The one called Darcteis grinned with anticipation at a dolphin so close to his jaws...so close that he could taste it. Dolphins were extremely rare in the north seas...and yet, here one was.

Ecco glanced around nervously, but his muscles bunched up as if he were ready to charge. "Go ahead, try and eat me," he challenged the Orcas, "you will get very much resistance."

"With pleasure, Stuuku...delicacy..." Darcteis laughed and started to swim forward, but a snap of Cariu's jaws stopped him.

"Silence and halt, Darcteis. You know one of our most sacred laws must be upheld, even in our hunting grounds: we listen to the singer before we act. Or else, we break the bond with all of Delphineus' children." The old matriarch grinned. "Forgive my soldiers...they are wonderful warriors, but a bit long on arrogance. They know that killing you outright would make them all Chistaktun," she said, the Orca word for "idiot" directed at Darcteis specifically. The others heeded her and stayed back.

"Now, you say your name is Ecco." Cariu nodded. "I've heard of you...I've yet to find what singer hasn't. But even with the mark of Delphineus before them, my eyes have seen too much deceit to believe what comes to me." The female took a brief blow at the surface. "So, I graciously grant you all the time you need to explain yourself. Then maybe I'll consider your claim of danger."

Ecco bowed. "Thank you, O mighty predator...I can see why you've been chosen as Matriarch. You're quite generous."

Cariu chuckled, which slowly turned into a snarl. "I'm also quite impatient. Now come to your point."

The dolphin nodded quickly. "Yes, well...as I've said, I've come searching for Orcas, any Orcas, who would listen to me. Some time ago I found a young calf of your kind, injured and dying. I tried, but he couldn't be helped...he told me of these creatures with green and red colors, faster than an Orca and powerful enough to destroy them. Their only weakness that I've known so far is that they cannot stand warm water, and so thrive here. That's why I've come to warn you, my cousins, please heed me and leave here." he finished.

Cariu tilted her head thoughtfully. "Fascinating story...and yet, you want us to disrupt our most ancient traditions and turn away from our migration."

"No, no, it's not that! I wouldn't come this far if it were not important!" Ecco insisted.

Darcteis growled, but Ronon blocked his path. "Take it easy...you'll get your meal, just wait...I'm intrigued..."

"As am I..." the large female called Biransa mused in a voice that was low and somewhat soothing. "I wouldn't take all warnings for untruth. Not with my calf still growing within me."

The other female, Seidrac, hummed in curiosity. "So you say this calf came from one of the pods in the north before they were destroyed by this...thing? What'd the calf look like?"

The remaining male, Scaroth, retained his silence, but in his eyes were pure worry. Please...

Ecco thought for a moment. "He looked like any other small one of yours, really...and I got the impression that his pod was to be the last to arrive at the frozen waters before they were attacked..."

"The last..." a low, deep voice mused before erupting. "The last!"

All eyes turned to Scaroth. "What ails you, brother?" Ronon asked gently.

Scaroth came forward, bowing his melon. "Forgive me, Diricha... but I wasn't entirely truthful when I told you that I'd sent my pod to hunt on their own when I met you. M..." he gulped. "My pod was the last to arrive...but only I survive from them now." He sighed. "Ecco speaks the truth. These horrible creatures...I couldn't count how many overwhelmed us...my mate, my brothers and sisters, my cousins, my friends, my entire family were all decimated, not a bone left behind, their blood covered the ocean red...I escaped with my life...and there was only one young one that escaped also, barely alive. I was the one that sent him away for help."

The others gasped, and Cariu looked on forlornly. Small talks of "it was of our pod..." and "it's true..." rose from the others. All was silent before Ronon spoke up again. "So who was this young one, Scaroth?"

The marked male didn't remove the gaze from the dark sea hanging beneath him. "He was my son." He sighed as if trying not to cry.

The silence carried on. "So...you're a loner, now..." Seidrac said.

Ronon smiled. "My old friend, if my mother heeds it, you have an honorable place in my pod. We are terribly sorry of your loss." The others vocalized in agreement.

Ecco chirped. "All well and fine, but now that all of you know the truth, we should leave, now. If it was Scaroth's pod those things attacked, they could be near."

Suddenly, the terrifying sound of gnashing teeth were heard again.

Cariu snarled. "Too late..." As the shadows started moving, she glanced at Scaroth. "You've led them straight to us."