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"Mmhmm!" E'lai called back, holding up his most recent additions to the steadily growing pile further up the beach--bivalve shells with different pink patterns across the outer part of the shell. Realizing S'ren's likely predicament with the picky green, he added hurriedly, "She's mostly looking for pinks today, though if you find a nice tangerine..."

Eltimioth interrupted, completely nonchalant as usual about addressing all of them. No more of the silly wrap-about ones. Unless they are very large, or very shiny.

"When she says 'very large' she means 'large enough to wear on her head knobs'," E'lai said wryly. "Brave a fashion statement as it might be..."

You would not know fashion if it bit you on the nose. The green's mental voice seemed almost offended.

"Why would it be biting me on the nose?" he asked with a laugh.

Eltimioth delicately stepped across the beach, carefully minding her feet and trying not to step on those already assembled to her liking. She stuck her snout out to peer closely at the proffered shell, turned her head first one way and then the other as she seemed to be investigating it from all sides. Finally, she pulled back her head and gave an almost comical decisive nod. It is acceptable.

"At least say 'thank you', they don't have to be here helping you," E'lai said in a gentle scolding. Left unsaid was the assumption that E'lai of necessity 'had to be here helping you.'

Thank you Tereth. Thank you S'ren. She peered over behind her at E'lai almost mischievously before adding, But I still require more shells.

E'lai rolled his eyes and chucked a tiny shell at his dragon, who batted it away with a tail-swipe.

"A nice pile. Jaina said she knows a Metalsmith crafter who has some idea about grinding the shells to make mosaic jewelry, so naturally Eltimioth decided this was something not to be missed out on," E'lai said solemnly, though he couldn't manage to keep a straight face all the way through and broke into a grin. The oddest surprise of his young life after Impression would have to be that his foster mother and his dragon seemed to have struck up some kind of friendship that utterly mystified the boy.

Perhaps if he'd realized that they were the two most likely to worry over him, it would've made more sense. But the thought never once crossed his mind, and all he knew was that Jaina had a tendency to spoil his green with things like jewelry suggestions. He'd never met a more vain dragon--and unlike some of the other greens, she wasn't even a flirty vain. Vanity for the sake of vanity?

He had to admit she was gorgeous, but he was more than a little biased, being her rider and all.

Eltimioth was busy looking mighty pleased at herself for having "fine taste." I appreciate the help! E'lai-mine is very good at finding things but there is only one of him so it would take much, much longer.

Eltimioth resumed her own search, picking over the beachline with careful delicate steps--rather a sight, to see the green dragon on what passed for dragon tiptoe.

"Just for the headknobs, I think, maybe a bit to set along the harnesses for Gathers or something," E'lai said with a rueful smile. He'd shudder at the idea of fullbody contraptions even for a smallish green--besides, it would really be too garish. And he suspected his wingleader would probably have something to say on the matter...

"Well enough. Drills, drills, more drills--this is the first chance I've had to sneak off for a bit for some time," the nineteen Turn old said with a shrug. "And what have you been up to, S'ren?"

"I'll take drills over real Threadfall any day," the greenrider said sheepishly, before moving on quickly to happier thoughts. "The lake sounds like fun. Eltimioth likes the ocean better, but she's just picky like that. Lakes have a lack of interesting things, or so she tells me."

Eltimioth, seeing Tereth's strategy, hurried to adopt it in a spot a little further to the side, but her digging disturbed one of the residents hiding below the sand--a spiderclaw snapped a claw at the green, who emitted a squeak and stepped back, before realizing the silliness of the situation. Impertinent! she snorted at it, deliberately poking it from its blind side.

"The lake is incredibly less likely to be full of things that could potentially maim you," E'lai agreed. "A distinct lack of watersnakes, for one..."

This tiny creature thinks it can defy me, Eltimioth said with another snort, though she wasn't paying quite enough attention and the spiderclaw scored a pinch on her poking talon, which caused the green to squeak yet again.

"I do believe my dragon is being harassed by a spiderclaw," E'lai said, casting a glance over at the bristling green who seemed to be contemplating ending the little crawler's life existence in the very near future. "Don't smash it, you're the one that broke into its home."

But-- Eltimioth sounded sorely tempted.

E'lai laughed. "There's that too. Meet anyone interesting?"

Eltimioth's attention was immediately distracted as no doubt the brown had hoped, and the green peered over the blue shell with whirling almost matching blue of happiness. It's beautiful! The mood was abruptly ruined a moment later when she added matter-of-factly, But now we shall need to find more this color as well.