Depths and Ambergris waited for Midnight by the transport pad, as Sky did his best to convince Garnet that what they were going to do was boring and Garnet didn't need to come along. Garnet just stared up at him, refusing to move, and eventually Sky sighed and gave up as the hopper came into view.

"We're going to have to take xem along," he said resignedly.

Ambergris raised an eyebrow as the aerial vehicle landed. "Did you explain that we're just going to be looking at rocks?"

"Yes."

Ambergris shot them a doubtful look and Sky resisted the urge to swat aer as Garnet inched closer to their legs. Thankfully Depths stepped in.

"Shush, they're landing. You can bicker later."

Midnight dismounted from the flyer, looking around with interest as they walked down to greet those from Rekes. A round of greetings was done, and Midnight looked around, frowning.

"Wasn't there supposed to be another -? A guide?"

As if summoned by their words, a winged draconic all but crashed out of the sky, panting for breath.

"Oh I'm not late am I? I'm not late?"

All eyes turned to stare at them, and after a moment Garnet hesitantly edged out to hand them a rock. The draconic stared at it, obviously bemused, and Depths cleared his throat.

"Everyone, this is Mitro. They're going to be helping us today, with avoiding their tribe's lands and touching base on the mineral deposits in the area."

While Depths was speaking, Sky leaned in to whisper, "Just take the rock. Xe means it as a compliment."

"Oh!" Mitro whispered back, eyes lighting up, and bent to very graciously take the rock from a wide-eyed Garnet. Midnight looked on with interest, eyes dancing between everybody, almost seeming to take notes in their mind.

Ambergris broke through the chaos, tilting aer head to one side. "Mitro, was it? Where are we headed?"

Mitro's head came up, and they nodded towards the east. "Not too far - there's some natural tunnels over that way that we think might still have some ore deposits in them." Mitro shivered briefly. "I'm… not one for tunnels, so Talus is going to be giving you a tour of them."

The group nodded, and Mitro began to lead the way, slithering ahead. Thankfully, the terrain wasn't that extreme, only about an hour's hike or so. The mountains sloped up on one side, and dipped into a valley with a lake at the center on the other as they stayed high. The ground was soft and springy underfoot, and Garnet kept chasing butterflies that flitted past.

Soon enough, they arrived at a dark gash in the mountainside, and a reddish belemoid waiting there, looking unamused as the group pulled up.

"Talus, I assume?" Depths offered a hand to shake, and Talus examined it a moment before accepting.

"Nice to meet you," greeted Ambergris, while Midnight and Sky nodded likewise. Garnet was once more offering rocks to Mitro, who accepted them with confused grace.

"Hmm," Talus glanced over them all, unimpressed. "Come in. I'll show you what there is."

Depths and Ambergris followed immediately, donning hard hats and pulling out lanterns, while Midnight started to go and paused, waiting for Sky. Sky was pulling Garnet away from Mitro, who waved goodbye to the youngster.

"Sorry about that," Sky apologized to Midnight, hastily putting on his own hat and Garnet's.

Midnight waved the apology away as they headed into the darkness, lantern lighting the damp stone walls around them. "No need. I'm used to dealing with the youngsters."

They eyed Garnet with a fond eye, and proffered a blue stone, shiny and iridescent. Garnet let out an excited noise and took it wide-eyed.

"Thanks," xe whispered, staring into the depths of the stone.

Soon they caught up with Depths, Ambergris, and Talus who stood in front of one of the tunnel walls. Ambergris had a prospecting tool pulled out, and was punching some numbers in while Depths and Talus discussed the local strata. Midnight joined in in examining the wall, while Sky started collecting some small samples.

"What do you think?" Depths asked Midnight, the more experienced miner.

"Hm," Midnight considered, tapping the wall some more. "I think you've got something good here. Maybe."

"Maybe?" Ambergris asked dubiously from the floor.

"Maybe." Midnight glanced down. "Never say always in this business."

Talus snorted. "Good advice, kid."

Sky pried a small pebble loose and held it up to Garnet, who took it happily. "I've gotten my samples, if the rest of you are done? Good. Then what do you say we head back?"

There was a chorus of agreements and the group departed, thanking Talus and making arrangements for their tribe to get a cut of the profits of the mine. It was a tiring hike back, but filled with a contentment of a job well done.