Welcome to Gaia! ::

Merrick cleared his throat as he walked towards the bathtub, realizing it was even in height with his armpits. He yelped softly in surprise at feeling arms around his chest and shoulders before he realized the large female badger he remembered seeing outside held him in her arms before he found himself lifted off the floor and, with surprising gentleness, placed him into the bathtub. He was a bit embarrassed about having been physically put into the bath, yet at the same time, it was somehow... comforting, as he'd never known what it was like to have a mother figure. "That feels good," he said softly, seeing the large female badger in the loose light blue habit looking Cassie's direction before she ambled over to the older girl's bathtub. "You had to choose the biggest tub, didn't you?" Tansy said with a giggle. "Auma won't hurt your friend. For all her intimidating size, she's very gentle and kind," Tess said gently as she stepped up onto a stool with a cake of soap she dipped into the water and rubbed energetically in her paws before she set it aside as the boy ducked under the hot water and surfaced. She trailed her blunt nails through his surprisingly thick hair, hearing his breath shudder out before she began washing his hair thoroughly, knowing Auma was likely offering the girl the same assistance.

Merrick sighed softly as he felt the slim fingers running through his hair. "I don't remember what it's like to have... a mother figure... and she is... the first girl I've actually seen for longer than... half an hour," he said softly, glancing over in Cassie's direction. "I know what it's like to be different from everyone around you... I've only been here for a little over a season," Tansy said with a giggle as Akuma's large paw landed on the edge of the tub. "You need any help, young one?" Auma said in a deep feminine voice that was very gentle for her size. "That's sad. If you want, I don't mind acting as your... sister," Tess said gently as she lightly touched his shoulders as he ducked under the steaming hot water before coming back up. "It feels... wrong.... to be so young in body... yet old in mind," he murmured. He didn't meet Tess' eyes as he spoke, though he did feel her furry fingers running through his hair.

Merrick sighed softly, relaxing in the hot water and suds before he jumped slightly, his eyes opening to see Tess rubbing a soft, furry hand over his shoulder, arm, and chest. "That tickles," he said softly, trying not to giggle. "I do not mind. I also know what it's like to lose a parent... she died in my arms only a couple of fortnights ago," Auma said gently, unaware Cassandra would know how long it was. "It tickles, eh? I'm sure it does," Tess said in an all too innocent tone before she tickled the young boy purposely, easily rewarded with his laughter.

Merrick shivered slightly as Tess began bathing his body with gentle touches that had him trembling as he'd never experienced anything similar before. He closed his eyes as he felt tense muscles relaxing. "Rarely. We do not forget our loved ones, but the intense pain dulls with time," Auma said gently as she ran her broad if dull claws through the girl's hair, barely contacting the scalp before she retracted her claws and gently massaged her scalp.

Merrick shifted his gaze to Cassie; he could hear her soft voice clearly and knew the pain she was feeling, primarily because he'd lived with similar pain every day -- wondering why he'd been abandoned."You won't forget them. With time, you'll find someone to help you heal. At least you have memories of your parents... I don't, but I know precisely what you're going through," he said quietly. He saw the large female badger look his way for a moment before she smiled faintly. "Like your friend said, be thankful for the happier memories you have of them. Do not regret what could have been, as that would negate the purpose of their passing, as painful as it is. Sometimes, we lose people so we can learn to stand on our own," Auma said gently as she washed the girl's hair.

Merrick sighed softly as Tess pushed him a bit so he was closer to the opposite edge of the tub as he felt her hands running up and down his back, giving him chills. "You still have us. We're more than happy to be your friends," Tansy said with a smile. "In many ways, we are all family here. We protect our own and work hard... and play just as hard," Auma said gently with a chuckle as she let the girl rinse her hair clean, though if the girl wanted help washing the rest of her body, she didn't mind doing so. He half closed his eyes, not noticing an unusual marking pulsing on the back of his left wrist, though he did feel a very slight tingling sensation.

Merrick glanced Cassie's way with some surprise, confused as to how she'd done that. His eyes half closed as he felt Tess' fingers running through his hair before she retreated, lightly patting his shoulder."A vida continúa, independentemente de quen perdemos e gañou; non é quen e cando perdemos o que importa, pero o que nos preocupa con elas," he said softly. "We do not mind," Auma said with amusement.

Merrick half closed his eyes before he felt the water warm up abruptly, startling him. "Huh?" he said softly, confused, not noticing the small smirk on Cassie's face as he looked at the water. He instinctively pressed his palm to it, not noticing the slight flicker of sapphire energy as it stuck to his palm like glue before it came free in a baseball sized sphere of water. He blinked, confused at the water which steamed slightly and had very tiny transparent bluish white veins forming and fading away over its surface. He smirked, glancing at Cassie as he lobbed the water sphere, unaware that when it had stuck to his palm and formed into a sphere, it had gone from nice and warm to chilly, almost icy, in temperature.