Songs of the Sea

Chapter 5-1

Chapter 5

Each family pod used their own version of the same tale, adjusted for their particular customs and culture. As Wickizer continued, more and more of the adults joined the small group on the beach. Sartin glared as Wickizer’s face contorted with emotions as he overplayed both the happy parts in the beginning and the sad and scary parts at the end. As usual, the children were delighted by the tale, no matter who told it.

“So children,” Wickizer said as he finished the story. “That is why we practice Kirklin’s Sacrifice today.” Wickizer looked at his sons, Beltram, and Brandt, sitting on Sartin’s lap. “You will Sacrifice your lives for your mates and their pods.”

“I’m not,” Beltram said. “I’m going to do Decoy like Uncle Sartin.”

Sartin beamed and Wickizer scowled at him. The tendons in Wickizer’s neck strained, but he managed to smile at his son. The other adults murmured. Those from the old guard had accepted male Sacrifice as the way of life for the Sea People. They saw Sartin’s Decoy scars as cowardice, not symbols of strength or courage. A faction of the pod was proud of him and hoped Belzer would make him Alewar soon. In addition to his mother, his aunts Barakat and Bartek, and Bartek’s daughter Baham, supported the Decoy. All four women were widowed due to the barbaric practice of Sacrifice.

“How about another story?” Sartin spoke up, sensing the political tone, and wishing to keep the children out of the adult politics.

“Yes!” Bertig clapped his hands.

“This is the Story of Klem, Kirklin’s mate…” Sartin began.

* * * *

The Story of Klem

Kirklin’s first Sacrifice devastated the entire pod, but no one was more affected than Klem. She focused all her energy to care for their son, Kudron.

Kirklin’s Sacrifice destroyed Klem. In a fit of grief, she swam to the surface and rested on a crag of rocks near the shore. Her grief came forth in her song that was a mixture of the song she created with Kirklin and the language she created with Kudron. The Sea People knew her song was a sad cry of grief.

Klem’s weeping mesmerized the land people nearby. Enamored by her physical beauty and the fact that she was a Sea Person, they jumped on top of a tree whale in search of the beautiful Klem.

The land people cast their net and captured the grieving female. The rocky crag and surrounding rocks shredded the tree whale within minutes of reaching her. The land people changed their tune and appealed to her for help. Her grief for her mate and her fear of the land people caused her to panic. The waves pulled her into the surf and crashed her body against the rocks along with the land people.

The land people had long forgotten about the Sea People until Klem was spotted on that rocky crag. Ever since Klem revealed herself to the land people, they have used their tree whales to search for the Sea People.

In addition to the Great Dispersion, we must remember that the land people mean all Sea People harm. That is why we stick to the open ocean and only our Home Coves that have been isolated for generations.