Ves POV:
I looked at the 'bathtub' in surprise. I never expected him, or anybody for that matter to make so much effort for me. Especially since he has known me for less than a god damn day!
There was some steam coming out of the water, evidence that it was warm. There were flowers in it, floating around and some leaves too. I could tell they were fragrant because the whole room had a mild flowery scent to it now.
Thinking about him pushing not just the whole stone tub into the room but filling it with hot water before pushing such a heavy thing inside so effortlessly made my head spin.
'What kind of god strength is this? Am I in an Avenger movie?'
I feel myself being placed on a small haystack a few meters away from the tub and look at Luca.
"I will help you bathe."
I look at Luca stunned, and he suddenly rips my shirt making my eyes go wide as my hands rush to my chest.
"WHAT THE HELL?!"
I didn't realize how loudly I yelled until I saw him flinch making me feel sad. He was the one who helped me and the reason I am not stranded alone in the middle of the forest with no idea where to go and now I am acting ungrateful... What he did is undoubtedly unacceptable, but my reaction could have been more different.
He stays frozen with my torn shirt in his hand, and I take a deep breathe to calm myself, "I uh I am sorry... I can uhm bathe myself..."
I feel awkward saying the last part and my apology sounded half hearted but I just hoped he wouldn't kick me out. I know for a fact I cannot walk with how my leg is right now.
"Little female, you cannot stand or do any activities... The healer said you need complete rest. Please let me help you."
I saw his ears droop and sighed in my heart, "Okay... but I will undress myself, is that fine?"
I waited for him to nod before telling to turn around. Once he turned around, I took off my pants slowly, being extra careful not to hurt myself.
I informed once I was done, and he scooped me into his arms again. His ears kept drooping and he no longer had a bright expression on his face as he did since the time I woke up.
He placed me in the tub slowly, the warm water stung on some of my injuries but also soothed my aching muscles.
I hissed and grabbed his shoulders when the water stung the cut on my leg making him look at me worriedly. "I am okay," I gave him a small smile to reassure him.
The water in the tub reached a little above my chest and the flowers and leaves floating on it helped cover my body from Luca's direct view making me relax.
Once I was sure enough my body could barely be seen from above, I slowly reached to remove my undergarments and pushed them to a far corner in the tub.
Luca gently started massaging my shoulders and squeezed some juices from the flowers on my skin. It made a little foam and gave a soapy feeling, so I tried doing the same and cleaned my body.
"I'm sorry for yelling at you... your actions shocked me..." I apologize sincerely.
"I understand, little female." Luca felt touched by the small apology because he knew best how females were and never apologized no matter how wrong they were. He also understood that his abrupt actions may have scared the little female.
"Why do you call me little female?" I asked him wondering why he never asked for my name and called me that instead of any normal address which could be given to a streanger.
"Because you are female and also little. Where are your males, little female?"
I frowned after the question, "Males?"
"Males you have mated with. Were you attacked by ferals?" Luca asked with an edge in his voice.
"What are menaces?" Everything he was saying was confusing me further.
Luca frowned, "Beasts who are feral, who do not follow the laws and attack villages and abduct females to do with as they please. They are menaces. How do you not know about them? Were you sheltered, little female?"
I was worried when I heard him talk about ferals. How will I survive?
"Can you tell me all about your world? I do not know any of this. I am from Earth and I do not seem to know anything your world. It is all just so different..." My head cleared up after a good sleep and seeing how everything and everybody around here, it did not seem like the Earth I have lived in all my life.
"Sure, little female. I will tell you after I feed you tonight, okay?"
"You can stop calling me 'little female,' My name is Vespera but you can call me Ves if you want." I told Luca my name after nodding to his question.
Luca smiled, "Okay, Ves." He loved the way her name sounded when he said it.
"Earth? What is that, little female uhm Ves?" Luca's response made me sigh as I felt my doubt were probably right.
"Uhm it is a faraway land. Oh, you said your village is located where exactly?"
"The beast continent. We all live on the beast continent." He told me, though still confused by my questions but understanding my lack of knowledge.
"So, you are a shifter?" I asked in hope to understand more about the people here.
"I am a panther beastman, Ves."
I take note of the term he used to call himself and what everybody here is. They are not people but beastmen.
My brows furrowed at his question. "Are there other humans here?"
"No, little female. At least none that I know of."
I sighed and continued cleaning myself while Luca rubbed, cleaned and massaged my back.
Once done, he picked me up and I got startled since I was wearing nothing and hurriedly covered his eyes making him chuckle.