Cariu cringed upon hearing it again, for the hundredth time that day: a piercing howl of death that seemed to grind through the minds of Singers and make them deaf to their own. Even from where she was, foul blood could still be tasted in the water, sounds of battle could be sensed from beyond the massive walls of ice.

During the battle, she had ordered the retreat of the Orca, whilst their allies of narwhal and beluga agreed with much difficulty to battle the killers that came to be known as Seer-Beasts...to the dismay of those devoted to the legend. Another songless screech echoed through the very ice stones, telling the Orcas trapped safely in their chambers that another Seer-Beast heart had been pierced by narwhal ivory.

Their safe haven was in a giant iceburg which had gained a giant chamber on the inside after years of weathering away from a fishing hole in the land above. Thankful to the knowledge of the north waters that the matriarch kept, she had led them there, and even now the place was a sheltered and armored ball of crystal and cold with but a single spot in the ice that led to the surface and precious air above.

Many of the warriors of different pods were snarling to themselves and to each other, the word "cowardice" passed around continually. They wanted to stay and fight for the safety and dignity of their kind, whilst others knew the truth in living to fight another day.

Seidrac was only one of the few that hung in the middle. She lamented silently. "My poor pod...my greatest hunters were mutilated and destroyed, and what am I doing? Hiding!" She chanted the word over and over like a curse until she was hushed by the members of her pod that were left with her, with calm whispers of reassurance to give armor to her tears.

As Cariu looked around the group that she had gathered into safety, she saw the extent of their conditions. Many hung in utter silence and thought, their injuries making their bodies spasm upon moving. Others, young and old, kept to the injured with great haste, using their energy for healing...not killing.

Out of her eye, she also noticed her son. Ronon kept his gaze to the shifting light in the ice walls, thoughts moving in and out of his mind, their presence betrayed by his eyes as he caught his mother's gaze. "Something has been bothering me since the beginning of this..." he said, hushing the whispers of the large pod, somehow gaining each individual's attention. "Were the Seers really the ones that gave the power of song to us?"

The matriarch hummed. "That is what the legend speaks. But never before have I believed in legend, for stories have a way of making others chase a false promise. I sing, and think nothing more of how."

Seidrac sighed. "I was always taught that song was simply ours to begin with. It wasn't a gift, a promise, nothing like that...we always had it."

Reaching for a breath, all Cariu could do was wonder about the extent of it all. Ecco, friends, I hope and pray for safety upon your fins.


Scaroth lunged at the creature, blood as always boiled and ready for war. His eyes shone the lust of the kill, though not for food but for vengeance. The Seer-Beast that had trespassed in warm waters and had not been harmed only grinded its teeth, producing a sound that had no trace of song in it. Turning and moving out of the way of the barreling Orca, its gaze turned upon Ecco.

The dolphin chirped and charged as well...to his surprise, the creature's fluke dealt him a blow that knocked him harmlessly away like one flicking away a pebble. Stunned, dazed, Ecco was surprised at how a charge powerful enough to break through stone had no effect.

The beluga Glacier turned to his narwhal ally Bro-aht. "Brother singer, aren't you going to help our Orca brother?"

Bro-aht sliced his tusk through empty water as he smirked. "Oh, I'll help alright...I'll dispatch of that beast, then help that demon dolphin with his death."

As he charged forth, Glacier called after him. "Will you let go of your prejudice just once? You're going to have us killed, if not by that beast then by a vengeful Orca!"

Biransa watched from behind the giant Sawtooth, half anxious to join the fight and half wanting safety for her unborn. "I'm sure you have our immunity for the moment, Glacier, it's that thing you have to worry about."

Sawtooth's eyes rolled as he edged closer to the battle. "Can someone please tell me what that thing is?" the sperm whale inquired.

Ecco shook his head, freeing him from his daze. "We believe they were dispatched by the Seers to rid the waters of all singers who aren't whales...that is to say, the ones without teeth."

The whale's eyes widened. "That thing? Hah! Couldn't be." With confused eyes, the others let the whale move forward with a good amount of speed, releasing a blast of sonar that stunned the beast and made it spasm. A few octaves higher went Sawtooth's voice, and the creature screamed in pain, left stunned and bleeding from its inner ears upon the surface.

Sawtooth turned around slowly, laughing at the surprised looks on his comrades' eyes. "I've seen a few of those around here, but they're easy to take care of. Just gotta know how to get above that racket that they call speaking." He laughed. "If the Seers are what I'm thinking they are, then they couldn't possibly have created creatures without song."

Scaroth stared for a moment, then laughed. "Okay...maybe I'll save the eating him for after this is all over..."

Bro-aht thrust his tusk lightly but threateningly against the Orca's flank. "Watch it, sniper, else you'll not be able to eat anything..."

Biransa cut through the angered males as they started swimming again, pausing by Ecco's side. "So, what do you know of the Seers, Sawtooth?"

Ecco nodded. "Yes, tell us."

The whale seemed to shrug with his fins as he rose for a breath, his great square jaw opening and closing again. "I know only what my family knows about these so-called Seers...that they created singer-kind and they live in a paradise of indescribable beauty, a place that was for the gods' chosen ones alone.

"They blessed the sea and its most intelligent creatures with song and left it at that...whatever life arose from notes passed through the ages, whatever each raced used its crescendo for, it was their choice. The Keystone Song, as far as my kind knows, is but only a song...a song that when understood by the great ancient whales tells of paradise. Only the gods could open the gates...only ones with their influence could enter without singing."

Ecco thought for a moment, back to his experience with the Seers. "So, there's a way to go in without using the Keystone Song?"

The whale nodded. "Like I said, only individuals with the influence of the gods could do so, even if they know not how."

"Then how could I have..." the dolphin started, then silenced himself. Ecco's head lowered briefly, letting the stars adorning his head shine against the light of the sun's glare. As the comrades took eye upon the dolphin's markings, the mark of Delphineus, each of them smiled one by one.

"Then perhaps there is a way..." Glacier muttered.