Song: Digging my potato – Instrumental (Seatbelts/NY Musicians) (409 words)
The summers in Highever were long. For him, they usually meant more work, since there was more daylight and the weather was generally clement. Working made his body tired. He wasn't old, no – just twenty-eight years of age. His body was strong, muscular, and everybody admired the shine of his hair. At least, when he deigned to let them wash it, for if there was something that he disliked, that was bathing water – water and soap.
Those two were natural enemies of his.
He could not understand why Nerissa seemed to enjoy those two so much. She always smelled nice. He accompanied her to the beach almost every day –sometimes she insisted on going even if it was raining– and he watched her from the shore. She asked him to run along the coast with her, and he was happy to do so.
So long as that treacherous water stayed well away from him.
That particular afternoon was going by very slowly. He napped in the shade after lunch, and the air was quiet, except for the occasional fly. He yawned. Mmm... Peaceful. He liked it that way. Silent...
He opened one eye. Too silent.
He raised his head. That could only mean one thing.
"WAAAAH!" Fergus ran towards him, brandishing a wet cloth and a soap. Virgil quickly got on his feet and ran in the opposite direction, towards the chapel. They would not dare–
He stopped just in time to dodge a bucketful of cold water. He barked loudly.
"Who are you barking at?" Bryce boomed, faking severity. Virgil lowered his head and whimpered. "Now come here and let us give you a bath, you stinking mutt!"
Virgil woofed softly, reminding Bryce that even though he was the Master's father, he was not his master. He looked ahead and saw the door to the library had been left ajar. He dashed towards it. That was the only place where water was definitely not allowed. At least he could stay there until–
SPLASH!
The tepid water hit him right in the face, taking him by surprise. Nerissa came out of the library, balancing the now empty bucket merrily and flashing a soapy brush. Virgil whimpered.
Not the soapy brush, he thought, as he lay on the floor and covered his eyes with his giant paws, resignedly accepting the tortuous washing process.
But only for the Master, he thought, as he felt Nerissa's fingers scratching him behind the ear.
.
A/N: Virgil is, as you must have realized, my headcanon mabari. Nerissa is my main warden, and her twin brother's name is Gwyn, who was featured in the story called "A Kind of Magic". Virgil hates water as much as cats do. Water and genlocks.