The morning sun painted the ocean in molten gold as the exploring team gathered at the newly constructed dock. Their ship, a retrofitted coastal patrol vessel from the cargo haul, bobbed gently in the turquoise shallows, its deck loaded with supplies for the next expedition.
Ashley clung to Evelyn's leg, her small fingers digging into the fabric of her mother's pants. "You just came back," she mumbled, pressing her face against Evelyn's knee.
Evelyn knelt, cupping her daughter's tear-streaked face. "I know, sunshine. But remember our deal?" She tapped Ashley's nose, eliciting a tiny sniffle. "You're the island's bravest explorer now. Grandpa says there's a cave full of seashells no one's ever seen—"
"*Really?*" Ashley's eyes widened.
"Mm-hmm. And if you fill a whole jar with them by the time I return…" Evelyn leaned in, whispering dramatically, "I'll bring you a whale's tooth from the deep ocean."
Ashley gasped, then narrowed her eyes. "Whales don't have teeth."
