In a relationship? Her? Demaht snorted. "Yeah, right." It was only a relationship in the sense that they were master and slave. Any interaction was a relationship, after all. Friends, that was a relationship. Enemies, that was another sort of relationship. So sure, they had a relationship going. It just wasn't the sort he was no doubt thinking. And as for Tzak talking in his sleep being a bad sign? Demaht just gave a shrug at that. She didn't really know one way or the other, but whatever he'd been saying, it sure didn't sound like it had anything to do with her, so why should she be worried? Bushes and stuff. That was just weird.
Not her problem.
She watched Nexus get up and create the hammock, silently envying him his ability. Or rather, not the ability itself since her own magic far surpassed his, but his freedom to use his magic whenever he pleased. What good were awe-inspiring powers when you couldn't use them without someone else's permission? Especially when that someone else didn't like giving you permission, which was frustrating as all hell. To have all that power flowing within you but to never be able to release it...it was torture in a way.
It made her feel useless.
"Lucky," she muttered under her breath as he picked Niamh up and took her to the hammock. The girl didn't stir, passed out cold from the looks of it. Well. Solidly asleep, rather. Niamh only stirred once they were in the hammock, and only to cuddle closer to Nexus' warmth in her sleep. Sighing, Demaht shrugged before she said, louder, "Yeah, g'night to ya, too."
That was when Tzak shifted and looked up at her, saying hello, and she just smiled back. "Go back to sleep, darlin'," she said quietly. Once he'd settled back down and fallen asleep, that was when she finally moved, stepping down off the log and curling up next to him on the ground. It was a cold night, so why not lend him some of her heat? She didn't really need it, after all.
***
Niamh woke up with the first rays of morning light, yawning and slowly cracking her eyes open. For a few moments she forgot where she was; there was no longer hard ground beneath her, but something rather soft. Well, there was Nexus, she saw him right away and smiled a little at that, but...
Oh. Hammock. She realized that's what it was as soon as her eyes adjusted and she started to look around. So he'd made one, huh? Wow, when had that happened? She must have been really out of it.
Smiling at Nexus, who still looked asleep (though she could never tell when he really was still trancing or when he was awake; it kind of threw her off a lot), she chose to assume he was still trancing. Besides, that would give her a chance to slip off and take care of a few things without him getting nosy and asking where she was going. That would be awkward.
Especially given all the other people around.
She carefully crawled out of the hammock, trying not to jar it too much, looked around to make sure Tzak and Demaht were still sleeping, and then set off. She'd seen a lake not far from camp, but last evening she'd been far too exhausted to bathe, a fact that had been eating at her ever since she'd skipped it. She felt disgusting, having not bathed since yesterday morning. Eugh. And she'd gone without a lot of baths during the trek through the mountains and that had been gross enough. Shudder.
It didn't take long for her to reach the lake, for it was only a short walk away and lined by bushes and shrubbery that made it nice and secluded. Just how she liked it. Niamh walked around for a bit to pick out a good spot, a bit picky about these sorts of things since she didn't want to risk the chance of anyone accidentally peeking. When she was finally satisfied, she walked down to the water's edge and paused.
Even despite the rays of light bouncing off the water and the sun warming her skin, she knew it was gonna be bloody cold.
Ah well! It was like revisiting her Lumenari days. Trying to find a spot apart from everyone else, getting teased because she was so prudish and body shy unlike everyone else, braving the freakin' cold water and trying to be as quick but efficient as possible...
Well, just as she'd learned back then, it was best to just jump in and get it over with because it wasn't going to get any warmer and she'd feel better after it was done, anyway. So, with a sigh, she took one last look around her to make sure she was alone, kicked off her boots, and quickly stripped off her clothes. She hung her shirt, breeches, and smallclothes over a bush, then, taking a deep breath, waded into the water without even bothering to test it first. That'd just prolong the torture.
Coldcoldcoldcoldcold!
She dunked her head under the water quickly and came back up shivering, teeth chattering and goose bumps covering her skin. Yeah, this would be a really quick bath. She scrubbed her fingers through her hair, making due with just water since she had no soap, and then started scrubbing at her skin with just her hands and nails. Finally finishedâ€"well, it was good enough, at leastâ€"she climbed out of the water as quickly as she could, made a beeline for her clothes...and froze.
Clothes...?
They weren't there.
Um...okay. Maybe she put them on a different bush. So, shivering and hugging herself and feeling utterly ridiculous, she started to look around for them, cursing beneath her breath. This was so stupid. Come on. It wasn't like the bushes could eat them! Just in case, through, she started to part some of the bushes to look, and it was then that she heard the laughter.
With a start, she looked up to see Demaht there, floating cross-legged above her with Niamh's clothes in her lap. "Lookin' fer these?"
That time, Niamh did curse out loud even as she wrapped her arms around herself protectively, a blush spreading on her cheeks. "Hey! Give me those!" she hissed, trying to keep her voice down so as not to attract attention. Oh great. Bloody great! "Now, Demaht!"
"Hmm? What'd ya say? Sorry, luv, I can't hear ya, you'll hafta speak louder," Demaht drawled boredly.
"My clothes! Give. Them. Back!"
"Mm? Sorry, you'e talkin' too quiet. These old ears just ain't what they used to be. Here, ya just go along now, lovey, an' finish your bath. Here, I'll just put these somewhere safe for ya. Wouldn't want anyone stealin' 'em, now would we?" Demaht said with an all too sweet smile as she floated casually upwards. And draped the clothes over a high tree branch, much to Niamh's horror.
"Demaht!" she groaned, a near whimper, partly for the cold and partly because this was damned embarrassing. "What're you doing?! This isn't funny! Give them back, Demaht!"
"Oh, later, later, no worries, deary, don't panic. Ya needa relax," Demaht answered, stepping down onto the ground and smiling. "Just chill. Anyway, that water sure looks nice, so don't mind me, sweet cheeks." And while Niamh's blush deepened from that comment and she grit her teeth to hold in everything she wanted to scream at Demaht at the moment, Demaht somehow managed to lose her clothes as she walked down to the water and eased right in, sighing happily. "Hmm...maybe I should have the boys join us..."
Niamh had time only to think, Oh, shit, before Demaht was shouting at the top of her lungs. "Oh dear! Someone help! Niamh's drownin' an' I don't know how to save her! Help! Tzak! Nexus! Please, help!"
"Demaht!" That came out as a shout as Niamh practically dove back into the water, panicked and not even noticing the cold this time. Instead, she just focused on trying to make herself as small as she could...while also fearfully watching the shore. "Shut UP! Just shut up, Light damn you! I'm fine, Nexus! Tzak! I'mâ€"blrbble!"
That was when Demaht dunked her.
