Chika stood as close to the magma baths as she could, which wasn't very close. In fact, she had to stand pretty close to the wall, her mouth slightly open as she panted to try to alleviate the heat. She hooked a finger in the front of her bathing suit and pulled it away from her fur, though it didn't help much. She probably should just eschew clothing entirely, as her hosts had suggested, but the extreme heat hadn't yet overpowered her modesty.

She heard the sound of claws scratching on stone to her right, and a female dragon entered the baths through the stone archway. She gave the mouse a confused but friendly smile before she walked to the lip of the bath proper.

The pool of molten rock let out a faint glow, which shimmered on the dragon's yellow scales. She sat down on the edge and lowered her feet inside, letting out a pleased sigh as they disappeared. Then she pushed herself off the edge and slid in up to her waist, a look of bliss on her face as she waded out deeper into the pool. Chika bit her lip.

"Chika! What are you doing down here?" Chika looked up to see Orlea standing next to her. She had been so distracted that she hadn't even heard her enter the baths.

Like all the dragons, Orlea was almost twice as tall as Chika. Her scales and hair were a brilliant yellow, and her tough skin a muted red. All of this rested on a set of curves that Chika couldn't help but be jealous of; she couldn't help but marvel at Orlea's beauty every time she saw her. "Oh, just... I wanted to try to see the baths," Chika said.

"Isn't it too hot for you down here?" Chika nodded, fanning herself with her hand.

"Unfortunately, yes. I don't think I'll be able to stay much longer. Even standing this far away, the heat is killing me. I just... I wanted to get as close as I could." Rather than walk to the pool, Orlea leaned against the wall next to Chika. "You're leaving next week, right? Do you feel you've accomplished your mission?"

"As well as I've been able," Chika said. "I'm a scholar, not a diplomat; my employers just wanted me to learn as much about dragon culture as possible to help future diplomatic missions. And you've all been more welcoming than I could have imagined. Thanks in no small part to you, Orlea."

A silence rested between them for a moment. "I just ask because... you could always stay longer. I know that your employers won't keep footing the bill, but my family would be more than happy to offer you room and board for a while longer."

Chika craned her neck upward to look at her friend. "Thank you for the offer. I'd love to take you up on it. But it's not just the money. The environment here -- it's just not suited for a mouse. I have no escape from the heat, even at night. Six months has been about all I can stand. Maybe if the city was located somewhere other than the bowels of a volcano, I'd be able to stay longer."

Orlea released a defeated sigh. "I understand."

Chika turned her gaze back to the lava pool. "I just wish I had been able to experience everything I wanted to."

"The baths?" Orlea asked.

"The baths," Chika confirmed. "They're such a huge part of your culture -- combined relaxation, health, and public forum. I can tell how important a ritual public bathing is for your people. And I can't even get close. They're filled with molten rock -- it would kill me instantly."

"I'm sure the other females would welcome you in if they could," Orlea said.

"I know! That's the worst part. And now I'm leaving, knowing that I missed out on this."