Chapter 3

3 Even though they were deep in the forest, the wind still whipped through the trees. Instead of fighting it, Zoe used the gusts to lift her closer to the glade's force field. It was like surfing in midair! Hovering, Zoe turned to the little penguin. "Thank you for leading me here," she said. "Will we meet again?" Splashi zoomed closer and gave Zoe a peck on the cheek. "Of course we will! You have a big quest ahead of you. I will be there the moment you need me."

The little creature did a final loop and then flew off into the forest in her funny, waddly way. Another gust of wind rushed through. Zoe rode the wind all the way around the outside of the glade. She could see the faint outline of a huge tree through the shimmery air. The Tree Queen, Zoe thought. Then she saw two other shapes flying inside. One was coral-colored. The other was aqua. Zoe smiled. Grace and Sofia were already here! Tipping her wings, Zoe skimmed the force field. Then, as if she was ducking through a wave, she pushed through the warm fuzzy air and into the glade. Instantly, the scent of fruit and flowers became stronger. Like the last time Zoe had visited, the glade's air was warm and calm, and the birdsong more melodious. An excited cry went up. "Zoe is here!" A moment later, Zoe was caught up in a midair wing-hug. "We're Sea Dragons again!" whooped Grace, the aqua-colored dragon.

"And we're about to start another quest!" added Sofia, the coral-colored dragon. "Look! The Tree Queen is appearing." The huge tree at the center of the glade had begun to sway. Its branches were laden with fruits that looked like peaches. But as the tree moved, the scent of strawberries filled the air. Zoe smiled. The Magic Forest was truly a remarkable place. Soon, the tree's trunk became a regal-looking woman wearing a mossy-green gown. The Tree Queen smiled kindly at the group. "My dear Sea Dragons! Thank you for returning to the Magic Forest so quickly," she said in her warm voice.

Zoe, Sofia, and Grace moved closer until they hovered in the air before the queen. "I am so glad to see you three again," the queen continued. "As you know, the Fire Queen captured the three Sea Keepers. You have already rescued the dolphin leader, and we are very grateful." Zoe and her friends exchanged a proud look. On their last trip to the Magic Forest, they had met the Diamond Dolphins of Dolphin Cove. They had also had tea with some Shiver Sharks, who turned out to be more scared than scary. And they had

roared away the Fire Sparks. It had been an amazing adventure. What lay ahead of them this time? "But there are still two Sea Keepers missing," continued the Tree Queen, her leaves rustling. "This time, I'd like you to find the second Sea Keeper. She is the turtle leader." "We'll find the turtle," Sofia said firmly. Zoe smiled at her friend. She had not known Sofia very long, but she already knew that when Sofia said she'd do something, she really meant it. "I know you will do your very best," the Tree Queen said. Then her broad smile faded just a little. "But this quest will be harder than the last, I am afraid. Time is running out. Literally! The Sea Keepers meet in the Undersea Garden every full moon. As I have explained, once a year on the full moon, they must wind up the Water Watch. And that moment is fast approaching." Zoe opened her mouth to ask a question. But the Tree Queen already seemed to know what she was going to ask!

"The Water Watch is an ancient object," she explained. "It keeps the tides flowing as they should. And it makes sure that the seas are at the right level." Zoe gave her sandy-colored tail a swish. "What happens if the Water Watch doesn't get wound on time?" she asked. The Tree Queen frowned. "I am afraid chaos will strike our seas, and the Fire Queen will…" She trailed off. "What would she do?" Sofia asked, her voice a whisper. "We do not know for certain," said the Tree Queen, "but as I said last time you were here, we strongly suspect that the Fire Queen is planning to drain the seas." The three Sea Dragons were silent. Zoe had loved the ocean her entire life. She adored surfing it, of course. But that was only one part of it. She loved how the water changed constantly throughout the day—and from one day to the next. She loved the salty smell and feel of it. And there