Wheeling Gull Isle Sundown in the Paris of the Prairies

Treasure was a pretty name, even if Tahani didn't know what it meant (or even that it was a nickname at all). it would suffice. she repeated it softly under her breath, and then came closer at the girl's gesture, eyes fixed on the shell. it was clear from her tone of voice that something special could happen; she waited with bated breath, watching as Treasure cracked it open.

nothing--well, not nothing! meat, that the girl ate up, and that was good enough for Tahani. but something was clearly missing, in Treasure's eyes, and so the healer did the same with her shell, trying to mimic the motions the girl had made.

her work with plants had improved her fine motor skills, at least, and it only took a couple failed tries for her to pry the oyster open. inside was the same meat, the glossy sheen--and a perfectly round, opalescent sphere, gleaming in the sunlight. her mouth opened in a silent 'o,' and she stared at Treasure, a smile slowly oozing onto her face.

so pretty, she gasped, nosing at the thing, then pushing the oyster closer to her new acquaintance. p-pearl? she tried, remembering the word from before.