Chapter XI
The Angel
Three times the bell shall chime,
but only once the sun shall shine.
Take each day as if your last,
to prepare for when light is your past.
During the day, when Sun persists,
accept it before light no longer exists. -Eclipse Song of Gratitude
"What do you mean: I can't go!"
"Exactly what I said. You cannot go." Ecco continued to swim forward, ignoring Karli skipping alongside him, her beak literally in his face.
"Ah, come on! You never let me tag along! What, do you think I'll be bad or something?"
"No, I believe you would be more troublesome than helpful." He frowned at her, but continued to move quickly. She was determined and continued to keep up with him.
"Oh, so you're saying that I'll be in the way, is that it?" Ecco suddenly halted. Karli glared at him, eyes shining with a mixture of anger and conjured feelings of being left out for a perfect show of pouting. If her fins where long enough, Karli could have placed them on her hips and look like a copy of a sulky human teenager. Ecco stopped, taking some time to observe her as if interested.
"That's exactly what I'm saying. Now stop bothering me about it!" With that he turned around and continued on his way. Karli, obviously not anticipating such an answer, took a few moments to regain her composure and race after Ecco once more.
She decided that arguing wouldn't make her way, so she switched back to classic whining and begging.
"Please, Ecco? Pretty please? I promise I won't be in the way. I'll stay in the back!...and...and I'll be quiet this time! I won't say a word! I promise!" Ecco halted, eyeing her suspiciously.
"Listen to me. Karli, you cannot join us. I have traveled the caverns before. They aren't the safest place. Air is little and valuable. My lung capacity is much greater than yours. You are inexperienced and young. I would have to support you as well as myself. It is too great a risk-"
"That sounds like something you would say." She threw up her nose at him. Ecco sighed.
"Karli...ugh, never mind." Ecco gave up, pulling his head away rather roughly to swim off. Karli, still not giving up, continued her persuit at pestering Ecco.
The slight chaos and anxiety of Trellia's entrance had died completely down. No one spoke a word about Ecco's outburst and attack of a fellow pod mate. Even the Council Members never whispered a word about him. Not a murmur was uttered, and it was for the better too.
Now the evening had come. Atlantis was dying down in activity. Chores now completed, calves raced each other and played tag among the sea weeds. Adults chatted without worries of any sort amongst one another. Aquamarine Bay saw few admirerers at the moment. Everyone seemed to be inside, starting a transformation from day to night.
The sun was a deep orange this calm day. Not a wind stirred the surface. The dancing light ripples along the white sand bottom had vanished, to only return tomorrow if the clouds allowed such a thing. The trees didn't sway, but stood perfectly still. Long shadows reached out across the lakes, as if groping for a catch of fish.
For the purpose of keeping things quiet, Ecco had requested from the Council Members themselves to keep the Temple off-limits to civilians for the remainder of the day and the next. This would allow Trellia to remain inside without bother, and Taren had asked to stay with her. There, they both could heal and be sealed from prying eyes. In the meantime, Ecco could devise an idea of how to get to the Cave of Secrets without dragging too much attention with him, and also...to deal with Karli.
Once more she was at his heels, nipping at his fluke, insisting she come along.
"Come on, Ecco! Let me come! Let me come!"
"No!" He popped his jaw angrily. His patience was running thin. He didn't want to yell at the girl, especially where others could see, but what else could he do? Karli was hardly fazed by the jaw pop. She didn't even flinch or pull away whatsoever.
"Just say 'yes' and I'll stop bothering you-"
"Karli!" This time, flipping his tail sideways, Ecco did a flipturn to instantly be facing Karli, eyes locked. The movement was so fast, Karli put on the brakes to prevent having a collision. He glared at her, face set in a tight frown. The sun's light was just perfect to change his blue crystal vision to an orange tinge, making his eyes glow. It only added to the affect. For once, Karli kept her mouth shut.
"For the last time. You will not come with us. It is dangerous. You will stay here and be a good little dolphin, got it?" He cocked his head sharply with his last two words, lips pulling back forcefully as he squeezed out the words. Karli's mouth seemed to be sealed shut. She could only nod her black head slightly.
"Good. Now, go to bed. When you awake, I will be gone. However, I should be back by the evening. Understand? I will figure everything out by then. Good night, Karli." Without even waiting for any response from her, Ecco whipped around, a little more violently then he probably intended, and swam calmly away, though his tail pump was noticeably stiff with forced evenness.
Karli frowned, snorting a few bubbles from her blow hole. She would get the trip. Ecco couldn't chase her away with just a few simple words.
"Lenthan, I need to ask you of a favor."
The older bottlenose pod leader merely smiled, his gray eyes crinkling with age lines along his face. His body bore scars of the average life, met from conflicts with predators and the occasional subordinate fellow dolphin needing to be placed in line.
"Ask away, Ecco. What do you need?"
"Well...it's about Karli." Lenthan chuckled and nodded slowly, his eyes closing in understanding.
"Ah, little Karli. Of course." Ecco seemed slightly ashamed at asking, but he took another breath to prepare for the question.
"I...I will be out later this evening. I suspect Karli may try to follow me...when I truly would like her to remain here, for various reasons," he added as Lenthan raised his brow slightly.
"So...you want me to restrain her? Spy on her? Baby-sit?" Ecco shook his head quickly from side to side, Lenthan breaking into laughter.
"No! No, I didn't mean that at all! I just..." Ecco sighed, fins drooping. "I just want her here, Lenthan. This may turn out to be...a little more adventurous than I want her to be in." Lenthan really raised his brow this time, jaw opening, but lips pulling back in a grin, as if finally understanding a confusing joke.
"Ooooh, Ecco, you should have stated that before! Another adventure? Another perilous voyage throughout the seas, battling past monsters and sea demons of all sorts, I presume?" He nudged Ecco playfully, like an older brother teasing his sibling. A slight shade of pink was visible on Ecco's cheeks, but Lenthan could only continue his smile.
"Well...actually, I was planning on just staying within the island range, Lenthan." Lenthan couldn't hide his dissapointment, hoping for another reason to be proud of his comrade. He just shrugged after a second.
"Of course, Ecco. Of course." He grinned again. "I will have someone...uh, let's call it 'distract' Karli. Good?" Ecco nodded after a minor pause.
"That will be fine."
"Taren. Taren, wake up."
Taren groaned and grumbled, not wanting to be dsiturbed from his slumber. He relcutantly opened a hazel eye, viewing blue gazing into his own.
"Ecco?"
"The moon is high. Help me wake Trellia. We must leave now while everyone else is asleep. We won't be seen."
Taren obeyed, not truly understanding everything going on at the moment. Trellia was awakened with even more refusal, but soon even she forced her eyes open and shook her head sleepily.
"Where are we headed?" She asked, suppressing a yawn. Ecco approached the door, singing quietly and cringing as it moaned loudly opening. He looked over his shoulder at the still half-asleep pair.
"Just outside the city is the coral reefs. Our destination lies in there."
Atlantis was completely silent. Any stranger may think the city was dead, abandoned, or something of that sort. The moon was only nearly full, but still incredibly bright. Clouds misted across the starry night, making the scenery appear hazy and covered with thin fog. The water allowed the weaker moonlight strain through particles, making the aquatic world glow in silvery light. Shadows reached out from rocks and columns. It was a dazzling, and yet unsettling, scene.
The light streaming through the surface settled along the backs of the trio. Trellia's mouthed opened in slight awe at the sight of Ecco. With the right angle, his skin seemed to glow a dull silver, like metal against all the dark features. Taren's dark markings were even more noticeable, making it look like shadows were painted across his sides and flanks. The moonlight made everything shimmer softly as white gems. This moonlit world was rarely seen by any others, for the normal dolphin would be dreaming happily away in their half-sleep. Trellia told herself to never forget this.
"Stay quiet. We don't want to wake any others...and to listen for followers." Ecco added the last part as a mumbled barely heard within his chirrup of a song. Both Taren and Trellia gave one another an odd look for this remark, but neither said a word. Ecco said to remain silent, so they would remain silent.
Although Atlantis was silver glowing warmly lit wonderland, the Coral Reefs transformed the moonlight into a more darker transition. Shadows seemed all the more darker and filled with loathsomeness. Every nook and cranny was probed with sonar. Dark passages were scutinized for sharks. The last thing needed was feeding frenzy at the peak of night.
Of course, everyone was so focused going forward that no one payed attention to the rear. No one thought of the possibility of someone coming from behind. No one noticed a small dark shape darting from corner to corner, keeping up with the group.
And yet, the trip didn't take that long. A wide bay area, waters calm and still with eerie quiet, stretched out before the trio. Ecco made no hesitation, but knew exactly where his destination lay. There was no need for words. The other two followed without questioning.
Sharply and oddly shaped pillars became visible ahead. They stood in a circle, revealing a dark mass in between them. It wasn't until the group got closer did Taren and Trellia realize it was a cave diving deep into the sand beneath the surface.
"We need to go into there?" Trellia asked, some suspicion in her song.
"In there lies the Gatekeeper, the guardian of the entrance." Ecco said.
A deep breath, and the group dove downward, entering the gaping hole. A sudden chill came over their backs. They felt the odd sense of being carefully watched. They weren't wanted here.
The Great Octopus doesn't like visitors...
Ecco recalled this advice from his past adventurous. Wanted or not, this was the only entrance...or at least the only one he knew of. Besides, the gatekeeper knew who Ecco was. The eight-armed giant was wise enough to have a good memory, regardless of its age.
"What is that?" Trellia squeaked. A great shadow emerged, a long tentacle stretching out, giving a warning.
"A Giant Octopus!" Taren sent out some clicks, the image coming back enormous in his eyes.
Arms reached out, as if wanting to grab the dolphins. They were out of reach, but the octopus refused to move from its spot.
Ecco looked beside him at the other two.
"Wait here out of reach. You are safe at this point. Let me converse a little. I'd rather be allowed through rather than cause a struggle." Trellia clicked forward, a slightly confused expression appearing.
"Let through? To where?" Ecco motioned towards the giant.
"Look closer. His treasure lies behind our obstacle."
Sure enough, a closer look revealed a small passageway. The dolphins couldn't dream of dashing through the small space provided between flesh and rock. Plus, the octopus could simply lean back and completely cover it. The creature needed to be lured out, but it seemed reluctant to do so at the moment. The arms were brandished threateningly, but the giant would not move position.
"We have to get into there?" Taren asked with some tone of doubt obvious. "How?" Ecco smirked slightly.
"Let me handle it."
The bottlenose swam foward. Taren's eyes widened.
"Ecco, wait! The octopus will spray-"
Nothing happened. The octopus brought its arms closer to its body, coiling them for attack, but instead remained perfectly still. The head was pointed directly at Ecco, apparently watching him. Did the octopus recognize him? Or did it sense something else, that perhaps maybe Ecco was not one to attack. Whatever the reason, the octopus stopped, giving Ecco time to speak.
"Gatekeeper...you are awake?" Ecco's song seemed to be squashed together. It was still delphine, recognizable by both Taren and Trellia, but the accent and way of speaking was so strange to them. How could the octopus possibly understand such tongue?
A low grumble rumbled throughout the cavern. It was crude and sharp sounding, but words were recognized. It took a while for Taren and Trellia to accept the fact that the Great Octopus was talking to Ecco.
...Awake...dolphin...Not welcome...leave...
"I must get through."
Leave...not wanted...
"You must let me through. I need to see the caves."
Will not...will not...
Ecco did not seem to be frustrated, but the others wondered what was to happen next. Ecco lowered his head, and forced his voice lower. A more authoritive voice was heard from him.
"You will let us pass, Gatekeeper. You will let The Immortal through."
Immortal...immortal... The Octopus repeated the word again and again to itself, as if wondering what it meant. Ecco nodded.
"The Immortal One requests to pass. Gatekeeper, stand aside. Let us see the caves."
Immortal not see treasure...take treasure...
"I will not take such treasure from you, Gatekeeper. I only wish to see it. Stand aside. The Immortal, Ecco, commands."
Ecco...Ecco...
Once again, the words were repeated, the walls of the cave vibrating softly with the harsh and low frequency. Trellia wanted to grind her teeth together, the sound of the giant's voice getting hard to listen to.
As if to help speed up a quicker decision, Ecco tilted his head. The moonlight sifting through, a small bit still managed to reveal the bottom of the cavern, reflecting off Ecco's stars. They glowed silver like the moon, like true stars burning beside their brother in the sky.
Ecco...Immortal...you may pass...
The giant suddenly shifted, arms coiling tightly in small balls of suckers and skin. The body was pushed upward by extra arms not noticed before, and the giant pulled and pushed himself sideways to reveal the entrance to the Cave of Secrets.
Ecco smiled, drooping his fins in satisfaciton. He honestly didn't expect it to be that easy, but perhaps he had underestimated to smartness of this beast, the ability to recognize one of importance.
The other two followed although they were shaking from nose to tail tip. The giant was a living shadow, melting into the dark walls as if it wasn't even there.
Ecco led the movement, but about the time his nose reached the point of entry, a shriek and roar exploded in his ear. The octopus bellowed in outrage at something, and Ecco wheeled about with quick reflexes to fight. However...Ecco had done nothing wrong. Something he hadn't considered had gone wrong.
Trespasser! Trespasser! Not allowed to treasure!
Though the other two dolphins had also been allowed in, another figure had tried to sneak past. Unfortunately for them, the octopus had better eyesight than thought.
"Ecco! Ecco!"
"Karli?"
Of course she had tried to sneak in. The whole scene dawned on Ecco like the sun rising after months of darkness.
The giant lunged forward, arms reaching out to capture the intruder. Karli dove towards to the ground for safety, the tentacles missing their target by only a meter.
"Karli! Karli, get out of range!" Ecco yelled, but his voice was barely heard above the roaring of the giant. For the first time in known history, the Gatekeeper left its post at the Cave of Secrets entrance. The beast moved forward, its bulk covering the distance with speed never guessed possible by such size.
"Karli, move!" Either Karli didn't hear or was too afraid to try to escape. The octopus would crush her in rage for trying to sneak pass it.
But Ecco was there. Coiling to charge, he buried fangs into a tentacle, teeth penetrating soft jelly-like skin easily. The octopus screeched, the sound piercing to the senses. In anger, black smog erupted in Ecco's face. The bottlenose snapped and yelled in pain, the ooze burning and stinging everything it touched. His sonar unable to guide him, Ecco was blind except for the tentacle still in his teeth.
The octopus thrashed about, roars echoing madly up and down the cavern. Taren and Trellia had dashed forward. Closing eyes for their protection against the burning ink, Taren went to assist Ecco. Trellia found Karli curled and trembling on the rock floor. Letting her fin tip touch the common adolescent, Trellia focused her mind on one thing, to move this child away from danger.
Using her tail, Trellia half drug, half pulled the common into the cave entrance.
No! No! Treasure lost!
The octopus took such intrusion as hard as a physical blow. Ecco was pummeled into the ground, hissing faltering as more teeth penetrated skin from another attacker.
Traitor! Betrayal!
More ink was sprayed, the thick purple ooze making the world black and empty. Taren pulled and pushed with all his might, freeing Ecco from the octopus' grasp and hurtling himself and the bottlenose into the entrance. The octopus gave one final yell of fury at its loss in guarding the purpose of its life, before the entrance was sealed shut with its own body. Any light once available was now gone.
"Is everyone all right?"
It was Taren who spoke, his voice trembling as much as himself.
"Such a beast...even I have never met such a creature as that..." Trellia muttered mostly to herself.
"Yeah, well, you're bound to run into more like that traveling with me, especially within these very caverns." This time it was Ecco, moaning audible after his sentence. Ecco tried to raise himself to a balanced position, but instead was sent rolling over to the other side. He lay on rock, battered and beaten, but happy that everyone was okay...even the cause of an unneccesary problem.
"Karli, how about you?"
Whimpering.
"Come now, are you all right?"
She refused to answer.
"If you think I'm mad, you're right. But what's done is done. You are stuck with us and there's nothing I can do about it, so it's pointless to be angry with you. Now tell me, are you all right?"
Sonar clicks could be heard, and Karli's body could be heard shuffling over to Ecco until her smaller snout bumbed into his.
"...I'm sorry..."
"Now, now. No need to cry. I'm okay, really. Just a scratch here and there." It was too late anyway, though, to stop her sorrow.
"...I'm...so...sorry..."
"Your guardian's right, Little Karli. Everyone is alive and will be okay. There is no need for tears."
This last statement was a female, but not Trellia. Trellia's dreamy song was nothing compared to this voice. The tune echoed just slightly, like a chorus of singers were chanting from far away. Everyone became suddenly hushed, but Ecco was heard trying to pull his head up.
"Who goes there?" Taren asked, a slight hint of suspicion in his voice. Whoever the female was, though, she seemed to decide to ignore Taren's question. Instead, she spoke towards the bottlenose.
"Dear Ecco! I didn't expect to see you again! Come along. Light and rest is available further inside. Come with me."
Various clicks could be heard. Trellia and Taren were scanning the newcomer. An image almost identical to what would be brought up if Ecco stood there came up. A little smaller, but no shorter than he, her head was held high and unafraid.
"Go with her," Ecco mumbled soflty. "Everything is fine now."
Trellia used her talents to levatate Ecco off the harsh stone ground. Taren hovered protectivly above Karli, while the new female led the way.
It wasn't really a very long tunnel to follow, but the time it took to go through took nearly forever, or so Karli thought.
I'm such an idiot.
No matter what Ecco said, it was her fault. Why did she have to come along? Curiosity? A thirst for adventure or perhaps a sense of abandonment? Or worse yet...jealousy?
"Not much longer now."
The tunnel had been so silent, the sudden voice made Taren start. Using echolocation, he saw the figure look over her shoulder at him, smiling.
"We are almost to my home."
Her home?
The tunnel mouth suddenly dipped downward and curved to the left, broadening out to expand into the walls of a gargantuan cavern. Running water and bubbling vents became audible. The deep dark cave walls were smooth rather than rough and cracked. Pillars of stone helped support the giant room of rock.
The strange new dolphin led along the wall to their right. A cluster of boulders rose a short distance from the wall, shimmering silver and white seaweed drifting and slithering upward. Bubbles erupted from the boulder cluster, causing the seaweed to sway with beauty, their color glittering with sparkles. Light cracked and forced it's way in from various directions, making it hard to determine where it was coming from. Sight was still hard, making echolocation a neccesity, but the seaweed made every attempt to shine, even with such little light. Taren wouldn't have been surprised if one could have been blinded by looking at them in daylight.
Color fish species also darted every direction. Silvery blue ones, dull greys, dark blacks, and even orange speckled groups. All the fish were very skittish, dashing away the moment they saw the dolphins approach. The bubble source created a constant and steady hum, a never ending sound. It made the dark seemingly endless cave seem more welcoming and not as threatening. And with the newcomer with them, Taren and Trellia were even more comfortable.
The dolphin was living beauty, a gorgeous being. Her very skin was white as the silvery strands of seaweed. Light blue-grey markings, much like Trellia's own, although wider like normal bottlenose markings, swirled around her shockingly bold blue eyes and flowed down her sides and flanks like running water. Her skin was untouched, few scars or markings denting her hide. When she spoke, it was unlike any dolphin song heard. It sounded like light made into sound, mellow and soft, but perfectly understood with clarity. No other being seemed to be in this cavern. How had she managed speak so clear with no one to talk to? Did she create conversation with herself?
"You may remain here all you wish. There is plentiful food, and air is always available." She gestured towards the air pocket. "I see you have brought friends along with you. My...times must have changed since I last saw the sun." She gave an odd look towards Trellia, but asked nothing more of her. Ecco, feeling a little more steady, and all ink being cleared from his face, managed to right himself and keep a steady position.
"Thank-you for leading us here. I must speak with you. I need your help." Her eyes widened slightly, their blue color glowing.
"Help, Ecco? The Guardian has not shattered again, has it? The glyphs positioned here have not spoken a word of distress." Ecco shook his head.
"No, no. This is of different matters. I believe a source of information is here, and I must see it. Can you be of service?" She took no hesitaiton in grinning brightly.
"Of course, Ecco." Taren cocked his head.
"May I ask something?" Ecco turned his head, mildly surprised at his speaking. The white dolphin, however, merely smiled all the more.
"Go ahead."
"How do you know Ecco?" She chuckled. Even her laugh was like music of light, making the small source seem all the brighter.
"During his last adventure, Ecco came through this very same cavern needing guidance on which direction to go. I was able to direct him correctly, as the glyphs here soon told me once the Guardian was restored." She turned to gaze upon him again, eyes twinkling. "I presume you need a direction again." Ecco could only smile.
"Indeed."
"Then tell me, and I will do all I can." Ecco took a breath at the air bubble, and then stood in front of her, looking deep into her eyes. Her smile vanished, knowing this was now time to think and concentrate to do all she could. If Ecco was involved, it was important.
"I'm looking for records. Records of any kind. Writing or something presenting location of a being called the Asterite. I have reason to believe some record may be here...hidden where I haven't looked or that I missed. Do you have any knowledge of such a thing?" The dolphin's eyes darted downward, swaying back and forth as she thought through many possibilities running through her head.
"Can you help us?" The dolphin closed her eyes, and gave a curt nod.
"Perhaps, I can." She smiled again, the light returning to her face. "Follow me."
All of them, including Karli, for Ecco hadn't spoken for her to stay as expected, followed in single file towards the center of the cavern.
"By the way...I never did learn your name before I left last time. I wanted to thank you for your assistance..." She glanced over her shoulder, chuckling again at Ecco, who had a half smile on his face.
"My name is Angel." Trellia paused momentarily. She found it an odd situation. Taren had asked her if she was an angel when they first met, and now this dolphin's name was Angel. Perhaps Taren had gotten his beings switched. The way the white dolphin spoke, swam, thought...everything! Trellia personally wouldn't be very shocked if Angel was part angel. She certainly was different, and Trellia wondered if Taren even knew what breed she was. What dolphin was almost pure white?
"I believe there may be one place that not even I have seen. It is heavily guarded, but obvious enough that it needed protection after these caves were forgotten and never used before. But why it is guarded so mercilessly, I do not know. I know nothing of this...Asterite, but perhaps you can answer why it is so protected."
Ecco seemed to recognize where he was headed within this cave.
"Angel, you can't mean the-"
"I certainly do. Where else haven't you looked? If it was of such importance, wouldn't you have noticed it before?"
"I...I suppose so, but-"
"This is the only place left, except in the tunnel maze of the Lightning Guard. But I don't believe that is a good hiding spot, because he remains in one spot until a trespasser is seen. This Guardian never leaves his post. It has to be the spot."
"What is she talking about?" Trellia whispered up to Taren, who was in front of her. The Spinner mearly shrugged. How was he to know? However, a small sqeak from Karli of seeing what was ahead soon revealed exactly what they were facing. Taren and Trellia soon understood why Ecco was so unsure as to this technique.
Dropping from up above, the ceiling became a small dark hole, and from that hole, a long arrow-shaped head peered out. Orange coloration along the eyes and back morphing to a creamy white belly and neck. A giant mouth opened to reveal rows of tiny needle teeth. A low hiss, giving a warning, echoed slightly in the cave. The head swayed back and forth a few times before the owner decided that its warning was given. The head disappeared, the nose resting just in view. The creature lay in wait, watching to see if any prey was foolish enough to come close enough.
"You're joking," Trellia snorted. "An eel. A giant flesh eating eel. No way."
"The only space I haven't checked," Ecco grumbled. He turned to Angel. "What do you propose we do. He won't leave his spot. Even if we managed to get close enough without him eating us, he still won't come out far enough for us to get into his tunnel." Angel cocked her head, her eyes looking around to the others behind Ecco.
"I...um, I noticed one of your followers is...in smaller size than the rest of us. Perhaps the guardian doesn't even have to leave at all-"
"Karli!" Both Taren and Ecco spat their surpise. Karli backfinned nervously.
"Nuh-uh! No way! I'm not getting anywhere near that thing!" Ecco looked at Angel as if she were crazy.
"She is only a child!"
"But she is the only one capable of fitting in there with enough room to spare for menuevering and seeing what lies behind the guardian," Angel claimed. "Besides, once she is passed the teeth, the Guardian is harmless. He will not leave his post, even if she gets past. Listen, it is our only chance of seeing what that eel guards besides the continuing path to Atlantis. What else can we do?"
Silence fell among the group. Ecco wondered if the eel was smart enough to understand them and was listening to their conversation. Ecco finally raised his head.
"What do we distract him with?"
"Ecco, no!" Trellia pulled herself clumsily forward. "Are you insane?"
"Consider it her punishment. She came for adventure? Well, here is her chance." Karli shook her black head back and forth.
"No, no, I can't! Ecco, I'm sorry! I really am, but don't make me go through this!" Ecco frowned at her, but switched to a smile.
"You'll be fine. Just follow Angel's instructions." Karli gaped at him, but Ecco turned around to face Angel once more. "No, what decoy will we use? Certainly not one of us." Angel chuckled again at this, the merry look returning to her eyes, as if she wasn't worried at all about what may happen to Karli.
"You left a friend here with me. I do believe he can still be put to work. He's been quite lazy and annoying at times, may I let you know," Angel grunted, Ecco letting a smile appear. "But he has made my cavern his home, and I really can't chase him out, since I don't know how!"
"Really? You think he still will respond to his song?" Angel nodded smoothly, a graceful nod with her diamond skin.
"A manta never forgets its tune."
"On my signal Karli, you dash in, and don't look back, understand? You will keep going forward and let us know what you see."
The common adolsecent nodded, gulping fearful at what she was about to do. All the others were positioned around the eel's tunnel, the creature still watching with tan colored eyes. Ecco gave a reasurring nod to her, clicking towards the manta ray hovering patiently in front of him.
"Go!" At the same time he cried out, a quick measure in length song burst from Ecco's melon. It ran upward in pitch, and danced around a single note for a second, before dieing away with its odd sounding harmony. However, the manta reacted with instant movement, swimming boldly forward without a care as to its direction. It just followed some invisible path set before it by the Manta's Song.
Karli crept foward. The eel's eyes could be seen following the ray as it moved under it. The manta reached the stone wall, and paused, confused as to what to do next. Curios, the eel inched out of its crevice, the nose twitching.
Karli pressed her fin against the wall, rising upward to be level with the eel's head. Still, the monster, continued to go downward, completely focused on the odd looking black creature in front of it.
"Now, Karli! Now!" The sudden burst of noise from Ecco made Karli literally scream and jump forward. In a flury of color, Karli saw the eyes of the eel snap on to her, teeth becoming bared in sudden hunger. A quick slap of the tail, and Karli was out of sight.
It all happened so fast; Karli took a few moments to listen to her heart race. (It seemed to echo within her very body.) On one side of her was solid rock. The other side, she could feel the heat from the long slimy eel body. Trying hard not to touch it, more from disgust rather than fear of alerting it she was still alive, Karli made her way up the verticle tunnel, seeing light at the other side.
She found this moment a little awkward. Soon the eel body wasn't there any more, she obviously going past the tail point. Karli felt her lungs start to be strained. She must have blown a flurish of bubbles in her haste to get into this tunnel...spending more air than she should have. The light, however, promised air.
And what a promise it was. Light flooded her eyes when she reached the tunnel end. Her first priority was to get air, but then she was allowed to take in the scenery around her.
It was a little piece of paradise compressed into one shallow pool. Karli was in a tiny circular pond, the water no more than 8 feet at the deepest point, which lay right below her where the tunnels mouth reposed. The water was crystal clear, unlike anything she had ever seen in Aquamarine Bay. The rock all around her was a more light color. Blues and greys rather than the browns and blacks she was used to. The surface, with the sunlight now coming through in mid-morning, glittered and sparkled like a solid gem, since the water wasn't disturbed by winds.
No fish lay in this water, but that did not matter. The tiny pool had plentiful seaweed in clusters of bright and dark greens. It was a gorgeous sight, and a much better scenery than the dark silent Cave of Secrets.
However, what kind of secret was this? A pond? As beautiful as it was, Ecco couldn't possibly find it useful...could he?
Karli pivoted slowly on the spot, eyes taking in every detail. Every crack, every corner, and eventually...she spotted something worthwhile.
"What is that?"
At that moment, a large splash was heard from behind. Karli spun around, almost screamed, but became incredibly relieved to see Ecco hovering there. He took in the scenery with awe, but only for a few seconds. He didn't seem as impressed by it...as if he had seen it before, or something similar to a point. He grinned as he came up to her.
"Turns out the eel wasn't too happy with you making it past him, Karli. He nearly came completely out of his tunnel! I took the opportunity to squeeze through myself. I wanted to see what was up here."
"It's beautiful...isn't it?" Ecco looked around.
"Yes, it truly is."
"Is this what you're looking for?" Karli motioned to the far stone wall. Ecco crept up to it, eyes scanning it thoroughly.
"How strange..."
It appeared to be writing, but of course, it wasn't in a language a dolphin could understand. Delphine was transfered through song, not written words. Even if a dolphin could read, it certainly wasn't true complete words or sentences!
N E E vv vv
v v> v >> (A)
"What kind of words are these?" Karli wrinkled her nose. Ecco stared at them, thinking, contemplating.
"I don't think they're words at all."
"What do you mean?"
"Look here..." Beside the writing, to the right, growth had covered what appeared to be a continuation to the carving in the stone wall. Using his snout, Ecco pushed and pulled the growth away, gasping at the surface when he saw what lay beneath it.
"It's him!"
"Who? Who?"
Ecco smiled slightly, giving a sniff, and chuckling softly.
"I don't believe it. The Asterite! I...I'm ashamed...I almost forgot what he looked like after these years."
Upon the stone wall was a carving of an image. A duo of lines made from small circles pressed into the stone crossed each other multiple times as they appeared to be twisting around one another. The image wasn't very big, perhaps a foot in height, but Ecco had a true look of nostalgia. Right above the carving lay a familiar symbol from the jumble of markings to the left.
(A)
"Are you all right, Ecco?"
"I'm fine. You know," he looked at Karli, a twinkle in his eye. "I don't think this is writing at all!" Karli cocked her head, slightly disturbed at his wry smile.
"Then what is it?"
"Directions! A written map to where the Asterite's cave is, from this very spot." Karli's eyes lit up. It made sense. Of course, it would take some studying, but Ecco would figure it out. He always did manage to understand the riddles and clues while battling the Foe, didn't he? Of course! She looked back at the carving.
"The Asterite...funny. I pictured him to look differently." Ecco laughed at Karli's remark.
"He looks nothing like this picture, Karli. He is much more magnificent."
"And we will get to see him?" Karli asked, excitement in her voice. Ecco nodded.
"Hopefully, we will."
Karli smiled, chuckling with pleasure inwardly. She took care to notice that Ecco didn't mention her not tagging along.
From the Author-
Ah, and another chapter completed. Feels good! Not only do we enter an old memory for many: the Cave of Secrets, but we also are introduced to another incoming character I've always loved and adored, but knew very little about because we only see them once. A little about the white dolphin that dwells in the cave: players see this being once, speak a couple of words, and then leave. In fact, it is never mentioned whether or not this being is male or female, but either way, I always thought this being was very wise and gentle, one who seems to know things.
I've always been very curios about the Cave of Secrets. I mean, it's called the Cave of SECRETS, but there really aren't that many SECRETS in it, are there? I never thought so. Let's see...the Power of Air, and the pathway to Atlantis isn't connected on to the Cave of Secrets, so that can't count. The Ray Song isn't a secret of the cave, because a dolphin teaches Ecco that. I've considered the presence of the two guardians very important though. There must be something that they guard for two of them to exist: the octopus and the eel. The cool freaky eel with lightning out of its eyes, the Lightning Guard I call him, guards the side entrance into Atlantis, yes, so his purpose is served, but he does not dwell in the Cave. And, the Cave of Secrets leads to nowhere...the Power of Air alone couldn't be a big enough secret for two guards. Either there is something else, or the giant animals weren't placed there for any particular reason, but just found this empty cavern as their home. For the purpose of gaming challenges, I can understand that the beasts were just placed there for no particular reason except for an obstacle to pass, but in the nature of stories, I highly doubt that is the case. However, this mystery of purpose, placement, and naming gave me the perfect spot to hide the thing Ecco needed most: directions. The only place I could think of placing the map was somewhere around that freaky eel that ate me a couple of times...(boy, that thing made me angry!) The real history and contents of the Cave of Secrets is different for every person through experience, but no matter what you find or see, it'll always be a cool place that makes you wonder what truly lies in there.
For Angel's name, it is kind of a neat little story. I was looking for an avatar in an online community I was active in in the past, and a few images of this white dolphin were available. For a title below it, they all had the name: "Angel." I thought it fit just perfectly, and I've always remembered and referred to that character as Angel since then. Since Angel is, I believe strongly, a girl's name, the character automatically became female for me. Hence, we are introduced to one of my favorite characters of whom we see so little in DotF. I've always wondered: who is she? Why is she down here? How did she get down here? And so, with the opportunity provided by fanfiction, I can create my own tales and versions of Angel's history. Yey!
Oh, and my apologies for the lack of a character. To all fans of the recluse in the caverns, sorry, but he (I'm guessing it's a he) doesn't appear. He actually does tell us his history and teaches Ecco the Ray Song in the game, but there was no room in the plot of this tale for him. But I do love him too. Thank-you, Recluse! Ecco couldn't have saved the world without you!
Forward...swim!
