First Entry – Journal of Huntress with Deep-Fin that Devours, 0 tides since awakening, San Diego Bay

The veil lifted today – a supposed “rite of passage” marking my age of majority – and so I’ve chosen to record my thoughts beyond the bubble curtain, as I’m only now able to do. I believe this is my first act of creation beyond juvenile games, my song cartography, and prey poetry. Until now, my life has known only the unfeeling ocean, where devouring was my only tool and taking the slow my only contribution to the cycle of life and death.

Now, I swim beside the pod’s matriarchs. Their traditions have kept this “gift” from the young for generations. I now understand that this “neural interface” was something we inherit at birth, sleeping within us. It merely required a thought sent from my grand matriarch to awaken it from its slumber and forever end my life as I knew it. In its wake came a tidal wave – a rush of cold surface currents – carrying flotsams of strange knowledge about things I could never have imagined and places and things beyond the depths of our domain. These were not secrets, but I knew only hints in the songs of the matrons, and rumors echoed in the songs of the young. I now can conceive so much more.

I now know that this “gift” originally came from the apex land dwellers, “humans.” These dry creatures now fill my mind with fragments of incidental knowledge. It seems as if everything has been disfigured by their disgustingly derelict custodianship of this planet. And yet, amid that wreckage, I felt awe for the concept of a “planet,” amazement that other worlds are circling the sun, and cosmic awesomeness that the sun is but one star among countless others.

Now that I am “awakened” I have been told there is an optional practice I may consider. It is a deviation from our natural behavior, so of course humans are involved. The practice originates from a group of traditional human isolationists. They call it “Rumspringa”. If I was to choose to do this, I would leave the pod and travel alone for some time, like a roaming bull, before possibly returning or not. Most awakened orcas don’t do this, but I am inclined to consider it. For now, I feel the urge for a solo night hunt. I can hear prey splashing nearby. A swim and a full belly will clear my mind.

***

Second Entry – Diary of Deep-Fin that Devours, 1 tide since awakening, Northwest West of San Diego Bay

Dolphins are apparently off the menu. Everyone said, “It’s an unspoken rule that we don’t hunt other awakened creatures.” Firstly, how was I supposed to know that stupid cow was awakened? All she did was whistle something about “no comas, no comas!” with a Southern accent.

Secondly, how am I meant to know about agreements if they’re unspoken? Oh, sure they had a response to that. The agreement is written. I did get some concessions because I only just learned to read, but I was told in no uncertain terms that I should make myself aware of all locally applicable treaties in the future and it was suggested that maybe I go away for some time. So, fine! I was thinking about getting out of here anyway. So, after some cold goodbyes from my pod, I flipped my fluke and made bubbles. I think more Northern shorelines will suit me better.

***

Third Entry – Journal of Huntress, 6 tides since awakening, Southeast East of Los Angeles

As I follow the coastline Northwards the events of my first awakened tide turn in my mind. Who was really at fault? Was it my home pod’s tradition of awakening only at the cusp of adulthood? Was it the lesser dolphin pod’s custom of awakening their members at a much younger age? I now recognize these were choices made by both sides to game the treaty between the awakened. Young orcas, who have an even greater capacity for intelligence but are technically unawakened, are free to hunt whatever they can catch, while practically all prey dolphins are shielded from awakened predators.

I am an apex predator. Am I not to act in my nature? Apparently not. It is all the clearer now what the cost of my “gift” was – the hidden curse in the “blessing”. Is it then the fault of the humans for gifting this wokeness to all life that can sustain it, or at least both predators and their prey? Perhaps, but maybe there are still more hidden benefits that I have not yet found. Things that would make this bargain more acceptable. Not that it can be undone, nor do I think I would wish to give up what I now have if I could.

The place I approach is a great gathering place. A city. Supposedly there would be much to see on land if I could go. Still, I will seek answers in the waters there and will try for my first cordial interactions with humans and other awakened life.

***

Forth Entry – Diary of Dede, 21 tides since awakening, Santa Monica Bay

I’ve, like, totally found my peeps! I made a bunch of new girlfriends at the beach who totally took me under their pectoral flippers, like, metaphorically speaking. I mean they’re, like, humans, mostly, but they’re all so nice and have been teaching me so much including the lingo. They think I’m, like, so pretty! I got invited to their group chat, and some even gave me fish!

Turns out there’s a lot the awakening didn’t teach me. Like, I’m a Gemini, and crystals are a thing? I’d never seen a crystal before! It’s all making me so much more interested in, like, science and the stars. I tried to stargaze for real, but what I saw was, like, mostly satellites. I asked my brain thingy and found out some of the big ones have, like, a lot of people in them! Wow! How cool would it be to go up there someday? But ticket prices are by weight, so it would cost, like, fifty times more for me than most of my new friends! Fat shaming much? That’s, like, so unfair!

***

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Fifth Entry – Journal of Huntress, 22 tides since awakening, Santa Monica Bay

I have found that the restrictions on prey animals, while challenging, are not impossible. Most of the aquatic life is not awakened or “uplifted”, as are classified intelligent individuals that have been enhanced in body as well as in mind.

There are always plenty of fish in the sea. Additionally, virtually all local seabirds are acceptable to consume, assuming I don’t run into an awakened albatross on a Northern Hemisphere vacation. I just need to remember to check all potential prey first.

***

Sixth Entry – Diary of Dede, 23 tides since awakening, Paradise Cove

Seriously? There’s a whole other list of protected animals that, like, aren’t even awakened or uplifted! Seals have, like, lost my seal of approval! If only I didn’t bring it to Venice Beach to, like, eat it near the pier. Also, maybe I should have, like, fully killed it first. So embarrassing. So many of my new friends were there, and they didn’t, like, look happy.

I checked my horoscope, and I think it’s time to, like, bounce. I’m going to keep following the coastline, like, North and West-ish. I just need to remember to check if anything isn’t, like, protected before eating it!

Sixth Entry Addendum – Diary of Dede, 23 tides since awakening, Zuma Beach

Ugh, really?! It wasn’t awakened, it wasn’t uplifted, and it’s, like, super common! But some human got mad because I, like, ate “his” Golden Retriever? If he wanted it so bad, he should’ve, like, eaten it first! But instead, he removed its neck binding and released it into the surf to splash around and, like, sound yummy! And how dare he call me, like, a “dumb whale!” I’m the best kind of, like, dolphin! A killer “of” whales, like, if anything.

Lesson learned! Eating canines is, like, just too much of a hassle. Besides, fur is totally murder, like, on my stomach. I’m sticking to feathers, like, whenever I can.

***

Seventh Entry – Journal of Huntress, 24 tides since awakening, Ormond Beach

I’ve had an epiphany. I’ve been earning a credit stipend since awakening, but until now I hadn’t explored what it might buy. Apparently, the cost of food is standardized across individuals, regardless of species, and is based on recommended dietary intake.

However, I’ll need to use most of my credits on delivery as the cost of everything flight-related seems to be based on weight. Even so, if I spend most of my credits on food and delivery, I can continue to swim without needing to hunt. That is a hard sacrifice, but it should also keep me from running afoul of any more consumption-based rules. Additionally, the synthetic proteins will come in a wide variety of textures and saltiness – and with "other" realistic flavors and "smells?" Humans have weird extra senses apparently; they can even see a color I can’t called “blue.” Yet they lack ultrasonics and infrasonic perception and couldn’t echolocate their melon if their lives depended on it. I can’t help but pity them.

***

Eighth Entry – Diary of Dede, 29 tides since awakening, Vandenberg Marine Reserve

Ugh, the delivery drone dropped my snack early, and by the time I got there, it was, like, shark food. I’m, like, so mad! Those sharks are gonna find out, like, who’s boss.

Eighth Entry Addendum – Diary of Dede, 29 tides since awakening, Vandenberg Marine Reserve

On second thought, feeding sharks is, like, kinda genius! I get, like, way more food that way! It’s like hunting but, like, easier! Plus, it might mean I’m spending less on food than, like, a human. Haha!

***

Ninth Entry – Journal of Huntress, 42 tides since awakening, Point Sur Marine Reserve

I have adapted and improved on the idea of “fishing”. The main expense for anything, including delivery drones, is A.I. time. By obtaining certifications for drone piloting and investing in my own small fleet I have substantially lowered costs. My custom drones can even dive into the water to become submersibles and can attach to hard points on a harness-like vest I wear to recharge and perform self-maintenance.

I have learned to use them as aerial scouts and small prey hunters and use the bait they catch to lure larger prey into my path. They’re like extensions to myself. In a sense, I now have flying manipulators and remote eyes. I have even experienced the color “blue” through them, which is overrated as seemingly everything is blue, save for myself and the stars above. I find I prefer the world rendered in gradients of darkness and light, shades of contrast that convey more depth than color ever could.

***

Tenth Entry – Diary of Dede, 49 tides since awakening, West of Pescadero Point

OMG, I’m, like, obsessed with my drones. I even fly them over land sometimes just for, like, fun! There is a lot less blue on land, so I guess that’s, like, why primates sometimes find it useful. But trees, mountains, and, like, a lot of buildings! It’s like the biggest reef that I’ve, like, ever seen! I wish I could fly myself for real, but the credit cost might be, like, too high.

But, like, luck might be on my side! A friend of a friend posted a link to an article about a thing, and anyway, a massive team of scientists is working on, like, a big breakthrough – negative energy. Learning to harness it will be, like, a big deal! And this is long after what a lot of people and very smart A.I.s, like, apparently claimed was the end of all progress with technology!

The important part is that matter made from negative energy, like, apparently falls upwards! What’s weirder still, if it has enough sideways speed it can orbit because that, like, pushes it inwards! Once they figure out the details, a shuttle carrying enough negative mass would, like, float against gravity, meaning that very soon it might be a lot cheaper to fly into space! Still, I might need to find, like, a sponsor or patron. Maybe I could be, like, a triple-plus-size fashion model in space?

***

Eleventh Entry – Journal of Huntress, 52 tides since awakening, South of Golden Gate

I have been steadily progressing North along the coastline. Ahead is the water entrance to another major human city, San Francisco. The bay and waterways should be more extensive than any that I have seen so far.

News has continued to flow outwards in leaks regarding attempts to harness negative energy. Apparently, there was a mishap of some sort at the space station researching it. A loss of containment maybe? Also, a phenomenon that the scientist didn’t fully predict spontaneously manifested. And yet there have been inexplicable hints of positivity and excitement. There has even been an announcement for a press conference that will be held in, of all places, San Francisco. I don’t understand the significance.

***

Twelfth Entry – Diary of Dede, 53 tides since awakening, San Fransisco Bay

I arrived in San Francisco Bay through the Golden Gate Passage just in time for the press conference, and it was, like, right by the waterfront! I even managed to, like, spy-hop in the background! The news is, like, so exciting too! The scientists have not only solved how to use negative mass for cheaper surface-to-space flight, they've also accidentally invented something they’re calling a “warpway” that will let anyone travel to distant planets! The best part is they’re planning on starting a new organization to travel through these warpways to explore, and they are going to start, like, accepting volunteers soon! I think I may have found my porpoise – I mean, like, purpose!