Dragoncrest Cliffs Pearl Celebration

they were to shuck oysters and set their pearls for the world to see. val watched bemused by stingray’s excitement as he and Suzu jostled for the most promising oysters.

val moved to the pile once it was clear both had found their pile. from the flint and bluestone rubble val extracted a small oyster. as luck would have it, this one contained a small pearl the color of gold. val ate the meat with a grimace as he eyed his newest trinket.

the irony was not lost on him. this one glinted like a single eye — an eye he knew quite well.

what would dwin make of this, val wondered: perhaps it was a sign for him to face his fears and to stop running.

he set the little ball under his paw and leaned to stingray with a grin: i bet ours are the two biggest ones. a statement short lived, for thereafter suzu’s squeal announced a new contender: a round, soft thing the color of peach clouds.