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Removing the small pickaxe from my belt, which I brought exclusively for this purpose, I begin to tap gently at the base of the coral. Once I’ve broken cleanly through the base of the rock-like plant, I begin to gently nudge the coral up off of its position on the rock.
After a few minutes of careful nudging, the coral breaks free from the rock. I hold it reverently in my hands for a moment, admiring the texture and brilliant sheen of the plant. It’s just the right size to slide onto Penny’s forearm.
Satisfied with my choice, I begin to round up the crabs and oysters for our dinner. Then I begin the trek home, coral held carefully in my right hand while my left drags the bag of fish.
An hour later, I reach my cavern, swimming through the magical bubble to pop out on the dry floor of the inner cavern. The smell of food cooking wafts into my nostrils.Penny already started dinner.
I walk toward the smell of the food, holding my gift behind my back and the bag of shellfish by my side. I turn the corner and see Penny working away on the vegetables we stole from the elves.
I stand there, admiring her for a moment, enjoying the way she screws her face up when she’s focusing. With a start, Penny notices me.
“Laiken!” she exclaims. “You scared me. I didn’t hear you come in. What’s that you’ve got there?”
“All your favorites,” I respond with a warm smile.
“What about that mysterious arm hanging out behind your back?”
“Oh, this?” I say deviously. “Just something I found while I was hunting.”
“Well, are you gonna let me see it?”
“Well, I might.”
“Come on, let me see,” Penny says, walking toward me with a smile.
“It will cost you.”
“Oh? I thought it was going to be a gift.” Penny is only inches away from me now, smiling beautifully.
“Well, it could be.”
“Could be if what?”
“Could be if…” I break off as Penny begins to kiss me. Then before I know it, she reaches around my back, grabs the coral from my hands, and dashes off to the other side of the room.
She stops after a few feet, staring down at the brilliant red twist of coral in her hands, mouth hanging open.
“Laiken!” she exclaims. “This is beautiful! Where did you find it?”
“In that reef that I told you about. About an hour’s swim from here,” I respond as I walk up to Penny.
She turns it in her hands reverently, admiring the contours and clearly enjoying the feel of it in her hands.
“I’ve never seen coral twisted up so beautifully like this. This would fetch a pretty penny in the elven market you know?”
“It was meant for you. Not some fat elven merchant. Look at the size. It will fit perfectly.”
“Fit?” she asks, puzzled.
“Fit,” I confirm, taking the coral in my hands. “Give me your arm.” Penny smiles broadly as I slide the rock-like plant onto her arm. It twists perfectly from her wrist up to her elbow, encircling her entire forearm as if it were crafted specially for that purpose.
“Laiken,” Penny says. “This is incredible. Thank you so much. I don’t know what to say.”
“Say nothing, my dear. Let it make you happy, that is all I desire. Come, let’s finish our dinner before you burn your vegetables.”
“Myvegetables!” Penny says incredulously. “I thought you were going to give them another chance! You can’t keep eating only fish for the rest of your life.”
“Sure, I can. I’ve never eaten anything else, after all. What is the point of a vegetable anyway? I don’t need them to live, or I’d be dead by now. And they taste like rotten shrimp, besides.”
