A Whale of the Wild

The narrative moves to Deneb’s perspective. The sea shake makes visibility difficult and sends boulders crashing into the water. The Seal-eater urges the youngling to swim to deep waters, and Deneb follows him toward the ocean. A group of porpoises pass by, repeating the call to hurry to the deep. Deneb notes with surprise that he’s never understood a Seal-eater or a porpoise’s speech before. The sea shake causes humans’ “[l]and boats” to fall from the bridge and seal off Deception Pass (88). Deneb worriedly wonders how he will find Vega.

The narrative shifts back to Vega. She hears Deneb calling to her and cries out to him through the chaos of the sea shake. The sight of a family of porpoises hurrying by reminds her of Greatmother’s words: “When the sea shakes, the ocean is a refuge” (89). Vega calms herself by telling herself that her little brother is with the rest of her family and that Greatmother and Mother will lead everyone to safety. She navigates toward the ocean by memory, determined to find her pod.