as it began to dissipate
with the breaking of the cloud cover. She paused only to yank a
small thorn from her foot and to grab a ripe papaya, which she
slurped hungrily as she continued in the direction of the hopeful
hot bath.
Her efforts were rewarded several hours later
when the sound of water caught her attention. She picked her way
around another tall rock mound and was greeted with the splattering
heat of a small sulfur pool fed by a tiny trickling waterfall.
Squealing with delight, Jade slowly lowered herself into the steamy
water, ignoring the rancid odor as she sunk shoulder deep with a
happy sigh. People paid good money for sulfur spas and here she
was, getting it for free! She submerged her head, washing away the
salt and sand from her hair and enjoying the feel of her skin as it
was cleansed and rehydrated in the mineral bath. She sighed as the
heat penetrated her aching muscles and she closed her eyes, nestled
in the natural contour that served as a lounger. Never again would
she take a spa experience for granted.
She slept so deeply that the sound of
Griffon's call failed to wake her. It was not until he abruptly
jerked her out of the pool and smacked the back of her thigh with
one very large hand that she fully awakened.
"OW! Why the hell did you do that?" she
demanded, trying to pull her wrist from his grip.
He smacked her bottom this time, his hand
imprint white against the pink skin that was still warm from the
pool. "Didn't I tell you to stay close by? Didn't I tell you that
if there was lightning, you were to get your ass back to camp?"
"Yeah. Ow! Stop it! I just ..." her words
were interrupted by the sound of thunder.
"You are in trouble once again, young
lady."
"But I found fresh water! Look!"
"That is wonderful. But it does not negate
the fact that you disappeared on me. Damn it!" Griffon shouted, as
the rain began to pour upon them. "Move your rump before we get
ourselves electrocuted!"
"Which way?" Jade asked, confused.
Griffon's face reddened with anger, "You
didn't even bother to mark your trail, did you? How many times do I
need to tell you that it is dangerous out here? How many times?!"
he demanded, the rain running down his face.
"I forgot," Jade said, biting her lip.
"You 'forgot'," he repeated, "For the last
week, while you were sitting warm and dry, feasting on lobster and
clams, I have been trying to teach you about this environment, to
keep you safe," he lectured, yanking her behind him as he made his
way through the thick jungle and between the rocky ravines. "I gave
you a chance to show me that you could be responsible and use your
brain. I specifically told you to stay within calling distance,
didn't I? I have been looking for you for hours, straining my voice
calling for you, and where do I find you? Sound asleep while
soaking in a thermal pool! Did it ever cross your mind that maybe I
would be worried sick about you? Consider yourself lucky that I am
one hell of a tracker."
"I just wanted a hot bath. It felt sooooo
good, and …"
"I am telling you this, little girl. There is
one part of your body that won't know what the word comfort means
for the next couple of days. As for hot, expect your backside to
feel nice and toasty by time I am done warming it."
"Griffon, please ..."
"Save your begging for when your bottom
starts to smart. You are going to need it."
"You can't do this!" Jade's eyes filled with
tears as he dragged her back towards the beach. "It's not my fault
you are so overprotective and a control freak. I'm a grown adult,
and ..."
"Then act like one. Try using common sense
and obeying instructions intended for your well-being," Griffon
scolded, jerking her firmly as she began to drag her feet. He
stopped and pointed to the horizon. "See that? It's a monsoon, and
it's heading straight for us. I warned you about how unpredictable
the weather is—and how dangerous. Trust me when I tell you that
being unprotected in the middle of that beast is the last place
with the breaking of the cloud cover. She paused only to yank a
small thorn from her foot and to grab a ripe papaya, which she
slurped hungrily as she continued in the direction of the hopeful
hot bath.
Her efforts were rewarded several hours later
when the sound of water caught her attention. She picked her way
around another tall rock mound and was greeted with the splattering
heat of a small sulfur pool fed by a tiny trickling waterfall.
Squealing with delight, Jade slowly lowered herself into the steamy
water, ignoring the rancid odor as she sunk shoulder deep with a
happy sigh. People paid good money for sulfur spas and here she
was, getting it for free! She submerged her head, washing away the
salt and sand from her hair and enjoying the feel of her skin as it
was cleansed and rehydrated in the mineral bath. She sighed as the
heat penetrated her aching muscles and she closed her eyes, nestled
in the natural contour that served as a lounger. Never again would
she take a spa experience for granted.
She slept so deeply that the sound of
Griffon's call failed to wake her. It was not until he abruptly
jerked her out of the pool and smacked the back of her thigh with
one very large hand that she fully awakened.
"OW! Why the hell did you do that?" she
demanded, trying to pull her wrist from his grip.
He smacked her bottom this time, his hand
imprint white against the pink skin that was still warm from the
pool. "Didn't I tell you to stay close by? Didn't I tell you that
if there was lightning, you were to get your ass back to camp?"
"Yeah. Ow! Stop it! I just ..." her words
were interrupted by the sound of thunder.
"You are in trouble once again, young
lady."
"But I found fresh water! Look!"
"That is wonderful. But it does not negate
the fact that you disappeared on me. Damn it!" Griffon shouted, as
the rain began to pour upon them. "Move your rump before we get
ourselves electrocuted!"
"Which way?" Jade asked, confused.
Griffon's face reddened with anger, "You
didn't even bother to mark your trail, did you? How many times do I
need to tell you that it is dangerous out here? How many times?!"
he demanded, the rain running down his face.
"I forgot," Jade said, biting her lip.
"You 'forgot'," he repeated, "For the last
week, while you were sitting warm and dry, feasting on lobster and
clams, I have been trying to teach you about this environment, to
keep you safe," he lectured, yanking her behind him as he made his
way through the thick jungle and between the rocky ravines. "I gave
you a chance to show me that you could be responsible and use your
brain. I specifically told you to stay within calling distance,
didn't I? I have been looking for you for hours, straining my voice
calling for you, and where do I find you? Sound asleep while
soaking in a thermal pool! Did it ever cross your mind that maybe I
would be worried sick about you? Consider yourself lucky that I am
one hell of a tracker."
"I just wanted a hot bath. It felt sooooo
good, and …"
"I am telling you this, little girl. There is
one part of your body that won't know what the word comfort means
for the next couple of days. As for hot, expect your backside to
feel nice and toasty by time I am done warming it."
"Griffon, please ..."
"Save your begging for when your bottom
starts to smart. You are going to need it."
"You can't do this!" Jade's eyes filled with
tears as he dragged her back towards the beach. "It's not my fault
you are so overprotective and a control freak. I'm a grown adult,
and ..."
"Then act like one. Try using common sense
and obeying instructions intended for your well-being," Griffon
scolded, jerking her firmly as she began to drag her feet. He
stopped and pointed to the horizon. "See that? It's a monsoon, and
it's heading straight for us. I warned you about how unpredictable
the weather is—and how dangerous. Trust me when I tell you that
being unprotected in the middle of that beast is the last place
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