as I did." Aranea answered.
"Shall I brew more coffee?" Ignis asked, idly stirring together the eggs, tomatoes, onions, and peppers he had placed into the pot.
"I drink more of that my heart will try to escape too." Gladiolus groaned.
"I'll take some." Noctis answered, Crowe and Aranea also agreeing to some more coffee.
"I as well." Lunafreya asked after several seconds pause.
"I seem to recall you developed a new fondness for the drink." Ignis smiled, dumping the contents of her breakfast into a bowl and holding it out to her then setting to work cutting up the last of the cured bacon for Noctis's meal.
"So what's this royal arm and covenant stuff you mentioned?" Aranea asked, quirking a brow. "I mean, I read shit about the six in books, figured it's all just fairy tales." Lunafreya sighed, shaking her head. Gods I wish it was. She swallowed her bite of food, letting her eyes linger for a moment longer before she looked up to greet Aranea's gaze, and began to tell her the task born unto Noctis and herself, doing her best to simplify the path ahead.
"I didn't sign up to go poke the gods with a stick." Aranea curled her lip, "but I saw you cure the blight enough to know that stuff isn't stories. I guess I can stick around if it means helping you get rid of it for good."
"No demand for a paycheck?" Gladuolus interrupted. Aranea scowled, turning her head sharply,
"You did just pay me after seeing that chocobo guy. I'm not entirely greedy. Believe it or not I do have a soul. I do give a shit the blight is killing people." She snapped back.
"And she was kind enough to pitch in some of her share to buy extra Ebony coffee." Ignis supplied.
"It's as good as you promised, so I'm glad I did. Seriously beats the shit out of the dehydrated instant crap you get with Nifleheim military rations." She was happy to accept a mug of coffee, declining the offer of sugar or powdered milk.
"You like it black too, girl after my own heart." He remarked simply. "These guys here all drown it in sugar and dairy. So I only serve them the normal stuff."
"Oh come on Iggy, share that sweet-sweet Ebony! I promise not to put any sugar in it." Prompto suggested, and Ignis scoffed, handing Noctis a bowel of bacon and eggs,
"You'd spit it out on the first sip. Here Noct. I do wish you would eat something with vegetables in it."
"I like potatoes." He replied, shoving a scoop of the still steaming food into his mouth. They all began to debate the merits of coffee and what does or does not go in the beverage. Noctis and Lunafreya both set their bowls down on the ground, the Prince standing up to stretch feeling some popping in his lower back send a brief electric shock down his leg. "Well while you guys all argue about coffee Luna and I are gonna go take a bath. Ig, where's the soap?" Ignis pointed, Noctis gathered, and held his hand out to help Lunafreya stand.
"You're quite serious?" She wanted to suggest finding a place with an actual shower, unsure how clean she would feel bathing in a pond, or how comfortable she would be doing so with prying eyes none too distant.
"We're both sweaty. Come on," he tugged her arm lightly.
"I thought you were saying in jest! I have no desire to bathe in a pond." And so close to your friends. She blushed.
"You want to stay sticky after that sauna of a tent?" he asked her. He had a point, her skin felt as if there was a film on it and being one to prefer the cold she was more sensitive to the heat. Btu she had only ever bathed in the comforts of her master bath.
"It's not the worst." He reassured her.
"Hey if it makes you feel better I'll move my chair to the other side so my back is to the pond, even though I can't really see anything with the trees." Prompto suggested, but didn't wait for her answer before picking up his chair to move it opposite where he was. Lunafreya bit her lip, but reluctantly agreed to follow Noctis's repeated tug on her arm and kept any further protests locked in her mind.
"We'll be hidden pretty good behind the tree line so no one sitting here can see us, okay?" he offered. She glanced over at the pond, struggling to push the possible prying eyes from her mind. Gladiolus had turned his chair as well to keep his back to the pond, and the two women following suit, leaving the entire retinue with their backs to the pond.
"It's not as bad as you think." Noctis tried to reassure her.
"You've bathed in the wilderness?" she inquired, lifting a brow.
"I went swimming once or twice in the fountains a the Citadel, that counts?" he offered, shrugging at her.
"If you insist." She sighed, dropping her arm to her side when he let go of her hand to gather towels and fresh clothing.
"Try not to drown, I'll look bad in my resume if you die on me!" Crowe shouted as they started to walk away.
"I shall do my best not to succumb to the dangerous minnows surely prowling those waters eager to eat me up!" She called back. She could hear Crowe laughing, and she smirked a bit herself.
"You two seem to be getting along well." Noctis commented.
"She's quite brash, but I do seem to enjoy her company." She answered, and then paused for a moment. Have I made a friend? She pondered the thought. Loneliness had driven her to try and befriend certain soldiers at the Manor, in spite of the frequent rotations, had she finally forged a bond with another person?
"Well that's good. I had to have my ass kicked by Gladio for years 'till he finally came around and started being nice." He laughed a bit.
"You've never told me what got him to come around." She inquired.
"Oh. His sister went missing. Really she just snuck out of the Citadel gardens… I got her home safe so since I helped his sister he decided maybe he didn't want to completely cave my skull in anymore, since it would make Iris sad."
"Oh, the girl we met in Lestallum?" Noctis nodded, and told her the story of following the girl through a loose glass panel, and about the friendship he had with her thereafter. The pond wasn't a long walk and they set their things down on a dry rock above the water line. Lunafreya cast a glance over to where their camp was, trying to ascertain if they would be able to see anything through the foliage. She turned back around, and took a moment to admire Noctis. He was stripping from his clothing and messily tossing it onto a rock with the rest of their stuff. Her mind wandered off the subject at hand, biting down on her bottom lip.
He turned around, and she admired his ass, toned from all his years of training. He was fit, and while he didn't have intense muscle definition he was certainly trim, and oh the gentleness behind the strength in that body. His hair was sticking at odd angles, his hands running through it and it bounced right back into its messy form. She wanted to run her fingers through his hair, sure that despite the slight oily sheen that it still familiarly soft. She licked her lips, thinking about the others places on that body she longed to touch. He walked into the water, taking in a sharp intake of breath when his feet first hit the water.
"Cold?" she inquired, finally snapping from her thoughts. "That'll be a relief from this heat." She gave one last glance over her shoulder to the camp before stripping out of her own clothing, setting it aside while she listened to him complain that it was colder than expected, followed with some light teasing about how she could likely bathe in snow and feel comfortable.
"Now you're just being a tease. Get over here." He complained. He had managed to summon the will power to continue into the water until it reached the middle of his chest, and she quirked a brow realizing he wasn't far from the shore.
"Steep pond?" she asked, grabbing the castile soap that he had forgotten and joined him, finding that after several steps the ground dipped sharply. "That's a yes!" she yelped, nearly losing her footing. Noctis reached out to catch her, and she clashed against his chest. The water was cool, and felt refreshing in contrast to the summer air. She hummed, enjoying the feel of his arms against her, and her palm against wet chest. Somehow, she had maintained her grip on the soap bottle.
"Let me guess, you find this water warm?"
"Oh come now." She chuckled. "If you're so uncomfortable perhaps we should try to make this quick." She suggested, and held up the soap bottle.
"I have you with me naked, why would I want to rush?" he asked. His slid down and palmed her bottom, gripping her and giving her a tug towards him. She yelped, and then blushed furiously.
"Well, let's start with that hair," she answered back, reaching up to run both her hands through it. "Easier to wash it if your hair is wet," she smirked, and she had already pushed hard against his chest when his face fell and he tried to yelp a protest. She winced, turning her face away from the splash of water as he was pushed under. But he didn't surface after a few moments, and she wrinked her nose. "Oh don't you dare…" and before she could find him in the water he gripped her hips and tugged her under. She was able to blow air hard out of her nose to keep the water from rushing up it, bending her knees to jump up against the soft ground of the pound, gasping for breath, and yelping as she ran her hands through her hair. "Oh!"
"This way I can do your hair too!" he smirked, spitting a bit of water at her. She narrowed her eyes and debated the wisdom of aiming the soap bottle at him and squirting it, but instead attempted to sashay up to him, her movements awkward and stunted by the water. "Don't give me that look, you started it!" he held up his palms, shaking his head at her.
"This is true. Hmm… seems I owe you now." She decided that pouring the soap at him would be wasteful and instead put a coin-sized dollop in her hand and reached up, "I'm not going to push you again," she smiled when he faked a flinch. She reached up and he tilted his head down to her hands, and let out a sigh when she ran her fingers through his now wet hair, and curled her fingers to begin massaging his scalp. Her nails felt good as she scratched his skin and he dipped his head harder against her hands. Fingers shifted and massaged just above his ears, cupping his face before she tilted her head and kissed his lips, humming against him.
"Should wash your hair how," he mumbled against her lips, and she moaned a protest.
"Should rinse yours first so you don't get soap in your eyes."
"Then can I touch you?" he asked, hands drifting to her waist and stepping closer to her. She nodded and smiled, but pointed down at the water and wagged said finger at him. "Okay okay" he relented, and tipped below the water. He roughly ran his hands through his hair to try and rinse the soap out, wishing it was still her fingers before he popped back up, "get it all out?"
"Mhmm…" He held it hands out and it took her a moment to realize what he was going for and handed him the soap, and he returned her earlier gestures. Even after several days without a shower her hair felt soft in spite of the tangles. "It tingles a bit…"
"Does it hurt?" she quickly murmured a hum of negation against his lips, and when he resumed his motions she moaned at the feel of his fingers massaging her scalp, and he dared to be a little rougher with her. His fingers dug into her skin, digging into the back of her neck before dipping in to kiss her again, moaning against her mouth. Her head was tilted back to keep soap from running into her eyes. His hands dripped from her neck and traced the line of her spine. He couldn't wait to lather her soft skin, and got a devilish idea. "Rinse your hair," he suggested, not wanting his plans to be foiled by burning eyes. She dipped below the water, suds appearing where she was before she came back up,
"All good?"
"Not yet, I still need to get you…very clean." He suggested. She quirked a brow, letting him take the soap bottle from her. He put some in his hand and silenced the question on her lips by cupping a breast, giving her a squeeze and causing her to giggle, which quickly faded into an oh! and an approving hum. His thumb brushed over her nipple and she took in a sharp intake of breath. The peppermint oil in the soap was leaving a distinctive tingle on her skin, and she never would have expected herself to react so strongly. But a deep flush rushed to her cheeks as she heard the din of laughter reach them from the camp.
"I am not entirely sure I can get clean in standing pond water." She answered back.
"Doesn't mean I can't try." He suggested back, closing the distance between them and winding his arms around her, pressing a hand to her lower back to tug her towards him, kissing the top of her ear.
"The trees are thick but I still fear they can see or hear us." She remarked, biting down on her lip, bringing her hands between them and pushing lightly.
"Hey…" he asked in a soft tone, and she squinted a bit before shaking her head.
"I'm all right." She insisted, managing a small smile and met his eyes. "Just a bit apprehensive."
"I guess I'm just not used to the idea I actually have you all to myself. I want to take advantage of it," he tried to smile, bringing his free hand up to brush along her cheek, trying to maintain sense and not let the soap bottle sink to the bottom of the pond to grab her with both hands and kiss her senseless to drive her fear away.
"All I can seem to think about is that they would know exactly what we were up to. It seems genuine privacy is a luxury that escapes us." She shrugged, her face scrunching up slightly as she pressed a hand against her temple.
"What's wrong?" he asked,
"Headache." She answered, squinting her eyes. Pain began to tingle behind her eye, webbing up through her scalp in a dull ache. She massaged her temple for a moment before relaxing, "I'll be all right." She reassured him.
"Oh come on, everyone knows that excuse, at least be creative." He teased with a smile.
"Perhaps not my most clever moment."
"Just running out of excuses to reject me at this point, huh?" he teased. She chuckled, shaking her head.
"My dashing Prince is acting most improper."
"Well I hear peppermint is good for headaches anyway." He suggested. "So let's finish up this bath and get back." She heard the suggested behind the words and shook her head,
"I think I want to lie down a bit to be honest. This one hit me quite suddenly." Her voice was softer than usual, fingertips massaging at her scalp.
"All right." He answered with a slight frown. They finished washing, Lunafreya's motions slowed as she redressed. Noctis carried their towels and soap back up to camp, concerned at the way she was rubbing at her temple the entire walk back.
"Nice and squeaky clean?" Promtpo asked upon their return.
"Well I feel a little cleaner. But an actual shower would be nice." Noctis answered, Lunafreya agreeing beside him as she fussed with her hair with her fingers for a few moments longer before asking Crowe if she happened to have a comb packed.
"My hair feels snagged from the water, despite washing it." she explained. Crowe nodded and the pair of women excused themselves for a moment. Noctis watched their movements for a moment before Ignis's voice pulled his attention.
"Noct."
"What's up?" he shifted in his chair, taking note of the folded map and book on the man's lap.
"I've done some searching and I do believe I have found our next destination. You expressed a desire to gather more royal arms, it seems the next closest tomb was erected in the Malmalam Thicket. The sources are a bit hazy on which particular arm is located there, one source states a scepter the other a morning star." He suggested.
"Wasn't there one in Costlemark Tower?" Noctis asked. Ignis flinched and wrinkled his nose, Aranea an odd reflection beside him.
"I don't know if I want to set food in that nightmare-fuel tower. Even before I read that cursed notebook, that place just always gave me the chills." She countered. "I signed up to help kick some butt, not kill myself."
"Then go back home and sip some hot cocoa." Crowe quipped, the pair of women locking eyes.
"Enough!" Ignis interrupted. "Follow us or not, we can argue that later. As for our course of action Noct, I suggest Malmalam Thicket. I feel that should legend be true, and the state of the men who entered that Tower was a result of being in such a place, we should not enter it until you have collected more strength from your ancestors."
"I guess you're right. Just feels like we're wasting time running around only to backtrack later." Noctis shrugged and turned when Lunafreya returned to her seat. There was a flat expression to her face, and her hair was pulled back in a loose elastic, rather than her usual tight updos or braids. "You okay?" he asked. She nodded, waving a hand a him.
"Just that headache." She complained.
"Ah, so she's not impervious to hangovers!" Crowe cheered. "I feel less like a loser now. Welcome to the oh-god-kill-me club!" she cheered, Aranea nodding and giving her a thumbs-up gesture of agreement. Lunafreya replied with a shrug and a sheepish smile. Noctis cocked his head and she nodded at him.
"How far is Malmalam?" she asked, hoping to cut off the question she knew Noctis was itching to ask her.
"Not terribly far, though quite difficult to arrive by car. I advise we either walk, or rent some chocobos from Wiz." Ignis answered her, and his lack of a flinch betrayed his expectation of Prompto's excited singing,
"I wanna ride my chocobo all day!" shimmying in his chair a bit.
"Guess that answers that question." Aranea shrugged. "Well my ass is getting numb. Want help packing up, what is it your friends call you? Specs?" she asked.
"I would never argue with a bit of assistance." He answered. Everyone joined in, in spite of Gladiolus insisting Aranea was taking over his share of the work which earned him a glare from Ignis and a middle finger from the dragoon. Lunafreya was moving slowly, wincing occasionally and rubbing at her temple. She, and a still hungover Crowe, let out a loud yelp when Prompto dropped one of the two camp chairs he was attempting to carry.
"Here, I'll get that." Noctis offered, grabbing Lunafreya's bag and slinging it over her shoulder so he could grab his own, as well as their tent and one of the chairs.
"Thanks," she felt bad letting him pick up the bag, but the sharp throbbing was growing behind her eye. She sighed, returning to trying to massage the pain away. Gladiolus extended the same offer to Crowe, with a much less enthusiastic reaction.
"Need to prove your dick is big? I got this." She snarked, picking up her bags and marching away from the camp.
"Fine! Just trying to be nice!" he shouted after her.
"Sure," she shouted back, stretching the word. He groaned, rolling his eyes.
"No witty remark from you?" he asked, looking over to Aranea. She turned to him and lifted a brow and rolled her eyes when she realized he was talking to her.
"Determined to dig that hole nice and deep, huh?"
"I can make it six-feet." He threatened.
"Gladio, please dial down the testosterone." Ignis asked. He opened his mouth and quickly shut it, hoisting everything he could onto his shoulders and stalking after Crowe. They were all back at the car after a short walk, with everything packed into the trunk as Prompto once again marveled at how the trunk could somehow fit all of their gear as well as the roof to the Regalia. Gladiolus noted Lunafreya pausing at the car's door, her fingers again at her temple.
"Hey." He called, trying to keep his voice low. She turned, eyes squinting slightly. "Rubbing your temple doesn't work really well." He commented, and held out his hand, twitching his fingers. "Give me your hand for a minute. I promise not to bite your fingers off." She hesitated, but held out her hand to him, and he pinched the area between her thumb and forefinger, pushing especially hard in one spot. "Here, rub right here. I know it sounds really weird." He suggested. "Iris used to get headaches sometimes. Always helped her." He explained, and let go of her hand.
"Oh," she answered, brows lifting lightly. She began to massage the spot Gladiolus instructed, "thank you. I'lll try it." She gave him a smile and a nod. He reached over to open the car door for her and she thanked him again, sliding herself into her relegated middle seat and returned to trying this new technique to ease the headache. Crowe pulled into the car next to Lunafreya's side, Noctis occupying her other. "Not taking your bike?" she inquired.
"My head wants none of it. So the ox and the chocobo are taking the bike." She answered. "You hurt your hand too?" she asked, pointing.
"No, Gladiolus has suggested a tip to help ease my headache."
"It working?"
"A bit soon to tell." Lunafreya shrugged. Crowe clucked her tongue and lolled her head back, asking to be roused when they arrived at Wiz's. Aranea entered the car and sat down in the passenger seat, asking if anyone minded she took shotgun in the Prince's car getting a chorus of no. Ignis sat down as well, pulling the car into gear and bringing them onto the road.
"How you feeling?" Noctis asked, resting his hand on the seat of the car, but brushing his thumb against her leg to gather her attention.
"I'll be all right." She answered, pressing her thumb into her hand and rolling in circles. Some of the tension felt like it was beginning to ease so she continued the motion, trying to will the rest of her to relax and tell herself that if she would let herself relax the tension in the rest of her body would ease. She exhaled slowly through her nose, closing her eyes and lolling her head back wishing she could sleep until they arrived at Malmalam Thicket.
