After collecting a few items into a small bag, Aslatiel led her guard out of Armada land and into the wild. He'd wanted hot water so she would take him to a place where there was an unending supply. "This is the land that my grandmother plans to lay claim to," the young lady informed Bas as they neared the steaming pools. "Tada," she said as they broke into the clearing that housed the springs.

Aslatiel stepped away from Bas and shrugged off the small satchel. She hung it on a nearby branch to keep it off of the ground. It wouldn't do to let ants eat their food. She then came back to him with a curious look on her face. "Now what did you need hot water for? Hopefully this is enough." Some pools bubbled. Others were still. The place had an underlying sulfur smell but it wasn't overpowering.

Basilisk followed in Asla’s wake, his own things wrapped in a small bundle, and held in his maw. It made talking difficult, but then the guard wasn’t heavy on speech regardless. He wasn’t certain where she would lead him. He was not yet terribly familiar with the lands outside of the Armada.

The scent of steam and sulfur touched his nose before they fully entered the territory, and the scent of it almost made him sneeze. It wasn’t overpowering, but it was strange to his senses. By the time Asla filled him in on what this territory was, he was essentially acclimatized to it. He dropped his bundle down when Aslatiel released her own satchel. He didn’t have straps, so his went to the floor below it.

“This is… perfect Lady Aslatiel. If you will step into a pool of a temperature you like, I will begin” he suggested.

She was pleased that he was pleased. After being instructed to choose a pool, purple eyes scanned the area. Asla chose one if the smaller pools because, well, she was smaller. It was smaller, but still big enough for three or four wolves. Gingerly she lowered herself into the steaming liquid. A sigh pulled from her lips as she sank down to her neck momentarily.

Asla couldn't hide her curiosity as she peered over the side of the spring. She eyed the package that Bas had brought. She still had no idea what he was planning, but she was ready too find out.

With one paw, she gave a little splash, sending a bit of water over the side and onto her sla... guard. "Are you going to tell me the plan here?" She arched the brow over her marked eye. She hoped eventually he would join her in the pool. She had a surprise of her own.

He hadn’t gotten to see or talk to Aslatiel since their escapade earlier in the season, their talk had left him feeling empty and wrong. He knew it was the best course of action but that didn’t help him feel any better about it. He was on a short patrol when he caught her scent trailing over the border. Knowing she was going out of pack lands Indigo thought now would be a good time to reunite. They couldn’t be close unless they were without supervision. Rule number one was do not get caught.

Huge paws carried him forward with little care, he snuck slightly so that he might not get one of his father’s companions following after him. Now that he was a yearling their constant eye was becoming stifling. If he didn’t think his dad thought him an adult before he was really beginning to think it now. Once he heard voices though Indy slowed down considerably so he wouldn’t be seen.

Dark ears fell to his skull as he slunk forward, catching sight of his sandy furred sister and… another boy? Bright blue eyes widened in surprise and he felt his heart rip in two. He felt the emotions rise into his eyes as tears and he stopped a strangled cry in his throat. This was what she meant. Find other wolves to love. Despair settled over him and Indy willed himself to move before he saw more, but he was frozen there behind the trees. The steam from the pools hid his bright form completely, but part of him wanted to be seen. Part of him wanted Asla to see how much pain he felt.

Basilisk watched her climb into one of the small pools, and was pleased to see her enjoyment at the warm temperature. He grabbed his bundle again, and brought it closer to the one his Mistress had chosen. He was looking down, and didn’t see the splash coming his way.

With warm water dripping past his eyes and ears, he raised his head, offering her an impish grin filled with trouble. For a moment, there was nothing between her and his true emotions. He frowned suddenly, raising his head upwards and to the side. He wasn’t sure exactly what had caught his attention, perhaps a mixture of senses and instincts. He stared at the rising steam for a moment, but nothing caught his attention. His spine tingled, and he dismissed his plan to hop into the pool with Asla. if there was anything he needed to defend her from, he wanted to be ready.

Partly dismissing the feeling of being watched, the young slave placed his kit on the side of the pool, and grabbed out a cloth. There were herbs lathered into the material that were intended to relax and calm a person. He dipped it into the water, and gently pulled at Asla’s head. Stating his desire for her to tilt her head back with his body. “The plan is absolute comfort, Lady Aslatiel, are you ready?”

The warmth of the pool already had her so relaxed that she didn't feel the same things that Bas felt. She didn't feel eyes upon her. She only felt comfort. As Bas motioned for her to lay her head back, she did so willingly, exposing her ashen throat to him with complete trust. If he wished for his freedom, this would have been a great opportunity for him to attain it. Aslatiel knew that he wouldn't dream of it, however. He'd proven that time and again. "Absolute comfort, eh?" She practically purred as lavender eyes drifted slowly shut.

Basilisk didn't know just what he did to her. He didn't know how much his mere presence helped. He was clever and he challenged her now that he knew that that was something she wanted. He was handsome. There was no denying that. He was big and safe and he wasn't Indy. That was the most important thing. He wasn't Indy. She and Basilisk could be together in public. They could be near one another without fear of reproach. She could show him affection and she could receive it in turn. Galaxy eyes drifted open once more and the girl leaned up, placing a soft kiss upon the lips of the man leaning over her. "Thank you, Bas. You're just what I need."

“Yes.” he said, smoking down at the happy Princess as she lay soaking in the warm water. She tilted her head back without hesitation, and he brought the we spunge down between her forehead and down past her ears, rubbing gently the places of her forehead he knew could often be tense and tight. He also rubbed gently around her cheeks, and swiped carefully a couple times beneath her eyes. There would be no hint of redness that came from crying, he would make certain of that.

He was leaning over her, concentrating on his work when she pressed a kiss into him. He startled at the touch, his eyes flicking to hers as heat infused his body. What did she do to him? She twisted his insides in all sorts of strange new ways. For a moment he hovered, frozen, above her. His lips gently parted in surprise, before he smiled, and leaned down. Returning the gesture as he placed a soft kiss on her lips. As he did so, his paws moved behind her ears, gently applying massaging pressure.

She kissed him and, after a moment of surprise, he kissed her back. Aslatiel murmured into their kiss before settling back to enjoy the russet mans healing touches. He massaged her face and head, washing her as he did so. Basilisk was truly magical. Never had she had such careful attention pain to her. She was ever so glad that she'd found him out there in the willows.

After a while, the touching and massaging had Aslatiel feeling like a puddle of mush. She sank down in the water, then disappeared beneath it for a moment, fully submerging herself. The water was so warm. So relaxing. She didn't want to enjoy it alone. Surfacing once more, Asla wiped the water from her eyes before fixing the purple depths on the blue orbs of Bas. "I want you to get in with me, Bas." She had a surprise for him too.

Basilisk found himself chuckling softly as his Mistress disappeared beneath the water's surface. Melted, apparently, by his touch. He had never had a reaction feel so personal, so comforted by him before. His attentions in the past had been almost clinical, precise and exact with no personality to the comforts he provided. With Asla, he enjoyed her comfort, laughed softly at the warmth and happiness she put off. He felt like his gentle attentions truly meant something. Like he meant something. So strange, so bizarre.

“As you wish, my friend.” Bas said, offering her another smile, and perhaps hoping to steal another heart-stuttering kiss from the Princess. He climbed into the tub, pushing himself into the space just before her. Looking across at the other wolf for a moment, watching her silky, damp fur, her intense indigo gaze. Speechless.

Basilisk had begun his service with her as a distraction from the pain of her decision with Indigo. She hadn't intended to develop any sort of feelings for the boy. Feelings for another felt like a betrayal to Indigo. If she had her choice, Indy would be her one and only. Yet here was Bas. Big, sweet, witty, attentive, thoughtful Bas. He sent emotions stirring within her. She didn't like it initially but she just couldn't help herself now.

The russet male slid into the hot spring with her and something slightly dangerous flashed in Aslas galaxy gaze. She closed the distance between them, pressing her chest against his. He had called her his friend but the teal spattered wolf found herself wishing for more. A relationship between the pair of them would be outwardly acceptable. She wouldn't have to sneak around to show him affection. What would Bas think? Could he even make himself think as an equal? It was a subject she wasn't quite ready to broach. Maybe after...

Reaching up, Asla captured his lips again in a sweet, soft kiss. As she pulled back, her tongue flicked over his lower lip. A soft growl rumbled from her before she kissed him again. And again. And again.

The water was hot against his fur, until his upper half felt almost cool in the faint breeze that gently stirred the steamy air around them. He lowered himself further in the tub, until only his head remained free. His body coiled against the earthen ground of the natural tub. Her eyes seemed even more alive now, looking at him across the very small distance. Giving him the feeling that they silently promised trouble for him. He couldn’t say he was entirely against the idea of getting into mischief with his Princess. Anything she asked, no matter how it somersaulted his stomach. Asla moved even closer to him, until he could feel her paws beneath the surface, colliding with his own. Her chest against him, the wet parts of her ruff soaking against his neck. His heart began to beat louder, her closeness unexpected, and he felt short of breath. Was that the steam, or something else? She pulled him into a kiss adding tongue to the muzzle-embrace, and a soft gasp of surprise escaped him. This felt different to the kisses she had given him before. They had felt almost… routine, like a factor she used to tease her stony-faced guard. This was so much more intimate. He found himself crushing his chest harder against hers, his breathing quick, uneven, and his eyes smouldering and wild. "Speech"

His reactions raised something within her and heat flooded through the girl to her core. She still didn't understand all of these feelings and was mostly just going on instinct. She needed to be near him. Needed to have her body pressed against his. They had only known one another a short time, but already Bas had her trust. She could be herself around him with no fear of judgement or negative repercussions. "Bas, I..." She what? Asla didn't really know what to say. Her lashes lowered as she looked down to the lack of space between them. Her forelegs were pressed against his own. She wanted and needed more, but she didn't know what she wanted or needed. Eventually she brought her gaze upwards, the purple depths swirling with heat and desire. "Thank you for this. I needed a break." Raising one leg below the water, the damp girl absently stroked one paw down a thick, russet leg. Feelings were hard. Especially when you didn't understand them yourself. "Speech"

He could no longer tell apart the heat from the stream and the heat of his body. The heat that tingled between him and Asla as he kissed the Princess. He could scarcely believe that this was happening, that it wasn’t some strange, inappropriate dream. Their lips parted, and Asla began to speak. The heat of her words on cheek was as distracting as everything else going on. “Asla.” he whispered back, saying only her name. Uttering it quietly between them. He did not know what she struggled to say to him, but he was here. Loyal, hers. He would be whatever she wished him to be.

Despite that, he did not kiss her because it was duty, he kissed her because he ached to do so, and he had never tasted anything as sweet as her lips. Never felt the strange flipping in his stomach before now. Never felt such a roar behind his ears, a flame of emotion. Never, in the entirety of his life, had he felt so alive.

Her gaze moved downwards, then up again. Peeking at him from behind her lashes. The expression struck him as almost… bashful, a strange expression to attach to the Princess. It made his heart ache, it made her seem vulnerable. He wanted to crush her to his chest, and protect her from the world. From whatever had brought her home last night in tears.

He shivered as her toe brushed gently down his leg, finding the parts above the surface, and moving below. The soft slosh of water sounded from her motion, and from his, as he brought a paw down to her back, and tingled it slowly down her spine. “Anything, Asla Anything for you.”