[treasure] Treasure Beneath The Tides

The sun beats down relentlessly on the rocky coastline, its heat rising from the ground in shimmering waves. Nai pauses for a moment, squinting against the glare as sweat trickles down her forehead. Her hooves scrape softly against the dry earth as she shifts her weight, because although she loves the heat, she's in need of rest after a long day. She’s spent the morning working with patients—patching cuts, tending minor burns, and keeping Bylain fed and watered. Still, now the fatigue begins to catch up with her.

She turns toward the sea, the tide pools glinting invitingly. The cool water beckons to her, promising respite from the hot air. Nai moves without hesitation toward the pool, kicking off dry earth beneath her and wading into the shallow water, relieved as the coolness wraps around her legs and soothes her sun-baked skin.

With every step further into the tide pool, the water is refreshing. She doesn’t make much noise at all with her walk through the basin of rocks as her body sinks down with each movement. Nai closes her eyes to let the waves lap over her, feeling herself sink further in the pool while she floats on her back and drifts, resting.

It is in this moment of stillness, drifting in time with the soft cadence of the water, that she sees it—only a flash, really: something reflecting back from just beneath the water's surface. Faint as it is, there’s something odd about it. Something unnatural. Something amiss.

Her curiosity is now aroused. She plunges into the water without the slightest reluctance. The coolness of the water envelops her as she dives deeper. She squints as it starts to become well-defined; she follows the glimmer. A corner of wood, just barely visible beneath a thin layer of sand and seaweed, catches her attention.

Nai’s heart skips a beat. *What is this?*

She reaches the spot and digs using her fingers, moving sand. Her fingers brush over something hard, smooth. She knows what it is. A chest. It’s old; the wooden surface is weathered, yet it has character, not something that would crumble or give away so easily. It has to be. A treasure chest buried and forgotten by the sea.

Her heart races faster by the minute as she moves briskly. The chest is heavy, but she manages to wedge her hands under the edges and heave with determination. Nothing at first; she tries again, pulling with all her might. The chest shifts, and then it comes loose from its sandy tomb. Nai kicks off the pool floor, rising up through the water with the chest in tow, her breath sharp as she breaks the surface.

She sputters and laughs, thrilled by the discovery, and with one last heave, she hauls the chest out onto a large rock beside the water. For a moment, she just sits, staring at it, grinning to herself. *What could it be?* The possibilities are endless.

She drops down onto her knees in a swift movement and sets to work on the rusted lock. It’s old, but still looks like it might be undone. Nai digs her fingers into the lock and gives it a forceful twist. The metal creaks loudly in protest, but it yields, breaking open with a soft snap. The lid of the chest groans as it opens, revealing its contents.

Inside are a collection of odd trinkets—beads, necklaces, and small, worn pieces of jewelry. She picks up a string of delicate silver chains, each one adorned with little charms, some in the shapes of stars, others crescent moons. Nai runs her fingers over a carved figure, an animal she can’t identify—its body sleek and elongated, its gemstone eyes seeming to shimmer even in the dim light of the pool.

She rummages through the contents, and with each new discovery, her excitement grows. The mystery deepens, too. She wonders who could have left these treasures behind—and why.

Nai gets to her feet, shuts the lid carefully, locks it, and tucks the chest under her arm. With the chest in tow, she heads back toward the shady tree where Bylain naps, eager to show him what she’s found.