The Legend of Kwi Coast by Nicholas Checker

Author:Nicholas Checker [Checker, Nicholas]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: adventure; thriller; fantasy; nature; young adult (and older); animal; heroic; science fiction
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2022-06-22T00:00:00+00:00

PART III

RETURN

Chapter Sixteen

Old Acquaintances

Piper’s farewell to SlugFlukes had not been easy. The grand old whale had been a warm friend when she had needed one most. SlugFlukes had guarded her and counseled her in the Ways of the Sea. And he had offered her companionship just when the darkness of solitude had nearly overwhelmed her. She owed him much, she felt, even though she had saved his life. Had he not saved hers as well?

No, it had been no easy matter bidding him farewell. But she knew it would have been worse to remain and forever be tormented by the specter of her own Pod being stalked and slaughtered as the Jumpers had been.

“Do not be hasty in your tale,” SlugFlukes had cautioned her, “else you will find yourself in great trouble again.” The GhostFin had been grumbling on all morning about how her Pod would react. “Expect their doubts. They have been isolated and ignorant for too long. I do not expect them to change their ways now.”

Piper had made to protest that, but the whale hefted himself up onto his flukes, towering over her like a vast sea mount, and stared hard. It was clear that he intended it as another of those times she was to listen without interruption.

“They are not worthy of the risk you are taking for them, but I do understand your devotion,” he admitted with just a touch of pride in his tone. Piper had wriggled in embarrassment, pleased at any time when she had earned SlugFlukes’ praise. “Goodbye, my little SongFin,” he said. “Never forget the gratitude I will always feel for what you have done. And perhaps, when these Western Seas grow colder, I might stop and…eh, pay a little visit on my way to the southern waters, mmm?”

Piper was delighted to hear that. She swam over to him and nudged him gently with her beak.

“I will never forget you, SlugFlukes,” she said. “Do come to us one day.” And with that, Piper swam off, hoping she truly would someday see the majestic gray giant again. She realized, as she paddled once more through the lonely jade sea, how much she would miss him and all the marvelous times they had known together.

Piper had, at first, tried persuading SlugFlukes to return to Kwi Coast with her. It most certainly would have helped convince Thane SilverFlukes, at least, for the stately Clan leader had great respect for the wisdom of older creatures. But she realized SlugFlukes could not leave his home seas. He had much to do there—just as she had much to do in her home seas. Besides, she thought, he would have slowed her down terribly. Despite all his might, the aging GhostFin was a pathetically slow swimmer—especially when compared to a Whistler. No, she was on her own now. All she could hope was that they would listen to her.

****

The green coastal zone soon changed to a darkening blue as she moved farther out into the Open Sea. She passed through a bog of tiny jellyfish and wriggled through them in discomfort.

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