Chapter 10

10 "We did it!" cheered Grace. Zoe and Sofia whooped with delight, and little FinFin swished her tail joyfully. The few remaining Fire Sparks whirled off into the air and flew away, humming with fury.

"Yeah, buzz off, you annoying things," Zoe called after them, laughing. "Hey, is the Sea Keeper okay?" Even as she spoke, the dolphin poked his nose up above the surface of the water. He gazed around, looking confused. "Where am I? And who are you?" Before Grace could answer, the water around them began to churn. For a horrible moment, Grace thought the Fire Sparks were back. But a moment later a silver dolphin snout appeared, etched with swirling designs. Then another snout popped up—and another and another! Suddenly the sea was full of Diamond Dolphins, chattering around their returned leader. They were so excited that their dorsal fins flashed with color. The Diamond Dolphins circled their leader, squeaking happily. "You are in Dolphin Cove," they reminded him. "The Shiver Sharks kidnapped you. I bet it's because you're a Sea Keeper. But

everything is better now that the Sea Dragons rescued you!" "The Shiver Sharks did NOT kidnap him," Grace called. She had to speak loudly to be heard over the dolphin chattering. "It was the Fire Queen and her Fire Sparks." "In fact," Zoe chimed in, "the sharks actually helped us. They told us where we'd find your leader!" "You know, dolphins shouldn't be scared of Shiver Sharks," Sofia added. "They're very friendly." The Diamond Dolphins looked at one another doubtfully. Clearly, they didn't believe the Sea Dragons. But then their leader spoke. "It's coming back to me now," he said slowly. "The Sea Dragons are speaking the truth. The Shiver Sharks had nothing to do with my capture." He turned to Grace, Zoe, and Sofia. "And if the sharks helped you find me, then we owe them an apology. Perhaps we should

give them a gift. What would they like, do you think?" Grace smiled. "You know what would make them really happy? Visit them for afternoon tea and races!" The dolphin leader's dorsal fin flashed green with pleasure. "Then that is what we'll do. And what about you, Sea Dragons? How can we thank you? Would you like to come for a feast in Dolphin City? We could catch shrimp in your honor. They are delicious eaten raw. And their shells are so very crunchy!" "That's very kind, but there's no need to thank us. Plus, we have to get home," Grace said hastily. She didn't even like cooked shrimp—she was pretty sure she would not like them raw and with their shells on! With happy high-pitched goodbyes, the dolphins leapt into the air and dove back underwater, swimming swiftly away as one big, contented pod.

The Sea Dragons turned to look at one another. "I wonder how we get home," Zoe said, voicing what they were all thinking. "Maybe we return to the glade?" Sofia suggested. It was a good idea, but Grace had noticed something. The shells on their bracelets were glowing! Without really thinking, Grace took hers off and cupped it in her paws. Zoe and Sofia did the same. The shell quivered in Grace's paws, and she felt it pulling toward the other two shells like magnets being drawn together. "They're joining up," Sofia observed. When the three shells touched, there was a satisfying click and a sudden burst of light. When the light faded, the three shells had formed into one beautiful pearly shell. "Look!" Zoe pointed. "There's something in it!" Zoe was right. An image flickered on the shell's smooth surface. A moment later, the glade

appeared on the shell. The Tree Queen's elegant face appeared, smiling broadly. "Thank you, Sea Dragons," she said in her warm, rich voice, "for rescuing the first Sea Keeper. You did very well on this first quest." "This first quest?" Grace leaned forward eagerly. "You mean, we get to come back? There will be more quests?" "That's right. Sea Dragons, your work here is not yet done," the Tree Queen said, her branches swaying. "What do you say? Will you three return to help rescue the other missing Sea Keepers?" Grace thought about their adventure. She and her friends had flown high in the sky. They'd swum deep underwater with wild sea creatures. They'd even battled the Fire Sparks—and won! Best of all, they'd rescued the dolphin leader. "Grace, you're shivering like a Shiver Shark." Sofia looked worried. "Are you nervous about something?" Zoe asked kindly.