As told by an orca to a curious child
“Come closer, little one,” the orca said, her smooth black and white body gliding gracefully just beneath the surface. “You want to know what we do when the skies roar and the waves grow wild? Let me tell you a story of my family—the great cetacean family—and how we care for each other during storms.”
“It starts with the wind,” she began, her voice like the deep rumble of the ocean. “When the clouds darken and the air fills with the scent of rain, we know a storm is coming. My pod—the orcas—are not alone out here. We share the sea with our cousins: the playful dolphins, the gentle humpbacks, the wise blue whales, and even the shy porpoises. We are different in many ways, but in times of trouble, we are one big family.”
“When the first raindrops hit the waves, my pod huddles close. We swim side by side, our fins brushing to remind each other that no one is alone. My mother taught me that when we are together, we are strong—like the sea itself. The dolphins are the first to come over. They leap and chatter, their whistles slicing through the storm’s growls. ‘Stay close!’ they say, darting around us like little suns in the darkening sea.”
“And then, from deep below, the low song of the humpbacks rises. ‘Dive deep,’ they tell us in their ancient, mournful voices. ‘It is quiet there, and the storm cannot follow.’ We listen to them, for they are wise. As one, we all dive—my pod, the dolphins, even the shy porpoises. Below the churning waves, it is calm. The storm’s roar becomes a muffled hum, like a far-off drum.”
“While we wait for the skies to calm, we care for each other. The humpbacks circle the youngest calves, their giant bodies shielding them from the currents. My uncle, the strongest in our pod, keeps an eye on the dolphins, making sure none get swept away. The blue whales sing long, deep songs that soothe our hearts, even as the sea rumbles above.
“Sometimes, a young dolphin or calf feels frightened by the storm. Do you know what we do then?” The orca tilted her head, her dark eye sparkling. “We sing to them. Not with words like you humans use, but with clicks and whistles and songs that remind them of sunny days and calm seas. Together, our voices rise through the water, a promise that the storm will pass.”
“And it always does,” she said with a soft sigh. “The thunder fades, the waves settle, and the clouds part to reveal the sun once more. When it’s safe, we surface together, our great family of whales, dolphins, and porpoises, breathing in the fresh, storm-cleansed air.”
“But do you know what the storm leaves behind?” The child shook their head, eyes wide with wonder. “It leaves a stronger family. Every storm teaches us to trust each other, to protect the young, and to find strength in our togetherness. That, little one, is the way of the sea and the way of the cetacean family.”
The orca paused, her dorsal fin cutting through the water like a crescent moon. “So when you hear thunder and see the waves crashing, do not worry about us. We are not afraid of the storm, for we have each other. And that,” she said with a splash of her tail, “is the most powerful thing of all.”
And with that, the orca dove beneath the waves, leaving the child with the sound of the wind and the memory of her story—a tale of family, courage, and the strength of togetherness in the stormy seas.
