Bad Water

Ashlynn and Heila were led by an obviously excited Aledia to a simple changing room where they were provided with baskets to hold their clothing and simple cotton robes to change into. When it came to their hats, however, even though both women were only wearing their most practical hedge hats, Aledia seemed to grow particularly agitated. 

"I promise you," she said as she reverently placed the hats high on a shelf. "No one will dare to touch dese, not so much as de point of a claw will come close to dem," she said. "We don't have problems with thieving, but if you want, I can hide them away somewhere wit' a lock, yeah?" 

"They're just hats," Ashlynn said lightly, afraid that her stature was putting too much pressure on the young woman. "It's good that no one will touch them on the shelf. We don't need more than that."