Morning came swiftly as announced by a large white bird with a vibrant prismatic comb. As the light of the morning sun peaked the large fowl released a guttural crow that sounded like someone screaming for help while drowning.
“Somebody hit the snooze…five more minutes please.” Gloria moaned as she tossed covering her face with her pillow. The fowl was not done however as it released another disturbing call. Gloria raged against her pillow as she hastily drew her pistol and blasted a round in the direction of the hideous caw. Moments later the fowl in question tumbled out of the tree headfirst landing on Gloria crashing her to the ground. Gloria screamed in pure rage as she struggled to free herself from the giant dead bird.
“Oooh breakfast! Cyrus cooed then snatched the enormous bird from atop her as if it were merely a wet blanket. He then gave it a snap and after some quick but precise knife work skinned the bird carcass. Gloria had spent many a time in the kitchen helping her mother or her uncle and had seen quite a few things, horrendously nasty to boot, but after witnessing Cyrus skin that bird like you would strip a child out of a onesie, Gloria lost everything she had and rolled over puking.
“Cyrus!” Both Merlynn and Fyri chastised in unison. “What I do!?” Cyrus exclaimed as he spun to look at them, carcass still in hand. “Think before you act, you’ve probably ruined that poor girl on fowl for the rest of her life!” Fyri angrily snapped. After a few more retches Merlynn walked over and stroked Gloria’s back soothing her till she was upright and less volatile.
“Come on let’s get some water really quick while they cook and break down the camp.” Merlynn soothingly said, bringing Gloria to her feet. Fyri spun to face Cyrus who was happily preparing the beast for a spit roast. “You really ought to think before you do stuff Cy. Not everyone grew up on a farm and had to learn survival skills like you and me.” Fyri released the anger from her voice aiming for stern yet still assuring. “Wait you had endless trainers, long boring chores, and constant ridicule too?” Cyrus asked, finishing spitting the large bird.
“No idiot! We didn’t have farms where I grew up, but I did have countless trainers and the latter. Anyways daylight is burning, cook your bird and let’s get a move on.” Fyri scoffed then stamped off noisily breaking down camp as she mumbled to herself.
Gloria trudged groggily as her mother led her by hand. It had been a long while since the two of them had gotten to spend this much time together. Even longer since she held hands with her mother. She groaned a bit as she wiped her eyes, yet her mother made no comment about it. Instead, she hummed a happy tune as they walked. Freeing her eyes from the grip of sleep, Gloria noticed something she hadn’t seen in a while either. Her mother was genuinely smiling as she hummed, her warm comforting hand never slipping. For a moment Gloria wanted to comment on it or ask a question, but instead chose to remain silent and simply scoot in closer to her as they continued. The moment lasted for a few minutes when finally rushing water could be heard in the near distance. “Just past this tree line is a special place that makes the trip here worth it alone.” Merlynn grinned as she slipped through the thick brush. Gloria chased after her, confused. “What could be so special about a river!!” Gloria yelled confused as she dashed through the brush herself.
As she broke through, she threw her arms up shielding her eyes from the stark contrast of light. She quickly wrenched them away though as she heard her mother let loose a girlish scream followed by a large splash. Before her lay a decent sized freshwater lagoon fed by a vibrant waterfall that stretched higher than the tree canopy. “Hurry up Glory the water is great!!” Merlynn called out breaching the water’s surface. Gloria shrieked a bit then started to chuckle. “Come on I promise you won’t regret it.” Merlynn begged as she bobbed in place. “I didn’t pack my bathing suit!” Gloria called out then noticed her mother was in fact nude. “It seems you didn’t either...I’m not sure we…” Gloria managed to say before squeaking from her clothes blasted off her with a precise gust of wind. She furiously fumed as Merlynn blew on her fingers like they were a gun.
A quick shriek later and Gloria dove into the water in record time. Surprisingly enough the water was soothingly warm and clear as crystal. Curiosity took hold of Gloria as she watched a thriving ecosystem hustle in their daily routine ignoring her and her mother. What looked like a large smooth rock split down the middle lashing a neon green tongue out at a small fish piercing it. Nearly as fast as it unleashed its attack it reeled its catch in snapping its rocky maw shut.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
The rock then suddenly detonated softly as the fish limped out of its wake gently glowing with a blue hue. However, before it could make it much further a larger fish with an even larger mouth swallowed it whole and began to swim off towards an opening in the reef. As Gloria felt a pain in her lungs, she watched the large fish glow a dull blue before hearing a solid crunch. The light flickered once then faded away as did the large fish into the blackness of a hole.
Gloria gasped hard as she surfaced. “Took ya long enough.” Merlynn chided as she wiped her hair away from her face. Gloria clicked her teeth then swung both arms forward sending a crashing wave of water straight into Merlynn’s face. “You’re gonna get it now!!!” Merlynn proclaimed. “Bring it on.” Gloria deadpanned her then began relentlessly splashing wave after wave. The water battle intensified until Merlynn could be heard maniacally cackling as she rode atop a massive wave, fists firmly planted on her bare hips. “Have you no shame!?” Gloria screamed back paddling as hard as she could. “NEVER!” Merlynn yelled back cackling even harder as she rode the wave straight into Gloria submerging them both.
They both surfaced simultaneously and started laughing after a sharing of evil glares. The two of them then swam closer to the shoreline, still giggling at the other, where they both sat on submerged rocks sinking into the water just slightly above the chest.
“Gods a bath! It feels like ages since I had one!” A very familiar voice moaned, breaking their snickering chuckles making both Merlynn and Gloria jump. They both shrieked and gawked in bewilderment as Fyri rung out her soaked scarlet hair barely two feet away from them. “When the hell did you get here!?” Gloria barked standing up in a sudden snap and jiggle. “Oh, hey there! Finally notice little ol’ me?” Fyri snickered as she fanned her hand in front of her face mockingly. “No, the pink haired weeping tree-whore over there, yes of course you!” Gloria rudely steeped her sarcasm.
“Oh, I came to find you a couple minutes ago, Cyrus had started cooking that Cluckadoo before I left. Didn’t take long to find you since your foul tongue could be heard for miles. I did manage to arrive just in time to watch a very fine ass ride that big wave of water though.” Fyri smiled wide showing hints of sharp teeth as she walked closer to them.
“I would be the owner of that fine ass.” Merlynn blushed ever so slightly as she mockingly bowed slightly into the water and blew bubbles. “Geez if everyone is like this, I see why you like it here so much.” Gloria popped off crossing her arms. “Don’t get me wrong, I prefer men, but I do appreciate beauty when I see it.” Fyri added sitting beside them on her own rock. Gloria sat wedged between them glancing left then right and finally looked down at her own chest and felt lacking. “This isn’t fair! Besides weren’t we supposed to be bathing and not swimming.” Gloria asked, growing red in the face.
“Oh, don’t worry lass I’m sure they will fill out! Your young still!” Fyri assured her with a laugh as she slapped Gloria on the back. “Oh yeah I nearly forgot!” Merlynn finally chimed in. She then made a motion with her hand and shortly after soap and shampoo floated over to them along with a few cloths. “Here Fyri try this I promise you’ll love it!” Merlynn handed Fyri a bottle of shampoo which she stared at confused. “Is it a drink? Or am I supposed to eat it?” Fyri asked, turning the bottle over in her hand. “No, it goes in your hair, here let me show you.” Merlynn corrected her as she squeezed out a dollop and worked it into a lather in Gloria’s hair.
“That looks fantastic do me next!!” Fyri grinned begging. Merlynn giggled then repeated the process with Fyri’s hair. Fyri moaned aggressively as Merlynn worked her fingers against her scalp pushing waves of scarlet hair into foamy clumps. After a couple minutes Fyri could be heard snoring slightly. “Damn Mom, you put her to sleep!” Gloria giggled as she motioned to scoop water onto Fyri. As she dumped the water Fyri flailed and dunked herself, wrenching herself back out of the water gasping for air.
“It’s okay! You just fell asleep! You were snoring even!” Gloria tried calming her down. “You heard nothing I don’t snore!” Fyri barked in between breathes beet red. “It will be our secret.” Merlynn winked at her. After a moment the girls had a good laugh then finished bathing, afterwards they gathered their clothes and made their way back to camp where Cyrus was waiting.
“Hey…did you three go swimming without me!?” Cyrus asked with the saddest look ever on his face. “Yes, and you wouldn’t have been invited, we were having a bath.” Fyri answered with a smile reminiscing about the bath and enjoying telling Cyrus no at the same time.
Cyrus thought about the implication and immediately blushed vibrantly red against his blue hair. “Get your head out the drain. A paladin should be more chaste!” Fyri chided him. “Ladies lest not his mantle nor kindest act fool you. He is a pervert!” Fyri glared with affirmation. “I am not!” Cyrus argued. “Are too!” Fyri barked back.
“D two.” Merlynn blurted out with a snicker. Cyrus and Fyri stopped then turned to Merlynn in bewilderment. While initially they looked at one another they quickly realized that the meaning didn’t matter, just that Merlynn probably didn’t want them to argue further.
They both blushed hard after Fyri moved to stand beside Cyrus then bowed at the waist. “Forgive us we tend to get a bit carried away; Yeah, sorry about that.” Cyrus apologized, with Fyri backing him up. “You’re both fine, now about that Cockadoo, I’m starving!” Merlynn laughed heartily.