It wasn't just students from Lyre High that were coming to Mieni Atoll for Spring Break. There were a couple of people who were in Project Phoenix who were able to save enough money to be able to fly over to the small archipelago. It wouldn't be a particular large group. The current housing on the atoll was running out of vacancies. But they would be adding some interesting diversity to the mix.
One of the couples coming was someone that Simon knew well. Bennie and Marianna were wanting to have some fun in the ocean like orcas properly could. Their presence caused a bit of a stir among the uplifted fish living there. Gaz in particular was nervous about killer whales being on the island, but Gaz was trying to reassure her that Bennie and his mate would do no harm.
Sylvia Rattlerton felt she was due a break from all her studying to earn a lawyer's degree. True, that studying was mostly online, but it was still pretty exhausting. The choices of going on vacation were a bit limited when one is partially cold-blooded. Sylvia could have gone out to the desert to relax, but she didn't quite feel that bit of connection to her rattlesnake instinct. She'd much rather go a place with water and sand.
Sylvia wasn't the only one wanting a break from online college. Maddie's progress was slower than Sylvia's, namely because she had yet to consider what kind of degree she wanted. Still, the two were able to bond a bit over their struggle to earn diplomas far distant from physical colleges. Hopefully, a community college won't be long in appearing in Lyre or Animalia. Maddie didn't come to Mieni Atoll alone, of course. Her mate Theseus was also here. The two of them made a very interesting-looking couple, especially in their swimsuits.
But possibly the most attention-grabbing newcomer to Mieni Atoll was Daniel Richardson, the centennial veteran of WWII and the heartthrob of virtually every female dog Animalian and quite a few non-dogs. There were many who envied Mandy for being on Daniel's arm. Daniel insisted that the German Shepherd was only his girlfriend, not his official mate. While the two might seem like a good pair, it wasn't a guarantee that they'd end up together. Anyways, Daniel wasn't just here to enjoy the tropical climate with Mandy. While he mainly served in Europe during WWII, he had a vested interest to see that Mieni Atoll's museum regarding the Pacific Front of WWII was accurate and respectful. The museum staff was eager to get his opinion. Even the military personnel who were still present had an admiration for the Golden Retriever.