Hidden behind some rocks, Spirit, a magnificent dolphin with striking yellow markings, lazily watched the younger dolphins searching the seabed for a strand of seaweed. His wife, Star, was watching them too.
âIâve found some,â clicked Bubbles, digging in the sand with his nose and uncovering a long, green, crinkly piece.
âGood,â clicked Swift, an athletic dolphin with a sleek, muscular body. âNow we can play seaweed tag. Who wants to be âitâ?â
âMe,â squeaked Velvet, shyly swimming forward.
As she reached out to take the seaweed from Bubbles, Swift swam in front of her, blocking the way.
âWho said you could play?â he clicked bossily.
âN-n-no one,â said Velvet uncertainly. âBut I can, canât I?â
âNo,â Swift clicked. âBoys only. Go away.â
Star went to intervene, but Spirit stopped her.
âWait a moment,â he said softly. âLetâs see if they can sort this out for themselves.â
Just then Bubbles swam forward and tossed the seaweed down in the sand. âIf Velvet canât play then I donât want to either,â he said.
âBoys only,â said Swift firmly. âAnd you will play or else.â
As he spoke, Swift seemed to grow larger. The other young dolphins huddled together, nervously watching what would happen next.
âOr else what?â asked Bubbles calmly. âYou donât scare me. Come on, Velvet. Letâs go play somewhere else.â
Swift stared in surprise as Bubbles and Velvet left with the other dolphins chasing after them calling, âWait for us. Can we play too?â
When theyâd gone, Star smiled at Spirit.
âBubbles did well,â she said. âIt takes courage to stand up to someone who looks stronger than you.â
âHe did,â clicked Spirit proudly.
âThe Silver Dolphins do well too,â Star mused. âThey stand up for us and our oceans.â
âThe Silver Dolphins are very brave,â Spirit agreed. âWe are lucky to have them.â
Antonia Lee and Sophie Hastings were on their way to school.
âAntonia, were you listening to anything Iâve been saying?â asked Sophie, gently tapping her best friend.
Smiling apologetically, Antonia took Sophieâs arm and linked it with hers.
âSorry, Soph. I was, but then I got distracted by that seagull cawing. It reminded me how much there is to do at Sea Watch right now.â
Sophie sighed and rolled her eyes, but she was only joking.
âForget Sea Watch for just one minute,â she said. âThis is exciting news. You know that TV programme Stage Struck? The one about the teenagers who go to a drama school? Well, itâs coming here, to Sandy Bay, to film for the new series!â
âYou donât watch Stage Struck,â said Antonia, waving at Cai and Toby who were waiting at the school gates.
âNot very often,â Sophie agreed, âbut itâs still exciting. There are lots of opportunities for artists on a film set: scenery, make-up, costumes, that sort of thing. Iâm definitely going to go and watch the filming. I might learn something new.â
Sophie was mad about art and rarely went anywhere without her sketch book and a pencil.
âThe film cast and crew are arriving today. Dad says everyoneâs staying at the Sandy Bay Hotel. Theyâve taken over two whole floors and the penthouse suite.â
âNot you as well!â exclaimed Toby. âEveryoneâs talking about Stage Stuck.â
âStage Struck,â Sophie corrected him.
Toby gave her a cheeky grin and, realising he was teasing her, Sophie groaned.
The whole school was buzzing with the news and soon Antonia was fed up of hearing about Stage Struck.
âNot long now,â whispered Cai, as they filed into afternoon assembly.
Antonia glanced at the clock. Fifteen minutes until the end of the school day, then she and Cai would be free to go to Sea Watch, the marine conservation charity run by Caiâs great-aunt Claudia. She could hardly wait! She didnât hear a word that the headmaster, Mr Cordier, said. Antonia rested her hand lightly on her school polo shirt, knowing that her silver dolphin charm necklace was hidden underneath it. Jewellery was forbidden at Sandy Bay Primary School, but Antonia never went anywhere without her special necklace.
Antonia and Cai shared a wonderful secret. They were Silver Dolphins, guardians of the sea. When the dolphins called to them through their special jewellery, Silver Dolphin magic allowed Antonia and Cai to swim with real dolphins so they could look after the ocean and the creatures living there. Silver Dolphins were rare. Claudia was a Silver Dolphin too, although she rarely answered the call these days.
âAntonia Lee, I said Year Six could lead out,â said Mr Cordier. âItâs home time.â
Antoniaâs face flamed red as the rest of the school giggled.
âShe wasnât listening because sheâs thinking about