A Day at the Beach- Chapter 2

     It was a hot summer day for the townspeople living in Navarre Beach, Florida.  The humid air played off the Gulf’s waves while the seagulls hunted along the beachside sand for food to eat.
      It started as a regular day for the Wilson’s picnicking in the soft sand, feeding hungry seagulls.  Forest and Aarin decided to play on the shoreline, hunting for special rocks, delicate shells, or whatever else they got their hands on.  The children started to walk farther away from their picnic spot. Forest spotted something strange and amazing bobbing up and down in the water.  It appeared small and alive, but it was mysterious to him. Aarin noticed the same sight and tried to grab it.  In no time at all, both Forest and Aarin where knee-deep in the water as the small swells of water hit their waistline.  Forest, who was ten, tried to tell Aarin, who was seven, to be careful with whatever it was swimming in the water, and to let him get to it first, because of the possible dangers that lurked in parts of the Gulf.
     Forest and Aarin proceeded to get closer to what they thought was a stick.  Skirting close to the shoreline, both children encountered the strange, stick-like creature.  Suddenly, something happened; first, it brushed up against Forest's leg, softly striking him. Afterward, it gently jabbed Aarin on her right leg.  Both Forest and Aarin quickly dashed out of the water and proceeded to lie down on the warm, soft sand, both desperately trying to understand what had happened to them.  At that moment, while lying on the soft sand in shock, Forest asked Aarin if she was in a lot of pain.  She replied that her leg hurt a little bit; reassuring Forest, she was going to be okay. Both decided to sit still for a few minutes, and eyes remained fixed on the stick-like figure, dancing past the small swell of waves.
      As they were sitting there, they saw it again.  This time it was dancing in the water.  It was as if it might perhaps, walk on water.  The children looked at each other in amazement, then back out at this mysterious thing, dancing up and down on the white caps of waters.  Unexpectedly it came charging toward them!  They jumped up faster than grease lightning, trying to catch their breath, and noticed this cute little thing staring up at them from below. 
      “What is that?” asked Aarin.
      Forest replied, “Maybe some sort of strange fish!”
      “My name is Juniper!” replied the little voice staring up, with calmness, into their eyes.
      “You see and hear me because of the poke I gave you a few moments ago with my magical korn.  You are about to see and hear some amazing things!” 
      Forest and Aarin looked at each other in disbelief.
      “What are you?” asked Forest. 
      Juniper replied, “I am a Seakorn.  I live in the Gulf of Mexico, deep under the water, in Sea Colony Seven.  My world is a mystical place that nobody even knows exists.”
      “The magic korn on my head, if poked with it, gives you the power to see me and hear me, and gives you the ability to swim with me under the water.  Will you explore my mysterious home with me?” asked Juniper.
      Forest did not know how to respond to Juniper, but he did know one thing for sure, his parents would miss him.  Before Forest said, “we better not,” Aarin was already swimming underwater.
       Forest soon became concerned about his little sister Aarin, he decided to swim under and find her.  Aarin started to follow Juniper deeper and deeper underwater.  Forest swam faster and faster, trying to catch up to them.  Forest noticed that he did not feel the need to come up for air.  It was magic, not having to worry about his next breath of air.  Forest was amazed; what a fantastic feeling that was for him!  Forest yelled under the water for Aarin and Juniper to stop swimming.  Both of them stopped and waited for Forest to catch up. 
     “Where are we going?” asked Forest. 
      Juniper answered Forest’s question.  “I was hoping you are both going to help me save my family unit.  All went missing twelve sunsets ago, taken from Sea Colony Seven, and nobody has heard from them since!” 
      Juniper, however, did have an idea who took them, but she needed the children’s help to get them back!  King Sagittarius hoped to become the underwater super power of all sea creatures, and his colony was in charge of removing the Seakorns from their secure home.
      “I needed a human to help me with my mission to free my family from the mean and mysterious, Portuguese man-of-war.  The magical jab from my korn will keep you both safe from harm’s way.  Nothing will hurt you underwater.  Poisonous stings will not faze you.  Sharks will not bite you, because you smell bad to them, and rockfish will turn soft when you step on them.  Therefore, as you see, you will be safe.  Both of you are the perfect pair to save my species, and the existence of the Seakorns.”  Juniper continued to explain her situation, pleading with Forest and Aarin to help her on this exciting journey through the Gulf water’s depths.
      Forest and Aarin looked at each other, and looked back at Juniper. At the same time, they both said, “O.K, we want to help you. Show us the way!”
      Juniper had a sigh of relief.  Juniper knew they would be the greatest ones to help.  The group started on their new journey; the children not thinking much of what they were leaving behind in the sand.
      The winding Gulf floor seemed long and deep.  Juniper told Forest and Aarin that they would be traveling through twelve different sea colonies.  The first sea colony they were going to visit would be one sunset away and known as the Parrot Fish Colony.