Memoir of Xayah - The lost sparrow and the lonley fox

[17]

The water was warm and was slowly refreshing her limbs. The rivers were colder and less comfortable; her skin was used to worst conditions. That was a pleasant bath, perfect for her wounded forearm.

She had to hang it tided on her neck without the splints, using only the fabric. In that way, she would have never wetted them. She had to be very careful, and warmer water would have helped her on her movements.

She walked to the middle of the pool. When she was sure she could still touch the bottom, she plunged. When she resurfaced, she felt more light and calm, caressed by the delicate crystalline water. She moved her and her long furry ears, throwing away the biggest drops. After she would have done the same with her feathers when she would have had time to open her wing.

She took a deep breath and plunged again, letting her face outside the water. She felt free; no more dust was covering her. She hated it, mostly between her feathers, and only wanted to take them away. It was rough and heavy, just a bother.

She was careful with her wing; she tried to clean it as much as possible, so it would always have been perfect and sharp. But with her broken forearm is was more difficult, she was able only to clean the bottom of her wings. Now that it was plunged into the water, she felt relieved.

She tried to sit near the border, where the water was lower, and she enjoyed that moment of peace.

At first, she had thought to use the small internal lake of the cave, but she did not know its depth. She would have bathed there later before she would have left for the temple.

The leaves near the entrance moved; her temporary boarder was back.

She turned embarrassed. She did not want to make eye contact; the Vastaya could see her sense of guilt printed on her face.

She stared at the water until the woman disappeared inside the lair where they slept. She raised her face and pretended the Vastaya never came inside.

She ran her fingers through her hair, trying to comb out the biggest knots. It was even harder and more annoying with one hand. As much as she loved to take care of her wing, she could not say the same about them. 

Since she was little, she was used to cutting them with the arrival of the warm season; she had thought they were just a bother. But one day, a boy had told her she could be prettier with longer hair. She had fallen for it has an idiot. When she had forgotten about that little crush, she had found herself with untamable hair, and she became attached to it. Every time she had tried to cut them, she had felt upset, as she was going to hurt an old friend. She had given up and had let them grow until her shoulders. But unfortunately, knots usually found a home there.

The Vastaya came near and laid a bowl full of berries.

She thanked her with a murmur, trying not to look at her face. Guilt raised inside her, and she could not stop it. Even if the woman was angry, she had still collected some food, without thinking about her inappropriate comment.

She combed out her hair again, with more anger. She felt stupid and proud at the same time. She needed to vent someway.

When she found another knot, she violently slapped the water, splashing it on the food. An old friend or not, at that moment she just wanted to cut them all.

« Do you need a hand? »

She was surprised to hear that voice, but not as the words. They were a peace offer. She would have been even more stupid if she did not accept them. She swallowed her pride and nodded.