The day had finally come for the sea lykars to journey back to the lagoon. Luna and a few other lykars searched their island to make sure that nobody was left behind. Spirit was with her family among the crowd of sea lykars.

"I can't wait to get there!" Storm, Spirit's brother said, while scratching his ear. "There was so much we hadn't explored around that island." Spirit turned to him.

"I know!" She exclaimed, "Around the cliffs, the sea caves, it's going to be amazing!" Their parents, Kotar and Kayla looked at them.

"Easy there kids," Kotar interrupted, "we have to get there safe and sound first," he chuckled. Spirit and Storm looked at each other, confused.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Storm asked.

"The ocean can be a dangerous place, and travelling in a large pod like us can make us an easy target," Kotar explained. Kayla stepped forward to interfere.

"But that also makes it easier to defend one another," Kayla reassured. "We'll be just fine." She nuzzled her face into her mate's neck. Luna made her way through the crowd and to the front of the pod.

"Remember," Luna called to the pod, "always stay close, predators won't attack us if we stand as one." The lykars agreed and they all set off with Luna leading the pod across the ocean.

***

"Branch, you've been up there all day!" Poppy shouted out to him. Branch was up one of the tall trees close to the lagoon, he was using his binoculars to search the horizon, looking for any sign of lykars. Since Iris told him about the lykars possible return, he's been looking for them day by day. Tekai noticed what was happening and decided to check it out.

"What's he doing this time?" Tekai asked Poppy. 

"Still looking out for lykars," Poppy replied.

"Branch, it took us two days to reach their island," Tekai yelled, "if they are coming then it's going to take a few days." Branch didn't listen, his eyes were fixed on the horizon. "Maybe we should throw a pine cone at him." She suggested. Poppy looked over at her with a dry but confused expression. "What?"

"I need to keep a look out," Branch finally said, "if any danger goes their way-" Branch was interrupted.

"Branch, they're sea lykars!" Tekai said, "as long as their a pod, nothing can hurt them!" 

"You can never be too sure!" Branch yelled back. Tekai picked up a pine cone in her hand and was ready to throw it at him. Poppy grabbed her arm to stop her, she then took the pine cone off of Tekai and tossed it away. 

"Hang on! I think I see something!" Branch exclaimed as he shot up onto his feet. His foot slipped off the branch he was standing on and he lost his balance, falling off the tree branch. Poppy reacted quickly and shaped her hair like a giant pillow so she could catch him. Branch landed on Poppy's hair with a soft thud. 

"Branch, are you okay?" Poppy asked him, concerned. Branch sat up and nodded. "What did you see?" 

"It turned out to be just a weirdly shaped rock," Branch replied, a little embarrassed. 

"Well, I highly doubt a rock is going to come to life and attack them," Tekai laughed. Branch rolled his eyes and grunted.

***

Hours had passed and the sea lykars were still travelling. They weren't too tired from the journey and found it very enjoyable and exciting. They had rounded up shoals of fish to eat, and had even swam alongside dolphins, rays and other marine species. Spirit eventually caught up with the rest of her friends, Askar, Corkscrew, Ali and Ula. The five of them swam together most of the time, having jumping competitions, getting close to other creatures that they were curious about. It had been such an exhilarating day full of adventure and excitement, but the sun was starting to set and the young calves of the pod were growing tired. Luna led the pod to a nearby island where they can rest. As she set paw on the island, she looked around cautiously, keeping an eye out for any predators or danger that could harm them. While Luna looked around with some other lykars, the rest of the pod started to dig nests in the sand for them and their calves, some even took shelter in a large cave on the island. Spirit looked up at the night sky, Askar noticed her and joined her.

"What an amazing day," Spirit sighed in happiness. Askar sat down beside her and smiled.

"It has been, hasn't it," Askar said. "Although, I didn't appreciate that crab pinching my nose," he grumbled. Spirit let out a snicker. 

"Don't worry, I saved you from 'Crabzilla'," Spirit laughed, Askar smiled and looked away, hiding his embarrassed expression. 

"I think it's obvious that you're braver than me," Askar confessed, smiling. Spirit tilted her head at him.

"What? No way," Spirit said, "you're much braver! Remember when we were trying to escape the lagoon because the hunters came? Who was the brave selfless lykar to sacrificed his freedom that day?" Askar smiled wider. "It was you, you big goof." Spirit nudged his cheek with her nose.

"You're brave too, Spirit," Askar said as he nuzzled his head into her's. "We wouldn't be out here if it wasn't for you." 

"We all played a part, Askar," Spirit assured. The two lykars lay down and eventually fell asleep. 

Askar woke up as the sunlight hit his eyes, he yawned and looked down at Spirit, who was still asleep with her head resting on his back and her braced tail wrapping around his. He tried his best not to wake her and looked up at the ocean. His face dropped when he saw a huge gray storm cloud hovering over the horizon. Askar nudged Spirit and she woke up.

"Morning Askar," she yawned, "what's going on?" Spirit looked to where Askar was staring and gasped. They both looked at each other. "We have to tell, Luna!"

Luna was already awake, staring at the storm cloud. She saw Spirit and Askar come sprinting towards her. 

"Luna, the storm!" Askar panted. "Is that going to affect the journey?" 

"Hopefully not, but we need to get moving. If we can cover more water and get ahead of it, then we may be able to find another route and avoid it," Luna explained. She let out a roar-like squeal and alerted the resting pod. 

The pod rushed to the shore of the island, Askar and Spirit helped Luna round up the last of the lykars. The two of them rushed over to their families to assure them that they were okay. As the pod set off, the storm cloud was getting closer and closer. This wasn't an average storm cloud, it was massive and covered the sky as far as the eye can see.

After a while, the storm was getting closer. Luna looked around to find a route where the storm wasn't covering, but no matter which direction they went, the storm was there, surrounding them. The lykars knew that they were in trouble, they had to find an island to take shelter at, Luna searched frantically to find one. At last, she spotted one and swam as fast as her tail could take her, the rest of the pod quickly followed her. The wind was picking up a lot, thunder rang in every lykar's ears and bolts of lightning lit up the sky, young lykar calves swam close to their parents and nuzzled into them, frightened. The waves were like mountains, Spirit was with her  friends and were trying to find the rest of the pod. They caught sight of Luna leading the pod onto the island.

"Over there!" Spirit yelled to her friends as she pointed her snout to the island. It was hard to stay at the surface of the water, the waves would rise up and crash down on them and the rain drops were like bullets. Spirit was growing tired as she tried to fight against the waves, but she was being tossed and turned in the water, she looked ahead of her and before she could react, the waves slammed her against a large rock in front of her, she hit the rock head-first and felt her world start to spin more and more. She heard her friends calling her name, but their voices sounded muffled. She could feel herself losing consciousness, she tried to keep her head to the surface while her vision faded.

***

"Man, that storm is getting strong!" Iris stated as she looked out the window of her pod. Branch and Poppy were sitting on the couch in her pod.

"Thanks again for letting us stay here, Iris," Poppy thanked.

"No problem, it's better than you guys walking home in this weather," Iris replied. The three trolls were at Iris' home earlier, trying to figure out more about the lykar migrations happening, but the storm caught them off-guard and trapped them inside. Branch was huddled up in the corner of the couch, worried. He didn't like thunderstorms at all, he never has and he never will, but this time he was even more worried about Spirit and the lykar pod, if they were on their way, would this storm affect them? Iris and Poppy noticed Branch's tense expression and tried to reassure him.

"Don't worry Buddy, the storm will pass soon," Iris said gently to her brother.

"It's not that," Branch shook his head. "What if the lykars get trapped in this storm, it could be dangerous for them!" Poppy placed a hand on his cheek.

"Branch, you're scared and it's making you anxious," Iris said, "the lykars will be fine." 

"I'm not anxious! I just need to know that Spirit's going to be alright," Branch snapped. He jumped up from off the couch and rushed to the window, hoping to see the ocean from there, but he couldn't. Iris got up and gave him a tug on the tail, gently trying to pull him back. There was a huge flash of lightning and Branch's eyes widened with fear. He stumbled back, falling on the floor and started frantically trying to get back up and huddled back onto the couch again, burrowing his face into a pillow. Poppy stroked down his back to his tail, she hugged him close and tried to ease him as she kissed his cheek and ears. Iris sat back down with the two trolls, trying to help Poppy comfort Branch.

***

Spirit felt the gentle waves hit her back as they pushed her onto the shore. She slowly opened her eyes and lifted her head, the back of her head was so sore. She gently stood up, but immediately fell back down again. She looked down her body and saw that she had bruises and scars all down her body, nothing too critical. She looked down at the brace on her tail flukes and saw that it was completely destroyed. The supports were snapped in half and were cutting her skin.

"Great," Spirit grunted. She tried to stand up again and managed to keep herself on her paws. Spirit looked around to see if there was anyone else on the shore. "Hello?" She called out. She let out a few squeals, and listened for an answer. She shut her eyes and hoped for any call back. Any sign that she wasn't alone. Her eyes snapped open when she heard a squeal. She ran over to where it came from, the call belonged to a very familiar lykar.

"Stupid thing!" It was Askar, he had his back leg tangled in a fishing net. 

"Askar!" Spirit yelled. Askar turned his head sharply when he heard her voice.

"Spirit! I'm not the only one here!" Askar exclaimed. "I would leap around with happiness but my leg is stuck." Spirit sniffed at the net, it had plastic bags and cans tangled up in it. Spirit grabbed it in her teeth and tried to pull it off of her friend.

"I don't understand why people throw this stuff in the ocean," Spirit said through gritted teeth with the net in her mouth. "Our home isn't their personal trash can!" Spirit started to use her claws on the net, eventually ripping it and freeing Askar's leg. Askar shot up and thanked Spirit. They quickly heard another noise coming from further up the shore. They both kept low and started to bare their teeth, growling. Three other lykars came into view from over a rock, it was Corkscrew, Ali and Ula.

"Guys?!" Askar exclaimed, his tail starting to wag. 

"Spirit! Askar! You guys aren't dead!" Ali yelled happily. 

"Is there anyone else here?" Spirit asked. 

"Not that we could find," Corkscrew replied. "Come to think of it...where is here? Where are we?" The lykars looked around, they had no idea where they were.