Peng was awakened by sudden violent tremors that shook the seabed. It began as a soft moaning, like the earth was yawning and stretching. But then the moaning turned into a deep rumble. Columns of poisonous gases began to rise up from the canyons of the Black Abyss, scorching the great trees of kelp. The cities of coral crumbled as if they were made of soft clay. And up above, the sea opened its mouth like a giant Venus flytrap and swallowed five fishing boats in one day.
As Peng was still not fully grown, he did not have the strength to withstand such a storm. The poisonous gases began to sting his eyes and bite into his skin. Then a giant wave of water swept around the cave walls, flushing him out into the open water. In desperation, as the wave threatened to take him away, Peng reached out with his front paws and grabbed the boulder outside his cave. He dug his claws into the hard surface, clinging on with all his might as a great rushing river, carrying frightened fish, giant squid, sharks and other sea creatures, pulled and tugged at him.
Beneath the boulder, the little coral snake was hiding, curled tight in his small crevice. Every time the boulder moved, the water surged through the gap and pressed him hard up against the rough surface of stone. His skin was soon cut and bruised. He wondered where Peng was. If only he could be with his friend, then he would be safe. No power is greater than Peng, he thought. He did not know that Peng was just above him, trying to save his own life.
Looking around, Peng saw a craggy rock sticking out from another ledge off to the side. He knew that if he held on to the boulder much longer, his great weight would topple it over, leaving the little coral snake exposed and in danger. Peng’s plan was to let the current carry him, then, as he was passing, reach out and grab onto the other rock. But just as he was about to let go, a huge gush of water surged up from below. Peng lost his grip and was carried away in the great underwater storm.