Pippin and the Sandy Trail

A penguin on a tropical vacation finds an unexpected ally while evading a persistent foe.

Pippin arrived at the tropical beach, his heart fluttering with excitement. But the sun was far too bright, and the endless expanse of sand made him feel very small and lost.

A sudden clicking sound echoed near his feet. Pippin looked down to see Barnaby, who gestured toward the dunes with a large claw, offering to help him find his way home.

They trekked across the dunes, Pippin waddling awkwardly while Barnaby scurried ahead to scout the path. They were so busy talking that they did not notice the shadow above.

Gale circled low, his yellow eyes locked onto Pippin. He wanted to force the traveler back to the freezing South Pole, believing that penguins belonged only in the snow.

Barnaby saw the danger and acted quickly. He snapped his large claw at the air to distract Gale, giving Pippin just enough time to dive into the shade of a palm.

Pippin caught his breath, realizing that without his new friend, he would be lost to the sky. They were an odd pair, but they were determined to survive this sunny ordeal.

Just as the coast seemed clear, the horizon darkened with the arrival of a massive storm front. Gale returned, but he was not alone; a second shadow loomed behind him.