Grey shadows in the deep blue sea

It's great fun! Playing here is great fun. Mummy is never far away, and neither are the others. There are lots of children here who have never seen the big blue sea before. There's so much to learn, so much to feel. The funny little creatures that live in the sand get scared when we swim over them. I'm getting better and faster all the time. Wherever we go, I'm at the front.

The grown-ups let me because I'm still too small, but one day I'll be leading the group. When I talk about this, Mum nudges me, fans me and hugs me. I know what that means: many cycles will pass before that happens. But that doesn't matter; it's wonderful here already. Life is beautiful – everything is as good as it could possibly be.

We children have a wonderful time here. Everyone likes us, and when the blue sky turns dark, we know the grown-ups are nearby. They told us about other things, too. They told us about other beings who are not like us, deadly creatures that appear as grey shadows on the blue sea. They fear us, but Mother says I must be careful and never go near them alone. She doesn't want to lose me, but she won't because I'm with here. I'll always be here to play with her, and soon I'll bring her gifts.

I'm still a little clumsy when it comes to hunting, but I'm improving all the time. We move around to places where there is plenty of prey. If one of us sees something, we all see it. I hear a call inside me that tickles like my mother's touch, and it's wonderful. I know then that we are all together and that we will stay together. We are fast and stick together – but what's that? What is that now? No, it hurts and holds me back. – MOTHER! I can feel her, and I can feel the others – they're scared. It's like a cold current running through me. Everyone is so afraid, and I can't move. My head is almost bursting from their cries – no one can escape.

Now it's pulling me away. Where are the others? I can't see anyone anymore. I can only sense them, but not as I usually do. An image reaches me: an image of the other blue. We have to go there – we need it, and we need it soon. Mother is screaming; I've never heard her scream like this before. I brace myself, trying to turn around and escape. I have to help! But I become tangled up even more – it's like seaweed, but it cuts and hurts. I want to escape this place. I want to be somewhere nice, where everyone is happy with me. Mother, please tell me this will stop, that we'll stay together, and that the images I'm seeing aren't real.

What is that? One of the children has stopped responding. I can no longer hear them inside me. Why is it so quiet? Where is it? Now the grown-ups are singing something I've never heard before. I don't like it – it scares me. I keep fidgeting, but I barely have the strength to move. Then I realise that I have to get out of here! I have to go up!

Another voice has disappeared. I used to play catch with her over and over again. We had so much fun together – it can't be true that I can't hear her voice anymore. The blue is changing, but I'm not moving. Actually, I'm so tired. Where is Mother? I want to snuggle up to her and rest. They're all silent now. Maybe I can't hear them anymore because I'm so tired. Maybe they've gone upstairs. Why didn't they take me with them?

Every day, dolphins are caught in trawl nets and die painful deaths.

© 'Grey shadows in the deep blue sea. A baby dolphin tells a story': A short story by Pressenet (translated by Izabel Comati), 07/2025. Photo of the blue sea: Pressenet.