Depths and Ambergris stepped out of the flyer uncertainly, while Parhelion squeaked in delight and ran off to go play in the waves. The adults stood, looking around, then waved at a pair standing outside their own flyer. Illisandre, hearing that their colony was in need of some minerals, had suggested that they could do a joint mining run - they needed some ore from the ocean floor as well, and the more people the better in the depths.

Illisandre hurried over, carrying a breathing mask and mining tools, and nodded at the belemoid walking up beside her. "This is Ma'Groth - Ma'Groth, Depths, Ambergris and Parhelion."

They all nodded at each other, and even Parhelion bounded up out of the surf to wave at Ma'Groth. "Hello!!" he exclaimed, before running back into the water.

The adults watched him go, then Ambergris shrugged and began to put on ae breathing mask. The others followed suit, and soon they began to wade into the surf.

The place they'd chosen to wade into was rough, as it was a straight shot down to where the mine was, without the protection of a breakwall or natural cove. The water around them churned, trying to shove them back to shore, but Ambergris took a breath through the breathing mask and dove beneath the waves, hands digging into the sand to pull aeself along despite the tide. Ae was swimming blind until they reached past where the waves were breaking, and the sand only swayed as the water rose and fell up above.

The four adults emerged from the cloud of sand in the water, and Parhelion darted around between them, burbling excitedly. He, being an aquatic, didn't need a breathing mask, but he still had a transmitter in case he needed to talk to them. Depths shoo'ed him towards Ambergris, who corralled the whelp, and then turned to Illisandre and Ma'Groth.

"You guys doing alright?"

Illisandre nodded, and Ma'Groth shrugged. With that, the five set off towards the mine set into the ocean floor. It was well-known, having been marked with bright lights and signage, but the cacophony of brightly colored fish and seaweed floating in these shallow waters obscured it until they were nearly right on top of it.

The mine's entrance gaped below, well-lit with lines of waterproof lights. The five gathered outside the entrance, preparing to descend. Ambergris, Illisandre, Ma'Groth and Depths all pulled helmets with headlamps out of their packs and put them on, testing the lights. Ambergris also pulled a smaller helmet out and called to Parhelion, who seemed to be playing hide-and-seek in the seaweed with some fish. Parhelion made protesting noises at the helmet, but after being told it was either wear it or not go in - he relented.

Ma'Groth, the most experienced miner among them, descended into the tunnel first, followed by Illisandre, then Ambergris and Parhelion, and finally by Depths. It wasn't a spacious tunnel, but it wasn't exactly narrow, either. Ma'Groth consulted the map on the wall, then pointed them down a side passage. They swam into it, headlamps coming in useful in the dimmer lighting off of the main shaft, and looked around to find prospective spots to dig.

Ma'Groth, years of experience coming in hand, prospected with his own senses, Illisandre looking on attentively, while Depths and Ambergris pulled out their own tools to test the stones. Parhelion floated among the supports, chasing the small fish there aimlessly. He perked up as Ma'Groth pulled back his pickaxe and struck a few times, prying a piece off the wall that slowly began to sink before the belemoid caught and examined it.

"This is a good vein," he decided, and Ambergris' and Depths' equipment beeped in agreement.

With that settled, the four got down to work, Illisandre assisting Ma'Groth, while Parhelion was mostly a bother to Depths and Ambergris. The whelp was curious as they began to drill into the rock wall - but that curiosity manifested as him sticking his face into things, so they kept having to shoo him away. But he didn't take it personally, going over to pester Illisandre instead.

The four adults shared wry glances, and soon a comfortable silence descended on them as they worked.