Wheeling Gull Isle can you paint with all the colors

The white blooms bobbed off-beat with her steps as Seal loped behind Ava, full trust in her tour guide. Like Dinah, Ava led Seal to new and exciting outlooks, each island feature more wonderful than the next.

First, the tidal flats. Seal couldn’t help but ooh and ahh at the wide stretches of wet stand painted magenta and orange as they reflected the sunset from up above. Then, they hopped through the tidepools – little ecosystems of weird and alien plants and creatures. Here, Seal lagged behind a little but made a mental note to return and explore later.

She caught up to Ava who had run ahead. A great lump, like a smooth riverstone, moved in the sand! Seal’s head perked up as she galloped with a spring in her step. What creature had Ava found?

She sidled up next to her cousin to observe the large animal. Its beaked head… that broad shell…. was it truly…?! Seal gasped. “I love turtles,” she exclaimed as a memory from her childhood came back en force. But this turtle was different than the ones back home. Instead of feet with long claws, it had flippers.

Versed in the ways of testudinata, Seal was careful not to spook it. She mimicked Ava and nosed her bundle of flowers towards it.