For a heartbeat, there was only silence– the hush of the breeze, the tiny splashes of ripples. Then Drake's voice rang out, loud and proud. "My fire boat is fastest!!" he shouted, chest puffed, tail wagging.
Boo, not to be outdone, spun around and pointed at his own messy boat. "Nuh-uh! Boo's ghost boat will haunt yours! Look — it's floating backwards!"
Kelpie squeaked a little laugh, his fingers tapping the water. "It's so pretty… so pretty…" he murmured, his eyes wide with wonder as he watched all the little boats drifting.
Alina lowered eyes for a moment, her smile so bright it made her eyes sting. Goodness, she thought, her heart so full it almost hurt. What did I ever do to deserve such precious little ones?
