Whale songs bled into the water, low and resonant, vibrating through Nathaniel’s ribs. He stilled, watching bubbles drift past his mask. Then another note followed, longer, heavier, vibrating like a heartbeat stretched across miles. These were no casual calls. They were coordinated, urgent, and closer than any of them expected.
From the boat, the crew saw shapes gathering. First one, then two, then an entire pod of Bryde’s whales surfaced in practiced formation. Their sleek bodies broke the water with grace, but their unusual proximity to the reef unsettled even the most seasoned among them. Something didn’t seem right.