Underground Ripples

Captain Coral adjusted his worn tricorn hat as he swam through the harbor waters near Manhattan. The morning sun sparkled on the surface above him, casting dancing shadows on the sandy bottom.

"Another perfect day for exploring," he said to himself, his eight arms gracefully propelling him forward.

A strange rumbling sound caught his attention. He looked up to see dark storm clouds gathering overhead. Lightning flashed, and thunder rolled across the water.

"That came out of nowhere," Captain Coral muttered, watching the waves grow choppier.

Rain began pelting the surface. The octopus dove deeper, seeking calmer waters near the old pier pilings. But even down here, he could feel the storm's power.

Something felt different about this storm. Very different.

The Underground Rush

The storm's fury pulled Captain Coral deeper than he'd ever been. Water rushed around him in powerful currents, dragging him through a crack in the harbor floor.

"Where am I going?" he gasped, his eight arms spinning as he tried to swim against the flow.

The water swept him into a dark tunnel. Strange metal beams lined the walls. Captain Coral's eyes widened as he realized what this place was.

"A subway tunnel!" he exclaimed. "But it's completely flooded!"

A small voice squeaked nearby. "Help! Someone help us!"

Captain Coral turned his head and saw a family of seahorses trapped against a turnstile. The mother seahorse was pushing desperately against the metal bars while her three tiny babies clung to her tail.