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It had taken four pitiful weeks for Creature's tail to completely heal, twice a day she or Celeste had to apply a healing balm that supposedly hastened healing. Creature wasn't sure she believed that though. Celeste had even procured a child's single bed from somewhere so Creature wouldn't have to climb up into her attic nest whilst she was healing. Greatly she missed the attic nest but a secondary one closer to the ground was also pleasant, the mattress the right amount of firm and Celeste and Willamina had gone out of their way to purchase more thick woollen blankets ensuring she was comfortable. By the end of it Celeste had readily agreed to giving Creature a wage for assisting Willamina in obtaining the ingredients that she needed for potions and spells. Briefly and with much haste Willamina had done a few errands whilst Creature recovered but it was nothing like her usual work. Willamina had little need for money so it was no hardship much like Celeste. A fact not many knew was that Celeste is wealthy, the kind that meant if she so desired she wouldn't need to work again and be more than perfectly comfortable. Work was something that gave her life meaning though; she had the means to help those that lived in the forest and beyond. Providing Creature with work was another one of the small things she could do to help without it being seen as charity. Arguments had already been had and Creature fairly refused money without doing something to earn it.
And now Creature and Willamina were indulging in a second breakfast at her kitchen table.
“We'll start off with some easier ingredients today as Creature hasn't helped before” Celeste explained between sips of her sweet raspberry tea.
“Is this because I got hurt on the dig site? I can do anything anyone else can do” Creature pitifully protested as she gazed into the jar of cornichons she was currently snacking on. Have I messed everything up, she thought to herself. Celeste was quick to reassure with a warm smile “it's not because you got hurt. Even Willamina didn't start by diving in the deep end right away. Do you think I'd let my best friend get hurt like that? Plus it's supposed to be a nice day and I thought a picnic would be welcomed.”
“Celeste is right” Willamina butted in, guilt still eating away at her past actions “plus you're still getting used to the new prosthetic. I know you climb about the cottage all fine and dandy but I don't want to risk you getting hurt in an unfamiliar environment again.” Creature gave her a curious look as she thought over both their words, both of them coming from a place of deep care and concern. She had been aware that Willamina had been more cautious, fearfully so, since the accident at the dig site; she'd definitely been paying more attention lately and often hovering nearby just in case. Looking up at them from her spot on the kitchen table “I understand. It's all so new and I got excited.”
“Think of it like this” Celeste thoughtfully replied “when I was a young witchling, I didn't start with the hardest spells. I built up to them and practised for hours to make sure I was being safe. And now people come from all over the realms for my witchcraft. You're at the beginning of your journey, you'll be doing all sorts of adventures before you know it. There's a whole world to explore and you don't have to start with the dangerous places.”
“Then I shall work hard and practise” Creature promised with a smile. Happily Celeste cheered, giving her a bright and beaming smile. It was Willamina that broke the comfortable silence that was now forming “what is it you need today?”
“Arcus Nodo please” Celeste cheerily replied “the winter months always make them popular.” Nodding Willamina was familiar with what she was after as she pulled a large bucket out of the corner near the fireplace. Keen to learn as much as she could, Creature curiously queried “what are those?”
“A species of tiny river snakes. They live in freshwater streams and rivers in the mountainous regions in the north” Willamina explained as she rummaged through Celeste's supplies until she found the snake bait, a jar of small speckled boiled eggs.
“Are we using the door again?” Creature excitedly asked.
“Did you know I created those doors?” Celeste asked her. Jaw dropped, Creature looked up at her in amazement as Celeste continued “I install them for all sorts of folks now, they make long distance travel so much easier.”
Armed with the large wooden bucket and the picnic basket Celeste had already thoughtfully packed they followed Celeste around her cabin to her fenced in back garden. Under the shade of an ancient tree stood the shed-like building Celeste had guided them too before. Hastily Celeste ushered them inside so she and Willamina could wrestle two boxy looking traps from the rafters which Willamina quickly shoved in the large bucket she was wrangling. Turning to the door, Celeste turned the crank handle until the summer green segment was selected on the dial. Proudly she boasted “these doors were my first piece of perfected magic.”
“They're so clever,” Creature replied. With a beaming smile and a little curtsy Celeste thanked her. Pulling off her cloak, Creature hung it on the height appropriate cloak hooks that Celeste had installed in the shed after their last adventure had left Creature huddled beneath Willamina's cardigan for warmth as they dashed back to Celeste's cabin. The second Celeste opened the portal door, Creature scampered through like an impatient cat to launch herself at the door handle of the other little cabin without taking a glance around the more cabin-like nature of the space over Celeste's shed. As she hung her weight off the silver handle, the door slowly creaked open and Creature let herself drop the short distance to the wooden floors. Tentatively she peered around the open door, eyes wide in wonderment.
A lush green meadow stretched on as far as the eyes could see, the gentle breeze moving the long grass like gentle waves. Tall evergreen trees stood guard around the meadow, forming a protective fence that lowly swayed in the soft breeze. Towering proud mountains encompassed the large glade, maintaining a protective barrier around the meadow that shut out the rest of the world. Each mountain was carpeted in more of the lush green grass with spots of vibrant colours formed by the vast amount of wild flowers. The peaks capped with an ever enduring snow that melted enough to water the brilliant plant life but not enough to disappear completely. The sky stretched above her brilliantly blue and cloudless, the sun providing a gentle and comfortable warmth. A soft warm breeze brushed across her cheek, waking her daze as she gave the air a careful sniff, warm grass and wild flowers. She'd never seen anything like it before. Eagerly she launched herself from the wooden porch to feel the cool dirt beneath her paws and almost completely disappear into the long grass that tickled as she brushed past it. Meanwhile, Celeste and Willamina followed at a more leisurely pace, the glade a place they like to take tea sometimes when the weather allowed and they didn't wish to be bothered by anyone else. “You'd think she's never seen grass before” Celeste sadly commented as they watched Creature stealthily follow a fat little bumblebee as it bumbled from flower to flower completely unbothered by Creature.
“If she has it's those neatly cut lawns but from the little I know, humanies like their paved gardens” Willamina thoughtfully replied, giving a little shudder at the thought of Creature only knowing hard paving before coming to them. With a sad little sigh, Celeste abruptly questioned like it was the most normal thing in the world “do you think she was ever a child?” With a small gasp, she covered her mouth with her hand disbelieving she accidentally thought that out loud. With a snort and a small chortle Willamina replied “way to dive into deep waters Celeste. Literally yes but I doubt she had a Wynnie or auntie Jewelweed. At least Wynnie tried and left me with auntie when she couldn’t any more. Creature’s definitely had no one to battle with her endless curiously or explain public lavatories to her.”
“Mama would have loved her” Celeste quietly announced with a heavy heart “she always wanted more daughters.”
“She accepted me, I don't think accepting Creature would have been difficult for her. She would have rightfully scolded me for my shameful behaviour last month too” Willamina quietly lamented as she sat on the edge of the porch. Quickly Celeste joined her as she kindly suggested “maybe we can ask her about her childhood and who on earth thought to name her Creature. Or if that's too much, maybe a missed out list so we can give her experiences she's missed out on.”
“It's a lovely thought but I think it would be overwhelming” Willamina warned. Gently Celeste rested her head on Willamina's shoulder bone as she lamented with a tired and sad huff “I miss mama, she would know what to do.”
“Auntie would be trying to figure out where she came from or cursing the humanies that let her suffer so much” Willamina pointed out with a soft chuckle. Glancing up at Willamina, she let her eyes magically glow a dark turquoise as she pointed out “it's not too late, you still have the scarf she was wrapped in.”
“They aren't worth your energy Celeste” she replied. Shaking her head, her eyes returned to their usual tropical tide blue as she frustratingly huffed “I know and I also know there isn't a record of a being like her.” Shaking her head, Willamina couldn't believe it as she argued “there must be something somewhere. Exosso Catulus were hunted and scattered across the world but there's still something of us out there.”
“Hunt witches despite the barbarians they were, kept meticulous records of every being they culled in the name of dark magic. I collect those ancient horrid tomes and there isn't a single spell that calls for the fangs of Creature or the pelt or a sprinkle of horn” Celeste frustratingly told her in hushed tones even though Creature was too busy chasing flittering butterflies.
“You can't just lose an entire species like it never existed” she quietly protested with a heavy sigh. The thought of an entire species wiped off the face of the earth sending a chill through bones like being dunked in ice water. Her horrid thoughts were broken by Celeste as she pointed out “Creature is small if they're all that size they'd make easy prey and you'd need a lot for a decent sized pelt.”
“Well that's a horrid thought Celeste, thank you for that” Willamina gasped with a full body shudder “I don't even want to consider that someone out there is wearing a Creature coat. I did ask though, she doesn't remember anything from before the exotic market she was sold at.”
“I can't do a memory potion on her, she's too small and the magic too finicky. It would do more harm than good” she sadly informed her.
“I don't think she'd want it anyway. Sometimes she gets this glassy look in her eyes like something else is there but it never lasts longer than a couple of seconds. She can form new memories now, fun ones and maybe more friends” Willamina resolutely said, leaving no room for arguments against. Celeste agreed though as she reassured her “we'll be her sisters like I am yours and teach her what she needs to know.”
“I should catch up with her” Willamina replied as they both watched Creature pounce on something and completely disappear into the long grass.
Getting to her feet, she brushed off her long skirts as she gently warned Willamina “keep an eye on her near the water. I doubt anyone had taught her to swim.”
“If I can get her to stop chasing butterflies, I'll make sure she's safe in the water” Willamina happily replied as Creature suddenly popped up nowhere near where she had pounced and was now badly cartwheeling through the long grass, tail happily swishing behind her. Stepping back up onto the porch, Celeste looked back out to the mountains one last time as she said “stay safe. I've got to go to the other side of the forest today.”
“Stay safe too. We'll see you tonight for dinner” Willamina replied as she gathered up the picnic basket and giant bucket. For a moment she watched Celeste slip back through the doorway to the snowy forest making sure she closed the door behind her before setting off. Stepping into the long grass, she headed down the meadow where she knew the river would be as she called out “Creature I'm heading towards the river.” Surprisingly Creature popped up near her forcing a small startled yelp from her maw that swiftly turned into a laugh as Creature grinned up at her. Quickly she instructed as she gestured towards the still hidden river “find a nice spot near the water for the picnic.” Hastily she gave a thumbs up before happily bounding back into the long grass that she could scarcely see over.
Gradually the grass began thinning out, a beautiful babbling sound lured her closer but she continued to linger in the long grass. This must be the river Willamina had spoken off she thought to herself. It was far wider than she was expecting with a little sandy beach that led to crystal clear water that left the rocky bottom visible, making it deceptively deep in some places. Cautiously she watched the water trickle past, languidly shifting and twisting further down the glade. Dropping low, she tentatively approached the sand soft beneath her paws and her tail high and swishing behind her as she tried to figure out exactly what she was looking at. Hesitantly she reached out, sticking her whole paw in the cool water. Not expecting it to feel quite so cool or the strange movement of it, she yelped and scampered far enough back to hide behind Willamina's legs. Peering around, Creature carefully observed the moving water, it didn't seem quick enough to sweep her away or very deep but what if it is she thought to herself.
“Have you never seen a river before?” Willamina gently asked as she put down the bucket and picnic basket near the grass. Hastily she shook her head and wrinkled her snout like she could still smell the wretched stench “the humans had a pond but it was still and smelt incredibly awful like something had died.”
“Alright. Let me set up the picnic blanket and then I'll show you the river” Willamina softly reassured. Unceremoniously, Creature plonked herself down the warm sand.
Crouching beside the picnic basket, she rummaged for the blanket that had been wedged down the side “do you know what a picnic is?”
“I thought they only happened in books,” she quietly replied.
“Well regular folks have them too. I'm going to lay a blanket out on the sand and Celeste has packed some snacks and sandwiches for you” Willamina explained as she triumphally pulled the blanket out.
“That sounds like fun” Creature happily replied, despite not moving from her spot as she still warily watched the water. With care Willamina laid out a dark blue and green tartan blanket on the small sandy shore, placing rocks on the four corners so the breeze wouldn't disturb it. Once she was done, she placed the picnic basket in the centre. Standing still for a moment, she figured out where the breeze was coming from before pulling a rainbow canvas wind breaker from the basket and wedging it into the sand so they'd have a little shelter and privacy. Once that was done, she finally felt comfortable enough to slip out of the dress she was wearing. Undoing the top few buttons of the dark frilly dress she was wearing, it slipped off her shoulders to pool at her feet. Delicately she folded her long dress and placed it beside the picnic basket leaving her in only her knee length slip. The soft dark navy fabric preserved her modesty whilst not having to worry about getting her good dress wet. Coming around the sit on the blanket, Creature curiously watched as Willamina stepped up to the water's edge.
“I don't want to get my dress wet” she explained as she glanced back at Creature with a smile “this river is relatively safe. That doesn't mean not to be careful but the water is slower and shallower here.” Without hesitation she waddled almost to the middle which only came to half way up her shins. Cautiously Creature approached the waters edge, watching as Willamina paced back and further letting the cool water wash over her bones. Scampering back to the picnic blanket; she scrambled out of her shirt and trousers with far less grace than Willamina had done and left them in a pile beside Willamina's dress leaving her standing in her black slip and bloomers. Tentatively she approached the water once more.
“Where does it come from?” Creature curiously asked as she glanced up at Willamina who had given up on pacing in favour of cautiously watching Creature.
“Well it comes from the mountains” she said as she gestured to the towering mountain behind them “the snow melts, trickles down here where it eventually forms the river as it moves.”
“That's amazing” she replied as she gazed in wonder at the snow capped mountains, wanting to know so much more but not knowing to start with her many many questions. Maybe Celeste had some books she could read she thought to herself.
Experimentally Creature dipped her hoof in the cool water before squeezing her eyes shut and taking a full step forward. Refreshingly chilled water lapped around her shins. Exhaling a deep breath, she took another step. Before she knew it she was teetering towards Willamina with a joyous grin plastered across her face as she excitedly exclaimed “I did it.”
“Yes you did. Well done” Willamina praised. Cautiously she wadded out further until Willamina was within grabbing distance when a wet stone slipped beneath her hoof. Instinctually she scrambled and reached out to grab Willamina's leg. Squeezing her leg tightly and squeezing her eyes shut, harsh panting breaths ran from her lips as she desperately tried not to delve into full panic.
“You're alright, you're safe. I'm right here” Willamina softly soothed as she reached down to gently stroke her horn. Exhaling a deep breath, Creature looked up at Willamina with a shy smile. Hoping to take her mind off the various overwhelming sensations Willamina asked “how about I show you the traps?”
“Is it difficult?” Creature curiously asked, the spark back in her eyes.
“Not at all but you should watch from the shore. I need to go down stream a little” Willamina instructed as she headed for the shore with Creature now cautiously holding onto the hem of her slip so she didn't slip.
“This is the bait” Willamina informed her as she held up a jar of speckled boiled quail eggs. Carefully put a couple of handfuls in each of the boxy looking traps, each covered with a fine mesh and an inverted tunnel like entrance.
“So these traps work via this little inverted tunnel, fish, and snakes can swim in but not out again” Willamina informed her as Creature eagerly nodded along. Picking up the two traps, Willamina gestured for her to follow along as she stepped back into the crystal clear waters once more. Diligently Creature followed along the shore until the water reached above Willamina's bony knees and there was more of a steep muddy bank down into the water. Creature thought it looked like a fun place to jump into the water from.
“Arcus Nodo lives in the deeper waters near the muddy bank” Willamina stated as she placed one of the traps beside Creature. Leaning forward, Willamina placed the trap with the opening up stream and carefully anchored into the river bed with a couple of built in pegs which she explained to Creature before setting up the next trap a little ways away from the first.
“What now?” Creature inquisitively asked.
“Now we wait. Let's see what Celeste packed” she suggested before wadding back to the picnic blanket. Joining her, Creature knelt beside the basket as she asked “what do you normally do?”
“I usually read. I could read aloud if you wish” Willamina kindly suggested, gingerly sitting on the blanket and keeping her wet paws in the warm sand.
“I can read” Creature snapped as she glared at her before guiltily looking away and plonking herself on the blanket. With a soft little sigh Willamina gently pointed out “I know you can but sometimes it's nicer to hear the words.”
“No one has ever read to me before. I'm sorry for snapping” Creature softly confessed as she nervously rubbed the hem of soft slip between her fingers “I used to borrow books off the humans and hide with them on the tops of the bookshelves.”
“Would you like more books?” Willamina gently questioned already mentally planning a trip to get her more as she pulled out the book she had been reading at the moment. Thoughtfully, Creature wondered how many bookshelves she could get in her small room as she replied “I think I would but for now what are you reading?”
“Fairytales at the moment. This one is about an ogre princess who rescues a prince” Willamina told her as she lay back and opened the book to the first page. Creature quickly rummaged through the basket before settling on cheese and cornichons sandwiches on thick wholemeal bread that Celeste had baked. Leisurely Willamina had made it through three chapters whilst Creature lazily watched the grass swaying in the breeze and lightly dozing so she could fully absorb the story.
“We should check the traps” Willamina stated once she finished the chapter. Snapping Creature out of blissed out state, she bolted up right to glare at Willamina. Playfully she whined “but what happens next?”
“We can finish it later,” Willamina quickly reassured her. Pouting Creature flopped backwards like she was mortally wounded before giving up and rolling towards Willamina with a reluctant fine before asking “are there snakes in the traps now?” Quickly she nodded as she grabbed the bucket and said “should be.” Carefully she filled the large bucket with river water before wedging it into the riverbed near the traps so it wouldn't shift. Hooves dangling in the cool water, she carefully observed as Willamina lifted the trap from the riverbed but didn't take it out of the water completely. Inside was brimming with sluggish river snakes that had gorged themselves on quail eggs. A few little fish had also been caught. Opening it, Willamina stuck her hand in and pulled out one of the tiny river snakes. “Here is what we're after” Willamina said as she held out the tiny squirming creature. Dark scales shimmered with iridescent rainbows in the warm afternoon sunlight. The little snake reared its head giving a tiny but fearsome hiss as it glared at Creature with little orangey eyes.
“What does Celeste do with them?” she queried as Willamina gently rubbed the snake's head with the pad of her thumb bone. One pitiful hiss later and it was lazily laying in her hand.
“They lay eggs like chickens, they're used in potions and as snacks. Some like to keep them as pets. We only take what we need” Willamina carefully explained. Turning over the one in her bony hand she gestured to the dark violet underbelly before going on to identify “and we only take the adults which have this purple on their bellies.” Completely fascinated Creature nodded. Gently Willamina dunked her hand in the bucket, softly opening her fingers so the wiggly little snake could swim away of its own accord. Pulling out the next one, Willamina pointed out that this one only had a smattering of dark violet scales on its underbelly and informed her “scales like these mean it's too young so we put it back in the river.” Crouching low the hem of her slip was getting soaked as her knuckles brushed against the riverbed. Opening her hand, the young snake quickly darted for the muddy riverbank.
“They don't live very long” Willamina said sadly “and they need to be with others. Only one or two and they get very sick. Celeste calls them a bundle of snakes.”
Cautiously Willamina checked over each snake before deciding they were destined for the bucket or heading back to the river. And once both traps were done and reset in the river, she carefully carried the heavy and cumbersome bucket back to the little sandy shore. Without a second thought, Willamina dropped another handful of quail eggs in the bucket just to be on the safe side.
Once everything was done, she sat back on the blanket and reached for the book once more.
“Do you want more of the book?” she inquired whilst Creature continued to stare into the water. She couldn't believe so many little animals lived in such see through waters. “Later” she quietly replied as she spotted something a similar colour to the rocks move. Attentively she stepped back into the water, trying to not splash or create ripples as she tried to get closer and figure out what the strange fish was. The large greenish grey tail lazy swished in the water. Her own tail also swished behind her as she stealthily followed whatever it was. It hadn't seemed to have noticed her. Gingerly she reached out. Poking the tail with a clawed finger, the scales of the strange fish was cold and weirdly slimy.
“Creature don't antagonise the wildlife” Willamina called over as she cautiously watched Creature stalk whatever she had caught her eye. Creature hadn't really heard her though at least not in a way that mattered or helped her retain the warning. Stalking the strange fish further and further out of the shallows, she quickly found herself in waist deep water. Tentatively Creature poked it again. Whatever it was had finally had enough as it reared, snapping at her with a large round full of razor sharp fangs.
Startled Creature defensively hissed as it before batting it away with a pathetic swipe of her paw. Swiftly it reared back, its sucker like mouth aiming straight for the fleshy part of her stomach, angry that it had been disturbed. With a fearsome growl Creature pounced, frantically trying to pin down the frightful eel looking fish and get its sucker-like mouth away from her body. No longer caring about the water or how soaked she was getting, all she could really feel was the frantic pounding of her heart, deafened as it rushed around her ears. And abruptly she felt some deeply buried instinct to bite it back. Arrogantly she found herself wrestling the horrid slimy thing; her instincts goading her forward whispering that she could defeat it. The once calm water around them now wildly thrashing and agitated as the commotion frightened away anything else that lived in the river's cool waters. Cautiously Willamina had been watching, wondering what on earth Creature thought she was doing but fretting about stepping in. “Oh good Goddess” Willamina loudly exclaimed as Creature was dunked below the surface for longer than it took for her roll and twist her way back to the surface. Frantically running over, she nearly slipped on wet rocks before successfully grabbing Creature around the waist and hauling her above the surface. She felt wildly unprepared for what she saw.
Somehow Creature had managed to successfully catch the long slimy fish, her long fangs sinking in behind the fish's eyes and eyes a little wild. The poor thing still thrashed in a final attempt to get away before Creature gave a loud growl and a final snap of her jaws. The fish then stilled, hanging limply. Watching her footing Willamina waded back to the shore where she safely deposited Creature. Hastily Creature spat it out, grimacing at the fowl taste on her tongue as she swilled her mouth out with river water. Meanwhile Willamina was hunched over, shaky hands resting on her knees as her panic began to ebb.
“Good Goddess, you nearly gave me a heart attack” she gasped as she mentally counted to ten and desperately tried to get a hold of herself. Gingerly Creature approached her strange catch, she'd never seen anything like it before not even in books and everything else she had seen today was so tiny. This thing had to be four feet long if not longer.
“Apologises, it snapped at me and I think I panicked a little. What is it?” she quietly queried, hoping that she hadn't upset Willamina too much. Crouching, Willamina carefully opened its jaw to reveal the sucker-like mouth on it that was filled with rows upon rows of sharp pointed teeth. Humming and hawing for a minute, she stood back wiping her now slimy hand on her slip as she announced “it's a lamprey and a big one at that. Well done.”
“I've never seen one before” Creature replied as she poked it with a hoof double checking that she had definitely dispatched the poor thing.
“I didn't think they were around and I've never seen one go for a second attack once it was batted away. Usually they retreat if you're warm blooded or strike first” Willamina told her, mostly thinking out loud. Wrinkling her snout in disgust as the thought of eating the horrid thing flashed through her eyes. Quickly she shook her head to dispel the idea before querying “what do we do with it now?”
Knowing how much Celeste loved lamprey and how very rarely she got to eat it Willamina easily blurted out “give it Celeste. I think I'm going to grab the traps and we should head back now.”
“Wait,” Creature called out as Willamina made a move towards the traps, her mind frantic with worry “did I ruin this again?” Quietly Willamina sighed and came to sit in front of Creature as she tried to reassure her “you haven't ruined anything. We've been here all day and you're soaked through. Doesn't a hot chocolate and some dinner sound nice.”
“I am a little cold” Creature begrudgingly admitted before her insecurity got the better of her “are you sure I didn't ruin anything?”
“You didn't. Normally I sit here, reading and waiting to go home again. Today was much more fun than usual” Willamina happily reassured her. With a bright beaming smile and a happily swishing tail she replied “I had fun too.” Willamina quickly sorted the traps, adding a few more snakes to the bucket before hauling the traps to the shore. Peering into the bucket Creature was surprised to see the little snakes having formed what appeared to be a complicated knot.
It took a few trips to get everything back through the door and packed back into Celeste's shed. Eventually the two of them were walking back together through the long grass, Creature's shirt draped around now shivering shoulders with the lamprey held at a distance despite being wrapped in a cloth napkin. Meanwhile Willamina carried the bucket of snakes, carefully and with both hands wrapped around the handle so she didn't disturb the knot they had formed. Stepping back in Celeste's shed, Creature tightly wrapped her fur lined cloak around her shoulders not caring that she was getting it damp before they hurried back into the welcoming warmth of Celeste's cabin.
“Celeste, we're back” Willamina announced as they awkwardly bundled their way through the door. While they had been gone, Celeste had set up a glass tank on the top of her chest of drawers, the inside mimicking the riverbed and muddy banks the snakes had some from.
“You found some then” Celeste excitedly said instead of a greeting as she gestured to the bucket. Promptly Willamina handed it over and Celeste peered inside and sweetly cooed “oh, aren't they sweet.” Stepping up on a carefully placed step stool, she poured the snakes and river water into the enclosure and with a flair of turquoise magic the tank was the perfect temperature for them.
Bucket empty and back in the corner of the room, Creature nervously approached as she announced “Celeste I have something for you.” Still holding the cloth napkin at arms length, she thrusts it towards her with a grimacing smile.
“For me?” Celeste quietly asked as she knelt in front of Creature. With a little nod and chuckle “I wrestled it and then Willamina rescued me.” Taking the lumpy napkin, Celeste peeled back the corners to find the lamprey eerily staring at her. She couldn't believe it, it had been so long since she'd had lamprey and she knew just the perfect recipe. She was taken from her thoughts as Willamina chuckled “it was all very dramatic.”
“Well you have my many great thanks. Would you like the skull when I'm done with it?” Celeste curiously asked with a raised eyebrow, noting how Creature suddenly went from disgusted with the lamprey to fascinated. Hastily she nodded as she excitedly gave a yes please. Pleased Celeste smiled at both of them, finally getting a good look at how soaked they both were and how Creature was shivering even if she didn't realise it.
“Excellent, I'll save it for you. Now about some hot dinner and some dry clothes. You both look soaked” she kindly suggested as she gathered a warm woollen blanket from the kitchen chair and wrapped Creature in it.
“Sounds great,” Willamina happily replied. Together they settled into night gowns that Celeste had magically warmed through and shrunk Creature's case before Celeste settled into making a warming stew. Bellies full, Creature languidly curled up at the end of Celeste's bed and was out like a light. Celeste and Willamina quickly joined her, Celeste going to the extra effort to scoop up Creature and tuck her between them. Even Willamina was tired enough to just lie back and relax without a book, not that she had the energy to read if she did have one to hand. And so they settled in for the night.