"Beautiful" said Wura as she smiled and she looked at the clear river water in front of her, she was sceptical at first when Darla said that she could hear water, but this was just a very beautiful river, for the first time in a long time, Wura saw trees, lush green trees on the other side of the river, and on this side, there were a few trees as well.
"My lady, I have some fresh clothes here for you when you get cleaned" said Nora as she walked to Nora folding some folded clothes.
"Thank you Nora" said Wura as she looked at Nora and she smiled but she took a pause before she proceeded to get undressed.
"Do not worry my Queen, the men are done, and they are on the other side, I will keep watch for you while you bathe" said Nora as she smiled, she could read what Wura was thinking about.
"Thank you Nora, you are the best" said Wura as she smiled and Nora smiled at her.
"Please hurry up and get dressed my lady, before it gets late and very cold" said Nora as Wura nodded her head and Nora smiled.
"I will leave these here my lady" said Nora as she left Wura's clothes beside a huge rock.
"Thank you Nora" said Wura once again as she smiled and Nora smiled at her as she walked away to keep watch for Wura not too far away.
Wura sighed as she looked at the water, she bent down beside the riverbank as she dipped her finger in the water and she removed it quickly as it was freezing cold.
Wura wondered just how Liam and the others bathed in this water, it was as cold as ice.
Wura did not waste any time at all, Nora was right, it would soon become dark and cold, and then it would be even harder for her to attempt to get cleaned.
Wura looked at herself as she was somewhat disgusted, her skin had been covered in the green beasts blood, she was sure that she looked like a monster as well, and not to even talk about her hair.
Wura stopped thinking too much as she removed her boots and she placed them beside her folded clothes that Nora left for her as she braced herself and she closed her eyes as she walked into the water, regretting every step that she took.
Wura grimaced as the cold water touched her skin, it was too cold, as if someone had poured a bucket of ice water all over her, but in this case, it was the entire river, it was too cold for her.
Wura sighed as she opened her eyes and she walked deeper and deeper into the water until her chest was fully covered in water.
Wura looked around as she played around a bit in the water to get used to the coldness, and with time, she did not feel so cold anymore. Wura observed the still flowing river, its current was gentle and peaceful as it was just running along, not mindful that she was in it at all.
Wura realized that if she kept this up, she would not get out of here soon enough, so she slowly began to remove her clothing.
First her leather pants, she threw them on the dry ground, and then her tunic, followed by her white chemise.
Wura shivered as the cold water touched her bare skin, Wura looked at her wrist, it would seem that the water had already washed away all the green blood from her.
Wura quickly moved her hands to her hair as she unplaited it from the ponytail braid that it had been left in for so long as she ran her fingers through her hair as she could feel it was slimy.
Wura held her breath as she submerged herself completely into the cold water as she ran her ringers through her hair, as it got tangled and she was trying to make sure that it was completely clean.
Wura came up from under the water as she shook her head and her hair was completely wet as she sighed, this was horrible, her hair would be horrible now that it was no longer held in a braid, and it annoyed her so much.
She was so annoyed, why could she not have just listened to Mero and left, maybe then she would not have been at the receiving end of when that beast decided to explode and spurt its blood everywhere.
Wura submerged herself in the water a few more times as she had enough of that and she twisted a strand of her hair with her finger as she washed her face.
She had to admit, the fresh cold water on her face felt so good, she had not had a bath in days, she kind of missed it, although it was always a chore.
Wura stayed in the water for a bit, before realizing that she must have been taking too long, so she quickly finished up and got ready to get dressed.
…
Wura was freezing cold when she got out of the water, she had worn the clothes that Nora had left for her, and her hair was still very damp, so she decided to let it down freely, she would find something to do with it later.
Wura walked to where the others were as Zuph just finished making a fire as Darla and Liam were speaking along with Malcom and Dothan.
"Now this is better, I am back to my handsome self" said Elihu as he admired his now clean skin as Mero scoffed and Wura giggled, could Elihu be any more silly, he was so self-conscious, more than a woman was.
The sun was starting to set as they all decided to set up camp here, and leave in the morning.
"Anyway, we cannot risk getting caught unaware, so Zuph, Elihu, you have to stay awake with me and take watch" said Mero a Zuph agreed and Elihu groaned, he hated staying up, he needed his rest.
"Elihu, why are you so lazy?" asked Wura as she looked at Elihu and she laughed and Elihu looked at her, if not for the fact that she was pretty, and she was also the Queen, he would have scoffed.
"I am not lazy my lady, but I deserve rest as well" said Elihu.
"Whatever you say Elihu, whatever you say" said Wura as she laughed.
"My lady, your hair, it is still wet, you might catch a cold" said Nora as she rushed to Wura in worry.
"Oh do not think like that Nora, I will be fine, it is only a little bit wet, it will dry soon, you worry too much" said Wura as she laughed and she walked to sit by the fire as she felt refreshed, maybe taking a bath in a freezing cold river was good after all, she just felt so much more relaxed, like all her stress had disappeared in an instant.
Liam walked to where Wura was sitting as he smiled at her.
"May I sit beside you?" asked Liam as Wura looked up to see him smiling at her.
"Of course you can" said Wura as she smiled.
"Thank you" said Liam as he smiled at her and he sat down beside her as they both looked at the fire, the sun had already set.
Wura ran her fingers through her hair as she ruffled her hair up a bit as some water droplets sprayed on Liam.
"Oh sorry" said Wura as she looked at Liam.
"It is fine" said Liam as he smiled at her.
"Your hair is very wet" said Liam, his own hair had dried a long time ago.
"I know, and it Is very annoying, once it gets wet, it takes a while to dry, which Is why I hate getting it wet in the first place, it is such a burden" said Wura as she complained, she had been told that her hair was pretty, and she did like her curls, but sometimes she wondered how it felt to have regular straight hair that you could run your fingers through without them getting stuck and tangled in her hair.
"I think that your hair is very pretty" said Liam as he smiled and Wura looked at him as she felt her heart skip a beat, was that was he always thought of her hair? That it was pretty? He never said so before, but now that he did, Wura felt happy that he actually took note of the little things.
"It suites you well" said Liam as Wura looked at him.
"Thank you…" said Wura as she smiled at him, she did not know what else to say.
"You know, I do have myself to blame for it getting dirty though, who knew that the beast would decide to coat us all in its blood" said Wura as she scoffed and Liam looked at her.
"I do have to say, we all looked rather silly all covered in green" said Liam as he laughed.
"I agree with that" said Wura as she laughed.
"Green was never my colour" said Wura as she laughed.
"Neither was it mine" replied Liam.
"Which colour do you like most?" asked Wura out of curiosity, she never did know Liam's favourite colour.
"Brown like wood, and brown like the colour of your hair" said Liam as he smiled and Wura felt her heart melt, her Liam was such a wonderful person.
"And what about you?" asked Liam as he smiled.
"I always preferred yellow" said Wura as she played with a strand of her hair, she was nervous right now even though Liam and her were speaking casually.
"Next time we encounter a beast, which should not be anytime soon, I believe that it would be better to run from it once you kill it" said Liam as he laughed and Elihu, Zuph and Nora smiled, hearing Wura and Liam speak to each other.
"I agree" said Wura as she laughed as well and she and Liam looked at each other as Darla looked at them and she growled, now that was it, she was tired and fed up of all this, of Wura, and of Liam's undue attention towards her, she was going to put an end to this right now.
Darla walked to where Liam and Wura were sitting beside the fire.
"Liam, would you mind if I steal Lily away for a moment?" asked Darla as she looked at Liam and she smiled as Wura was surprised.
"Sure, why not?" asked Liam as he smiled.
"Lily, I would like to speak to you for a moment" said Darla as she looked at Wura and she smiled as Wura looked at her in surprise, she did not expect this, Darla had never tried to speak to her before, she knew that she did not like her at all.
"Umm sure…" said Wura as she did not want to seem mean.
"Great" said Darla as she smiled and Wura looked at Liam in confusion as he smiled at her and she followed after Darla as they walked away from everyone else.
"Where is she taking her to?" asked Elihu as Nora nodded her head, she was going to follow them.
"No stay here, she can handle herself" said Mero as he stopped Elihu and Nora from going anywhere, Wura was more than capable of handling herself,, besides, Mero knew that Darla would not dare hurt Wura, especially when Liam was present.
"Are you sure about that Elihu? I do not trust that woman Darla, not at all" said Elihu as he shook his head.
"She will be fine Elihu, do not interfere, and you as well Nora" said Mero as Elihu reluctantly stood down as Nora looked at Mero and she shook her head, she did not like this one bit.