The preparation was almost over. That's Half-beast for you, they could finish almost any task faster than human could do. The sun started to set to the west. All of the villager went to the river for cleaning themselves. The men took a place near the village, and the women took a further place from the village. The place was covered by bamboo trees and with their keen senses, no one could peek them without being noticed.

They started to take off their clothes. They gathered it near the grass in that place. They brought a small towel and large towel. The small one was for scrubbing their body, and the large one was for to dry themselves after it. They also used some kind of soap. This soap was made from several flowers and herbs plant mix so it won't harm the water and the river.

After put her clothes, Shanti took her small towel and dipped it into the soap bowl. She sat near the river bank and dipped both of her legs.

The other already went into the river and dived to clean their body. The river had one meter depth at most with a very calm stream. It's really ideal for relaxing bath.

"fuuaaahh, it feels really great and fresh to take a bath after finishing some works" She flicked her hair

"Shanti? why do you stay there? come in! the water is really fresh!!"

"just a minute Phyna...." Shanti was not very excited

Phyna swam to her place. She looked Shanti's face for a moment.

"hmmmm....our mating season is still in the next three or four months you know"

!! Shanti was surprised and looked at Phyna spontaneously.

"what.....what are you saying just know... that's totally out of nowhere" Her fox ears were lifted up and alerted

"ahaha, that's because you showed that kind of face Shanti!"

"what kind of face?!" She rubbed her cheeks to respond Phyna's word

"that face. The face when a female Half-beast is longing for her male.. or the alpha" Phyna showed her jest smile

-splaaash- Shanti splashed water to Phyna's face. Then she dipped her body into the river.

"-bffft- hey what's that for Shanti?!" She used her small towel to wiped her face

Shanti came out from the water, and she started to rub her left arm with her small towel that already covered by the soap.

"hey Shanti, there is someone that you like? you? a stubborn girl who dedicated her life to become a shaman?!" Phyna couldn't hold her laughing

"I..I don't need that kind of feeling. It's my duty to protect this village as a shaman" Shanti continued to rub her torso and chest

"there you go again.. geez, your beautiful body and that cute face will become mudane really..." She shaked her head

Shanti didn't give attention to her words. She continued to rub her legs now.

"hmmmm, I wonder who is it..... Barry? nah, he's too stupid for Shanti's taste..hmmmm, she's changed recently, so must be someone new that...."

Shanti's tail moved a little, but she kept focus and rubbed her back. She tied her long silver hair before cleaning herself so everything would become easier.

"ah!! I know!! it must be our sav..."

-splaaash- she was getting another water splash from Shanti before she could finish her sentence.

She dipped herself into the river again to clean the soap remains while kept trying to ignore Phyna's word.

"-bffft- fuah, stop doing that!" She approached Shanti

"heee, that's quite a man that you love Shanti. Ahaha"

"shut up Phyna, I don't even say anything, you dummy.." Shanti closed her eyes

"it's not....like that.." Shanti mumbled

-----( Chapter 30 "Girls talk" )-----