Yellow pits caught sight of flashing hues of yellow beneath the trickling stream, a small smile fashioned itself across his maw. The soft voice of his female friend arose, "Where is this gold supposed to be?" Motioning with twisted neck and lowered skull he responded with lightened tone, “Within this stream,” softly he added, “Look….” Gaze followed each flashing nugget, they bore a dirty a color; not like the glimmering shades that trailed his feathers. Dull hues couldn’t hide an unmistakable shine that was evidently present; surely this was the first of his quest. Now the question was—how much was needed to fill his quarry? Oh, and most importantly; how to carry such treasures.

Foreleg rose with one hoof gently tapping through the water and moving one of the delicate looking stones—the motion stirred water but did little else. Muzzle lowered with a deep inhale filling his lungs, widening his breast; skull fell forward with jaws opening. Feeling the rush of water across the length of face he used lips alone to pull at the stones below. Mouth trailed and rough ivory grasped a few small stones. He turned toward the shore and dropped them onto the bank; turning round Midas repeated this task maybe a dozen or so times. Muzzle dripped and vocals filled air, “Do you think the lord of earth requires more than a few stones?” Midas didn’t want to get too few—or too much; like a foolish colt he had left his masters side without asking further questions.

An idea had already formed for how he was going to carry such precious stones around with him. Medics in the clan had often fashioned bundles of long rod leaves together to make a bundle of sorts. A medium bundle could be carried in his mouth, or along the soft layers of his back were feather met flesh.

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OOC:

      
"The Earth God is mighty."

“That he is,” Midas thought. After all, each step of this quest was guided by his lord’s hand. "He will not need an immense amount of gold.” Great! Head turned back toward the water. He wasn’t expecting Ktulu to help, so when she stuck her nose under he glanced over in surprise. Such a good friend. A soft nicker trailed out, fondness and continued appreciation evident in tone.

After several mouthfuls of water were swallowed, and some unwillingly inhaled; the pair managed with combined efforts, to gather a small pile of golden nuggets. Coal splashed chest heaved as a restrained cough threatened to burst past tightly clinched lips. A second before it did, Midas twisted round and spat his bundle onto the ground. Throat rumbles rose forth and a sneeze followed. Facial features twisted, orbs shifted to focus on their, ‘collection.’ Muzzle lowered to knock river stones away from the prize.
They had collected enough.

“I will fly these to the shrine,” Midas murmured quietly, ears swiveling forward to catch any opposition. Withers trembled as the muscles along his wings flexed, they itched to take him sky born, “Be back in a moment,” It wouldn’t take him long to reach his lords monument. Body leaned forward with limbs propelling him out of the water and dry land. Reaching down, jaws opened to receive their work. He rose, with wings fully spread and with a kick in his step Midas took off along the pasture. But after only making it ten or so feet giant wings caught a warm updraft and slung shot him skyward. Orbs scanned the area around them; body circled the grounded pair once before angling to head in the direction of their vein.