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food. It was an effort to force it down, and he knows his body would protest if he had to eat any more fish today. Of course he’ll probably think differently when they’re starving.
    “Just a little farther, come on.” Serim grabs for his hand and gives it a tug.
    Jerath picks up his pace, but doesn’t let go of her hand. It feels nice, her fingers entwined with his, and she doesn’t seem to mind, so he holds it all the way to the top of the hill.
    When they finally reach the top and look down, Serim gasps at the sight. She squeezes Jerath’s hand and turns to look up at him with wide, excited eyes. “Jerath, look!”
    It’s beautiful.
    If Jerath could have described the perfect place to go through the Choosing, then this would be it.
    The stream Serim mentioned is in fact a small waterfall. It tumbles down over the large rocks, crystal-clear water pooling at the bottom before flowing out in a gentle trickle and carrying on its journey. The pool itself looks to be about ten feet across, and there’s a small clearing on the far side. The sun shines through the gap in the trees and bathes the clearing in warm-looking, natural light.
    Jerath meets Serim’s eyes again and she nods. “It’s perfect.”
    They scramble down the hill together with eager faces. Jerath helps Serim over the slippery rocks, and she bursts out laughing when he slips on the last one and falls backward into the water.
    “Fuck, that’s cold!”
    “Jerath!” Serim gasps.
    The icy coldness took him by surprise, so Jerath thinks his outburst is totally understandable. He shakes the water out of his hair and wipes his eyes.
    “Come on in.” He beckons her. “It’s very refreshing.” He grins and she laughs again.
    Serim climbs over the last of the rocks and lands gracefully on the grass at the edge of the pool. “I will. I just need to get something first.”
    She wanders over to the bushes at the edge of the clearing, and Jerath takes the opportunity to swim over to the side and throw his hunting knife and waterskin onto the bank.
    “What are you looking for?” He watches as she picks flowers and berries and…. “What’s that?”
    Serim turns around with her hands full and a triumphant smile on her face. “Soap!”
    Jerath eyes the collection of flora held tightly in Serim’s fists and raises an eyebrow. “Really?”
    “You have so little faith in me, Jerath.” She tuts at him and makes her way over to the water.
    Jerath looks on, fascinated, as Serim scrunches everything together and adds a little water. She works it all between her hands, and sure enough, Jerath sees the unlikely mixture start to froth. Serim’s smile is huge now and she has her “I told you so” expression all over her face.
    She steps into the water and walks over to where Jerath is standing, the water coming up to his thighs.
    “Here.” She holds out one hand to him and he scoops the mixture out and holds it gingerly in both of his. “It won’t bite.” She rolls her eyes, and Jerath can’t resist sticking his tongue out at her. “I expected better behavior from someone whose fangs have come in.”
    Jerath just shrugs and grins at her.
    Serim shakes her head and starts to rub the soap mixture under her clothes. “Use it to clean your skin first and then your clothes.” Jerath must look as confused as he feels, because Serim pauses and adds, “Like this, look.”
    She scrubs the top half of her body under her tunic and then pushes her hands below the waistband of her trousers to wash between her legs. Jerath watches, and Serim is so matter-of-fact about it all that he doesn’t feel the least bit embarrassed. But then she starts to peel off her clothes.
    “Then like this.” She rubs the remaining soap into her tunic and all over her trousers.
    Serim is totally naked now and Jerath hurriedly looks away and starts to wash himself. He scrubs hard all over his skin, washing off the grime of three days and two nights spent sleeping out in the woods.