What lurks below..?
⎈Username: Fo55il⎈
⎈Name: Saunton ⎈
⎈Gender: Male [He/him]⎈
⎈Prompt:⎈
Saunton was always the more social type.
It was a key factor to him and his pod, to communicate. His pod had made its home and territory in the darkness of a trench, an abyss where no light could reach.
They carved their homes into the cliff of the trench itself, making winding tunnels that eventually connected into one big room. The dining hall.
The dining hall had many special uses. Where two members of the pod will seal their fate as life long partners. To celebrate the newest member. And when it was time for a new leader, they had a special ceremony with a large feast prepared.
Life was perfect for Saunton. He couldn’t wish for anything better. He had friends and he had a family. It was perfect.
One-day when a hunting party was sent out to prepare a feast for the newest crowned leader, Saunton’s sister, Arledge. Alarming news came back with it. The fish that they often hunted, near where the trench started, was gone. Coral was destroyed and seaweed was torn up. Rocks were smashed. It was a concerning sight to see.
The new leader was in a difficult situation as their pod could be in danger with whatever had caused that destruction near their territory.
She couldn’t take that risk of letting it come to them while they were unprepared.
Eventually she called the pod together for a meeting. Staring down at each of them with a serious look in her eyes.
“Three parties, each holding a member of five, will be sent out to patrol and investigate. On a routine of dawn, midday and nightfall.”
She watched their reactions closely, “The younglings of the pod will be housed together with their mothers, while being protected by guards. On the same routine as the patrols.”
Saunton was already dwelling in his thoughts as his sister spoke, wondering what if.. What if they still get attacked by that thing up there?
He swallowed a bit. He was terrified of what may happen. He was sure his sister was too. He glanced at some faces in the crowd he was in. They all were. The younglings especially. They were terrified.
His heart gave a painful lurch at their expression. And he focused ahead again.
After the patrol groups had been selected, Saunton offered to be in the nightly patrol, and they departed into their homes, the younglings all bunched together. Some trilling and squealing as they played the tensful atmosphere away.
Days and nights dragged on. Some are already forgetting about the threat that had been reported all those days ago.
Despite there being no sign of anything dangerous to them, the leader of the pod still ordered for the patrols to continue.
One night it changed.
Saunton and his group had swam up to where the light reached, and was shocked to find large claw marks all over the remaining rocks scattered around the seabed. Hesitantly, the group swam out to investigate, trilling and communicating softly.
It was somewhere nearby.
Saunton couldn’t even process what was happening before the group met face to face with the creature. And they attempted to drive it away from their territory. It was unsuccessful as Saunton was knocked into a rock, breaking it with the force he had been thrown with. His head rang as his vision blurred. The chaos around him was still going on as he attempted to get up, but was unable to. Due to some parts of the rock pinning him down. His vision blurred again as he watched his group go to the trench, attempting to get their pod away from the danger before his vision went black.
***
Saunton’s entire body ached with the former encounter when he came to be. Blinking his vision back into focus. The bright rays of sun hurt his eyes, as he was more adjusted to the darkness in the abyss. The place was a mess like the first time there was a sign of something bigger and more dangerous here.
He sighed weakly and managed to get the debris off of him. Staring at the direction of the trench now.
His throat tightened and his heart gave another lurch, swallowing a lump as he backed off a bit. Wincing at the pain. He didn’t want to go look. He didn’t want to run into that thing again. He only hoped his pod managed to get away.
Biting back the tears and sniffling a bit, he rushed off. Not looking back at where he had once called home.
Once Saunton was far away, he lifted his claws to his face and cried. He was alone and he was hurt. His perfect life had fallen apart just within one night. And there was nothing Saunton could’ve done to prevent it.
Saunton didn’t know how long it was until he managed to get himself together. But once he did he went off to look for his pod.
He was alien to those in the more shallow regions of the water. His intimidating appearance scaring off potential new friends. The wounds that were caused by that encounter healed into scars. A constant reminder that he was alone. And a warning to others that he might be a danger to them. Which was false.
Over time Saunton’s desire branched away from meeting his pod again. It had turned into a desire of being accepted by anyone at this point. Often attempting to communicate with others. Which never ended how Saunton hoped for.
The orca from the deep, as they referred to him, was alone. And he didn’t know how long he would be alone for. He craved a companion to communicate with. A companion that he could play with. Just anyone but himself in this vast ocean.
One of the many drawings of the orca of the deep. . .
<
