she looked back up at her mom with tears in her eyes and her hand on the slap mark.
"Ah-um, I-I was j-just...h-headed to the kelp gardens! I um...I was-going to take a stroll!"
???: "Your father is quite concerned...you missed morning meals, everyone was wondering where you might be."
"W-well there's no need to worry, I was just-tending to the reef..."
???: "Interesting...your sisters were there, and none of them reported seeing you."
"W-well-um-"
???: "Your father would like a word with you."