The sun hung high in the summer sky, casting shimmering waves of heat across Soul Sand Cove. The black sand crunched beneath Yara's paws as she padded slowly along the shoreline, her eyes scanning the beach for anything unusual. The ocean was calm today, the gentle roll of waves lapping against the shore, leaving behind bits of seaweed and shells. But that wasn't what she was looking for.
Yara's sharp gaze flicked over a glint in the sand, something catching the sunlight just right and calling to her. Curiosity piqued, she lowered her head and sniffed, brushing a layer of sand aside with her paw to reveal a shiny object half-buried in the black grains. A small, smooth shell encrusted with tiny, glittering crystals lay nestled there, its edges glinting in the sunlight. It was an iridescent marvel, sparkling as if it had captured the summer sun itself.
She picked it up carefully between her teeth, its smooth surface cool to the touch. The shell was delicate but eye-catching, something that would surely grab the attention of anyone.. she hoped to find a buyer in the Armada market for such a spectacle. A sly grin formed on Yara's lips as she imagined the trade unfolding. This shiny little treasure would surely bring her something worthwhile.
With her prize secured, Yara padded back up the beach, beginning to head back to the Armada to see what stalls might be available for the day.
A deep line was carved in the black sand all the way from the entrance of the sparring practice rooms almost down to the sparring ring on the beach. Next to the deep line was a set of very small footprints stumbling and dragging.
Selene was determined to show everyone she wasn't too small for anything! She plodded along in the dark sands, the sun high in the sky and bearing down on the pale girl. She was dragging one of her father's extra knives. The knife from hilt to knife tip was literally as long as she was. And she was struggling to lift it in her tiny maw. All she had to do was get to the roped-off area and she could practice swinging it around! That's what she saw some of the other warriors do! Her little pale tail wiggled at the thought of being a mighty warrior swinging the knife around and letting the sun glint off the blade like a hero!
