The Turtle and the Bird

Chapter 3

Minutes later, she returned. With her were two elephants and another jaguar, this one pink with purple spots and sparkling pink eyes.

Leona introduced them. "This is my sister, Lydia." She said, gesturing towards the other jaguar. "This is my friend, Ellie, and her mother, Shocks." The smaller elephant, Ellie, stared at them with her sparkling blue eyes. She was very pretty, with hot pink skin and light blue ears. Her mother, Shocks, wasn't as elaborate. She donned the regular grey skin and kind brown eyes.

Leona turned towards her family. "This is Turtle and Bluebell." They nodded to each other.

Lydia seemed reluctant to greet them. She stood back and eyed the scene. Turtle even saw Leona try to pull her forward, but she swatted her paw away.

The group began trekking through the woods. There was little talk among them, and soon Bluebell took off to fly above the forest. Turtle noticed that Lydia walked behind everyone else.

A while later Bluebell came back. "The trees are thinning out up ahead." She informed them, pointing forward. "I can just barely see Water World."

This seemed to motivate the group, and they began moving faster. By the time the sun was barely above the horizon, they had made it out of the forest and were resting at the edge of the lake.

Mermaids swam to and fro through the crystal waters. One was riding a magnificent purple boat heading towards a pink and purple castle, where two others were waiting. Three were swimming and splashing around in a floating fountain with two swings and two slides. Four were hanging around a coral reef that formed two rooms and had a swing, sea-saw, slide, and vanity. And one was playing with a fish in a small brown and purple castle above a coral reef with flowers, seashells, and a sparkly blue slide.

Beyond Water World, Turtle could see the beginning of Magic Street. On the left there was a sea green castle, and on the right was a green and brown castle. A ways left of the green castle was a small mountain. At the bottom was a green and dark blue castle, and at the top was a sparkling light blue castle. To the right of the green and brown castle was a blue, white, and purple castle. He could see a faint view of the castle on Fairytale Circle.

The sun was beginning to dip down below the horizon. The day's last rays of light sent the water shimmering. Everything with glitter on it sparkled madly. Bluebell sat down next to Turtle to share the view.

Leona came up to them. "We should sleep."

Turtle nodded. "Do you think anyone would mind if I slept in the lake?"

Leona shrugged. "Probably not. Just don't be too loud."

Bluebell took her pack. "I know of a birdhouse a little ways over where I can spend the night." She glided away from the group.

"We'll sleep in the woods." Leona said. "Good night."

"See you in the morning." Turtle walked over to the lake and timidly placed a foot in the water. It was pleasantly cool. He climbed in and paddled around a big, getting used to the temperature. He liked swimming.

Turtle swam to the bottom of the lake. It was filled with green plants. On the other side it was partly sandy. He understood why the mermaids liked this place. It was very pretty.

Turtle curled up in a small hole in the side of the lake, the entrance covered by tall plants that looked like kelp. He closed his eyes.