The Fox, Red

051 - The Test on the Mountain Finale

"Oh bed, how I have missed thee."

It's just me in my cabin. Never before have I been so glad to be back in this cozy spot. Everything aches. Everything is crying out to rest. One more hurdle to go through. I still have to clean myself up. It's been a week without a proper scrub. There were a few folks who were incredibly happy to see us both but they did not want to get close. Anne was the first to greet me but backed off quickly. I couldn't take offense to it.

I was instructed to wait until I was called for. I imagine that I'm going to be allowed to use the master bath. I need to get the grime and grunge out of my fur. I'm pretty sure I'll be blowing dirt out of my nose for a week or so. As much as I would love to lie down I have a feeling I wouldn't be able to get back up. It would also be smarter to not at the moment. Get the grime off, then relax.

It didn't take long. Anne was at my door with a fresh towel over her arms and a smile. "Sir Red, please follow me." She shifts her shoulders to signal for me to follow her. She's back to calling me "Sir Red" again. "You know you don't have to call me that." She looks over her shoulder as the two of us follow the path to the main house. "I try but it's a habit. Madam Odette gave an order; I followed that order." I can't argue with that. My first couple of months here were following orders to the letter. I have a bit more freedom now but if she says jump I don't ask how high. I jump as high as I can and hope it's high enough.

It's become like clockwork that when we approach the back doors that the badgers standing guard open them. They only do this when they know I'm allowed to enter. Otherwise, I have to inform them of my request, they send a runner, then I get an answer. I am rarely denied but it has happened. As long as it's studies related, I generally don't have a problem.

I expect to be taken up the stairs to the master bedroom but Anne takes me across the way to one of the guest rooms. "Sir Red, you will find your cleaning supplies in the bathroom. You may leave when you are finished." She places the towel on the end of the bed leaving me with a smile. There are already clean clothes laid out from my personal stash. They must have prepped this days ago expecting us to be back sooner.

I'm a little disappointed though. I was hoping to see Madam Odette again. I shuffle everything into the bathroom. Once again, even though it's a guest room, this is still massive. You could easily fit five bodies in the shower comfortably. Just everything is so large. It was designed with enough space to give you breathing room but cozy enough that you could feel at home.

Even the bedroom itself is massive. I could almost compare it to the penthouse suite of a hotel. Everything is laid out, ready for someone to stay at any time. I know Madam Odette's staff takes a lot of time when they prepare a room like this. Riding along with Anne now and again I get to see these things. There haven't been many guests in my time here but occasionally there is a visitor. Either a business acquaintance or one of Madam Odette's personal friends. I call them her poker buddies but they do a lot more than just that.

The water didn't even get a chance to warm up before I got into the shower. As it hit there was a wash of relaxation. The cold felt amazing as it first hit then as it began to warm up everything started to relax. The steam quickly fogged everything. My soap was really left in the shower for me. I made sure to dig in deep with my claws. I would go to rinse off and the water would run brown from all the dirt that stuck to the skin.

The first wash was to get the rough stuff that had clung to me early on in the adventure. The second was to get everything on the surface. It was less disgusting this time around but still well-needed. I may have rushed through soaping myself to just relax. I really want the water to run over me for a bit. My muscles are still tense from everything I've gone through. I'm hoping that it'll help loosen everything up.