When Auby and his friends swam back through the magnificent gates of the orange coral
reef, the celebrations about Auby’s mum’s safe return to the beach had already begun. But
Auby noticed that his daddy’s strong face looked unusually serious.

“Auby, come with me, please,” his daddy said, his voice echoing firmly through the water.
Forna and Peekay watched anxiously as their best friend swam away with his daddy into the quieter, darker waters near the edge of the reef.

​

Auby tucked his flippers in close, lowering his head in disappointment. He knew he was about to be told off.

His daddy stopped and turned to look at him. “What were you thinking, Auby? The City of the Deep is a dangerous place, and you could have been badly hurt!”

Auby felt a big twist of sadness in his tummy. “I’m sorry, Daddy,” he whispered, looking down at the sand at the bottom of the ocean. “I just wanted to save you and Mummy. I promise I won’t do anything reckless again.”

Hearing his brave little son's soft voice, the stern look on his daddy’s face completely melted away, replaced by a warm, proud smile. After all, Auby was still just a baby turtle with so much to learn about the wide ocean.

“Come here, son,” his daddy said gently, opening his front flippers. “I cannot stay cross with you. I am incredibly proud of your bravery, and so grateful to you for saving our family.”

 

He tucked Auby snugly under his massive front flipper, and Auby instantly felt warm and
safe.

 

Auby smiled; he was finally starting to understand that he was blue for a very special
reason—to protect the creatures he loved.

That night, the entire orange coral reef threw a spectacular party! Jellyfish floated overhead like glowing party lanterns, and the Coral Café was packed with cheering sea creatures.

Auby, Forna, and Peekay stood proudly at the front as they were each awarded a shiny,
golden medal for bravery.

Peekay was so excited that his eyes began spinning in opposite directions again. “Look at
me! I’m a pink, decorated hero!” he cheered, trying to salute with three of his mismatched
legs at the same time.

 

But just as the music was playing, a frantic little orange fish darted through the crowd. It was Forna’s mummy, and she looked terrified.

“Forna! Thank goodness I found you!” she cried, her fins trembling in the water.

“Mummy, what’s wrong?” Forna asked, swimming forward quickly.

​

“It’s your daddy! He was swimming near the surface when a giant fishing boat threw down its lines. He’s been caught in a massive net, and they are pulling him away!” She
turned to the little blue turtle with tears in her eyes.

 

“Please, we need your help!”

Auby looked back toward the party, thinking of the promise he had just made to his daddy.
But as he looked at Forna’s worried face, he knew he couldn't hesitate.

“Let’s go, there’s no time to waste, hold on tight!” Auby commanded bravely as Forna and
Peekay latched onto him.

Forna and Peekay gripped Auby’s blue flippers with all their might. Auby shot out of the city
gates like a blue rocket, racing through the dark water toward the distant, rumbling engine of the fishing boat.