Terry collapsed onto the grass, breathless, when they reached the top, but Leila was too full of energy to sit still. She paused only long enough to set down her basket and catch her breath before she moved to the very edge of the cliff. Waves crashed below her, mild for this time of day, but Leila paid no heed, gazing with delight at the sight below her.

“Orcas, Terry! This close to the harbor…”

Terry laughed at her. “Ya’ve been obsessed with those whales since yer dad told ya that story.”

“I just think it’s neat,” Leila said, turning around to face her friend, “how they can tell—” Without warning, the cliff beneath her feet gave way, sending her plummeting into towards the ocean with a shriek.

“Lily!” Terry screamed, scrambling upright.

Leila’s scrambling fingers found no purchase on the cliff face. She hit the water feet first, the shock of the chill water making her gasp as she submerged; she inhaled salt water. Then something came up from below her, propelling her to the surface. She came up coughing and sputtering, and reached out blindly. Her fingers touched something wet and slick; after a moment, she found an edge she could cling to and hung there, coughing up the last of the water in her lungs.

“Are you alright, Princess of Orcanisia?”

Leila raised her head at the unexpected question, then screamed and let go, flailing, as she found herself clutching an orca. Her head went under again, but another orca pushed her up and back to its partner’s side.

“Grab on, silly girl, and don’t let go,” it chided. Hesitantly, she reached out and wrapped her fingers around the dorsal fin once more.

“I—yes,” she said, deciding it was best to be polite and answer the question. “Thank you.”

“It was the least we could do for the Heir of our ally, Orcanisia,” the orca told her, slowly turning towards shore.

It took a moment for the orca’s words to penetrate her fogged mind, but when they did, her hold slipped once more.

“But…I’m not…Aaron…” she sputtered as she broke the surface.

“You are Leila Marie Orcanisia, are you not?”

“Well, yes,” Leila admitted, grabbing the dorsal fin again, this time without prompting.

“Then you are the Heir,” the orca said simply. Neither spoke for a few moments, while Leila was towed to shore.

“You may let go now, Princess,” the orca said at last. Leila slipped free and found firm sand below her feet; she stood in shoulder deep water.

“My name is Océano,” the orca told her, as Terry splashed through the surf towards them. “Meet me here at this time tomorrow. Your way will not be easy; we have much to discuss.”

So...this is a short flashback taken from a novel I've been working on for a few years now...I hope it's not terribly confusing for you...

Please leave a review on your way out!

Thanks, Tansiana