Free Into the Abyss by EJ Altbacker Page B

rough, currents.
    Yet the great white’s golden color, so deep and healthy before, was now grayish and lacked its usual shine. Was Lochlan dying? Gray couldn’t bear to think about that.
    “Finally!” Lochlan shouted as Gray successfully completed a difficult series of moves capped by Spearfisher Streaks by the Cliffs with a large portion of AuzyAuzy mariners. “Not bad at all!”
    “Not bad?” Jaunt said loudly. “That was bloody perfect.”
    Gray chuckled, relief apparent in his voice. “Guess I’m finally getting the hang of it!”
    Just then Olph the dolph released a rapid series of clicks and whistles. Gray caught a word or two, but didn’t understand all of what was being said. The AuzyAuzy mariners who did hear began talking urgently among themselves.
    Lochlan’s eyes widened in surprise. “That can’t be,” he said.
    Olph released a single loud click again, and the great white was silent for a moment.
    “Jaunt, Mari, form everyone up.”
    Both sharkkind disappeared in a flash. A bad feeling crept into Gray’s stomach as Lochlan told him, “That’s all we have time for, mate.”
    “What?” asked Gray. “What do you mean ‘that’s all we have time for’? You mean for today, right?”
    “They’re here. Somehow, Finnivus’s mariners are here.”
    “No, no, no!” Gray repeated, shaking his head from side to side. “I was there for the report this morning and we most definitely heard that they were far away!”
    “And now I’m telling you they’re here,” Loch answered, gesturing for him to follow.
    Gray felt a rising fear that paralyzed his body. He couldn’t swim. His tail didn’t work. Instead, he grinned at Lochlan. “Is this a joke? It’s a joke, right? To see how I’ll do under pressure. Very funny!” Gray cackled, but Lochaln didn’t join in and the panicky feeling raced up and down his spine in hot flashes.
    The golden great white gave him a steely gaze. “Okay, you’ve had your moment to freak out. But it’s over, Gray. You hear me? It’s over.”
    Gray’s voice cracked. “This can’t be happening, Loch! They’re far away! The scouts—”
    Lochlan was amazingly calm. How could he be so composed? “The scouts missed something, Gray. Olph heard it from one of the other dolphs. Their senses are even more fine-tuned than ours. We still have some time left. Our fastest fin just got here with this news, so we can get into proper formation and meet Indi snout to snout and at the ready. But if you want to do anything special before the battle, now’s the time.”
    Gray immediately threw up.
    “Not what I meant, but okay,” said Lochlan. “Come on, big fella. Let’s get going.”
    “Oh-okay,” was all Gray could muster. He wanted to tell Lochlan that today was no good. Maybe they could postpone the battle until next week?
    But Gray knew that there was no rescheduling.
    Finnivus was here.
    “Tyro help me,” he whispered as Lochlan led him toward the Riptide training fields, which were literally vibrating with motion and emotion. Every sharkkind in their forces was rushing to get to their positions. The water would arc electricity if it got any tenser.
    “Okay, I want to see even spacing above, below, and side to side!” bellowed Striiker to the Riptide mariners as they adjusted their section of a standard pyramid formation.
    AuzyAuzy Shiver would form the center of the formation, Riptide taking position behind their mariners. It was the most protected position for the new mariners as they were still the least experienced, but they could counterattack from there. The experienced Hammer and Vortex Shivers hovered at the ready on either side and would guard everyone’s flanks.
    Lochlan waved Gray over to where he was talking with Grinder, Silversun, and Quickeyes. The golden great white swam out and spoke low. “Look, this was sooner than we expected. Maybe Finnivus split hisforces; it doesn’t matter. Just be confident. Our fins want to feel good about