chnut

Huh? Why's she crying even harder now?

We can't! Big brother's eyes have been washed away!

His eyes? Why not just draw two more?

No, the eyes have to be rocks. My little sis went all over the beach looking for the right ones, and finally found two round black pebbles, but the waves took them away!

*sniffle*...

Black pebbles?

How about these? Will they work?

Chestnut holds out two chunks of obsidian—one real, one fake. The two children come closer and carefully look them over.

Um... This might work?

No, no...

Huh? That's too bad then...

They... They're not round enough!

Oh, I've got you.

His staff is once again surrounded with light, which then wraps around the two 'black pebbles.'

Huh?

The rocks... are round now?

So now we've got the eyes. What else do we need?

Draw a big ol' head!

I'll draw the ears, and he'll draw the mouth... Since you're new here, you can just put the eyes in!

You want me to do it?

Hmm, these two rocks...

The short man places the two 'black pebbles' inside the sand portrait, and the sound of the children's laughter drifts into his ears.

Under the sunlight, the way they shine... isn't any different.

But, that's not important anymore—

Right now, they are bright, shining eyes.

Now it's perfect!

The portrait in the sand slowly becomes more and more complete. Apparently, in the minds of these two kids, the brother is... a bit funny-looking.

Phew...

Is it time to head home? To return underground, to return to my people, to build a stronger home together?

The waves may still surge over onto the beach, mercilessly washing away our masterpiece without warning.

But, the big ol' head can be drawn again. And you can always find two more 'black pebbles.'

This time... should be perfect, right?