This was not a good predicament to be in. Not only did Lilo enter the Craver's onsen…
He had entered the females section as well.
How had his luck been so darn miserable? He was sure that nobody else was going to take a bath at this hour…
Unless the people avoided this time because Cravers bath at night.
Gods how had he not thought of that?
At least the craver who found him seemed friendly… or so far they did.
As soon as he made eye contact with the friendly Craver, she hushed him with a finger to her lips and led him into a corner, tucking him behind a large rock where the natural hot spring had a steamy water fall that created the perfect veil to hide behind.
All the while Lilo remained obident and deathly quite, making sure not to alert any other potential Cravers that may notice him.
It seemed like they were alone, and oddly enough, her hand felt soft as she led him there.
Another thought occurred to him. She was sentient and capable of being kind.
The Cravers weren't some mindless beasts that were infected and Incapable of cognitive discernment.
Lilo studied the craver in awe at what was transpiring.
Her jaw kept flexing as if she was constantly chewing something. He did not want to guess what that was.
Her height, unlike all other women he had come across, was similar to that of his.
And her slender figure was lean yet robust, her muscles accentuating as her shoulders moved.
There were fresh scars at the nape of her neck, and her wet hair was tied into many small braids past her ears.
She had bright pink hair, but it seemed dyed, because a trail of pink fluid enveloped her wake; dripping off of her head and revealing the light silver hair she had underneath.
There was a tatto between her shoulder blades, but only the tip of it was revealed to Lilo because the rest of her body was submerged; consealing the identity of the inked mark.
Her remaining figure was shrouded under the soapy green water of the onsen, and Lilo averted his gaze as he caught his eyes traveling downward in curiosity.
A blush warmed Lilo's cheeks as his nakedness - as well as hers - was realized.
'Damn it, lock in Lilo. You've had plenty of women in your past, now's not the time to fall to the temptation of lust over some freak who might bite you.'
"I can't believe you're actually stirred by a Craver." Soda's disappointed voice echoed in Lilo's head.
'I can't help it, that's still a… nevermind. How come you didn't warn me that I was going into the wrong-'
"I'm tired, going back to sleep." And with a yawn, Soda abandoned Lilo again.
Warm water washed over Lilo as the friendly Craver guided him last the veil of water behind the large rock.
Lilo was tempted to avert his questions for Soda to the Craver but he wasn't sure if they were capable of speech. I mean, they're muzzled for a reason right?
But to his surprise, the friendly craver turned to face him and spoke in a hushed voice.
"You should be safe here…" she paused to glance behind him , towards where they came from - her jaw still clenching and unclenching as if she was chewing something. "For now at least. I'll let you know when it's okay to leave."
Lilo's mouth dropped open but no words came out, as he was utterly stunned at her words.
Her large, perfectly black boundless eyes reflected back his own, and she titled her head with a questioning brow, awaiting his response.
He studied her face for any trace of the fiercesome cravers that wore the corpses of gluttons and muzzles that kept their mouths from consuming cursed things.
She had a round face with a scar on her small nose, likely from the weight of the muzzle, and lips that were almost too perfect; glistening in the moons light.
If it wasn't for her eyes being entirely black, everything about her seemed normal.
She continued to chew whatever it was in her mouth as the silence drew out and Lilo continued to be unaware that he was staring.
His eyes involuntarily traced down from her lips to her chin, her long slender neck, her collar bone… and the base of her cleavage that peaked out from the surface of the concealing water.
The friendly Craver's brow raised even further and she bit her lower lip in a deep frown, still chewing what was in her mouth.
Lilo shook his head in embarrassment and awkwardly cleared his throat.
"Sorry… I just…" Lilo looked behind him where he saw more blurry figures enter the onsen through the water veil and then turned back to the friendly Craver.
"Why are you helping me?"
The friendly Craver shrugged.
"You're part of our cohort, why wouldn't I help you?" She said simply while rolling her eyes in annoyance.
"Wait… so you're the lone craver for my Shepherd that's supposed to guide me on the field?" Lilo asked.
She nodded and turned to leave.
"Wait, I haven't gone on any field days yet. I haven't met him. What's he like? Are the rumers true?"
The craver shrugged and excited the veil as she muttered over her shoulder.
"You'll meet him tomorrow."
"Wait." Lilo reached past the veil and pulled her back in.
"I… don't know your name." Lilo's voice trembled as he noticed how close they were and he let go of her arm.
"Nobody asks Cravers for their names but… for you I'll make an exception." A short friendly smile flashed on her delightful face.
"It's Bubbles." Her voice did not reflect her name, it was not bubbly and inviting at all. Instead it was raspy, deep and gritty; like that of a seasoned warrior.
'What a silly name. Oh wait. Cravers take the name of the cursed element they ate. I wonder what she consumed…'
As if in answer to his question, Bubbles blew a large pink bubble from her lips, growing gradually in a drawn out pace, finally popping - startling Lilo - and covering half of her face as it spread all over.
She chewed it back into her mouth in three large bites and turned to leave.
"Oh, hey I forgot to tell you my name!" Lilo called out.
"I know who you are… Lilo." With those words she excited the veil, only returning a few hours later when the coast was clear.