The Skull Hidden in the Sand

Game On

A/N - lil doodle I made of Aras and Wendy. Why bubbles? I dunno, I was bored. And doodling.

With Team Rowen (so named by Mira)

"Find water like fire...hmmm...Does it mean we're supposed to anger Juvia or something?" Romeo speculated.

"I don't think so. Mira-san didn't want the groups interfering with each other, remember?" Wendy replied.

"Ah, right. What water is like fire though?"

"What does fire do?"

"...it burns. So water that burns... Wendy, you're a genius!" Romeo gave Wendy a hug. "And the hottest water is the baths! This way!" The boy took off up the stairs, not noticing his companion's ruby-red face as she followed behind more slowly.

By the time they reached the baths, Wendy's face was back to its normal color. "So...which one?" Romeo asked. "I can search the guy's and you can-"

"No need." Wendy closed her eyes and gave a sniff. "Mira-san went into the woman's bath."

"Uh..." Now it was Romeo's turn to blush. "I think I'll wait here."

"We're a team, remember? I'll check and see if anyone's there." Wendy walked in and peeked around. The walls were covered in a fresco of a forest and fake boulders surrounded by pebbles were strategically placed along the walls. It was completely empty and silent except for the trickling of water and the scroll, resting on a rock at the far end. "It's empty!" She called back. "And I can see the clue!" The little dragon slayer walked over and picked it up, reading:
I can be stolen or given away, yet you cannot live without me.

Wendy turned around to see Romeo hesitating at the threshold. "No one's here. You can come in."

"I-I'll stay here, thanks."

With Team Jerza (so named by Mira)

"Something that get wetter the more it dries? That doesn't make any sense." Jellal said.

Erza remained silent and stared at the paper. "It's a towel." She said finally.

"It's a-oh. How did you know?" Jellal asked as she started walking.

"One day it was raining and we were bored, so Levy started reading this book of riddles and word puzzles out loud." Erza replied. "Eventually, we ran out and started making up our own. Lucy had a riddle very similar to that one."

The pair emerged into the room of the indoor pool. Despite it being early morning, a few families were already there. "This place, the kitchens, and the laundry room all have towels, but this room is the only one guests are really allowed in." Erza hollered over the noise. Jellal nodded as they walked along, carefully watching for their clue. Their walk was suddenly halted when a large beach ball bounced into their path.

"Hey, come back here!" A little girl, around Asuka's age, with dark green hair came running after it and jerked to a halt when she noticed them. Her eyes were huge as she stared at Erza's armor and Jellal's mask and cloak.

"Here." Erza offered the ball out to the child, who gingerly took it.

"Th-thank you..."

"Be careful running around like that, okay?"

" 'Kay..." The pair walked along and the little girl stared after them for a moment before returning to the pool. Erza spotted Natsu and Lucy through the glass door leading to the outdoor pool. Lucy looked happy enough, but Natsu...Natsu looked furious.

"Erza." Jellal gently pulled on her arm. A large red bow was tied onto a door partially hidden by a fake palm tree. Though the door read Employees Only, the door was unlocked when Erza tried the handle. The room was filled with baskets of dirty and clean towels, as well as cleaning supplies. Lying on the center table, beside a stack of freshly folded towels, was a scroll.