Gilded Bay this is our party, we can do what we want

Another early bird joined Dash, providing an explanation. A fruit with meat inside? Now that was a new one. Also, Dash was pretty sure that fruits were supposed to grow on trees, not down in holes. But on the other paw, this guy seemed pretty seasoned. He probably knew what he was talking about. 

So you were supposed to crack it against a rock? Was this guy kidding? That sounded like a great way to scramble your brains and break your teeth to pieces. There was once a time when Dash wouldn't have thought twice; he would have clutched the coconut in his jaws and gone to town on the nearest rock, beating the thing until it cracked or his own brains leaked out of his ears. He was a little smarter now though. Granted, not a whole lot more so, but enough. 

Dash took a few steps toward the nearest rock spire, and he wedged the coconut down into a crack that seemed to be about the right size. It met resistance about halfway down into the crack. Good. Dash pushed a little harder, and he felt the shell warp a little under pressure. It was working. 

Oh wait. The old-timer had asked a question, hadn't he? 

"Uh, not exactly. I planned on staying," Dash answered. After a beat, realization dawned, and he turned away from his work with the coconut to face the man. "Wait. Is this your beach? Sorry, my bad." Beaches were the worst for scent-markers. Once the tide came in and washed them away, what was to keep the unknowing beachcomber from walking into claimed territory? Surely this guy would understand.