WESTERN AUSTRALIA 21°54’52.9”S 113°55’38.6”E
BROOKE PYKE
“I can sense everything going on around me. My body feels alive with the electric energy of others feeding in the water.”
my senses tingle , the nerve endings around my nose can feel movement in the water. Small vibrations sent out far and wide across the ocean, calling us to its source. The scent in my nostrils is undeniable: it’s time to feed. In the depths of the cold dark water, my body begins to shift, each muscle engaging as I push upwards. Moving the dense deep ocean around me takes effort. My powerful tail shifts side to side as I progress towards the light of the surface. It’s the moment I’ve been waiting for; it’s why I traversed the oceans for months. My sudden acceleration in movement stirs the remoras suctioned to my belly. They rush to reposition themselves, latching onto my skin and jostling amongst themselves for prime position. The juvenile pilot fish and golden trevally that accompany me move excitedly as they know they too will soon eat their fill. Snout first, tail thrusting, I ascend upwards towards the pale blue water. I can feel the fever of activity above become more and more erratic. Others have arrived to feed; their shadows swoop over me, gorging themselves on the energy source. My head breaks the surface, and the warmth of the sun sparkles on my enamel scales. I can sense every- thing going on around me. My body feels alive with the electric energy of others feeding in the water. I charge forwards, mouth agape taking in my first mouthful of krill. Mobula rays barrel roll and swoop, schooling fish shimmer and swirl. Everything is alive and in a fever of activity. Moving back and forth, lunging mouth first through the dense swarms of krill, I fill my belly. In the distance, I detect a foreign unnatural vibration. Something is approaching. Deep memory stirs within me; I know this sound. The thick armoured skin on my back bears the scars and twisted flesh from my last encounter with this noisy beast. I shiver with fear and veer away from its source. Yet soon, the sound stops. Relieved, I continue feeding in the chaos of krill, fish, and rays. Moments later, I feel a new presence; another being is beside me moving slowly, its long fins flapping. Becoming curious, I take a closer look, maneuvering my right eye out from its protective barrier to see more clearly. The human creature dives gently through the water, swimming side by side with me copying my every move. Realising this creature poses no immediate threat, I go about my business, filtering the plankton through my gills. The energy source is nearing depleted and my hunger is finally at ease. My flesh feels warm, rejuvenated from the sun. It’s time to dive into the depths once more. Ceasing all movement, I allow my heaviness to pull me deeper, sinking back into the dark blue of the ocean once more. I descend deeper and deeper, faster and faster. My shape melds with the water until I’m almost invisible, and the dark ocean swallows me whole.
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MOTHER VOLUME TWO
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