It was a many-days swim before the group of cetaceans finally gathered their bearings. With the help of everyone's migratory knowledge, and Ecco's guidance from the Asterite, he found that they were quite close to where he called home, deep in the ocean trenches connecting Moray Abyss and the Deep Water Zone.
The trip wasn't easy, however. Though the strange beasts were left far behind them, more of the ocean's familiar dangers followed. Rogue singer pods that would kill for simple fun...hordes of sharks moving like a mindless, trained army...in a long time since the disappearance of the Vortex, the waves and all creatures in tune with it were at unrest.
Not to mention that at times, the Orca keeping companions with the group would have some trouble keeping their urges in check.
Bro-aht, the narwhal, had his tusk trained like a lance upon Scaroth as the brute snarled. "Cease pointing that dagger at me, or it will drift with your meatless bones to the ocean floor!"
"I will relinquish my 'dagger' if you stay your jaws, Sniper Singer. I can see it in your eyes that you long for our flesh," he retorted.
Ecco quickly came between the spear and the teeth. "Both of you, backfin from each other, now!"
Scaroth looked as if to charge the dolphin, but Biransa clacked her jaws. "Listen to the great Ecco. It is not far now, I can sense it," the mother-to-be sang softly. The large male calmed himself, and with the help of the beluga Glacier, so too did Bro-aht.
"Great Orca..." started Glacier, "If you long to feast, there are always fish and sharks to indulge."
The brute scoffed. "Small prey...a seal would do better."
Ecco smirked to himself as the others followed him with remote tension. What a group we have...two warriors of different pods, a pregnant Orca, and a peacekeeper beluga, following a dolphin smaller than any of them. I wonder if the Asterite is ever surprised at such events. I'm surprised that I'm not.
The sun appeared to vanish behind the horizon, the last of it's life-giving, blinding light brilliantly shining upon the silver sea. The clouds took its light and painted it all colors, giving the west a brilliant coat that twilight dawn could never mirror. It was here, at such a calm hour, at dusk, that Ecco and his party found the edge of what the singers called Shadow's Canyon, a wide plain of large trenches and cracks in the earth that housed dangerous creatures. Here was the Moray Abyss, and far beyond was the entrance to Deep Water.
"Careful, all..." Ecco warned, "This place is guarded by a multitude of large beasts. I had to go through a giant moray eel once to start piecing the Asterite together again. It is here he rests."
"The dolphin knows not who he talks to. I'm sure we could handle anything," Scaroth retorted.
"And I'm sure we can't take many chances, Orca," Glacier retorted back.
With a deep breath for each, the pod descended into the dark depths of the trenches, using sonar as their guiding eyes. It wasn't long before Ecco felt the familiar presence of the great entity.
Lying in the center of the deepest trench, in a pool of water so pure with its energy that the singers could breathe upon entering it, was a giant mass of colored orbs swirling in a set pattern, a double-helix. As much a mystery as it is respected for its wisdom by singers, the Asterite finally appeared to them, and those who had not yet beheld him gaped in awe. Even Scaroth looked upon the form with interest.
Ecco, my friend...I am happy to hear your songs once again. Ah, and you've brought a small army with you as well... he chuckled.
Ecco laughed as he let the others introduce themselves, each bowing their heads respectively.
"Diri-Biransa."
"Scaroth," the other Orca said without using the title given to podleaders...he had no pod to lead anymore.
"Bro-aht of the West Iceburg."
"Misu-Glacier."
Aye, welcome to all of you. I assume again you have questions, Ecco?
"Again, you assume right. Why do you call us here? What have you to tell us about the situation at hand?"
The orbs seemed to spin slower as the Asterite began his tale. The seers spoke the truth to you, Ecco. Indeed you had stumbled upon their most ancient and secret paradise. It was long ago that a portion of land upon the planet was claimed by the ancient sea's rulers, the primitive whales. When the singers of land took the ocean, they eventually survived over the ancient rulers and the land was theirs. They developed their songs until they could command life itself in that one spot. They wanted to have as much peace in the oceans as possible, and their songs destroyed sadness and healed the wounded.
It was inevitable. The planet was changing, and soon their land would too change. It moved to form a giant portion of ice to the poles, the north seas permanently freezing everything. The ancient whales never abandoned the land they called their own. Through the energies they commanded, they proceeded to save what was left of a land of warm and plenty, and singers were created to help protect it. They made all sorts of songs, to be sung by the different creatures that creation itself helped spawn.
But not everyone was destined to protect. Some pods were given the freedom to split away and be free for their own, given their own portion of the planet's energy...the first that were given their freedom had used it rashly, for power, and were so cursed by the seers and all other singers.
The rest were restricted, and given their freedoms. Their songs changed. But the whales did not change. They flourished, and though many kinds arrived, they all still sang the songs of legends.
However, the land could still not be kept from changing. The seers eventually sealed themselves in a seperate dimension, a seperate time to call their own, along with their world. Only a few whales were able to enter their long forgotten paradise...using a special song that they called the Keystone Song...only they could use it. The others would forever come to cold waters, only to never find their forgotten world again.
Time passed, and the whales that had kept the Keystone Song died...they taught the song to their children, but they could never sing it as well, and so they knew of paradise but never could enter it.
When the Keystone holders passed away, the seers and their land was hidden away forever...as long as they thought that one Keystone holder still lived, the world would be protected, as would their home.
But it was only until recently that the seers decided that the seas must once again belong to the true singers.
The Asterite silenced, and left this for the others to figure out. Biransa glanced between everyone, wondering if she should speak up, and finally decided to. "So...the first singers to abuse their powers...were Orcas."
Glacier nodded. "And the seers...created singers? So, those creatures..."
Correct. The seers created the beasts that hunger for Orca flesh. Their only purpose is to clear the seas of what they call abominations. Orcas are the first choice. After they are gone, their creations will mutate for purposes of going after the others until none are left. Then, whales are promised to see their paradise again.
"Is that why none came to our aid?" Ecco asked. "But...I refuse to believe that the Great Singers themselves are malevolent like this."
It isn't the whales, Ecco. There is another force. The paradise of the seers must be opened for it to be revealed and the seas will have hope again. But, it is impossible.
"How?" Ecco inquired. "All we must do is find one of the Keystone holders, right? Doesn't one still exist?"
The Asterite's globes wavered in a long sigh. No, Ecco. It was in the recent years, some time ago, that the last Keystone holder died. And now that he is gone, there doesn't seem to be a way to open the paradise again.
Bro-aht shook his head. "There has to be a way. Ecco found a way in, so there should be a way to open the thing. Who was the last Keystone Singer anyway, maybe he has a descendant with the song."
He doesn't to my knowledge. The last Keystone holder died in the north seas. And it was Ecco who witnessed the death.
Ecco's eyes widened and his breath stopped as all eyes turned to him. In a still pause, Ecco uttered in a song that stuttered and touched his very heart.
"Big Blue..."
