Smelling the mists before stepping out of the jungle. Feeling the weight slipping off her shoulders as she walked over and stopped, admiring the view. The light of the twin suns buffeted by the thick foliage of the taller trees. But the streams of soft golden rays found their way through the low-hanging tree branches, illuminating the mist-covered glistening pools. Sparkling waves of the small pools fill smaller pools, supplying a good-sized stream, meandering and disappearing into the forest. The warm waters bubbled through cracks, and the dark stone shined. The mist rose slowly into the trees and gently rained down from their leaves.
She sat down, took off her boots and socks, sat them behind her, and dipped her toes into the water. Electric blues rushed above and beneath the surface. It rolled across the cold pools into the warm water and finally into the, oh, by the goddess! Thick mist-covered stones. Where she would hide. The fog lit up like a distant thunderstorm.
She raised her chin, pulling the zipper down slowly in anticipation, the coolness across her neck seeping between her breasts and belly. She sighed, smiled, and blushed with anticipation. Standing up, she pulled it from her shoulders and arms. Letting them dangle to her side, slipping her hands between her armor and skin, she pushed down, moving her hips, and stepped out of it one leg at a time.
"You know..you could've done that a little sexier." Little misaka said.
"and thank you for not self-narrating it." Mikoto spoke with a soft sigh.
Setting the dragon scale armor over a low-hanging limb. She sorted through her utility belts. Take out a small bar of scented soap and a small bottle of shampoo and conditioner. She sat on the edge, her legs in the water. Looked at her reflection on the mirrored surface. Soft ripples spread out and faded. "Oh, please say we are staying here?" Little misaka bordered on begging and whining. The image of the pools and surrounding jungle appeared around her. She was already waist-deep, hair lathered, and enjoyed the bath. She slipped under the water and swam to the edge, feeling the degrees of temperature rising and breathing in the mist.
"No fair." Mikoto pouted, slipping into the water and disappearing under the surface. Slowly poking her head above the shimmering surface. She rose, leaned back against the rocky edge, and poured some shampoo into the palm.
"Don't make it sexy, and hurry and catch up," little misaka slipped into the thickening mist, "oh goddess!" sounding close to orgasmic. "I have returned!"
"And I will follow as soon as I really take a bath. Jerk."
She heard humming. Soft and gentle and joyful. Mikoto slowly opened her eyes, looking up into the slow swirls of steam above. Taking a deep breath, filling her lungs, she stood and strolled towards the sound. The moisture slowly separated like a curtain.
"A little girl?"
"Aye, a little girl washing her hair." Little misaka added. It was like it was scripted. Hearing Mikoto whispering as she walked out of the steam.
The little girl turned around, hands still in her long hair, glistening with shampoo. Her eyes were wide and clear, sparkling like sunshine bouncing off the water. She giggled, then smiled a large inviting smile.
"Oh, if that isn't an invitation to a trap," Mikoto whispered. The little girl bounced happily, like a child seeing a friend.
"Possibility?" Little misaka answered. "But. If so, she's got the excited baby look going."
"Can I join you?" Mikoto asked, tapping her finger between her breast and then pointing in the little girl's direction.
"Said the fly to the spider?" little misaka slowly shook her head.
The little girl quickly nodded, hands still scrubbing her head.
"No tricks?" She added with a nod. The little girl's smile peaked as she nodded her head.
"Did she really understand us?" Little misaka said, "remember what the wolves say."
"A smile like that means only one thing?" Mikoto said. "Trouble," little misaka answered. Bluish-white sparks rushed along the water, stepping off the stone and into deeper water. "Just checking," Mikoto whispered. The little girls' eyes, wide with curiosity, followed the electricity.
"She can…." Her eyes darted at the electricity scampering across the water.
"Yep…" Mikoto nodded.
"This has got to be a trap." Little misaka wondered. "In for a penny, in for a pound."
Mikoto slowly sat next to the little girl. She was still smiling, looking her up and down. And without a word. She turned around and showed her back, took her hands down, and slipped them into the water.
"Trusting?" Mikoto said and washed the little girl's hair. She nudged closer.
"Or setting a trap." Little misaka said.
"Could be…" Mikoto tilted her head, seeing scales covering her neck and shoulders and down her back. Small, rugged ridges ran along with her spin.
"Some sort of reptile? Maybe?" thinking of the little ones in the forest. The young ones would rush out of the jungle, touch a powerful being, take their DNA to add to theirs and disappear back into the jungle.
"I really don't think a lizard is running around in the jungle? Do you?"
Considering how we got here? Mikoto sighed. "Bahamut and those others weren't exactly mammals."
"You think she might be a dragon?"
She was calm, lost in thought, as she let her right-hand drift from the little girl's hair along the bumpy scales over her shoulders. "Soft, pliable.." the little girl touched her fingers with her tiny hand. The same scales covered parts of the hand and fingers. Mikoto could see the edges of her nails were sharp and serrated. Made for slicing and tearing. The little girl purred.
"Well-armed." Little misaka spoke, and taking a sniff, "hey?" looking concerned, "does she smell kinda….. HEY! SHE'S USING OUR SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER!" Little misaka shouted, "DOES SHE KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO GET THAT STUFF RIGHT NOW…. QUICK…WET YOUR HEAD AND USE WHAT'S IN HER HAIR…. THAT LITTLE THIEVING PREDATOR!"
Looking over, Mikoto could see her utility belt lying on the ground, pockets opened, and items spilled out in a somewhat well-organized search. Ampules of blood and plasma piled next to one another, napkins, medical supplies, bars of soap, and small bottles of shampoo and conditioner in disarray. Two small bottles were open and empty.
"SHE USED TOO MUCH!"
"Looks like a trade of sorts?"
""I don't care if …ours is all-natural, cruelty-free, and free- free, so don't even think it's equal!"
"I think this is a crime of opportunity," Mikoto grinned, running her hand, pulling the little girl's hair tight, squeezing the shampoo out. She sighed, putting the suds onto the stone next to them. "Besides?" She said, "it seemed she was coming here to bathe, anyway."
A small bowl filled with a smooth white concoction, extra balls of brightly colored what she hoped was fruit. The little girl leaned her head back, exposing her neck and belly as she slipped underneath the water, came up again, and squeezed her long hair damp.
"Could've done some damage." Little misaka spoke. "She's either too young, too stupid, or too confident to realize exposing your belly is a good way to get it ripped apart."
The little girl turned with an innocent smile. She reached out and scooted the small bowl closer, scooped up a little bit, rubbed her hands together, and washed her face. Her eyes, vertical slits in shape and golden. Sharp and clever. Her cheeks blushed and full. Small outlines of scales just underneath the surface. Her mouth supple and plump, revealing the razor-sharp shapes of curved fangs that fit nicely between her bottom teeth.
"Definitely a predator." Mikoto nodded, bringing her hand to the little girl's cheek and stroking with her thumb.
"Noooooo traps…" she said.
The smiles grew bigger, and her tiny mouth opened. She quickly nodded, pressing her cheek against the palm of Mikoto's hand.
Then Her eyes quickly shifted, her head tilted, and small pointed ears flickered. Listening.
With another silent, quick nod, the little girl slipped under the water, rose up, and skimmed across the surface, propelled by a long whipping tail to the edge. She flipped into the air, landed silently, and took off running. She waved as she disappeared into the jungle.
"That was odd?" little misaka said." did she have a tail? Thinning her eyes suspiciously.
"Yea, that was kinda," Mikoto chuckled, biting her lower lip. Her supply of shampoo and conditioner shrunk by half.
"Ooohhhh?!" little misaka growled. "That had to be a cute, quick hands attack. And we never saw it coming…DAMN HER! Little misaka clenched her fist. "REVENGE!"
Taking a bit into the palm, Mikoto lathered up the concoction and rubbed it on the back of her hand. "smells good," she said, giving it a taste on the tip of her tongue. "A little like oranges, mango, and some florals."
"Oooh, that's gross," little misaka said. "I mean, it's not the most disgusting thing we've had in our mouth, but still…do you know where that stuff has been?"
"Probably hanging on some tree limb and mashed in this wooded bowl …you little pervert.
"Phhhttpps.. maybe there's."
"There are no bugs in it. " Mikoto sniffed and took a deep breath. "Nope, I can tell…." crossing her arms over her chest.
"This coming from someone who threw up a pincher last night. You are really not in a position to…."
"Will you just shut….."
"We thought you'd be here," Aya said, coming out of the jungle, slowed, cautiously looking around.
"Is this place like some religious shrine?" Little misaka asked. "They seems a little concerned." Nya did the same, checking the surroundings. Rea stopped and dropped the tip of her spear into the cold water, rippling across the surface. Kea rushed to the edge, eyes worried as she approached, hitting the stones like a cat avoiding water.
"It's warmer here." Mikoto waved them over.
"Yes, but…" as apprehensive as Aya seemed, she took a breath and walked over.
"Oh, don't worry," she said. "There is nothing in the water."
"Here," Mikoto held out her hand and patted the edge, "come.." she said to Kea. Her eyes lit up, cheeks blushed, forgetting whatever made her afraid of this place.
She put down everything, slipped off her clothes, and stepped into the water next to Mikoto. She blushed a dark bright red and leaned forward, clutching her knees. Mikoto took a scoop, rubbed her hands together, and washed her back.
Aya, Nya, and Gullah stood by. Rea was already undressed and in the water.
"She said it's safe.?" The water was high as her waist. Taking the bowl, she smelled. "Oooohhhh…" grinned, took a scoop, and started to wash her arm.
"Mikoto…you don't understand.. this place…." Looking anxious.
"I was resting over there," she motioned to the dense steam and spoke, washing Kea's hair, "and this little one was humming, sitting right here…."
"Go…on," Aya asked.
"So she invited me over, and welll."
"Go ahead and tell them about the cute, adorable petty thief stealing our supplies."
"She seemed pretty bright for a little one…Of course, she took some of my things, buuutttt she left this and rushed into the jungle," she said, "I'm sure she'll come back…but you know?"
What?
"She had the oddest-looking golden eyes." Mikoto shrugged, "anyway. I'm pretty sure it's safe, considering a little one was bathing here."
Aya looked at Nya and Gullah and sighed, "if the goddess wills it." She shrugged, concerning, losing to a smile.
They undressed and slipped into the water.