Azura felt impish for the first time in a long time. She lathered her hands and beckoned Black Stone closer.<br/><br/>“Come here and bask in this surprise.” She said with a knowing smile. The big cat looked askance but held his ground as she advanced on him. She ran her soapy hands through his short mane, and then splashed water on him to make a better lather. The soap ran through her fingers and the coarse fur was soon slick. Azura’s fingers were finally able to work down to the delicate white skin that she knew lay under the fur.<br/><br/>Massaging the soap in released even more of the dirt which floated to the surface and was carried away on the small eddying current that highlighted the pool.  Once she was satisfied that Black Stone had enjoyed the experience, she scooped careful handfuls of water over his fur, thoughtfully to not splash soap into his intelligent eyes.<br/><br/>She realized she had nearly forgotten how to play. Being with Black Stone brought laughter to her lips and light to her eyes. She leaned across his back as she rinsed the rest of the soap from him.<br/><br/>“How long did you say it has been since you found your way to a bathing place? Black Stone, you were positively filthy. “ she said with mock sternness and then she jabbed a thumb into her own chests.<br/><br/>“This woman thinks that, that her dirt and grime was far more than your own. There was no excuse for my own filth for the hot springs are always here for the taking.” Her voice went from joking to serious.<br/><br/>“There was no reason to be clean. There was no reason to rise in the morning and no reason to have a care for myself, but now that you are here, the whole world is alive. There is a reason to rise in the morning to play my bird boned flute, I had nearly forgotten how. There is a reason to walk in the sunshine and to rejoice in the moon at night.”<br/><br/>Tears sprang up in her eyes. She was emotional and felt weak, the way that one would after a prolonged illness. Life took a great toll on the body of the living. She threw her wet arms around his neck and hugged him, long and hard.