[Bridlebank Beach] Buried Treasure (Open)

[Willow Whisper]

It was a cold day on the shores of Bridlebank Beach. Silvery clouds were slowly encroaching across the sky, and a chill autumn breeze, raucous with the cries of hopeful gulls, swept inland. The waves, which often seemed so lustrous in the sun, were dark and dull as they broke over the sand in a comforting pulse of noise. It wasn't the right sort of weather for most beach-goers, though the curious strength and height of the waves may have been tempting for some surfers. Today, the beach was nearly deserted. Nearly.

Rose Water bounded down the shoreline, navigating the treacherous shifting sands of the beach with varying amounts of success. Her paws lead the way clumsily, aided by her serpentine tail that would send her springing forward(hopefully in the desired direction, but not always). Clutched in her mouth was the handle of a foal-sized bucket that may have once been orange, but was now mostly a sun bleached white, which rattled madly with its precious cargo. Her short curly blue mane fluttered about her as she zigged and zagged this way and that just beyond the furthest reaches of the tide.

Her paws tripped her up, and for a few seconds she was airborne with a muffled squeak and a startled expression. She scrunched her eyes closed as she landed nose first in a wild spray of sand, leaving a telling furrow behind her in the mostly pristine shoreline. Her short jaws let go of the bucket, and she pushed herself up to balance a bit wobbly on her tail. Keeping her eyes shut, she dusted sand off of her face and out of mane with both paws. Despite her disastrous stop, when she got a look at the beach around her, her expression was hopeful.

She brightened as she focused on a mostly intact half of a scallop shell, and she picked up the bucket in one paw. The young Serpent slithered over to it, gently picked it up, and inspected it before she placed it gingerly in the bucket. Inside the foal's toy was a small collection of 'pretty' sea shells, colorful bottle-caps, lost coins, and a slightly sandy pair of sunglasses with one lens missing. Junk, save maybe for the coins, but she looked over the assortment as though it were treasure.

Rose Water smiled a little at her good luck and turned back to combing the beach, humming quietly to herself. The Sea Serpent paused only to glance out at the sea now and then to check the course of the clouds. A storm was brewing, and she had to save what she could before the rain and waves washed everything away. Her smile vanished in anticipation of the rain, sad to lose the say and surely whatever she couldn't find. Her head drooped a little, and she noticed a set of keys half buried in the sand.

To every cloud there was a silver lining.