glorious laments

Something to be said for wanderlust. The gold marked nomad was on the move as he always was, today lingering along the shores of an unfamiliar continent. These shores were littered with tidepools- not his favourite source of materials but this place called to him nonetheless. The skittering of myriad crustaceans and the gentle lapping of miniscule tides against the sandstone edges of the pools.

Willowy limbs carried him carefully over and around the pools, keen golden eyes trained on spots of colour and flickers of motion. The carapaces of crabs made such lovely chimes to ward off negative energy. The scent of them drew scavengers, though.

Deft digits slipped into the briny embrace of a shallow tidepool, claww hooking underneath the smooth, sharp edge of a seashell. A simple, pale scallop. Yet... He liked this one. Drawing his digits from the warm water, he watched the ripples pass over the surface. Cast undulating light across the unblemished face of his shell. Without further need for consideration of it, he dunked his narrow muzzle into the pool to collect the shell delicately between his incisors and claim his prize.

The thought of chimes lingered, nagged at his mind. The volatility of the sea and the simplicity of the shells... Yes, they would bind well to create chimes. Perhaps some dried kelp braided to hold the shells together?

He shook his head lightly, tall ears flattening ever so slightly as seawater flicked in all directions. Sufficiently dry. He dropped the shell into the satchel against his flank. A soft, melodic whistle passed through his bared fangs. The unusually large cardinal alighted on his hip and trilled back.

"We need more shells. Can you bring some? Whatever draws your eye, I don't care about colour or size. It needs to call to you somehow." he drawled, cranium tipped towards the brightly hued bird.

Off the cardinal went, a bright spot in the air he could easily follow.