Chapter 6

6 The wave lifted high in the air. Then it surged forward, carrying the three friends with it. Zoe clung firmly to her friends and squeezed her eyes shut. The wave kept spinning them one way and then the other. Usually Zoe felt strong in her Sea Dragon form. But this powerful wave made her feel like she was riding the wildest roller coaster ever. "Stay calm," Splashi said as she paddled furiously by her side.

Zoe knew Splashi was right. Surfing had taught her that in difficult situations, it was better to go with the wave than try to fight it. And anyway, Zoe was pretty sure this wave was taking them to land. Sure enough, a moment later Zoe felt sand below her. Opening her eyes, she saw it was just as she had expected. The wave had dumped Zoe and her friends on the beach of the nearest island. "That was exciting but really intense!" declared Grace, heaving herself up to sit on the sand. "Totally," Sofia agreed, sitting beside Grace. "I can see why you enjoy surfing, Zoe. But I think I'll stick to diving." "That was no normal wave. And you both did great," Zoe said. Zoe looked around for Splashi, to make sure she was okay. The tiny penguin was swimming away. "See you soon!" she called, before diving into the water with barely a splash. Zoe gazed about. "Just look at how amazing this island is! It's a great place to take a quick break."

"Yeah, we love it," said a nearby voice. "It's the perfect chill-out spot." Zoe, Sofia, and Grace looked around. Farther up on the beach were some simple huts made from driftwood. Copper-colored seals leaned in the doorways, chatting to one another while fluffy seal cubs scampered around. Other sleepy-eyed seals stretched out on beach chairs made from palm leaves, sipping from coconut shells. A seal waddled down the beach toward Zoe and her friends. He had impressive droopy whiskers and surprisingly curly tusks, like a ram's horns. Even more surprising were the three coconuts he had balanced in his flippers. "Welcome to Seal Island," the seal said. "That was an awesome surf show you three put on. We couldn't have done it better ourselves." Other seals came over, clapping their flippers enthusiastically.

"You three have totally earned a cool, refreshing coconut juice," continued the seal with the tusks. "Here, catch!" In one smooth movement, he dropped the coconuts onto his tail and flicked them at Zoe, Sofia, and Grace. The girls each caught one. Zoe examined hers. She was very thirsty. But how was she going to get the juice out?

"Use a talon," Sofia suggested. She had already managed to open her coconut. "That's what I did," Grace said, who had opened hers, too. She took a sip. "Wow! That's delicious!" Zoe pressed a sharp talon to the top of the coconut. It easily pierced the tough shell. Zoe grinned. Being a dragon was so cool! She took a big gulp of juice. To her delight, her coconut tasted like mangoes and chocolate. Even better, it fizzed on her tongue. Right away, she felt her energy returning. "Yo, look!" called one of the other seals, pointing a flipper out to sea. "There go some more waves, trying to break onto Big Wave Island." The Sea Dragons turned to look. The other island was not far away. Like Seal Island, it was covered with palm trees and ringed with golden sand. But as they watched, something very odd happened. A wave rolled in to the island's beach, getting ready to break on the shore. But as it drew close, it hit what seemed to be an invisible barrier. As it touched the barrier, the wave turned to steam

and evaporated. The same thing happened to the next wave, and then the next. "That's so weird!" Grace cried. "It is weird. And very uncool," said a big seal, his huge, liquid eyes sad. "Like, don't mess with the ocean, dude! The water is, like, super important. And no one can surf on steam." Zoe felt her pulse begin to race. "How long has this been going on?" she asked the seals. "Well, I don't like to point the flipper at anyone," said one of them, "but ever since the grumpy lady moved onto that island, things have been… strange." "Grumpy lady?" repeated Sofia. "Yep, she moved onto Big Wave Island a couple of tides ago," the seal said. "She arrived on that same bizarro wave you guys came on. Except she seemed to be, like, controlling it." "She gives off a negative energy," added another seal. "Plus, she's got a hot temper. And I mean 'flames jumping out of her ears' hot. We offered