Alt-Cetacean Relationsby Pouncer |
| Water flows, cold and salty, over flukes. A firm swish of his tail, and
he rises to the barrier, inhales and blows vapor back out again. Dive again, and circle the krilla, exhaling bubbles all the while. Spiral inwards and inwards and inwards until it is meet to open mouth. Strain water to extract krilla, then swallow. Sing a Feeding Song, and listen for the Others' reply. They have too long been silent. Currents flow, chill and warm layers to idle among. Moan a Mourning Song. Drifting, he allows himself to ascend close to the barrier, then pauses. A shape mars the roof of the world, ovoid with sloshing flukes. Large, larger than the ones who flit between salt home and breathing place, who call with chirps and cheeps. The Others emulated the gruefa traveling on tarn fins, shapes to safely traverse the barrier. This is smaller but rouses memories of times when the Others swam and played, lured him upwards with mating cries then greeted with joyful dance. Circle, float, observe. A small form shocks the barrier, dives deep, approaches. Watch the swimmer: small coral tendrils flare at one end. Anemone circles reach, touch skin. Shock of reminisce: she is Other. No bubbles break her form. This is wrong. She must rise to the breathing place or fall forever. Nudge upwards, near to the shape. Carol a Greeting Song, circling. Dive deep. Surface again, and leap for delight. |
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Notes: A placeholder ficlet for Cedara as part of the Back to Basics: Atlantis 2006 challenge. Return to The Carousel |