Dry Sand

"Can someone tell me where Prince Sigil went?" I glance over at the sound of Gymmi's frantic voice.
"Calm yourself, friend." I call out from the rail. "He's over here."
Gymmi runs over to me and looks over the side of the ship. The young boy went down there a while ago but I haven't the slightest idea what the boy is up to.
"Prince Sigil, what in the name of the nine seas are you doing?" My first mate asks.
"Digging." I hear him reply.
"I can see that but why?" I hear the chirpping of the yearling from below.
"Ah, the Dragon wanted to dig a hole." I feel Gymmi look at me. "Her breed burrows to build their nests. She likes digging."
"That explains why she's digging, but why the Prince." I shrug my shoulders.
"Probably because he's Than Elrim and that tribe does live in volcanic tunnels." I head towards the gainplank, fingers running over the rail, gripping my cane close. The dry rail ends, the sharp tap of my cane guides me carefully down to the ground. The dry sand gives way under my feet, making it hard to use the cane. Following the ship with my hand, I make my way over to the young prince. "So, are you looking for anything?"
I can feel him glance my direction. "No. Just digging. Why is it so dry?"
"Because it's a desert. Deserts are dry." I sit down in the warm sand and lean against the ship. "I make you nervous, don't I?"
"Yes." He answers. His voice is muffled, his head must be down in the hole. Silence falls between us. The baby Dragon bites my fingers, making me wince. She shreiks then runs off. I hear a muffled cry of shock, she must have jumped onto Sigil's back. I run my hands though the hot, dry sand. This can't be good digging material.
"How is the hole coming along?" I ask him.
"It's pretty deep but the sides keep collasping and burying Thaliel." I laugh softly. "What's your name?"
"Hmm?"
"What's your name?" I pause. Should I tell him? I shake my head. What harm can come from telling a child my name?
"Iâlith."
"Iâlith?" I nod my head. The sand shifts and I hear him yelp. "Thaliel!"
Frantic digging in dry sand and irritated chirping reaches my ears. He found her in the dry sand. "It would benifit for you to have either some water or even more heat. Wet the sand or bake it hard. There's not much else you can do with it being so dry already."
I stand and offer a hand to Sigil. "Come on. Time to get out of this sand. You've been digging in it for long enough."