Chapter Text
“Whoa,” Victor and Nova exclaimed. Nova glanced at Victor then quickly stepped out of his arms. Victor grinned sheepishly. Then just as soon as the water tornado appeared it disappeared. In its place stood a girl with short red hair and a young woman with a brown braid down her back. As they walked onto the shore they didn't seem to notice the two standing there. The girl was twisting a bracelet made of seashells around her wrist. “How was that Nora?” the girl asked. The woman, Nora, somehow conjured a clipboard out of thin air. The woman, Nora, scanned the clipboard then smiled and nodded. “Yes, full marks Lou Ann. Now next time we will be moving on to flooding.” She turned back to the ocean muttering about flood planes and surfboards. Then Lou Ann noticed Nova and Victor. “Um, Nora?” Nora turned around. “What?” Then she also caught sight of them. She locked eyes with Nova. “Nova?” she asked carefully. Then the ground opened and swallowed both Lou Ann and Nora whole.
Victor cleared his throat and said dryly “Well, they clearly had somewhere to be.” Nova rolled her eyes but laughed anyway. Victor walked over to the spot where the two strangers had disappeared and crouched down. The sand was perfectly untouched, no dent, no dropped items, or footprints aside from his. “That's impossible.” He muttered “How do two people vanish with no trace?” Nova shrugged but wasn't paying full attention. “Victor, look!” She exclaimed pointing. Victor glanced up at her and then to where she was pointing.
A group of dolphins was frolicking way too close to the shore. “Dolphins shouldn't be around here.” Nova said, raising an eyebrow. Victor just shrugged and continued gazing at them. “Ive never seen them in the wild before.” He said. The dolphins had since wandered away, all except for one. Nova tilted her head slightly. Something about the dolphin seemed familiar, but she couldn't see to place it, like a dream she could reach but not quite hold. “Careful little one,” a voice in her head said, “Getting a bit too close to the truth, aren't we?” Nova yelped and jumped back. “Did you hear that?” She shrieked looking around. Victor stared at her like she'd announced that the sky was falling.
“Ooh, is that your boyfriend?” The voice asked. Nova blushed “What? No!” Victor blinked. “I didn't say anything." Nova waved him off “Not you! It!” The voice scoffed, “I have a name, y'know.” “Well, what is it then?” “What's what?” Victor asked. Nova glared at him. “Dolly.” The voice answered. “Okay, well where are you? “ Nova asked, looking around. Victor waved at her awkwardly “Um, I'm right here.” “I'm the dolphin.” The voice, Dolly said simply. Nova felt like screaming “What do you mean you're the dolphin!?’ “I'm the dolphin?” Victor asked, taken aback.
Nova groaned. “Okay, Dolly, please just leave me alone.” “Leave you alone? But I'm practically family!” Dolly gasped. Nova groaned “How?”
“I'm not allowed to say how.” Nova groaned. “You're kidding me.” She muttered. Victor just stood there awkwardly. “Uh, Nova?” Nova glared at him “What?” Victor gestured at the dolphin “You're talking to a dolphin.” Nova rolled her eyes “And?” Victor stared at her. “Have you been sleeping well?” he asked. Nova blinked.
The dolphin suddenly flicked its tail and vanished beneath the waves. Nova sighed “Great, now she's gone.” Victor shook his head “Nova, dolphins don't talk.” Nova glared at him “Tell that to Dolly.” Victor pinched the bridge of his nose “Okay, let's just... go find the others.” Nova nodded, still glancing back at the water.