Deep in the coral reef, the octopus, the turtle, and the dolphin played tag near the coral arch. Sway darted after them.
'Wait for me!' Sway called. But they zipped past in a flash of ink, slow steps, and splashes. Sway hovered alone.
Above the reef, the water grew dark. Waves rumbled. The octopus squirted ink. The turtle sheltered under a rock. The dolphin leaped to steer debris away.
Sway hovered near the coral, trembling. He felt far too small to help.
A mighty gust tore the coral arch apart. The others scattered — the octopus hid in a shell, the turtle flipped upside down, the dolphin dove deep.
Sway wrapped his tail around a sea fan and held on. Water churned around him.
When the storm passed, Sway uncurled. The sea fan stood intact.
The octopus peeked out. The turtle righted himself. The dolphin surfaced with a whoosh of spray. They gathered close around Sway.
They bumped fins and flippers against him. Sway held his head high.
Sunlight shimmered back through the calm water. Sway swam with his friends, his little tail curling and uncurling. The reef sparkled.
