[center][h2][colour=steelblue]Mamang.[/colour][/h2]
[h3]VII[/h3][/center]

Tamo was a Scholar, and never one to travel much. He was also an Exile. This moderately awkward juxtaposition had left him in rather tense standing among the Academy faithful, who seemed sometimes uneasy around him, and other times angry that he hadn't left yet. Was his kind a spy, an infiltration by blasphemers? Would he wriggle into their heads with innocent words, undermining their loyalty and tempting them to gaze up at that sinful orb? The Moon [i]was[/i] very beautiful, thought Tamo, and it was a shame that his brethren quite refused to acknowledge it. But he never spoke about it. In time he was glad he didn't, because, despite their differences on the lunar question, the Archive Kynikos grew accustomed to his comings and goings, and the guards, once again, felt more like a shield than a threat.

"Good day, brother," called a somewhat familiar voice, and Tamo looked. The Ranger's name was Meritala, if he recalled correctly (but he always did), one of the many exile rangers who had remained on the Academy island to map it thoroughly. Much of the preliminary scouting being now finished, Meritala had spent the last few weeks combing the rocky shore for sea-caves. "When I last drew maps in the Archives, I saw you here, in this very spot, facing the same way. Have you moved at all since?" For most species, this would be considered a 'joke'.

Tamo shook his head. "I am watching whales," he announced. Meritala's hood tilted a little. "I have been watching whales for some time," he elaborated. "Look over there," he said, pointing out far into the ocean with a gloved finger, "I see some now."

The glow of Meritala's eyes dimmed in a long and earnest squint, but he saw nothing. The whales were there, he was sure (a particularly hard-headed true believer might have attributed it to lunacy), but he didn't quite understand what he was looking for. "Pardon my ignorance, Tamo, I'm not sure I understand. What is a whale?"

"It is a particularly large breed of fish," said Tamo, still staring out at the unknown seas. "They are gill-less, with horizontal tail-fins. For this reason, I believe they must be closely connected with dolphins, as are the orcas. You can recognise them by their puffing at the water's surface. There- they are puffing now." Meritala looked carefully, and saw that it was true: large, smooth shapes were disturbing the water, blasting tiny clouds of mist as they went.

"There are many kinds," Tamo continued. "The ones you see now puff a distinctive bifurcated spray, as if blowing from two nostrils. In fact, the spray emerges from the back of the head. They are further known by their rounded body, which has a disproportionately large mouth, and black skin, patched with white. They call often under water, like songbirds. In this they are not to be confused with another singing whale, which I call the joyful kind, for its jumping and splashing. It is also common, and frequently has irregular patches of white that may cover much of the body; but they have narrower snouts, an angular build, and long, notched fins."

Meritala nodded. The knowledge was delicious to him. He could feel it whet his appetite for more. Such books, that could be written of the sea! "What of that one, Tamo? I think I see another approach."

"Ah! Well sighted, my friend. That is another kind altogether, of the thin, fast variety, which we call rorquals. I recognise it by the ridge towards the end of the tail, but it is coming towards us, and you will soon notice, if you look carefully, a pale, twisted streak on its back. I call it the pale-jawed kind, for when it rolls onto its side, you see the same kind of marking on the right side of the jaw- but not the left. It is easier to spot from underwater, or from the high towers of the Archives- You should try it, Meritala, they are quite delightful to see from above. The guards don't bite."

The ranger shrugged, shook his head a little. "Ahhh, I should rather prefer to try it from the top of some cliff or mountain. Tell me more about this whale, Tamo, my journey's not been fruitful, but I am yet to experiment with the patience of the faithful for mere sustenance. It seems curious."

"Indeed," said Tamo, "a little oddly so. The pale-jawed kind does not typically make much use of its eyes above water, but this one has looked our way twice now. They do not call so much, either, especially the females, but there is a particular one about every few months that doesn't seem to shut up."

"Perhaps it sees us," said Meritala, listening for the sound of a distant tail-slap on the sea wind. "Perhaps it is hungry for knowledge, as we are."

"Indeed. They must be quite clever."

"What a blessed animal."

"Absolutely."

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this post affects literally no one lmao it's just whale indulgence

Some knowledge-eaters, eager for new knowledge, take up whale-watching. At least one of them is remarkably good at it, correctly distinguishing several types, including a familiar face.

GOD I LOVE WHALES

0 Vigour gained.
0 Vigour spent.
832 whale points awarded for being an awesome whale that everyone loves. Just a really great whale. The best.

Total whale points: 4,061
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