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Bog the Cayman Short Story Tsunami The Purrmaid

Tsunami’s New Home

Very, very, very, very, very, very long ago, there was a witch of the sea (a good witch). Nobody knows how, but the ancient purrmaid tribe saved her life from a tsunami. She was so grateful that she granted each of them many unique special abilities.  They were passed down through the years from generation to generation and forgotten eventually, except for one ability: the power to control the ocean water.

Not so long ago, but still far away from the rainforest, there lived the Purrmaid King and Queen of the Ocean who had two daughters that were one year apart.  The king and queen decided to name the older daughter Tsunami, and the younger daughter Pearl.  The queen’s name was Anemone, and the king’s name was Shark.

The four of them each had one special power.  Tsunami’s power was to turn into any source of water or remain in her usual purrmaid form.  Pearl’s power was to be able to make jewelry, since that was her favorite thing under the sea.  Queen Anemone’s power was to be able to talk to ocean animals, and King Shark’s power was to be a strong hunter.

They all lived happily in a huge castle made out of growing coral, because one of the queen’s purrmaid servants could grow plants, and had grown the palace for the queen.

One day, Tsunami was swimming along with Pearl when she realized they were lost! They were in a river – a very big, muddy river that was very long but looked almost like the ocean.  Except it was much muddier.

Tsunami was very startled to figure out she was lost, and said, “Don’t worry, Pearl.  I’m going to transform into water and figure out where the palace is. You stay right here, it’ll take a second.”

She transformed into water as quick as a blink of an eye, and teleported around the ocean until she recognized she was close to home by the temperature of the colder water.  She saw the palace and immediately knew that was it.  She teleported quickly back to Pearl and told her (still in the form of water) that if she kept swimming for about 13,000 kilometers south east, she would find the palace.  Pearl said thank you, and asked if Tsunami was coming with her.

“No,” said Tsunami. “I want to explore around here and then meet you at home.”

“Oh,” said Pearl.  “Well see you.”

She took off as fast as she could because she was very eager to get home.

Tsunami looked around.  She didn’t recognize the murky water, so she transformed back into a purrmaid and popped her head out of the water.  She was in the rainforest!!!!!!!!!!

She decided to explore, and looked around some more.  The closest bank was nearly six miles away from her.  The other bank was too far to see.  She paddled over to the closest bank, which took her just under ten minutes because she was a super fast swimmer.

On the bank, she saw a log which looked like it had spines all over the back of it.  Tsunami looked at it, and wondered why a log would have spikes all over it.  Suddenly, the log heaved itself up and opened its mouth!  Tsunami gasped. That was a cayman!

She had heard about caymans before and she knew to stay out of their way.  She quickly transformed into a puddle near the bank, but she wasn’t quick enough – the cayman had seen her!

He walked around Tsunami the Puddle, confused.

“Hey,” he said.  “You don’t have to hide.  I’m not going to hurt you.”

“Oh,” Tsunami slowly transformed back into her purrmaid form.

The cayman let out a grunt of surprise when he noticed that there was no puddle underneath her. “How did you do that? I want to learn how to do that.  Is it some sort of trick?”

“No,” said Tsunami. “I was born with this special ability to transform into water. Everyone in my family was born to have one special power.”

“Oh,” the cayman grunted. “Anyways, my name is Bog. What’s yours?”

“My name is Tsunami,” Tsunami said.  Do you know where we are?”

“We” said Bog importantly, drawing himself up.  “We are in the Amazon Rainforest.”

“Oh,” said Tsunami.  “Well, do you know where the closest place to stay is?”

“Why yes I do,” said Bog.  “The closest place is in Queen Sequoia and King Oak’s palace.”

“How do I get to their palace?” Tsunami said, surprised.

“You just follow that path.”  He pointed to a path that was right next to them.

“Thanks Bog!” she called as she hurried down the path.

“Bye, Tsunami,” he called after her. “I hope we meet again.”

 

Tsunami looked around.  The trail was very well cleared with only a few vines hanging down.  Rows of bromeliads and orchids lined the path in a pattern with the ratio of one bromeliad to four orchids.  It was beautiful.  

She had been walking for about ten minutes when she finally saw light up ahead.  Suddenly, she burst into a small field with a small sized pond in the middle.  It was a beautiful pond because it had tall grasses lining the edges and it had one tree that seemed to poke its way through the other plants, and shade the pool so it was always cold. She tried to go into the pond, but just then, the sand around the pond started sinking! Tsunami thought fast and remembered what to do when you got into quicksand.  She slowly started to wade into the pool, moving sideways as best as possible. When she finally got into the pool, it reminded her of the ocean.

Tsunami relaxed in it for a little while and then said to herself, “I’m going to go to that castle that Bog was talking about.  If nobody’s there, I’ll claim this pond as my home!”

She got out of the pool and continued her way up the path.  She burst into another clearing – this one bigger and more magnificent. To her surprise in the middle of the field was a magnificent, gigantic castle made out of wood that seemed to shine.

She walked along the pathway up to the castle and knocked three times on the door.

Knock, knock, knock.

Tsunami waited a while, but no one answered.

“Well,” she said, heading back down the path, “I guess that I’m going to live in that little pond!”

So Tsunami went back to the little pond and relaxed in the shade for a little while.  A thought popped into her head: she hadn’t said goodbye to her dad and mom and sister!

She quickly transformed back into water and went through a little hole in the bottom of the pond that led back to the river.  As soon as she entered the river, she transported back to her house.

When she got there, her mom and dad were waiting for her with very worried expressions.

“Tsunami!” Mama P cried when she saw her, “where were you? We’ve been worried sick!”

“Mom,” said Tsunami.  “I was in the rainforest and I found a little pond that was purrfect, and I want to move into there. Is it okay if I move into it?”
“Well, honey,” said Mama P. “It’s all right as long as we get to see it first.”

“All right!” said Tsunami.  “Hold onto my hands, because I’m going to teleport you back to the Amazon River.”

They all held hands and transported back to the little pond.

“So…” said Tsunami, “what do you think?”
“I think it’s wonderful,” said Queen Anemone.  “You have permission to move here.  How about we have a little party?”

“Yeah!” Tsunami and Pearl said at the same time.

They all had a party and Tsunami lived happily ever after in her little pond. 

 

And once in a while, they have a party when Tsunami’s family comes to visit. And upon leaving the castle, Queen Anemone’s servants set off green fireworks, which is how the Aurora Australis came to be.