Something strange is going on here...

 

It takes you a while to find him, but eventually you run across Tex. The Pit Bull seems to have decided to check UNDER all the dirt in the area.
You can't help but wonder if he really was searching at all and not just using you as an excuse to roll around in the dirt. Hmmm...
Upon seeing you Tex leaps to his feet, looking quite excited at your arrival.





"Oh there you are! Did y'all find the jeweled bug?
I've been busy looking everywhere and can't find hide nor hair of that blasted gemstone.
Where could I have put it?"

You decide to stop his playful bounding and pull the scarab out of your pocket. Upon being touched, the bug reacts immediately
and begins twitching violently. The jarring motions knock the beetle from your hand and send it falling to the floor with a metallic clunk.

 

The scarab continues to twitch and writhe on the floor, though this time it is a much more animated venture, and you could swear you even
see small little legs on the underside of the gold casing holding the green gems in place. It leaves the both of you speechless for several moments, and eventually
the weird gem settles down. Tex takes this moment to lean down and sniff at the jewel curiously, muttering to himself one single word: "Fascinating..."


To be honest, this was much more than you had bargained for when you agreed to help this dog... moving jewelry. What will they think of next?
Before you can turn away, Tex stops you. He pulls a large tattered book out of a bag he had set to the side, and from this book carefully extracts three stamps.

"A deal's a deal. Y'all were a lot of help. Take these stamps. I've got to get this jewel to Napoleon right quick. Don't tell anyone about what you saw, alright?"
He drops three stamps to the ground, stuffs the gemstone and book into his bag, hauls the pack onto his back, and scampers off quickly.

...Well that was interesting. Maybe you can find out more about what's going on later...