It was after dark when Misty made it back to the forest of Homewood. The familiar chirps of the evening choir reached her ears. Shaking her head a hind leg kicked out to knock what muck had latched onto her hide. She did NOT want to have the stuff touching her, then again... She probably shouldn't have gone to the BlackBriar Bog if that was so. Frowning to herself, Misty shook herself completely to ease the ever feeling of something on her skin. Those memories still a little tender of her time in the Bog without her family and then there was the Barrens. "Alright, that is enough thinking like that." Misty muttered loudly to herself, not sure if there was anyone within ear shot. "Just need to get this muck off me and I will be fine."
Glancing around she was in the thick of the forest where there weren't any pools of water of even running water. Skin itching with that annoying feeling she pressed on until she could find something. At some point in the night, the exhaustion had over taken her and Misty found a nice Mossy spot to lay down on and go to sleep. It wasn't until someone was speaking to her that she realized it had become morning.
"Mmmmm. Five more minutes." Misty groaned as she shifted slightly, not really opening her eyes.
"Five more minutes and you might have permanent stains on your coat and who knows what underneath it." Said a stranger's voice that caused Misty's eyes to snap open.
Oh crap, she had forgotten her bout in the Bog the day before and hadn't found a place to wash the mud away. Glancing up, she looked at the strange pink and white doe that stood over her. Standing awkwardly, her legs having gone numb from the way she had been laying.
"Sorry to startle you, but I could smell the mud from way over there." She glanced over her shoulder to indicate where she had come from. "Been to the bog, huh? Turtle always said that place should be off limits to Nouls."
Misty just stared at this Doe as she spoke. The only things going through her mind was, who are you and who the heck was Turtle? Shaking her head, Misty gave her legs a look over and grimaced seeing they still had much mud on them. She really should find a place to wash this muck off... Perhaps this doe knew of a place she could do that?
"Yea, was out there, what's to you?" Fawn asked a bit snarky, "Also, do you know of a place to wash this stuff off?"
The strange Doe just looked at her oddly for the snarky comment. While it wasn't her business what this Chestnut colored doe did, but really she didn't have to be like that. Snorting slightly the rose colored doe turned around and started walking away from Misty before stopping and looked back at her.
"I do know of a place, but with that attitude, I don't know if I want to take you there." She said with a bit of sass herself, she was known to dish out what was given to her. Though there was a grin on her face. "If you are wanting to get rid of that stuff, follow me and I will show you a place."
Staring at the Doe as she walked away, Misty wondered about what had just happened. It wasn't like this was the first time, but most didn't give her the Sass to her face as it were. Still, she wanted, no needed a bath to get the mud off her body and if this Doe was really going to lead her there then she was going to take the chance.
"I've been burned by Bog muck before. Don't need that to happen again." She commented quickly catching up to the Rosy colored Doe. "How did you know it was Bog mud? You don't seem to be the type to go near the place."
The rosy doe glanced at Misty from the corner of her eye as she walked on, answering. "I myself haven't been there, but a friend of mine went on a small trip to do some research. He swears he will never go back to the Bog again. Too much mud for his liking." And there was the fact that he lost something in the water that would never be found again.
Misty tilted her head to the side as the doe spoke of a friend. Her friend must have been one that was raised here in Homewood, well she did too actually. But her question was answered, kinda. She just wasn't willing to continue questioning as that would open more doors for the doe to question her. Not many needed to know her foalhood around the Bog, she already had one Noul mad at her for it.
As they walked the sounds of water came to her ears. Finally, she could be rid of this mess and be on her way to somewhere else. Brushing past the doe Misty rand head long into the spring to only jump back as she noticed that she wasn't the only one here. Standing on the edge of one of the pools she glanced around. What the heck was this place?
"Welcome to the Homewood Spa. A place to soak your worries away and leave refreshed like a new Noul." Said the stranger as she stopped beside Misty. "Now, if you will follow me, I will show you to a place where you can wash that off and we can make sure you aren't harboring anything nasty."
Misty didn't move as the rose colored doe started walking again around the pool that was before them. Shaking her head wondering if she were still sleeping... While she had been to a few places in Homewood, this place just seemed too dream like to be real. Numbly, Misty did finally turn and follow her hostess, wondering just what her role in all this was. Temptress? Maybe... She wasn't too sure as she walked.
"Who are you and what is this place, really? It seems too good to be a real place." Misty said as she was still looking around.
Steam rose from some of the pools where Nouls rested on the edges with their front hooves in the water. Others were sitting in shallow, still steaming pools talking to each other. Shaking her head, Misty looked forward again as she continued on. Leaving that area they came to where the water was cooler. It ran in a stream down through its own trail cutting through the landscape. It was here the Rose colored doe stopped and turned to look at her.
"My name's Dusty Roes, I will be your hostess while you are here at the Homewood spa. Now, here is where you will bath, washing off the mud. Thee's sponge moss on the banks you can use to scrub the more stubborn spots." Dusty explained as Misty just stared at her. "Don't worry, it's not all going to vanish the moment you step into the water. Now go."
Dusty stepped around Misty and started to push her towards the shallow creek. Misty herself stumbled forward and into the water. It was cool to the touch, but against her mud covered legs it was heaven. When she turned around to say something to this Dusty Rose she was gone, her tail just barely vanishing through the bushes.
This made Misty really frown as she went about taking care of the mud. It came off for the most part with very little use of scrubbing. When she had finished she stepped out of the creek and back onto the shore. Her legs were already feeling better. Just some of her old welt marks had turned red when the mud was removed. Lovely, was all she could think as she walked up the bank towards where the heated pools were located.
Before she could make it too far, Dusty Rose was at her side and almost scaring her out of her own skin. Seems the cheery doe was everywhere and almost bounced her own hooves off. Eager to please this one was or to annoy.
"Are you interested in relaxing in one of the steam pools? While we fix those marks on your legs?" Dusty asked as she had taken notice of the mean red marks on Misty's legs.
"Ah... Thanks, but no thanks. If you can help with the welt marks that will be helpful." she said not wanting to linger too much longer. She had things to do that didn't involve sitting in hot water.
Dusty just frowned at the Doe before moving a head of her, "Alright, come this way please." she started walking towards another section of the spa like area with Misty behind her.
"Stand here and I will see what I can do to help." That happy hostess demeanor seemed to have faded away to a more down to business one replaced it.
Misty just stood still as Dusty looked at her legs. Her horn glowed a faint red as she applied it to the worst of the welt marks. The touch was cool like the creek water, taking away the stinging hotness. When she was finished, Dusty smiled again as she backed away.
"There you go, miss. Please be more careful next time." Dusty advised before Misty only nodded and walked away. Not sure what even happened. She would figure it out one of these days... Maybe...
