Chapter 4

4 Zoe felt a gentle tug. The shell on her bracelet was glowing. "Try holding it up to your ear," Grace advised. Zoe did so, and heard the sound of distant waves crashing on the sand. Then a voice mingled with the waves. "I will guide you to Turtle Surf Beach." Zoe turned to her friends, who were hovering in the air beside her. "My shell is going to show us the way."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Sofia flapped her wings in excitement. "Let's go!" Together, the Sea Dragons flew back through the shimmering force field and into the forest. The cool air of the Magic Forest brushed past the three friends as they made their way through the trees, turning this way and that to fit through the narrow gaps. Zoe led the way, following the gentle tugs on her paw from the bracelet. "Have you spotted any Fire Sparks?" she asked Sofia and Grace. "Not yet." Sofia shook her head. "I haven't, either," Grace said. "But somehow I get the feeling they're not far away." Zoe nodded. "Same. But don't worry. If those sparks try anything, we'll be ready for them!" Zoe roared loudly, and her friends joined in. The powerful sound echoed through the trees. Zoe grinned. That would show any lurking Fire Sparks that the Sea Dragons were not afraid! Before long, the shell had guided the group out of the forest and all the way to a beach.

Instantly, Zoe recognized it. "This is where I arrived!" "Hey, what are those things?" Sofia pointed a talon to a nearby sand dune. Halfway up crawled a group of very small creatures. They had shiny blue shells and long necks. Their little legs scrabbled furiously in the sand. "Wow! Baby turtles!" Zoe exclaimed. "They must be the hatchlings the Tree Queen mentioned." "Why are they trying to climb that sand dune?" Grace wondered. "Shouldn't they be heading for the water?" "You're right," said Zoe. "They must be confused. Let's go help them." Zoe whooshed across the sand, her friends close behind. As they came close to the turtles, Zoe flew lower and slowed down.

"You're going the wrong way!" she called to the baby turtles. She tried to speak as softly as she could. But even a dragon's whisper is loud! The baby turtles squeaked in surprise. Then, to Zoe's dismay, the little creatures began to roll backward down the sand dune. "Oh, the poor darlings!" Grace cooed.

Zoe could tell Grace was trying not to laugh. The tiny, tumbling turtles looked very funny. The Sea Dragons flew down to the bottom of the sand dune—just as the turtles landed there in a heap. The hatchlings lay at the base of the dune on their backs, their legs wiggling in the air. "They're stuck," Zoe said, also trying not to laugh. "Come on, let's help them." Zoe, Sofia, and Grace flew from turtle to turtle, gently scooping up each baby and placing it the right way up on the sand. "There you go! Now, can we ask you guys some questions?" Grace asked the hatchlings. "Sure you can, in a minute!" called one little turtle with a very shiny blue shell. "But first, can you take us up to the top of the dune so we can roll down again?" "Yes! Please do!" called all the other hatchlings, dancing on their feet with excitement. "I'm glad that was fun. But you should be swimming in the sea, not playing in the sand dunes!" Zoe said, struggling not to giggle. "Anyway, aren't you hungry?"

"We are very hungry," said one of the turtles. "But we do NOT want to go in the sea!" "Why?" Zoe was surprised. She knew that the first thing sea turtles usually did after hatching was head for the water. They were much safer there. And they could look for food in the sea. But these baby turtles were all huddled together, and suddenly looked scared. "It's because of the Wrong Way Wave," whispered the littlest hatchling. "We don't want it to catch us and pull us too far out!" Zoe and her friends looked at one another. Wrong Way Wave? What could that possibly mean? There was a sudden whoosh of air above them. The turtles whimpered and quickly pulled their heads and legs into their shells. The Sea Dragons looked up and saw a huge gull swooping toward them. It was much bigger than the gulls Zoe was used to at home. Plus, it had fierce-looking eyes, like an eagle. Right now, those eyes were fixed on the hatchlings! Zoe stiffened.