Chapter 7

That night in Home Bay, Trellia was quite restless. The young dolphin had decided earlier to sleep a distance away from Ecco's pod. She was his descendant, and considered family therefore. However, she preferred to keep to herself most of the day, back in her time. Singers of this time are quite close, Trellia thought to herself. The members of her pod loved each other just as much as Ecco's pod, but because they escaped danger by long ago rising to the sky, they had no natural enemies. So, the singers were evolving to independence.

Well, I am not home anymore, she thought.

Try as she might, sleep never came to poor Trellia. She kept wondering whether her family was truly safe, just how Tiderider was doing, and most important, what lay ahead for she, Ecco, Tara, and this Kitnee.

Instead, she floated around the bay in silence and serenity. The Glyphs below were glowing faintly and it seemed Trellia could feel their pain. Or perhaps it was the pain she felt because the Glyphs were the point of the matter.

When she wandered from the pod before dusk, Trellia did not want to sleep underwater for fear of Hungry Ones. She was not at all serious to herself for sleeping above the sea, either, for fear that the mysterious darkness of death had found its way to Ecco's time.

She realized that if it had, someone would have mentioned it when the story was told; instead of staring in awe. Gathering her courage, she forced herself to look into the night sky as she has done many times before. It was clear, with millions of stars dotting the sky as the only source of light in the otherwise slightly moonlit bay. A crescent moon hung above, ready to fill itself again. It made Trellia smile knowing the moon's phases represented death and rebirth. Perhaps both sides, light and dark, would work together and bring us luck, she hoped.

So, she wandered ever so slowly and held her gaze back to the heavens. A warm breeze covered the bay, due to a pacific warm front. Fish were plentiful this time, and she watched before as Ecco's family gorged themselves with the small colorful dots of the sea. She even snickered at the memory of seeing Radero charge into the school and knock himself straight into two other little ones and his mother.

No fish for the impatient...

Suddenly, Trellia's eyes locked on the various constellations. Pegasus, where the Vortex came from; Orion, the fierce hunter, seemingly reincarnated into the Orca; Leo, Aries, Cancer, and the other Zodiac symbols; Draco, the sky dragon; Ursas Major and Minor, the two bears that point the way north; and finally, Delphineus, the god of cetaceans. Even the Orcas, the largest of the Delphine family, the once-dubbed Singers of the Sniper, had worshipped Delphineus. Trellia wondered whether such thoughts of the past and future and shape of the world had passed through Ecco's hopeful and pure mind.

Perhaps not, smiled Trellia.

She was turning around and searching for sleep once again, when her eyes turned from the sky to the sea. Below her she sensed a presence; using sonar, she found a dolphin.

The dolphin under the waves heard the song and looked up. It was Tara, out for a swim and midnight snack.

"Oh, Trellia, it's only you. You frightened me."

"Sorry. What are you doing up?"

Tara smiled. "I was about to ask the same of you. I was catching a midnight feed. I always take advantage of these fish swarms."

Trellia laughed back. "Hm. I guess I should stay awake the next time the flying fish swarm our bay at night."

"So, what are you doing out here?"

Trellia's eyes filled with thought. "I always stay awake long after the sun sleeps, until midnight, and look at the stars. Such peaceful nights give me comfort, and I consider it a personal ritual of mine to look for my inner peace. I usually find it buried under the stress of day."

Tara laughed. "You are much like Ecco, finding humor in everything."

Trellia cast her a look of doubt. "Not everything, Tara. I always put duty before pleasure. It is my right and privilege; I am one of the higher ranking members in my pod."

Tara turned slightly serious. "Should I bow next time I grace you with my presence?"

Trellia giggled. "No, I allow anyone I meet to address me as they will. No matter what they say, I have something to say back. Under other circumstances, I do not talk at all."

Tara seemed to sigh. "Good. Hey, do you want to come and feed with me? There is plenty, and you didn't eat much last time. Unless you are too tired."

Trellia sank lower. "Was that last sentence a dare?"

"Nah, just a pang of concern. Come on!"

Tara leaped back under the water, and Trellia immediately followed. The two singers dodged and wove through vast schools of fish, in all colors; acrobatic skills were evident in both. Trellia knew she had found a friend in Tara.

"So Trellia, what is pod life like over in your time, anyway?"

Trellia stopped swimming. "It is a bit more independent than yours. The pod members each have a path to go in the day, free to wander as they please. Males are usually in groups of one or two, and the females are somewhat off alone. I am sometimes off by myself, but sometimes I see my friends and stay with them. Male or female."

Tara giggled. "Do you have someone you care for?"

Trellia blushed and Tara laughed. She answered, "Yes. But he is in trouble back where I am. You know the mysterious crimson fog we told you about? He is held captive there, and I must save him."

Tara's look turned from optimistic to pure concern. "I am sorry. I will be glad to help."

"But please, do not remind Ecco. I don't want pity, even from him."

"Promise" answered Tara in a solemn tone. "I would be just as sad as you, if something happened to Ecco."

Trellia turned to her slowly. "Ecco?"

Now Tara blushed. "Well, better go back to the pod. You should sleep now."

"Yes MOM," joked Trellia.

Tara swam back to the pod, and Trellia finally closed her eyes and let her mind wander. Interesting, the things I find while traveling, she thought.

The night was uneventful for Trellia; no nightmares, no dreams, no visions of danger; just darkness seen through her eyelids. All was peaceful, hopeful, and almost perfect. In a time not known to her, she was already comfortable.

By dawn, the entire pod was gathered around Ecco and Tara to wish them luck on their quest. Trellia happened to swim up into the circle behind them all. Ecco's mother was telling him to please mind his manners if he saw the whales, to be careful with the Orcas, to not get into trouble, etcetera.

Ecco's young brother and cousins were the most excited. "Please tell us all about your adventure when you get back!" they all sang to him. One young one even said, "I am gonna be like Ecco when I am older and tour the seas."

Enuia and Radero were the first to notice Trellia as she was swimming up. "Look mother, the funny singer is here."

"Radero, be polite!" Enuia whistled to her son, whom perhaps didn't hear his mother, as Trellia greeted them.

Ecco smiled upon seeing his descendant. "How was your sleep, Trellia? You didn't have any nightmares, I hope."

"No, thank you. I slept rather serenely."

"That's all fine and well, can we go now?" answered Tara.

Ecco ignored her and the three of them hovered in the center of the circle of dolphins. "Now, can you all fare without me?" Ecco asked the pod.

"You don't worry about us, I will protect the pod and we will not leave the bay," his mother answered. She was the eldest of the pod, the matriarch. Ecco may have been the leader in male terms, but his mother was still in somewhat higher authority.

"Breakfast!" They all cried. The pod took a break to surface for air, then they all went after the still plentiful fish schools. Ecco, Trellia, and Tara swam together to trap the fish near the surface, in a net made of bubbles from underwater. After the fish were trapped, the dolphins swam in and out of schools, darting and weaving through a kaleidoscope of grand color. Caught up by the feast, a few porpoises joined the dolphins. Usually the small playful singers were only tolerated around the bay, but the fish put all in such high spirits that they were welcomed. Trellia smiled at so much peace between different singers.

Finally, the three adventurous yet full singers bid their last good-byes to the pod, assured the young ones they will tell of their journey, and put the older ones at ease. These three were young, but trustworthy beyond all imaginings.

The dolphins turned north towards the end of the bay, in the direction of the open ocean. Ecco, leading the charge, shot his silver body out of the water fast as lightning. He whistled his battle song as he crashed back down to the sea, the stars on his brow white with blazing anticipation and energy. Tara whistled her own battle song with the impression of a warrior, and darted after Ecco as he leapt in and out of the water; they were racing towards the unknown. Trellia was not far behind them, and even showed off as she leapt by floating in midair, higher and higher, watching the singers of the past as they only dreamed of flight; as they jumped free of the barrier.

It was not long before the three had left the bay far behind them. The open ocean was beautiful, yet dangerous; mysterious, yet known. The Shelled Ones on the floor were a blessing to any singer; if they were hurt. If one sang to the Shelled Ones, they would heal their wounds. Fish were plentiful, and some were as large as the dolphins themselves. Those, however, were not even Hungry Ones.

On and on they raced, flippers breaking the air above and the sea below. Trellia kept pace all the way, Tara and Ecco in front. They darted through schools of fish for food, rested their bodies when exhausted, and whistled their content when they were of again.

The trip was pleasant, but in the open seas, the opportunity for danger was always present. Ecco still possessed powers from the Asterite when a fight came down, but Tara had to defend herself still. Trellia could always float away from danger.

At one point, the dolphins almost collided with a pack of hammerhead sharks, all swimming in one direction. The three were strong, but they couldn't hold off such machines of eternal hunger for long. The sharks swam as one, dozens of them, towards the singers.

Trellia lifted Tara out of danger as Ecco used his song to confuse the Hungry Ones and prevent them from attacking. He still lost plenty of energy just dodging them. When they were all clear again, Ecco swam downward to a Shelled One and Trellia dropped Tara back into the sea.

"Thank you, Trellia. It is useful to have you along for the trip. I could have dealt with them, though."

"Ha, right. Just call me, and I will arise you out of harm's way," she replied.

Ecco came back up, his body energized again as if there weren't any evidence of the Hungry Ones at all. "I am glad you are safe, Tara. You have good coordination, Trellia. Now come, we must still make the most of the day."

The singers agreed and resumed racing towards far-off bays, where the plan was to find another singer able to use the Caller's Song. First thing, though, they had to find the Asterite of this time. He may only know as much as the Asterite within the light future, but it was a leading idea nonetheless. After that, they would find Kitnee.

After awhile, Tara was bored and exhausted from the extremely long trip. "Ecco, you have been to see the Asterite more than once, do you not know a shorter way there?"

Ecco sighed. "No. The first time was as long as this, up to the northern seas and back over. The next few times I used transporter rings to take me the next few miles without using up my energy with at least twenty strokes of my fluke. For some reason, though, the rings have disappeared. For now, we deal with the long way."

Trellia was listening in to the conversation and laughed at Tara's impatience. They pressed on during the day, past the Shadowless Hour, into the time when the sun was only thinking about dusk. The singers ate, avoided sharks, raced through the rip tides, and watched as the moon took shape in the darkening sky. Their silvery sleek bodies shined and glared in the sun's bright intensity, as still they powered in and out of an ocean that was cooling fast.

Soon enough, after days of hard-paced swimming, the grand songs of Orca wound their ways into the heart and souls of the trio. Even keeping watch from the sky, Trellia's sleek body felt tremors of fear upon hearing the hunting notes of the killers...a Transie pod no doubt of it. She stole nervous glances at her ancestor and Tara, but the two powered toward the sound, confident in their journey. She trusted them...they were the only help she had...

Soon, the black and white bodies of the Sniper Singers were full within their sights. The leader of the pod, a large battle-scarred male with a tall proud dorsal fin that sliced effortlessly through the churning water, sensed the dolphins and ordered his pod to surround them. The whole lot looked upon the dolphins in potential hunger, but was prepared certainly to hear their words.

"Speak now, little ones, lest you make a fast meal for my pod to devour," the male growled.

Ecco, in the lead as usual, pushed Tara away just as she looked about to charge the brute. His forehead lowered, and in the eyes of a gasping crowd of Orcas shone the five points of Delphineus on his brow. His head came up with a grin on his beak, knowing now that the creatures wouldn't dare try to kill the hero.

"Ecco...my, what an honor it is to encounter you and your comrades...you are on a mission, I trust?"

"We are," he answered, "On our journey we've heard depressing songs of the great whales, and gathering about the oceans are many pods and many Singers, hoping to ban together against a new darkness approaching. We've indeed sensed it. Know you where the Orca Kitnee is present?"

"Over here!" grunted a new voice. As the crowd of Singers backed away, they revealed a young Sniper Singer, whose countenance Tara and Ecco easily recognized as their childhood friend. Trellia, believing it to be safe, slowly lowered herself into the water as they sang their greetings.

"You've grown a lot since we've last seen you, Kitnee," Tara pointed out.

He nodded and turned to Ecco. "It is wonderful to see you again. My family has started their migration to the far reaches of the north, so tell me, what do you seek me for?"

Ecco smiled. "Kitnee, Tara and I, and my descendant from the far future, Trellia, wish for you to aid in our quest. The glyphs far and wide are faltering, and with it the strands of time itself."

"Wanna come along?" Tara added.

The young Orca nodded slowly, singing with thought. "It would be an honor to travel with you again, Ecco...but I am not sure..."

The pod leader nudged Kitnee. "You may go with them, my son. The Great Ecco wishes for your help, so shall you give it. Besides that, remember, you have something to give to him."

Kitnee's eyes widened. "Oh yes, of course! Thank you, Father."

With a fond song of farewell to his departing pod, Kitnee turned to his friends. "Ecco, take a glance at my left flipper and carefully unwind the pendant from it, won't you?"

He did so, and when it was fully unwound, they beheld a small, shining stone in the shape of a glyph with runes of Atlantis etched upon it. The amulet pulsated with energy and light. "What is this?" Ecco inquired.

Kitnee shrugged with his flukes. "I found it while we were passing the waters of Atlantis. It seemed to call to me, so I became its messenger, I guess. It has to be important, as it hums when a glyph is near. Since this has to do with the strange crystals, I suggest we keep it."

Ecco let the crystal sink down until the band holding the crystal was carefully wrapped around his neck. "You've good powers of observation, Kitnee, perhaps it'll help."

"Indeed. Now, let us travel."

Ecco nodded. Tara muttered, "Finally," and Trellia without a word for herself leapt from the waves and hovered in the air.

Things had gotten more interesting.