Stories to follow · Chapter 1
The Fish's Little Signal
At the polluted southern sea, Coco, Mimi, and Lulu spot fish swimming in circles. They follow the fish's signals at a safe distance toward a quiet cove.
Original fiction · Ages 7–10 · Read together with a guardian
Scene 01
They Reach the Southern Sea
Three violet flashes blinked ahead as the little boat reached the southern sea. The signal from the Heart Garden had led them here.
But below the island, the water was streaked with gray and blue. A small piece of wrapping floated by. “Could this be the polluted sea we were looking for?” Lulu asked softly.
Scene 02
Fish Swimming in Circles
A school of little fish swam in tight circles. They scattered, came together again, and darted toward the surface before turning around.
Their patterns looked faint, and their swimming lines kept crossing. “Why are they moving like that?” Coco asked. “We don't know yet,” Lulu said. “Let's mark what we see and stay away from the gray water.”
Scene 03
A Little Splashing Signal
From the shade by the rocky island came splash, splash, splash. One fish rose near the surface and flicked water three times with its tail. Then it faced the boat.
Mimi's ears stood up. “It looks as if the fish are asking us for help,” she said. Coco set the map down, and the three watched quietly.
Scene 04
Could It Mean Follow Us?
One little fish swam a short way toward the boat, turned toward the rocky island, then stopped and looked back at the Haru Pets. The other fish repeated the same move.
“Could they be asking us to follow?” Coco wondered. “Maybe,” Lulu said. They decided to follow slowly, from a safe distance.
Scene 05
The Haru Pets Follow the Fish
The Haru Pets eased the boat after the fish. The school moved away from the gray current and around the outside of the rocky island.
Lulu marked the gray water on the map. Coco traced a safe route for their boat. Whenever the fish stopped, Mimi asked Lulu to stop too. No one reached out to touch or catch them.
Scene 06
Away from the Gray Current
The fish swam ahead, paused, and looked back again, as if to say, “This way!” The Haru Pets followed at a little distance.
They went around the edge instead of crossing the gray current. Near calmer, bluer water, the fish stopped swirling so quickly. Their faint patterns were still there.
Scene 07
The Narrow Way into the Cove
The fish paused at the entrance to a small cove. Coco checked the map: their little boat could pass slowly around the outside. Lulu turned the bow, and Mimi watched the wind.
“Let's wait here,” said Coco. “Our friends can choose whether they want to go in.”
Scene 08
The First Safe Resting Place
One by one, the fish swam into the cove and found quiet water. The Haru Pets waited outside. The fish seemed calmer, though their faint patterns were still there.
Coco drew the first star on the map. Farther away, another school began to circle near the gray current. Three violet flashes blinked beyond them. “Could they be asking for help too?” Mimi asked. The friends prepared to follow the next signal.
At the end of the story