Five Nights at Galinda's

Upon Arrival

   "Ugh, I call dibs on first bath," Galinda proclaimed as the two girls stumbled exhaustedly through the door into the cabin. Elphaba didn't protest, and she simply plopped down into the nearest chair, which happened to be a wool-seated rocking chair.

After all, it was the blonde who had fallen into the mudhole.

Galinda disappeared into a nearby room, and Elphaba took a moment to assess the interior of the little house.

The walls were entirely composed of wood and there was a spiraling staircase leading to the upstairs. Elphaba craned her neck a bit and noticed that there was a door leading to the kitchen behind her and another door not too far from that one that appeared to go to the back of the cabin.

Elphaba absently watched the mud-caked blonde as she strode past to the door that went into the kitchen.

She followed Galinda's form with her eyes once again as the shorter girl hurried up the stairs.

"I thought you were going to take a bath!" Elphaba shouted so that the blonde upstairs could hear her.

She then heard a muffled reply and she rolled her eyes in response. She resolved not to get up. After all, if it was something important, she could be assured that Galinda would speak louder.

"Elphie! There's no bath in this cabin!" Galinda suddenly appeared at the top of the staircase to announce.

"Great. Are you sure? Did you check every room?"

"Yes, I'm sure! What do you think I've been doing?"

"Well, I don't know. Aimlessly wandering about? You didn't exactly give me an update on your current activity every time you passed," Elphaba shrugged. Galinda huffed in response, stomping in frustration.

"Ugh! I feel so gross!"

"Just wait until tomorrow, Glin. You'll be fine overnight," Elphaba told her practically, shaking her head a bit at the blonde's dramatics.

"Elphie! How could you even suggest such a thing?! I smell! I'm not getting into a fresh, clean bed just to stink it up and have to wash it in the morning," Galinda protested, crossing her arms over her chest in defiance.

Elphaba let her head drop so that it hit the back of the rocker with a thud.

"Fine... C'mon. Let's find where you can wash," Elphaba sighed, standing up and heading to the back door.

"Why are you going outside?" Galinda questioned as she hurried down the stairs.

"Let's just say I've got a hunch," the emerald-skinned girl mysteriously spoke as she picked up a bar of soap resting on small table near the door.

Elphaba opened the door, looking out at the sunset-lit backyard. She couldn't help but smirk at the sight she beheld before her.

"Well, I do believe I've found your luxury bath," Elphaba cackled, moving to the side of the doorway to allow Galinda to pass her.

"Oh, thank goodness!"

Galinda moved by her as fast as she could, her towel and washcloth in hand. The blonde then stopped suddenly, looking all around.

"Uh... Elphie? Where is it?" Galinda asked.

Elphaba came up beside her shorter best friend, her hands behind her back with a smug grin plastered onto her visage. Once sidled up to Galinda, she gestured to the clearwater creek rushing along through the grass in front of them.

"No. No, you can't be serious," Galinda looked at Elphaba with a frown.

Elphaba extended and opened the hand with the soap.

"You'll probably need this," the green-skinned girl told her, turning away and walking away with a carefree gait.

"W-wait! I can't be out here all alone! A bear could come up and eat me with me being only in my panties!"

"Seems a rather romantic way to die to me. 'Galinda Upland Devoured by Ferocious Beast: Pink Undergarment Edition!' Wow, the news will have such fun with that story."

"Elphie!"

"Good luck!" Elphaba called over her shoulder, pulling the door shut behind her with a chuckle.

Elphaba returned to the comfort of the woolen rocking chair. She unceremoniously collapsed into it with a contented sigh, allowing herself that moment of relaxation that she was so unaccustomed to.

But she resolved to keep an ear out for her bouncy blonde friend just in case there were to be a humongous, human-eating carnivore.