On a warm beach, Ninja The Sun Child woke up early. He wore a tiny yellow ninja scarf. It fluttered in the sea breeze. Ninja was brave, but also gentle. He liked to help small things.
The sand was gold. The water said, “Shh, shh.” Crabs walked sideways. A red crab waved one little claw.
“Good morning!” said Ninja.
“Good morning!” clicked the crab.
Then Ninja saw Moon Child near a blue bucket. Moon Child wore a silver cape and had sleepy, kind eyes. Moon Child was clever. Moon Child noticed quiet sounds.
“Listen,” said Moon Child.
They listened.
“Plink... plink... plink...”
A little starfish was crying beside a sand castle.
“My shiny shell is gone,” said the starfish. “It was pink. It was round. It made a happy plink sound.”
Ninja put one hand on his heart. “We will find it.”
Moon Child nodded. “We will look slowly.”
Ninja made a ninja pose. “Soft feet. Sharp eyes. Kind hands!”
First, they looked by the tall grass. A gull said, “Squawk!” But it was only a white feather.
Next, they looked under a yellow beach ball. A tiny snail said, “Hello!” But it was only a smooth pebble.
Then they looked near the waves. The water came in. The water went out.
“Shh, shh,” said the sea.
Ninja saw a line in the sand. It was small. It curled and curled.
“A trail!” he whispered.
Moon Child smiled. “A shell trail!”
They followed it past a big rock. Behind the rock sat a baby turtle. The turtle had the pink shell on its back.
“Oh!” said the baby turtle. “I thought it was a hat. It is pretty. It keeps my head dry.”
Ninja did not shout. He used his gentle voice.
“That shell belongs to Starfish,” he said. “Starfish feels sad without it.”
The baby turtle looked down. “I do not want Starfish to be sad.”
Moon Child took off the silver cape. “You may wear this for a little while,” said Moon Child. “It is soft. It is shiny too.”
The baby turtle beamed. “Thank you!”
Ninja carefully took the pink shell. Plink! It sang in his hand.
They hurried back over the warm sand. Not too fast. The shell was small.
“Starfish!” called Ninja. “We found it!”
The starfish clapped all five arms. “My shell! My dear pink shell!”
Plink, plink, plink! The shell made a bright sound. The sea sparkled. The sand sparkled. Even the red crab did a funny sideways dance.
Then the pink shell opened a tiny secret door.
Inside was a treasure: three little sun coins, three little moon coins, and one golden whistle shaped like a fish.
“This is for you,” said Starfish. “For brave Ninja and clever Moon Child.”
Ninja shared the coins. One sun coin for Ninja. One moon coin for Moon Child. One coin for the baby turtle.
“And the whistle?” asked Moon Child.
Ninja blew it. Peep! Peep! Peep!
All the little beach animals came close. “When anyone needs help,” said Ninja, “blow the whistle.”
Moon Child smiled. “Then we can help together.”
As the sun went down, Ninja and Moon Child built a new sand castle. The baby turtle wore the silver cape. Starfish wore the pink shell. The red crab was the guard.
The beach said, “Shh, shh.”
Ninja The Sun Child tucked the golden whistle into his scarf. He had a new treasure. He also had a good friend.
“Goodnight, beach,” said Ninja.
“Goodnight,” whispered Moon Child.
And under the soft, shining sky, everyone felt safe and happy.