by D.C. Huffman
Ani crawled across the ocean floor; her many arms probed under and around the coral.
She pulled out a scallop and brought it to her beak. The shell fell back to the floor, empty. Her days were the same: foraging, cleaning out her den, and hoping something new would happen. She envied the fish that swam together as one, never alone.
Today was a day of exploration. Something large lurked out in the deepest water. She was going to check it out. Ani had never gone that far from the reef, but her curiosity overrode her fear. She would check it out and be back before dark. She sucked water through her siphon, propelling herself forward, her tentacles flowing behind.
Covered in barnacles, Ani had seen similar shapes pass on top of the water, loud, monstrous things that churned the water. This one must be dead, for it made no noise. Ani crept across the floor, pausing to monitor for vibrations. She found an opening and swam down, moving in and out of openings, exploring. Suction cups grasped the objects scattered over the sand: round, long, coppery, heavy, and light. She turned them over and shook them. From one pouch out fell small discs and a string of long glittery stones.
A slight vibration in the water—Ani knew she was not alone. She settled to the bottom, flattening out and matching her skin color to the sand. Lying still she waited and watched. Nothing large, like the sharp teeth. But something was here.
She slid across the sand searching.
Don’t come any closer.
The thought popped into her head. What was happening? Ani stopped and turned. Something was in the corner.
I won’t hurt you, Ani thought.
You can’t hurt me.
Strange. What is happening?
She glided closer. It had eight arms like her, but it looked terrible, deathly pale, the skin sloughing off. It had to be ill.
What’s wrong?
I’m dying.
It moved slightly to the side and Ani saw strings of long white globs, each with two dark spots, like eyes. Too many to count.
Will you protect my eggs?
Her thought seemed to come from far away.
Me?
Yes… you. You are fe’e, like me.
Ani could tell they were alike, but she’d never seen another one like her, she’d always been alone. This one had called her fe’e. Are you hungry? I will get you food.
No need.
I’ll be back as soon as I can.
Ani grabbed a round container and propelled herself back to the coral reef. She collected scallops as fast as she could, but by the time it was halfway full it was too dark to go back to the deep.
The next morning Ani rushed back.
I brought scallops. Shall I open them for you?
Silence.
The fe’e lay dead on the sand. The eggs hung, pulsing.
Ani loosed some ink, she was so distraught. What should she do? She watched as the eggs started tearing, releasing miniature little fe’e.
She couldn’t let the first thing they saw be death. Ani tried pulling but couldn’t budge the dead fe’e. Pushing the sand out from under it she flattened her body until she could carry it on her mantle. She scuttled across the floor, then dropped it out an opening.
When she returned the tiny fe’e were floating off in all directions. Her mind couldn’t sense anything from them. She watched as they disappeared into the blue-gray currents outside.
Not all of them swam away. Five hovered in front of her, huge black eyes watching.
Want to swim with me?
Silence.
Ani waved her two front arms.
The speckled one, already with more color than the others, waved two arms back.
Follow me. Ani beckoned with one arm and turned to leave. She wasn’t sure what she was going to do with them, but maybe she could protect them until they grew bigger.
* * *
Time passed, Ani did her best to help the fe’e, although now that they were older Manu and Fow constantly wandered off on their own. Manu was bossy and Fow didn’t seem to mind. Seekat, the smallest of the young, was still speckled and Ani’s best helper. Teena was always with Seekat. Vie was the loner, but Ani didn’t worry because Vie was the best at disguise, often disappearing right in front of them.
Ani noticed a change in Manu and Fow’s behavior. They constantly followed her, getting too close sometimes and not giving her any privacy. Manu had been acting especially eelly. It was time she learned more about fe’e. How could she lead if she knew so little?
She headed to their den, dug between the coral stacks. Seekat and Teena were clearing the shells out of the den.
Seekat, Teena, I have a request.
They swam over to her.
Yes, Ani? Seekat responded. Teena was quiet.
Ani glanced around to make sure they were alone. I need to leave for a bit. You two are in charge while I’m gone.
Where are you going? Will you be gone long?
I’m not sure. Hopefully, no longer than one moon phase.
Manu doesn’t listen to us.
Teena agreed, making a snapping sound with her arms.
Then you two and Vie evict him from the den.
Ani reached out an arm, stroked each one’s mantle, and left. Stay safe.
As she jetted across the floor she wondered if maybe she should have brought one of them with her. But she was nervous; she’d never travelled to another reef but that’s where she thought she’d find answers.
Whenever a large shadow passed over she dropped to the floor. Open water was dangerous; she had to be vigilant. If she didn’t find the coral reef by sundown she’d have to spend the night buried in the sand.
Eventually, the water grew shallower. A good sign. There up ahead was a new coral reef, prime habitat to find others like her. She had just enough time to forage for food before finding a place to hole up for the night.
Ani searched and searched; she knew finding a fe’e that didn’t want to be found would be difficult, but she knew what to look for, like the best places to make a den.
Days later she stumbled right into . . . two fe’e, arms entangled. She dared not interrupt. A second to mirror the rock color next to her and she could wait without being seen.
Side by side, she couldn’t tell if they were fighting over food or what. When they disentangled they swam off in different directions. Neither seemed injured.
Ani wasn’t sure which one to follow, but the larger one was sand-colored like Teena, so she followed that one back to its den. Ani waited, knowing better than to barge inside. Are you okay?
The fe’e reached out two arms and glared at her with one eye. Of course. That po’a can’t hurt me.
What is po’a?
Other.
I don’t understand. Not fe’e?
Yes, but not like you or me. Different. They have one purpose — to help us produce eggs.
But why? Won’t you die?
Everything dies. It is our way. Someday you will understand. She threw sand towards Ani with her front arms, then pulled back inside. Go away.
Ani left. She understood now why Manu and Fow tasted different when she touched them. They were Other, and they had to go.
When Ani returned to the den, it was late, and no one was there. Something wasn’t right.
She searched the next day in all their favorite foraging places but didn’t find any of them. She stayed at the den in case they returned.
One day Vie arrived. Vie was always the most independent, wandering off alone, without fear.
Where is everyone?
Vie didn’t answer. She never used mind speak. Vie motioned ‘follow me’ with one arm.
Ani followed her to the other side of the island and into an underwater cave. Seekat was the only one there.
Where are the others?
You were gone a long time. Manu and Fow got in a fight, and Manu took off.
Where’s Fow?
We don’t know, but Teena’s gone too.
Did you search for them?
Why? They know where we are. If they don’t want to be here let them be. Seekat was changing colors as she gestured with her arms. Where did you go?
Ani was glad she didn’t have to make Manu and Fow leave. She told Seekat and Vie what she had learned. Manu and Fow probably left to find mates; that would explain why they’d been acting differently. She also told Seekat and Vie what happened to fe’e who became egg-bearers.
You think Teena left to mate?
Maybe. Tomorrow I will search for her.
They eventually found Teena’s body and her offspring. Only nine came back with them. Ani insisted they go back to their old den. The new cave was to be a secret place, not for Other.
After the coral spawned, Ani decided it was a good time to banish the Other from the group. That was the only way Ani could keep the fe’e from dying. She enjoyed Seekat and Vies company and never wanted to live alone again.
In the early filtering light, she gathered the group together.
Today is a special day. Many of you are old enough to find a new home. But before you go I will check you for wounds and make sure you are strong enough to leave.
Nine fe’e lined up in front of her. As each one approached, Ani reached out sliding her tentacles over the tips of their arms. She now knew how to tell the difference between them. When she found an Other she motioned with her third tentacle and Seekat moved them to one side. Afterwards, there were four Other.
The one, called Uso, she wasn’t sure about. Uso was not as small as the others. Ani wasn’t sure how, but Uso was unique, like Manu, but like Seekat as well. Uso was both; they could stay.
Congratulations, Ani said. Everyone is well. She gestured at the group on her right. You four are the strongest and ready to be on your own. Time has come to say goodbye, you must leave.
Why?
There is not enough food here for all of us. You know this. Seekat answered. You must find elsewhere to live.
And if we refuse?
The other fe’e need our protection. You do not. To stay would be cowardice. You do not have to leave today; you can leave tomorrow.
As soon as the Others left, Ani called the five left and with Seekat and Vie took them to the other side of the island to the underwater cave, their new home.
Another moon cycle passed. Pa’a was depressed; she missed the Others. Ani decided a trip was in order. She called the group of six together and took them to the metal structure out in the deep.
Down below she let them explore a bit before pointing to the corner.
Seekat, Vie, this is where you hatched and where I learned the egg layer dies after the eggs hatch.
Is that why we left the others? Pa’a asked. She always asked more questions than the other three.
It was time to tell the younger ones. Yes. If you mate you will lay eggs and die.
Where did I come from? Pa’a asked.
I will show you.
They followed Ani to Teena’s old den. It was not empty; a tentacle pushed out an empty scallop shell, then withdrew.
We won’t harm you.
Ink shot out of the small opening. Point taken, they left.
Ani came back the next day alone to see their new neighbor. She wasn’t sure if it understood but she still gave an invitation to join their group. There was no response.
Every day she sent a fe’e to check on the new neighbor and leave a clam as a token of good will.
Uso came back once to report that the shells they left outside the den were no longer being opened. Without going inside, they had no way of knowing if the new neighbor had died.
A moon cycle passed but Pa’a still went to the den.
One night Pa’a came back, her skin dark and blotchy. She carried two large scallop shells full of eggs. I couldn’t save them all. She flung her arms around as she explained. An eel was pushing the egg-layer’s body out of the den. Little fe’e were emerging from the dark, the fish were forming a feeding frenzy. Colors slid over Pa’a’s skin in quick succession. If I’d only been sooner I could have saved more, no telling how many eggs that gaping jaw ate.
As Ani and Seekat stroked Pa’a’s mantle trying to calm her, egg sacs opened. Tiny, fully formed fe’e emerged. Ani and Seekat reached for them, letting the see-through fe’e crawl over their arms, tasting and learning who they were.
When the water temperature started to warm Ani knew something was wrong. She was tired all the time. Of course, keeping up with twenty baby fe’e wasn’t easy.
The first time they took them to forage, they had a terrible time keeping them together. Pa’a took it personally when a few managed to slip away. They left with twenty-six and returned with twenty. Ani knew it was for the best, finding food was getting harder and they had to travel farther each day.
As the days passed Ani was thankful for her helpers. Seekat, Vie and Uso oversaw the foraging and finding a new home for the twenty voraciously hungry fe’e.
Ani started to take long excursions away from the reef, always keeping an eye out for new fe’e. She preferred to forage alone now, her energy lagging too much to keep up, but Uso wasn’t far away.
How long could fe’e live if they never produced eggs? Ani didn’t know.
One day Ani managed to slip away from Uso and swam off into the deep, never to return.
Uso did not give up looking for Ani. One day Uso went back to the metal structure in the deep and on the lower level, in a corner, Uso found a chalky, dead body.
Ani.
Beside her hung hundreds of egg sacs.
* * *
About the Author
D.C. Huffman writes from a green valley in Kentucky where she shares her home with her husband, her Labrador muse, Tucker, and Katniss, the tortoiseshell who doesn’t understand why the tapping on the keyboard is more important than getting scritches.
Huffman keeps an ever-changing list of her 25 most fascinating animals at any moment. Right now, the octopus is fourth, between the meerkat and the horned lizard.