Motherless

It had been an unremarkable morning the day that the world, at least the world that ZiZi knew, came to an end.

She had spent the morning with her mother and several of her aunties fishing in a small cove. It had been very productive and she had filled her belly with fifty or more shiny mackerel. She loved the chase, darting around in the water, the sun shimmering through the surface casting pretty refractive rays to the sea floor below.

Sometimes the community would work as a team, her mother or one of the adults calling instructions to the others.They used this strategy where the waters were more open and the fish had better opportunity for escape. The team would form a circle and create a current, driving their prey to the center. When the signal was given, they would rush in and catch their meal. They were swift and athletic, with powerful tails and streamlined bodies. The fish had no chance for escape.

On this particular morning there had been no need for such serious fishing. Even ZaZo, the oldest member of the community, had managed to catch his fill. At other times when prey was scarce and difficult to catch, the younger members would do the hunting for him, sharing their spoils by gently nuzzling up to him with their long noses touching as the fish was exchanged.

Once fed the children would play together under the care of their mothers or aunties, while the men of the community kept a careful watch for danger. There were larger creatures in the ocean that were dangerous It was important to be vigilant at all times.

In the evenings when the children slept, the adults would chat about the days events, laughing about someone’s goofiness, or planning the day ahead.

If they were partnered the day would invariably end in lovemaking, the couple joining together in an embrace of tails and fins. They enjoyed this for more than just the act of procreation, it was an expression of their deep love for their partner and a statement of their commitment.

The community lived in harmony for the most part, working together to ensure the safety and health of each member. There were occasional spats over this and that but they were excellent communicators and conflict was usually resolved quickly and without any long term hurt or grudges.

ZiZi was chasing her favorite cousin Mia when she heard the throbbing of the boats’ enormous engines. They were closing in on the cove at a rapid pace.

The men called out for everyone to prepare for some kind of attack, but this sea creature was not one they were familiar with, and they were unprepared.

There were several boats which skillfully herded the community deep into the cove, much as the community themselves had herded their own fish prey. Once deep in the cove the hunters placed a net across the sea access and the group was trapped.

There were around a hundred dolphins and the men were cheerful. They anchored their boats and celebrated their catch with a dinner of grilled fish and a decent serving of beer. They would begin the selection process in the morning but for now, as far as they were concerned, all was peaceful in the cove.

ZiZi was terrified. Already one of her aunties as well as old ZaZo had entangled themselves in the net and suffocated. She had watched their trapped bodies sway lifeless in the current, grey in the evening gloom.

The adults discussed strategies and tried to keep the panic to a minimum but everyone was terrified. It was hard to know what it all meant and difficult to plan an escape. The plan was for everyone to keep an eye out for any breach in the net, and communicate that as swiftly as possibly to the rest of the group. It was a basic plan and no one felt very hopeful through the night. They huddled together with their families and tried to rest, the fear palpable.

The first light of morning tinted the water surface above them. They could hear the men above discussing strategy. The plan was to cull the large males and females for meat and extract the babies. Enormous nets, scooped the babies , slinging them onto the boats into large tubs of sea water.

ZiZi watched, frozen in fear as her beloved family members were slaughtered with large, sharp spears. Many bodies lay lifeless in the water which was rusty with blood. There was chaos as those that remained tried to flee through the net. Many became panicked and entangled. It was a slow way to die, gasping for breath until they did not have the energy to surface one more time, the net’s weight keeping them down.

ZiZi felt something sweep under her belly. Suddenly she was in the air, above the water, acutely aware, for the first time in her life, of her own body weight. She closed one of her eyes her heart pounding. Only when she finally felt the soothing sensation of water again did she open it.

She recognized two of her cousins in the tub with her. One was Mia. They were hunkered down in the corner, each with one eye closed which is customary for dolphins when sleeping, but also during times of extreme fear. She swam over to them and pressed her body against theirs, their close bodies providing some comfort. They waited like this in the stale water for more than two days, the boats engine thudding loudly, their bellies sick with fear and from the motion of the boat.

For years after ZiZi would have nightmares, recalling that dreadful day and the painful deaths of her mother, father and other relatives. She would wake screaming, her heart pounding.

Although she was grateful to now be living in the company of several of her cousins, including Mia, this new world was joyless.

Although they lived in fresh seawater there were walls and gates separating them from the open ocean. At times she was separated from all dolphins to be examined and inspected. She had learned not to give resistance at any time, as it was swiftly met with hefty restraint from the men. Any type of restraint was traumatic for her so she learned to endure and stay quiet.

Most of the other children learned to behave as well. For some, however, it was impossible. Their fear would rise up and they would lash out and the humans in terror, the trauma from the past taking its toll. Some of these cousins simply disappeared.

ZiZi noticed changes in the behavior of those around her. No longer did they care for each member in the way they had before the apocalypse. Selfishness and brutality had become the norm. Some of the children bullied others out of their food and it became a state of survival of the strongest. She wondered whether this was due to the trauma of their capture, or the loss of their elders. The children no longer benefitted from their wise guidance. She longed to embrace her mother, nuzzling noses and caressing fins. She cried, remembering her mother’s gentle voice whispering to her "goodnight".

The humans used food and social deprivation to keep control of the new community. The children that were able to follow the instructions and conform to the routine were fed and for the most part, left alone in their pens when not in training. They became bored, and lonely. Most had dark violent thoughts of escaping.

It was a day like every other and ZiZi was drifting around in her pen. she heard the gate slide open like so many times before. A pole was used to nudge her forward, so that she could swim through the corridor between pens and enter the large pool. Here she was required to perform certain tasks in return for her dinner. She knew the routine. It annoyed her but she knew to conform and perform.

A girl in a rubbery suit was waiting by the pool. Zi Zi had not encountered her before. It was a curious change and she was hopeful for a break in routine.

The girl slipped into the water and called ZiZi over. ZiZi complied hoping for a fish. The nearby trainer slipped a fish into her open mouth. It was tasteless having been dead for some time.

The girl caressed ZiZi on her face and whispered to her. ZiZi felt her body relax a little, and she was surprised at this response. Something about the girl reminded her of her mother. She listened to the girl and recalled her mother’s voice whispering lovingly to her.

ZiZi noticed a shiny yellow chain around the girl’s throat. It had a small roundish disc suspended on it. The girl noticed the heart shaped locket had come loose and poked it back under her rubber suit. She whispered to ZiZi. “Don’t tell anyone Im wearing my locket. We aren’t allowed to wear jewelry”. She winked at ZiZi as if they shared a secret bond.

The girl leaned in close to ZiZi’s face so that they could almost have kissed. ZiZi pushed her nose a little closer. She wanted to be close to the girl. “It has my mum’s picture in it so I never take it off. I miss my mum so much.”