The proprietor of the shop stands before the cleared sectionof table, the latest order from the College Esoterica unrolled before him in the form of a scroll of parchment, with small check marks before each item which he has already boxed for shipping. Only two items remain unfulfilled – "Powdered Dragon's Eggshell, qty. 4 oz." and "Silver Creen Scales, qty. 2 oz."

"Dragon eggs," the Lapi mutters, as moves down the rows of shelves. Aaron knows his assistant Jasmine had organized things in a logical way, but isn't sure if dragon bits would be in the "reptiles" section, the "flying things" section or the "eggs" section. He holds his lamp close and blows dust away from another box of eggs, which he takes over to the table to rummage through.

The box proves to hold nothing more than Creen eggs, unfortunately. As the rabbit returns to check the "flying" section once again, he spots a box labeled "Dragon's Eggs" in flowing black script.

Aaron ahs and checks the box. It's empty. "I know I don't have Creen scales though," he thinks. "And where do you get dragon eggs?" With a sigh, the Lapi replaces the barren box and crosses over to where the multi-volume Bestiary of Wyrms gathers dust on a shelf, to find out what it says about finding dragon eggs and silver Creens. He's never seen or heard of a silver Creen before.

Checking first under "Creens, Silver," Aaron sees the entry consists of just one word: "Mythical." The page on "Dragon, Eggs," is not a great deal more helpful, suggesting that the hot deserts of the Himaat and the insides of volcanoes are popular nesting places for the creatures.

"Mythical? Must be a Nagai luck spirit called a Silver Creen or something," the rabbit muses. Undaunted, since he knows the book is old and usually inaccurate, he closes the tome and decides to do some more modern research on the subject. "Lots of Creens on Rephidim, must be a silver one. Maybe an albino?"

Aaron leaves the store room and tells Jasmine he's going to do a bit of shopping, then makes his way to the Bazaar, hoping it won't be too chaotic this time.

It's already early evening as Aaron leaves his shop, and the Bazaar is actually fairly quiet by the time he arrives, with almost all of the diurnals packed up and gone. The shop he has in mind, however, is run by a nocturnal Naga, and still open. The serpent's shop has an array of cages within it, many of them holding Creens, some containing other beasts, including fuff'nars and some yiffles.

"Ho, Siessith!" Aaron calls to the shopkeeper as he enters, and quickly checks the rows of cages for any flashes of silver. "I don't suppose you have any silver-scaled Creens, do you?"

The animal-trainer slithers out from behind the counter. "Greetingss, Lightfoot," he answers sibilantly. "No, I do not, though you are not the firsst today to assk me that quesstion. Curiouss. What bringss that subject to your attention?"

"I've got an order for two ounces of silver Creen scales," the Lapi explains, "but my old reference book says Silver Creens are mythical, so I figured I'd better come to an expert."

This elicits a chuckle from the Naga. "Mythical? Mayhapss. I have not sseen a ssilver Creen mysself. But the other who came in earlier, inquiring about it, ssaid he had. He wass quite taken by it and wanted to buy one. Shame I could not help him."

Aaron smiles! "So there is at least one here on the island. Did he say where he'd seen it?"

Siessith looks thoughtful. "I believe he did … let me remember." His tail coils and uncoils as he considers. "Ah, wass at a Farmers' Market that he saw it," he answers after some consideration. "The one near Darksside, I fear. Are you familiar with the way, or would you like directionss?"

"I know where that is," Aaron says. "At least, during the daytime. It stays open at night?"

The Naga shakes his head. "No, mosst of the shopss close at night."

After a moment, the serpent adds, "But a few nocturnalss ssell there. They might be able to tell you more about thiss Creen. I ssuspect it is a wild one."

The Lapi considers the risks of poking around near Darkside at night. "Umm … you know any good Creen-catchers then?"

The animal-train gives another amused chuckle. "Another ssubject that'ss been the talk of the Bazaar, my friend. There'ss a Gallah Creen-catcher that has nabbed every untamed Creen in the Bazaar, at leasst if you lissten to Dame Iansseless on the matter. I believe hiss name iss Piper."

"Ah, that should make things easier!" the Lapi says. "Does he work nights?"

With a tilt of his head, the Naga replies, "I am not ssure. I rather got the impresssion he worked when he could." The Naga slithers to one of the cages as a Creen starts to squeal unexpectedly, and makes some whistling sounds at it until it calms. "Ass a matter of fact, if I recall correctly, he sstayss not far from that Farmer's Market. At the Black Rock Hosstelry."

"Ah, good. So I just have to find out if the silver Creen is real, hire this guy to catch it, and wait for it to shed its scales," Aaron grins, then wonders, "How often do Creens shed their scales, anyway?"

"Every ssix weekss or sso. It dependss on the ssize and age of the Creen," the Naga answers.

Aaron nods, "That's not too bad. Maybe I'll have found a dragon egg by then. If I actually find this Creen, would you be interested in keeping it for me? I only need the scales, and you'd mentioned that someone wanted to buy it from you anyway… "

"Csertainly," Siessith answers. "I would be pleassed to obtain ssuch a curiossity. Perhapss it may be bred."

"That would be handy," Aaron says, rubbing his chin. "Be nice to have a steady supply of scales, after all. How're you doing on those food supplements you bought from me before, they working okay?"

The Naga preens. "They've worked very well, yess. I've been meaning to assk you for more. See, thiss iss the malnourished Creen I wass treating," he says, pointing to a large Creen with gleaming scales and brilliant plumage. "I think I should feed it to all of them, yess?"

Aaron blinks at the recovered animal. "Quite a change! I'll make sure to set some aside for you when my next shipment comes in from Xenea. Maybe you can sell it along with the Creens."

"A good thought ass well," the animal trainer concurs, slithering to another cage to examine a fuff'nar.

"Thanks for the information, Siessith," Aaron says, heading for the door. "I'm heading to the Market now to see if the Creen is still around. Either way, I should see you again in a few days!"

The Naga nods farewell to the other shopkeeper, and Aaron makes his way through the subdued streets of the Bazaar, noting how much business is still being conducted by nocturnals, even at this late hour. As he nears the market, he hears a piping sound, and the echoes of Creens calling to each other. The Lapi moves to investigate…