<div class="floatleft">(http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/9462/nishkaside.jpg)</div><strong>"Thanks,"</strong>the girl said, after a few moments.<strong>"Thanks, for the food and the friendship, if that's not too forward. I...I was really scared when I found out I was back here, in Barovia, but...I feel a lot more comfortable with you around Calypsa. Thank you, for that."</strong><br/><br/>She giggled, and got up from the blanket with a shiver.<strong>"I'll be right back."</strong>The girl bounced over a bit, in the direction Calypsa indicated, until she found the stream. It was small, and more of a trickle than a rush of water; but it would do for bathing. Turning around, she made sure that she had at least some privacy. Removing her clothes always made Nishka feel the slightest bit uncomfortable.<br/><br/>Unbuttoning the buttons at the back of her neck, Nishka began to get undressed. There were buttons at her wrists too, and after she undid those, she pulled her dress up and off her arms and over her head. She could feel her tail, tied by multiple ribbons, bound to the inside of her right thigh and knee.<strong>"Not just yet,"</strong>she murmured to it. Reaching back to just above her bottom, she rubbed at the base of it. Restraining her tail like this always made her body ache there, but she was used to the pain.<br/><br/><strong>"Now to wash up,"</strong>she murmured to herself. Nishka was still wearing her slip, so she started with her legs and arms and hands. Then she pulled down her underwear, and pulled her chemise up; she was completely bare now, as she splashed water across her sweaty skin. All of the previous day's traveling, and the warmth of Calypsa's body, snuggled up against her through the night, had left her feeling sweaty and sticky. The cool water was delicious against her warm skin as she cleaned herself.