71st of Summer, 512 AV
She took some soil into her hand, mixing it slowly with her fingers as small crumples of earth fell out of her grasp. The beauty of the place acted mesmerizing on the young girl who was sitting on a soft ground with her back leaned on a small boulder. The rock itself was not small at all, but it certainly looked that way compared to three huge stone formations that appeared to be rising towards the sky in front of the girl. The highest peak of the said formation must have been over 30 meters tall, and thus was a real wonder of nature. What laid in the bottom of the rocks was another one of nature’s jewels, perhaps even greater than then one before it. A medium sized pool was filled with perfectly clear water, with an unusual green color that came from the bottom and several trees which were surrounding it from all sides. Almost completely surrounded by stone stalagmites from three sides, it was a perfect place for someone who wanted to relax and enjoy some peace and quiet. Relaxation was exactly what Maya Lapilis needed.
Life hasn’t been easy on the girl in the last couple of months. She had lost two of the most important persons in her life in the same day. At first she could barely make herself get out of bed, but her wounds soothed over time. However, the girl then had to sell her house in order to pay the bills and was left with no place to go. For some time she was thinking of renting a room at a local Grotto, but that didn’t happen. Maya chose to leave the city, for some time. Being away from everything was supposed to help her feel better, and it was somewhat working. Fresh air did wonders to the brain, allowing the girl to feel more relaxed. She always loved being outdoors, in the wild. The nature had a soothing effect on the girl, who had learned to love everything about it and enjoy as much as she possibly could.
Maya opened her hand, letting the dirt slowly pour out of it. The water which was only about a meter away from her feet looked really tempting. Small waves occasionally hit the earth, making a tiny splash. It was rather warm today, even in the forest. Rays of sun were shining through tree branches, creating a show of shadow and light on the ground. The trees still couldn’t provide enough protection from the heat. Perhaps the girl should search for some refreshment in the water? Maya focused for a second, listening. Nothing could be heard except the sounds of water and little birds singing. The girl got up and climbed the boulder next to her. Turning around, she scouted the surroundings, checking if there was another accidental passenger traveling across the nearby forest.
The girl crouched before sitting down on the boulder. She slowly started undressing, taking off everything starting with her clothes and carefully folding her belongings over her backpack which was lying on the ground, leaned onto the rock next to her bow and quiver. Maya knew that it was important to wear several layers of clothes, and those which were of a certain qualify as well. At most times out in the wild that could be a life-saver, but at rare occasions like this one it was proving to be quite troublesome. Taking one last look around, the girl removed the final clothing pieces and walked down to the beautiful lake.
As soon as her foot touched the watery surface, Maya felt relieved. The water wasn’t too cold, in fact it was extremely pleasing, and a great way to fight off the heat of the day. Without stopping, the girl walked several steps forward, until the water level came up to her shoulders. The bottom of the lake wasn’t too steep, so she was now about 30 meters away from the boulder with her stuff. Maya could feel, and see, several small fishes swimming around her toes. The girl smiled and sank herself into the water. The cold substance felt refreshing on her face, as the sound of quiet helped the girl relax. This place was perfect.