The island ca closer and closer, stretching wide beneath the bright sunlight. The turquoise sea sparkled as waves rolled gently to the shore, white sand shining like it had been sprinkled with tiny pearls. The cliffs rose tall and green, and flocks of birds circled lazily in the clear sky.
All the babies were pressed against the glass walls, their faces glowing with excitent.
"Wowww!" Boo squealed, spinning in circles in mid-air. "So colourful! Boo love it!"
Drake pressed both hands and his chubby nose flat against the glass. "Shiny water! Teacher, can we swim? Can we?" he asked, his wings fluttering wildly.
Luna’s eyes brightened as she leaned closer, her tail flicking behind her. "It’s so big..." she murmured, unable to look away.
Kelpie’s pale cheeks were red, his fingertips dripping water onto the floor as he whispered softly, "The sea is so blue..." His voice carried both awe and longing.
Vlad Jr. frowned a little, though he didn’t move away from the window. "Hmph. The sun is far too harsh," he muttered, but his crimson eyes sparkled as he stared at the glowing horizon.
Sable clutched his chips packet close, shadows flickering faintly around his feet. "Pretty..." he whispered, a shy smile tugging at his lips.
Alina stood quietly behind the children, her hands resting lightly on her small sling bag as she admired the breathtaking view. The wide stretch of white sand glowed under the bright sun, the turquoise water lapped gently at the shore, and far away the cliffs stood tall like guardians of the island. Her lips parted in awe, her eyes shining.
"So beautiful..." she whispered to herself, almost forgetting the cute noisy group in front of her. She had never traveled like this before. Most of her life had been books, exams, and ho. Even the thought of going out with friends had always been difficult because of her mother’s health, and slowly her friends had drifted away. That loneliness had shaped her years, but right now, watching the glistening sea and hearing the excited chatter of her babies, her chest felt lighter.
The vehicle slowed and finally landed gently near the shore. A small cloud of sand rose where the wheels touched, and the babies squealed, pressing their noses against the glass until the door finally opened.
Dante stood by the door, tall and authoritative, his dark shirt sharp against the glow of the sun. His expression was unreadable, cold, but his crimson eyes carried seriousness.
"Before you all get out," he said, his voice deep, "there are so rules and instructions you must follow."
Alina quickly clapped her hands and called softly, "Everyone, co closer to Principal Dante. Listen carefully!" Though truthfully, most of them didn’t need her reminder; their sharp little ears could catch his words easily. Still, they scurried forward and bunched together in front of him like a group of restless chicks before a hawk.
"The island has already been cleared of dangers," Dante began, his gaze sweeping slowly across each small face, pausing as though to asure them one by one. "But we must still be cautious."
Lucien’s eyes t his father’s, and Dante paused on him a mont longer. The boy nodded firmly, small but steady, as if he understood the solemnity of his father’s words.
"You must all stay in groups," Dante continued, his voice colder now. "No one is to wander off alone."
"Not even for toilet?" Boo whispered loudly, tilting his head, and the others broke into little giggles until Dante’s eyes swept over them like a silent storm.
The laughter died instantly, but their smiles remained soft, nervous, and bright.
Dante’s eyes swept over them again, his aura pressing like a quiet storm. "Listen carefully. You will not touch anything you don’t understand. No stones, no plants, no animals. If you see sothing unusual, you call for your teacher imdiately."
The babies nodded, though Drake was already whispering to Luna, "What if I find shiny shiny stone?"
Dante’s gaze shifted toward him without a word, and Drake quickly shut his mouth, cheeks puffing as if to swallow his curiosity whole.
"No swimming unless your teacher says so," Dante continued, his tone sharper. "The waters may look calm, but even the calst sea hides danger. And none of you are to fly or shift without permission. If you fall, there is no one who will save you in ti."
Boo gulped dramatically and clutched his chest. "Boo will stay glued to teacher forever!" he declared, and a few of the babies giggled nervously.
Dante ignored the interruption, his voice lowering but carrying even more weight. "You will not wander out of sight. You will move together as a group. If one of you is missing, all of you will stop until that one is found. No one is left behind."
Sable’s small fingers tightened on Lucien’s sleeve, and Lucien gently patted his hand.
"And lastly," Dante’s crimson eyes glead, his words final, "you will obey your teacher without question. If she tells you to run, you run. If she tells you to stop, you stop. Understand?"
The silence was thick. Then, one by one, the babies nodded with wide eyes, even the usually cheeky Drake and Boo lowering their heads obediently.
The silence hung for a mont after Dante’s final words. Then, as if the weight had lifted, Drake raised his hand with a cheeky grin. "Sir, what if I find a shiny shiny stone, but I don’t touch it? Can I at least look at it with my dragon eyes?"
"Drake..." Alina sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"I promise teacher! I will only look, not touch... unless it’s very, very shiny!" Drake added, his amber eyes sparkling with mischief.
Luna crossed her arms and flicked her braid over her shoulder. "Hmph. I don’t need to worry about danger anyway. My pack blood makes strongest. If sothing cos, I will growl and scare it away!" She clenched her tiny fist for emphasis, but it only made her look cuter.
Kelpie tilted his head, his pale cheeks pink. "But what if danger is water? Then maybe I should go first? Because water listens to ." His voice was soft, but he looked proud.
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