The Sea Unicorn by Coral Ripley

Author:Coral Ripley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2021-02-23T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

“Aha!” Layla cried as she recognized the speckled creature trying to hide behind the iceberg. “I can see your tusk, Harper!”

The little narwhal swam cautiously out from his hiding place.

“Why are you following us? What do you want now?” Marina said crossly as she, Grace, and Emily swam over.

“I’m so sorry I told Effluvia where the pearl is hidden.” Harper hung his head in shame. “I lost my family, and I was all alone. When Effluvia found me, she said I had to do what she told me or she’d let the orca eat me. I was scared.” The narwhal began to cry.

As the girls crowded around Harper to reassure him, Layla felt a burst of relief that the sea unicorn wasn’t bad after all. “You should have told us. We’d never let anything happen to you,” she said.

“I’d be scared without my family too,” Marina said. “Even though my brother, Prince Neptune, is a real pain!”

The girls laughed, and even Harper stopped crying. “I just want to help you,” he said, looking at them, his eyes wide.

“Well, come on then! Last one to spot a starfish is a rotten egg!” Grace said.

As they neared a breathing hole, a baby seal swam up to them like an excited puppy.

The seal’s mother raced up behind her. “Freya!” she scolded. “What did I say about swimming off?”

“Sorry, Mama,” Freya said. “This is my first swim!” she told the Sea Keepers. “I just lost my baby fur!”

“You’re a great swimmer!” Layla told her.

“And your new fur is lovely,” added Emily. The little seal proudly puffed out her chest.

Freya’s mom pointed up at the breathing hole. “We’ll go up and take a breath, then come straight back down. No messing around.”

Freya nodded obediently, her whiskers quivering with excitement.

As the two seals swam toward the surface, Layla noticed a shadow overhead. “What’s that?”

Next to her, Harper gasped. “It’s probably a polar bear,” he said shakily.

“Are you sure?” Emily asked.

The sea unicorn nodded. “I think so.”

“Sea Keepers!” Marina pulled the girls to one side. “It could be another trick,” she whispered anxiously. “Effluvia could have sent Harper to distract us so she can find the pearl before we get there.”

The Sea Keepers exchanged worried looks. Layla didn’t know what to do.

They had to find the Golden Pearl—the Arctic mermaids desperately needed their help. Every second was precious, but they couldn’t leave the seals in danger.

She glanced over at Harper. Somehow, she trusted him. The little narwhal had made a mistake, but he seemed genuinely sorry. Now he was trying to make up for it—or at least Layla really hoped so!

“I believe Harper,” Layla said.

Emily and Grace nodded.

“We’ve got to warn the seals,” said Grace, taking off after them.

There was no time to lose—the two seals had almost reached the surface! Layla flicked her fins as fast as she could, wishing she could swim as quickly as Grace. Then Layla remembered something—she wasn’t as speedy as her friend, but she was much louder!

“Freya!” she yelled. “STOP!”

The mother and baby halted, just beneath the surface, and turned to wait for them to catch up.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.