Haven tapped at the crystals gently before picking up a rock and gently tapping one with it. It chimed gently and she tilted her head, eyes narrowed.

No, not right, it didn't match the notes she liked the best. So she pulled it down and tossed it away, looking to the next.

Each crystal went through something like this, with her tapping it, listening intently, and either throwing it away or taking it for herself. Once she was done... she had three crystals.

"Thank you," she said happily, "Make sure to practice that clicking and hearing, and if you need help I'll be here in Leo too. Or if you just want company, then that's also fine!"

Haven grinned, her lips pulling back more than they really ought to have been able to, and she clutched the crystals in her claws, wings open and ready for flight, "Oh, and you can keep those ones!"

@The Sentinel

The Sentinel lifted his head, peering up at Haven. In this light he could hardly see her.

"The Sentinel will practice." He stopped, looking down at the crystals the dragon hadn't chosen to take. He felt he was probably supposed to say something, but "thank you" for whatever reason didn't strike him, or strike him as "right," at least. So he said, "The exchange will be remembered," and knelt to pick the crystals up.

Tick, tick, tick. The pocketwatch's quiet rhythm carried on; the dragon's wings beat, though, and the surf below crashed at the base of the rock, so that the ticking was hardly audible let alone echoing. He would need somewhere quieter to practice, then.

The pair of ethereal blue wings snapped sharply out, fully-formed and glowing bright; lights danced around them in bright cerulean sparks. Sentinel spared a last glance to Haven, who seemed ready to go regardless. "Perhaps the Sentinel will return, in time. The Forge will be required," he added, thoughtfully. "Its teachings have been welcome."

Well, it was the thought that counted, though it seemed he'd reverted to calling her "it" again. It probably was nothing personal, given the way he referred even to himself as it, and in the third person. Though seeing others as objects was probably not a great sign.

Whatever the case, he took rushing flight a moment later, careening over the edge of the outcrop like some bizarre black angel, halberd in one hand and two crystals tucked under his other arm, pocketwatch still ticking the time away where it hung around his neck.

exit Sentinel; @Haven

Haven watched the Sentinel fly off, waving gently before taking off. She drifted down towards the sand and coasted lazily, sighing.

"She," she mumbled, headed back to her den, eyes closing for a moment before she disappeared behind some pillars.

Today was a good day.

Exit
@The Sentinel for vis