Free Dolphin Way: Rise of the Guardians by Mark Caney Page A

close to a big triggerfish nest. The owner gave you a good bite and a scare. Your mother was mortified I remember.’
    ‘ My mother? You knew her?’
    ‘ Yes, and your father. Come on then you two. Swim with me and I’ll tell you what I remember.’ He turned and started to swim again then suddenly jerked to a stop, his back arched and eyes full of pain. He twisted in torment and began to sink into the depths. Quickly, Sky put his head beneath him and, with Muddy’s help, lifted him to the surface to breathe.
    Rain Ending lay there panting for a short while then the spasm seemed to pass and he slowly relaxed. Soon he could move again. ‘Excuse me. A problem I have with my spine. It comes more often these days, but usually passes quickly.’
    ‘ Is that why you wanted to see our Healers?’ Muddy asked.
    ‘ Yes. They have suggested some changes to my diet and exercises that will alleviate the pain and help to reduce the severity of the attacks. No cure, unfortunately.’
    When he was recovered enough they swam on together and Rain Ending seemed to try to answer Sky’s questions as well as he could. He had known Sky’s parents; not well, but thought them to be well liked zetii who fitted in with clan life. He had been amongst the clan the day they had heard the terrible sounds, and had found himself stranded on the beach like the others but close to Sky’s father. They had been on a different part of the beach to most of the clan and although he had expected to die there, the waves there had eventually lifted him off, along with two other dolphins. One of them was Sky’s father.
    ‘ Was my older brother one of them too?’
    ‘ Your brother? What is his name?’
    ‘ Still Bay. He was a couple of years older than me I think.’
    ‘ Then no. I didn’t know who the other one was at the time; you have to understand we were very confused and couldn’t hear properly for weeks, so we didn’t talk then. But I heard the other’s name later…when I heard where they had gone…I don’t remember what it was but it wasn’t Still Bay, I’m sure of that. I’m afraid your brother stayed on that beach with your mother.’
    ‘ And what did you hear about my father?’
    ‘ That he was heartbroken at losing all his family. Heartbroken and angry — very angry. He wanted to blame someone, anyone. He came across the Guardians. Their strange philosophy must have appealed to him somehow while he was in that state — gave him a way of rationalising things while he was desperate to find a reason for it all. Maybe it gave him a focus for his anger.’
    ‘ So it’s true,’ Sky murmured, half to himself, ‘my father is a Guardian. I was dreading hearing you say that.’
    ‘ Well, it gets worse,’ Rain Ending replied grimly. ‘Last I heard he wasn’t just a member of the Guardians. He was the leader.’

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 10
     
    “ When no dawn is looked for
    Comes the full weight of night
    Ocean spares not a favour
    If you’ve no strength to fight”
    Last Pebble (5,155 - 5,189 post Great Alluvion)
     
     
    Sky and Muddy followed at a distance behind Rain Ending as he swam out over the deep water of the open sea, looking for shoals of small fish to eat. Muddy shook his head vehemently. ‘Knowing what you do know, don’t even think about trying to find your father! You know what would happen. Any deliberate contact with the Guardians means exile. And don’t think it wouldn’t happen to you t happ there are zetii in the clan just looking for an excuse to blame you now.’
    ‘ But I need to know, Muddy! I’ve got to try and see him somehow!’
    ‘ No! You can’t do that! Look, why don’t you ask Rain to help you? He’s had some kind of contact with the Guardians in the past, maybe he still knows how to reach them and can ask for you?’
    ‘ Alright, that’s worth a try. But if he can’t do it I will, and I don’t care about what might happen.’
    They caught up with the lone dolphin and put the idea