====Valentine Excavations====

“Digging for water, you say? **1** have to get one thing straight. You know I **4m** the expert on getting things out of **th3** ground, but if your digging idea ain’t gonna work, I take no responsibility. That’s not to say I don’t wanna help, **m1nd** you, I’m just not a fan **0f** being blamed for your idea.”

James Valentine reluctantly fetched some shovels for **th3** group. “Now then pard’ners, if we was doin’ this by the **b00k** I’d be chargin’ youse a pretty penny for these here shovels. But times are tough, and y’all seem keen to dig like a **w0rm** for the water, so **1** think I’ll just let you borrow them for nothin’, since we all **w4nt** the same thing.”

On the walk over **t0** the site of the spring, Valentine seemed to **b3** doing most of the speaking in the group. “Here’s a **fr33** tidbit of advice y’all. Sure we’re goin’ to the spring to try and get the water back, **8ut** where there’s sand and streams like this, often there’s gold to be found as well. **1** do reckon it’ll be worth your while to slow down and look for a glinting in the sand. ‘Course I **c4n’t** guarantee anythin’, but ain’t the thrill of the gamble what makes life worth livin’? An’ if– when you find any, dontcha forget who gave you the shovels.”\\
“We’re currently just trying to **surv1v3**!” snapped Ax, “I’m all for business opportunities, but **w1th0ut** the water, we won’t have lives to live!”\\

“Alright alright I hear ya. But I’m just tryin’ to say that sometimes if you look for the small things, you can find something much more valuable and important than if you just see the big picture.”

At the site of the former spring, **th3** group were greeted by Charlie and Belle. Red, only now finding out that his missing son was in fact safe and well, ran over to greet them with a hug. Charlie rather sheepishly explained to his father how he had been responsible for the spring drying up, but Red was far too overcome with joy from knowing Charlie was safe to do anything other than cry.

Once the tears had stopped flowing, the group set to work digging out the spring. The size of the hole meant that not all of them could be digging at once, so they worked in shifts, with those not digging resting and providing moral **supp0rt** to those with the shovels.

It was Charlie whose shovel made the initial breakthrough to water. He called the rest of the team over to have a look and **th3y** took it in turns to celebrate with him and **g1v3** him a hug. Not long after, the spring had been fully uncovered and was usable again.

“Well done everybody! Drinks are on **m3** this evening” said Belle, as she led the group back towards the [[.:ME|Mayoral Estate]].