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In the sunlit shallow cove, Ari floats on her back beside a silver-gray dolphin, seashell pressed to her ear. Gentle midday waves glitter, and Splash rises, smiling snout near Ari's delighted face.
Ari floated in the shallow cove, life jacket bright and goggles snug. A spiraled seashell tickled her ear. 'Can you hear us?' hummed the waves. Clicks answered. 'I'm Splash,' said a silver-gray dolphin.
Under bright afternoon water beside craggy rocks, Ari hovers with a snorkel, whispered bubbles glowing like tiny moons. Splash circles slowly, curious eyes meeting Ari’s, fins scattering sun-speckles over the stone.
Ari dipped her snorkel and whispered, 'Hello.' Bubbles shaped her words like tiny moons. 'We understand,' chirped Splash, circling gently. 'Stay by the rocks,' he added. Ari kicked slowly, excitement bobbing like buoys.
Among rainbow coral in clear morning light, a shy purple octopus peeks while Ari kneels, mask touching water plants. Inky blushes lavender, forming a heart with swirling arms as Ari waves gently.
A small purple octopus peeked from coral. 'This is Inky,' clicked Splash. 'Hi,' Ari waved, careful and calm. Inky blushed lavender and wiggled hello. 'Friends?' Ari asked. Inky formed a heart with swirling arms.
Under the mid-day reef ledge, a shiny ribbon dangles on coral. Ari steadies the branch, Splash hovers beside her, and Inky loops an arm, the trio frozen mid-pull, sunlight striping their focused faces.
A shiny ribbon was tangled on a coral branch. 'That doesn't belong here,' said Ari. 'We can help,' clicked Splash. Inky looped gently, Ari guided, and together they freed it. 'Teamwork!' everyone cheered.
On the sandy lagoon floor, afternoon rays sparkle while Splash demonstrates three sharp clicks, tail creating droplets. Ari kneels, life jacket bobbing, copying sounds, and Inky taps a small shell, teaching patient rhythms.
'How do I talk better?' asked Ari. Splash showed three clicks for yes, two for no. Inky tapped the sand to mean wait. Ari practiced, laughing. 'You're learning fast,' Splash said, tail splashing sparkles.
Near the sun-dappled surface, Ari lunges to tag a shimmering bubble, laughter wide. Splash streaks past, foamy trail glittering, while Inky releases perfect rings that hover like hoops around the players.
'Tag!' Ari giggled, tapping a bubble. Splash zipped past, sprinkling foam. Inky puffed tiny rings like hoops. They twirled, dodged, and counted clicks. 'Best game ever,' Ari puffed, catching her breath near the surface.
At the cave mouth lit by faint green glow moss, Ari grips a rocky edge, eyes shining. Splash hovers behind, and Inky gestures forward, the twinkling walls reflecting on their awed faces.
'There's a gentle cave,' Inky signaled, drawing a swirl. 'We'll go slow,' said Splash. Ari checked her life jacket and peered inside. Glow moss twinkled. 'Wow,' she whispered, holding the rock and moving carefully.
On the sunlit seabed near drifting seagrass, a brass compass lies half-buried. Ari crouches, fingertips brushing the lid, while Splash observes and Inky nods approvingly, reflected gold glinting across their curious faces.
A brass compass rested in sand. 'Is it treasure?' Ari asked. 'Old human thing,' Splash clicked. 'Let's bring it to shore so people remember the ocean.' Inky nodded, and Ari tucked it safely.
Beneath a rosy sunset surface, Splash hovers, whistling bright notes, Inky drums a pearly shell, and Ari floats upright clicking rhythmically. Soft light paints ripples orange and violet around the improvised ocean stage.
'Teach me a song,' Ari said. Splash sang whistles like sunshine. Inky drummed softly on a shell. Ari answered with steady breaths and clicks. 'Now we all understand,' she smiled, swaying with the tide.
Under darkening afternoon clouds, Ari clutches the brass compass, following Inky’s glowing sand trail along the cove floor. Splash swims close, guiding her, while filtered grey light casts gentle shadows across their determined faces.
A shadow cooled the water; clouds gathered. 'Time to head back,' Splash warned kindly. Inky traced a bright sandy path. Ari held the compass and followed. 'Together,' she said, and they glided safely homeward.
In bright morning sunshine, Ari stands waist-deep in the cove, palms splashing as silver fountains arc from Splash. Nearby, Inky twirls swirling clean sand ribbons, the water sparkling with celebratory bubbles.
Sunbeams sprinkled the cove. 'Bubble parade!' cheered Ari. Splash whooshed dazzling fountains. Inky twirled ribbons of sand, not plastic, sparkling clean. 'Thank you for this day,' Ari said, patting the water with happy hands.
At the sun-warmed rocky shoreline, Ari waves goodbye, one foot on wet stone. Splash surfaces beside Inky, who sports a tiny crown of bubbles; soft golden evening light kisses their smiling faces.
'I'll visit again,' Ari promised. 'We'll be here,' said Splash. Inky made a tiny crown of bubbles. Ari waved, climbed onto the rocks, and smiled. The ocean hummed, 'Friend,' and Ari hummed back.